Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TOP OF RAIL APPLICATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
lubricating railroad rails or for applying friction
modifiers to railroad rails.
2. Description of the Invention Background
In the operation of railroads, it has long been
the practice to apply grease or friction modifier materials
onto railroad rails, such as to the top of rails or sides
of the rails at curves, turnouts, switches, in some cases
the sections of the track immediately before a switch, and
periodically spaced along the length of the track. Such
lubricants and friction modifying materials, such as
grease, can either reduce or increase the friction where
necessary to improve train performance and reduce wear on
both the rails and the train wheels.
In the case of a friction modifying material,
i . e. , a material that increases the friction between the
train wheel and the rail, the practice has been to apply
the friction modifier material to the top of the rail to
contact the train wheels. However, such prior art devices
have been less than adequate. Either the friction
modifying material does not reach the center of the rail
or substantial amounts of friction modifying material are
wasted by dripping or pouring along the sides of the rail.
Therefore, it is an object of the present
invention to overcome this limitation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a wayside application
system for applying a friction modifying material to the
top of railroad rails. More specifically, the present
invention is a top of rail applicator bar for applying the
material or lubricant to the head of a rail and includes a
body; a flow passageway defined in the body for the
material to flow through, the flow passageway defining an
exit end; and a dam defined adjacent to the exit end and
adapted to contain the material with the head of the rail.
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The applicator bar dam is preferably made of an elastomeric
material, such as Neoprene. Preferably, the dam includes
a D-shaped seal. The applicator bar can also include a
flexible skirt for enclosing an upper portion of the dam.
The skirt and a portion of the rail define a material exit
to direct the material toward a crown portion of the rail.
The applicator bar forms a part of a top of a
rail applicator system that includes a reservoir for
supplying the material such as a friction modifying
material or lubricant which is in fluid communication with
the flow passageway and a pump. The pump is actuated by a
pump actuator which is adapted to come in contact with the
wheels of a rail vehicle. In lieu of a pump actuator, any
type of pumping/activating arrangement can be provided such
as a wheel detector coupled through a controller, to an
electric motor, whereby once the wheel detector detects
train wheels, the electric motor is activated and coupled
to the pump to supply the friction modifying material or
lubricant to the flow passageway. In operation the
applicator bar applies the friction modifying material or
lubricant by coaction of the rail wheel with the dammed
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a partial schematic view of a railway
rail friction modifying apparatus made in accordance with
the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an end elevational view partially in
section of an applicator bar coacting with a rail made in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an elevational plan view of the
applicator bar shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an elevational end view of a portion of
the applicator bar shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevational view of
the applicator bar shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an exploded elevational view of the
portion of the applicator bar shown in Fig. 2;
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Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of another
embodiment of the applicator bar made in accordance with
the present invention;
Fig. 8 is an elevational end view of another
embodiment of the applicator bar made in accordance with
the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 8 attached to a rail;
Fig. 10 is an end view of another embodiment of
an applicator bar made in accordance with the present
invention;
Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a portion
of the applicator bar shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of a portion
of the applicator bar shown in Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of another
embodiment of an applicator bar made in accordance with the
present invention; and
Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a D-shaped seal
shown in Fig. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 shows a partial schematic of a top of rail
applicator 10 made in accordance with the present
invention. Specifically, Fig. 1 shows the railway top of
rail applicator 10 for use with railroad rails 12. Each
rail 12 includes a base 14 that has flanges 16 and 18
extending therefrom. The rail 12 also includes a head 20
and a web 22 which secures the head to the base 14. A pump
actuator 24 is provided, which is substantially the same as
the pump actuator disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,394,958.
Alternatively,
a wheel detector through a controller is coupled with an
electric motor arrangement 25, shown in phantom, can be
used in lieu of the pump actuator 24. The pump actuator 24
is secured to the rail 12 via clamps, such as S-shaped
clamps. The pump actuator 24 or the arrangement 25 coacts
with an applicator bar 26 which is schematically shown in
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Fig. 1. The pump actuator 24 includes a pump 28 that is in
fluid communication with a reservoir 30. In operation a
rail wheel, such as a locomotive wheel, contacts the pump
actuator 24, thereby, activating the pump 28 and supplying
the friction modifying material or a lubricant to the
applicator bar 26. The applicator bar 26 is arranged to
provide friction modifying material adjacent the field
surface or outside surface of the rail head 20 as opposed
to the gauge surface or inside surface of the rail head 20.
