I seen these in pictures before but never asked, but what are those round things in the windows? I was thinking they’re reinforcements for the windows. You will have to use the link posted below.
They are disk windows that spin at high speed to keep the window clear of ice. They are common on snow fighting equiptment.
Hi Jordan
I learned what those were by watching the video, The BATTLE for DONNER PASS
These are special windows for ships or snow fighting equipment. Part of the window turns, or something like that, continuously thereby keeping the ice and snow from building up and blocking the view.
BTW, I think this is one of the vids that is on sale right now at Pentrex. [;)]
Hi guys
Guess I’ve never heard of that before.[%-)] Is it some sort of fan? That video sounds pretty cool Jim, I’ll have to check it out.[swg]
As anybody that does a lot of driving in snow/ice conditions can attest, windshield wipers don’t always work that good. So some smart individual came up with the idea of having a seperate circular window within the main window that is attached to a motor so that it spins. It spins at a speed that causes centrifugal force to throw the water/ice /snow off of its surface. As Jim pointed out this is common on ocean going vessels and may have originated in marine applications.
It is a snow plow or blower not sure which one
Definetly a plow, but looks like the plow “wings” are not extended to plow the far sides of the track.
I have seen them on icebreakers, but just assumed they were heated. Didn’t know they spun. Hey I want one now…
Adrianspeeder
It’s a Jordan Spreader
Looks like a Jordan to me…the wings aren’t deployed though. The spinning windows are common on ships. Wipers will collect ice eventually and it tends to be dangerous to try an clean the blades when it’s icy on things like ship bridges, snow plows, locomotive cabs…etc. IIRC, the SP geeps that were used on snow trains also had them.
Its a Jordan, as several folks have pointed out, but it is being used as a flanger, to clean out the track center and flangeway.
Ed
Jordan spreaders in snowfighting service are often used as plows and flangers combined. Ed doesn’t have to deal with this problem (extreme humidity is bad enough in its own right) but they can clear two or three tracks in one pass with wings extended if the snow isn’t too deep.
According to an article in TRAINS, SP borrowed the spinning windows from marine usage to apply to snowfighting equipment.
Yes, they were equipt too…here’s a shot that shows the effectivness of em’
I believe the spinning windows are called Kent screens. I seemed to have picked this trivia up from reading about ocean battles in WW 1 & 2.
Ed:
These things look like they might be helpful to your engineer when you’re switching in a tropical storm.