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US 4,037,526 AGranted
Train tunnel ventilation method and apparatus
AssigneeSouthern Pacific Transportation Company
InventorWilliam M. Jaekle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A train tunnel is ventilated by closing an exit end of the tunnel as a train approaches the entrance end, so that during passage through the tunnel the train acts as a loose piston moving through a long closed cylinder, to cause a rapid airflow rearwardly around the train.
Claims7
A method for ventilating a train tunnel that has entrance and exit ends, comprising:
- closing said tunnel against the free flow of air from the exit end thereof and maintaining said tunnel closed, while driving said train through said tunnel toward the exit end thereof;
- and
- opening the exit end of said tunnel before said train reaches the exit end of said tunnel.
In combination with a tunnel structure which includes walls forming a tunnel with first and second end portions, and a train track extending through said tunnel, ventilation means comprising:
- cover means including a cover and also including cover moving means for moving said cover between closed and open positions with respect to said second end portion of said tunnel;
- first train sensing means for sensing a train on said track at a first location at a first uptrack distance from said cover means;
- first control means coupled to said train sensing means and to said cover moving means, for moving said cover means to its closed position upon the sensing of a train at said first location by said first train sensing means;
- second train sensing means for sensing a train on said track at a second location which lies at a second uptrack distance from said cover means;
- and
- second control means coupled to said train sensing means and to said cover moving means, for moving said cover means to its open position upon the sensing of a train at said second location by said second train sensing means, said first location being more distant from said cover means than said second location.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.