The Locomotive Of Today

168 The Tender, Brakes, etc. : Water Scoop and Gear. back of the tender. This latter would seem to be the more correct shape, as there would be less friction for the water than in the first case, where the water has to have a greater velocity given to it than that of the tender as it approaches the top of the internal pipe. In all cases the area of the water channel increases towards the top of the pipe. The scoop is provided with a shoe of thin Steel at its base where it enters the water to form a cutting edge. This can be easily renewed when worn out and, if necessary, adjusted to the right level as the tyres get wörn and springs vary. At B a portion of the tender is drawn, showing the scoop in the position occupied when out of use. C shows an end view of the tender with the scoop let into the trough ; this latter is shown in section. The raising and letting down of the scoop is performed by the aid of hånd levers in the cab or on the tender front, within easy reach of the enginemen, but as the pulling of the scoop out of the water trough, especially when travelling fast, is by no means an easy task, means have been adopted by which steam, or the vacuum, or compressed air used for the brakes can be employed for the purpose. On Fig. 35 the gear patented by Mr. J. A. F. Aspinall, to whom we are indebted for most of the following particulars, is represented. To work on the vacuum system, a chamber is fixed below the tender, and has a pipe connecting- it to the actuating cock fixed handily for the operator in the cab. Two other unions on this cock connect to the lower and upper sides of a vacuum cylinder, divided by a flexible diaphragm. The admitting of atmospheric air to one side of this diaphragm, and the putting of the other at the same time into communication with the vacuum chamber, causes the diaphragm to be raised or lowered at will; a rod fixed to the latter is moved with it and carries the scoop. The lifting of the scoop is by this method expeditiously performed by simply turning the handle of the actuating cock, whilst a balance weight assists in this and keeps the scoop up when out of use. At D a side view of a tank engine is given with this water pick-up gear. As these engines have to run in either direction without being turned, it is convenient that water should also be taken when moving either way. This is accomplished by having two scoops, one facing in each direction, both being attached to a common discharging pipe and connected to- gether by means of suitable levers, sothat one or both maybe lowered into the trough at will. In the drawing the arrange- ment is for both scoops to be operated at the same time ; one of them, however—that facing the direction in which the