Alternatively, the arrangement 25 is activated by the
presence of a rail wheel passing thereby. Typically, the
pump actuator 24 and/or the arrangement 25 are placed in
close proximity to the applicator bar 26, while the
reservoir is positioned twenty-five to thirty feet from the
applicator bar 26.
Typically, the electric motor of the arrangement
is operated by 220 volt AC, 110 volt AC or 12 volt DC,
for example. The electric motor can be so arranged so that
the friction modifying material or lubricant is supplied to
20 every wheel, or every other wheel, etc. Generally, four
applicator bars 26 are supplied by one reservoir 30. It
has been found that if the friction modifying material has
a viscosity similar to water, then check valves 31 are
provided in fluid communication with each applicator bar 26
25 to prevent the reverse flow of the friction modifying
material. Also, flow control valves, such as globe valves
31', can be provided to control flow through each of the
applicator bars 26.
A first embodiment of the applicator bar 26, made
in accordance with the present invention, is shown in Figs.
2-6. Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, the
applicator bar 26 is mounted to the rail 12 through two
oppositely positioned mounting clamps 32. Each mounting
clamp 32 includes a J-bolt 34 having a J-shaped end adapted
to receive the flange 16. Each J-bolt 34 includes a
threaded end 36 that passes through the mounting clamp 32.
The mounting clamp 32 also includes a recess adapted to
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receive the flange 18. Nuts and a lockwasher 38 are
received at the threaded end 36 to securably hold the
mounting clamp 32 to the rail 12. Spacers 40 are provided
on an upper surface of the mounting clamp 32 onto which an
applicator bar mounting body 44 is secured through a
fastener 42. The fastener 42 has a threaded end that is
threadably secured to the mounting clamp 32. The
applicator bar 26 is secured to the applicator bar mounting
body 44.
Referring to Figs. 4-6, the applicator bar 26
includes a body 45 that includes an inlet 46 which is in
fluid communication with the pump 28 through hosing (not
shown) connecting the inlet 46 to the pump 28. The inlet
46 is secured and is in fluid communication with a manifold
48. The manifold 48 includes a plurality of channels C,
similar to the channels disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
5,394,958. A manifold bar 50 is secured to the manifold 48
by fasteners 52. A fluid passageway P is defined by
channels C formed in the manifold 48 and holes H provided
in the manifold bar 50, similar to that as disclosed in
U.S. Patent No. 5,394,958. Preferably, all of the surfaces
defining the fluid passageways are lined with Teflon~. An
inner seal 54 is provided and secured to a front blade 56.
The front blade 56 abuts against an outer surface of the
manifold bar 50. The front blade 56 includes a plurality,
in this case two, of slots SL aligned with holes H. The
front blade 56 includes a plurality of aligning tabs 58.
A distribution blade 60 receives the aligning tabs 58 and
abuts against the front blade 56. The distribution blade
60 includes slots L that receive tabs 58 and abut against
the front blade 56. A vertical flow passageway F is
defined by inner surfaces of the front blade 56 and the
distribution blade 60.
An elongated "D-shaped seal" 62 is secured to an
outer surface of the distribution blade 60. A back bar 64
is secured to the distribution blade 60. Fasteners 66 pass
through the back bar 64, the distribution blade 60, the
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front blade 56, the manifold bar 50 and the manifold 48
securing the members to one another. The back bar includes
an angle bracket 68 to hold a back surface of a seal 62 in
place. The manifold channels C, the holes H and slots SL
and the space defined front blade 56 and the distribution
blade 60 define the flow passageway F, all of which are in
fluid communication with each other and permit a friction
modifying material to flow therethrough.
Referring back to Fig. 2, the applicator bar 26
is secured to the rail 12 through the J-bolts 34. The
spacers 48, which can be varying numbers, are provided so
that the inner seal 54 abuts and seals against the head 20
of the rail 12. The inner seal 54 extends along
substantially for the entire length of the applicator bar
26. The exit E of the flow passageway F is defined by
upper ends of the distribution blades 60 and the front
blade 56. In this arrangement, the D-shaped seal has an
upper surface positioned above the crown CR of the rail
head. Further, as shown in Fig. 3, ends 67 of the D-shaped
seal are pressed against the rail head 20 by end brackets
B. The crown CR of the rail head is contained on an upper
surface SU of the rail. Each end bracket B includes an
elongated plate PL attached to one of the applicator bar
mounting bodies 44, a piece of key stock K, which is
attached to plate PL, is arranged to sandwich the D-shaped
seal 62 against the rail head 20 as shown in Fig. 7. This
arrangement will create a reservoir R or dam 69, through a
dammed structure defined by the ends 67 and the D-shaped
seal 62, the inner seal 54 and an upper end surface of the
rail head 20. The dam is positioned adjacent exit end E.
