h a l f b a k e r yThe embarrassing drunkard uncle of invention.
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On steam-hauled trains that aren't fitted with automatic air or vacuum brakes, the driver is reliant on the guard operating a brake in the guard's van to help keep control of the train on gradients, be they up or down.
The driver can signal to the guard by blowing a steam whistle; many locomotives
have two, a "standard" whistle and a "brake" whistle.
But the guard has no means of signalling to the driver, other than coloured flags (during the day) or an oil lamp with a coloured lens (at night).
BorgCo are now able to offer a new and innovative system to rectify this omission. In the guard's van is an air receiver made of riveted iron plates, similar to a locomotive boiler. A compressor is driven by a belt from the axle of one of the van's wheels to keep the reservoir topped up. A safety valve and pressure gauge are provided.
The main reservoir feeds (via a non-return valve) a smaller secondary reservoir, to which is attached a whistle located on the roof of the van. A hand-pump attached to the small reservoir allows it to be pressurised by the guard in an emergency; there is a second pressure gauge on the small reservoir.
The whistle is operated by a piece of strong cord tied to the operating handle, which reaches to both ends of the van. This means the guard does not have to leave his post to operate the whistle, and the van is fully reversible.
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Annotation:
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If I've gotten this straight, you're suggesting an
improvement on ridiculously obselete technology? How
prevalant (outside of the PRC) is steam locomotive rail
traffic these days? |
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// A safety valve and pressure gauge are provided.// |
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// you're suggesting an improvement on ridiculously obselete technology // |
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You got a problem with that ? Wanna make something of it ? Eh ? EH ? |
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//Are you feeling alright? // |
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+++ Out of cheese error +++ |
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We've got a spoon, you know. |
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That thump from [po] seems to have had a more serious effect than we first assessed.... |
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// Wanna make something of it ? Eh ? EH ? // |
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Always! Choose your weapon, sir! Shall it be insults, as last
time? |
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If requested I am willing to act as [8th]'s second in this affair of honor. I'm certain that there's an idea in there, somewhere, halfbaked dueling, but I'm not awake enough yet to develop it. |
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// Shall it be insults, as last time? // |
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No, you should be allowed at least some sort of a chance ...only the Ferengi take pleasure in triumphing over an unarmed and defenceless opponent. |
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Custard cannons, at ten paces ... |
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[norm], you should write that up ... |
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I'm having difficulty reconciling steam engines,
safety devices and custard with a hegemonising
swarm. |
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As I'm still a little laid up at the moment, I am forced to
request that our custard-cannon duel be fought on this
side of the Pond. There's plenty of room on my front lawn,
and refreshments will be served by The Good Fairy Jenny. |
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//an improvement on ridiculously obsolete technology// |
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With digital technology you could also make a
compressed-air powered guard's whistle blower. |
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The compressed air supply can also be used to operate the brakes on
the van, with minimal effort and much, much faster than can be
achived with a screw mechanism. |
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