U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division |
U.S. Patent Classification System - Classification Definitions
as of June 30, 2000
Patents classified in a subclass may be accessed by either clicking on
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(definitions have been obtained from the
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Electronic Products Branch)
Class 291
TRACK SANDERS
Class Definition:
Means for applying sand or like material to vehicle-wheel
treads or to vehicle-tracks, such as automobile-roads or
railway-rails, or to both the wheel-treads and tracks, for
the purpose of increasing the tractive effect between such
wheels and roads or rails.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
118, Coating Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for coating
apparatus, per se, and especially subclasses 308+ for
apparatus for projecting particulate material on work
pieces.
222, Dispensing, for dispensing apparatus in general and see
the classes noted in sections 12, 16, and 17 of the class
definition.
239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, subclasses
650+ for vehicles the sole purpose of which is to
distribute sand on highways for use by other vehicles, and
comprising a container for nonfluid material (sand) and means
to scatter or strew the material over an extended area.
SUBCLASSES
Subclass:
1
Track-sanders not specifically provided for below.
Subclass:
2
The sand-dispensing device is automatically operated by the
slipping or skidding of a traction-wheel or the relative
slipping of two or more traction-wheels.
Subclass:
3
Devices in which the sand is displaced and propelled or after
gravity release is propelled through the delivery-pipe by
either air, steam, water, or engine exhaust-gases.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclasses 630+ for dispensers involving
fluid flow discharge.
406, Conveyors: Fluid Current.
451, Abrading, subclasses 75+ for a sandblast apparatus,
generally.
Subclass:
4
The cinders or smoke and cinders from a steam-locomotive
smoke-stack are utilized instead of sand.
Subclass:
5
Reversing means for fluid-pressure sand-delivery apparatus to
effect track-sanding in front of or at the rear of the
traction-wheels at will.
Subclass:
6
The sand-blast trap has a movable valve for determining which
delivery-pipe is to be used and the other cut out.
Subclass:
7
Supplemental attachments for fluid sand-delivery apparatus,
so that in case of absence of or failure of fluid-pressure or
at will a gravity sand-feed may be thrown into operation.
Subclass:
8
The gravity-feed pipe has a cut-off valve and the sand-blast
feed is through a by-pass around the gravity cut-off valve.
Subclass:
9
The sand-trap is located either in the side walls or below
the floor of the sand-dome and is swung in a vertical plane
to clear the opening to the discharge-pipe for gravity feed.
Subclass:
10
The sand-trap, usually on the floor of the sand-dome, is
moveably mounted and is swung horizontally to uncover the
sand-outlet for gravity operation.
Subclass:
11.1
Including sand trap:
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Service
comprising a retaining obstruction or horizontal passage to
which the sand is delivered for engagement thereat by the
air, steam, water, engine exhaust gas or other fluid. The
fluid moves the sand over the obstruction or along the
passage into the delivery pipe.
Subclass:
11.2
Multiple fluid inlets for delivery pipe:
This subclass is indented under subclass 11.1. Device having
two openings or nozzles though which the fluid flows to
engage and move the sand to or through the delivery pipe.
(1) Note. A service must have two openings or nozzles
associated with a single, common delivery pipe for inclusion
in this subclass.
(2) Note. In a device of this subclass, the fluid can flow
from the two openings or nozzles concurrently or at different
times. Devices having a particular fluid delivery nozzle in
combination with a cleanout blast nozzle or stirring nozzle
are included in this subclass.
(3) Note. A device in which fluid flowing from one opening
or nozzle induces additional flow from a second opening or
nozzle is included in this subclass.
Subclass:
11.3
Specified means to alter inlet fluid flow:
This subclass is indented under subclass 11.1. Device wherein
significance is attributed to means to change the character
of a flowing fluid prior to its engagement with the sand.
(1) Note. The character of a flowing fluid may be changed
by altering the flow rate, the location of the flow, etc.
(2) Note. A device comprising a mere valve or control means
located upstream of the trap which changes the character of
the fluid flow is not included in this subclass unless
particular structure of the valve or control means is
provided or unless particular valve or control means
operation or structure is recited.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
11.2 for fluid delivery devices having a sand-trap and
multiple fluid inlets for propelling sand to or though a
delivery pipe, particularly those devices wherein fluid flow
from the two inlets is adjusted interdependently.
Subclass:
12
Movable mechanical cleaning elements, as wires or pins, for
removing sand from the blast-nozzles in sand-traps.
Subclass:
13
Special forms of ports in blast-nozzles to impart a special
form to the air-jet or to prevent sand from backing up into
the blast-nozzle and screens or strainers for preventing the
sand from backing up through the blast-nozzles.
Subclass:
14
The movement of the brake or engineer's valve handle at a
determined point in its movement engages an abutment, which
operates the control-valve of fluid sand-delivery apparatus
or the sand-feeding device in a gravity sand apparatus or
opens a port to control the sand-feeding device.
Subclass:
15
The movement of some valve other than the engineer's
brake-valve or of some movable member of a brake system
operates the control-valve of a fluid-operated sanding device
or a sand-feeding device in a gravity sanding apparatus.
Subclass:
16
Hand-operated valves for control of fluid-pressure sanders.
Subclass:
17
Sound-producing devices, air-blowers, or indicators to give
warning as to the operation of the sand-delivery mechanism.
Subclass:
18
An air or steam jet discharges into the top of the hopper for
effecting pressure on the mass of sand or discharges into the
mass of sand for the purposes of heating, drying, or breaking
up caked sand. This subclass does not include devices for
blowing sand out of the hopper.
Subclass:
19
Heating devices for heating or drying the sand, the
compressed air, or the sand-delivery apparatus, as by hot
air, gas-engine exhaust, etc.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclass 113, 131, and 146.1+ for other
dispensers combined with heaters.
Subclass:
20
Electric-resistance heaters for sand, air, sand-hoppers, and
delivery-pipes.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclass 333 for electric motor operated
impelling devices for dispensers.
Subclass:
21
Steam chambers and pipes for heating sand and sand-delivery
pipes by radiation.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclass 334 for fluid motor operated
impellers for dispensers.
Subclass:
22
The sand-dispensing mechanism is driven by power, as by
connection with a car wheel or axle.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclass 611.1 for ambulant dispensers
adapted to travel on rails or tracks, and subclasses 613+ for
ground wheel operated dispensers.
Subclass:
23
The sand is dispensed by the operation of an electric motor
or solenoid.
Subclass:
24
The sand-dispensing mechanism is operated by a rotary or
reciprocating pneumatic motor.
Subclass:
25
Devices for releasing the sand so that it may fall by gravity
to the wheel or track. The term "sand-feeders" is also used
to include devices for stirring up sand in the hoppers
preliminary to feeding it out.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, appropriate subclasses for dispensers in
general.
Subclass:
26
Sand-feeding apparatus operable at will for delivering sand
either in front of or behind the vehicle traction-wheels.
Subclass:
27
The sand is fed to the delivery-pipe by a moving-chain feed.
Subclass:
28
The sand releasing and stirring members have an angular
to-and-fro movement about axes at right angles to the plane
of rotation. The releasing members are hinged doors,
cylindrical segments, recessed or smooth, or of the
perforated-plug-valve type.
Subclass:
29
The pivoted cups cap the hopper discharge- openings.
Subclass:
30
The entire sand-hopper is tilted to cause a discharge of the
sand.
Subclass:
31
The pipes for delivering sand to the track are hinged
adjacent the hoppers, are flexible, or are bodily movable, so
that when the pipes are moved or bent the sand-discharge is
cut off.
Subclass:
32
Rotary plates and cylindrical members adapted to rotate
either continuously in the same direction or through a
complete revolution. This subclass also includes centrifugal
sowers.
Subclass:
33
Sand mixers or discharge devices of helical or screw form.
Subclass:
34
Sand-discharging and mixing plates or members having
rectilinear sliding movement in the sides or bottoms of the
sand-hoppers.
Subclass:
35
Plates with pivot-axes at right angles to the plates, so that
the plane of the plate and its plane of movement are the
same.
Subclass:
36
The plungers pass upwardly into the interior of the
sand-hoppers and so are usually combined mixers and
discharge-valves.
Subclass:
37
Same as 36 with addition of means for giving the plunger a
turning movement as it moves up and down in the hopper.
Subclass:
38
Details of sand-hoppers not otherwise classified below.
Subclass:
39
Sand-reservoirs combined with the wheel-guards of
automobiles.
Subclass:
40
Dome-shaped sand -reservoirs located on top of
steam-locomotive boilers.
Subclass:
41
Details of sand-delivery spouts and pipes not otherwise
classified below.
Subclass:
42
Movable devices inside the sand-pipes for cleaning them.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclasses 148+ for other dispensers
combined with a cleaner.
Subclass:
43
A current of air or steam is blown through the delivery-pipe.
In case of a delivery-pipe in fluid sanding system the
cleaning-current is additional to the sand, air, or steam
blast for moving the sand.
Subclass:
44
Flexible and articulated delivery-pipes designed to
accommodate relative movement between traction-wheel frames
and other parts of the vehicle due to relative vertical
movements of such parts or to relative angular movement when
rounding curves.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclasses 527+ for other flexible
dispenser outlet pipes or nozzles.
Subclass:
45
A plurality of sections of sand-delivery pipes having sliding
connection with each other.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclass 523 for other telescopic delivery
pipes or nozzles.
Subclass:
46
Details or nozzles, such as sleeves, inserts, and tip forms.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclasses 566+ for other dispenser
nozzles.
Subclass:
47
This includes nozzle-tips pivoted to the pipe adjacent the
wheel or track.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
222, Dispensing, subclasses 526+ for other movable
dispenser nozzles and see the notes for other subclasses
having such subject matter, subclasses 533+ having swingable
nozzles.
Subclass:
48
Devices for preventing the passage of pebbles or coarse
foreign matter to the sand-delivery devices.
Information Products Division -- Contacts
Questions regarding this report should be directed to:
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division
PK3- Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231
tel: (703) 306-2600
FAX: (703) 306-2737
email: oeip@uspto.gov
Last Modified: 6 October 2000