The inner seal 54 prevents the friction modifying material
from flowing between the rail head 20 and the applicator
bar 26, although with a thick friction modifying material,
such as grease, the dam 69 may not require the inner seal
54. However, with less viscous materials, such as water
based materials, the inner seal should be used.
Preferably, D-shaped seal 62 and the inner seal 54 are made
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of an elastomeric, flexible material, such as
Neoprene/EPDM/SBR closed cell sponge rubber. Seals 54 and
62 are provided with adhesive backings so that they can be
adhesively secured to the respective parts of the
applicator bar 26. The D-shaped seal 62 has an inner air
pocket A between the Neoprene curved member and straight
member. It has been found that this arrangement can
survive the compression caused by rail wheels contacting
the D-shaped seal 54 and compressing the D-shaped seal 62
over a long period of time. Although it is preferable to
use the above described seals, any other type of elastic
seal will suffice. Also, to prevent the D-shaped seal from
being pulled away from the applicator bar 26, an angle
bracket 68 (as shown in Fig. 7 and in Figs. 2 and 4-6) can
be provided and which is discussed below.
In operation a railroad vehicle travels along the
rail 12. Initially a rail wheel of the railroad vehicle
passes over the pump actuator 24 thereby activating the
pump 28. The pump 28 provides friction modifying material
from the reservoir 30 to the applicator bar 26.
Alternatively, the previously described arrangement 25 can
be provided in lieu of the pump actuator 24. Specifically,
the friction modifying material passes through the inlet 46
into the manifold 48 and is distributed along the length of
the applicator bar 26. The friction modifying material
then passes between the front blade 56 and distribution
blade 60 through the flow passageway F and exits through
the exit E directed to the rail head 20. The rail head 20,
D-shaped seal 62, and inner seal 54 define the reservoir R
of friction modifying material that terminate at the crown
CR of the rail head 20. As the rail wheels then pass over
the portion of the rail head 20 that is adjacent to the
applicator bar 26, the friction modifying material, which
is directed to the upper surface SU through exit E, then
contacts the rail wheel, typically near the crown CR of the
rail head 20. When using the arrangement 25, the friction
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modifying material can be supplied to a varying number of
wheels or all of the wheels.
Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of an
applicator bar 26' of the present invention with like
numerals used for like elements. Essentially, applicator
bar 26' is the same as the applicator bar 26 except for the
following differences. Specifically, a Neoprene skirt 70
is secured to an upper portion of the applicator bar 26'
through the angle bracket 68. The angle bracket 68 is
secured to the back bar 64 via welding. An end of the
angle bracket 68 is positioned adjacent the D-shaped seal
62 so that the skirt 70 is sandwiched between the D-shaped
seal and the bracket 68. The angle bracket 68 is also used
without the skirt 70 to hold the D-shaped seal 62 in place.
The skirt 70 extends toward the crown CR of the rail head
20. It is important to note that the skirt 70 should be
flexible. The skirt 70 extends substantially along the
length of the applicator bar 26'. In this arrangement, a
reservoir area 72 is defined, that is bounded by a portion
of the rail head 20, an inner surface of the skirt 70, the
D-shaped seal 62 and the inner seal 54. Operation of the
applicator bar 26' is similar to that as previously
described for applicator bar 26, except, that as the rail
wheels pass over the skirt 70 lubricant is squeezed onto
the rail head through a passageway 74 defined by the end of
the skirt 70 and the rail head 20. The skirt 70 is
arranged to provide the friction modifying material toward
an upper surface. It has been found that this arrangement
improves the application of the friction modifying material
to the rail 12 and rail wheels. Further, it has been found
that the skirt 70 prevents excess friction modifying
material flowing from around the seals and it has been
found that the skirt 70, which is positioned adjacent the
exit end E, prevents evaporation of the friction modifying
material over time and prevents clogging of the exit
passageway defined between the front blade and distribution
blade 60 through the evaporation of the friction modifying
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material. Furthermore, it has been found that the skirt 70
prevents excess dirt and other materials from clogging the
exit passageway E. The skirt 70 can be replaced
periodically due to wear. It has also been found that the
skirt end 76 should be positioned below the crown CR of the
rail head 20 for the best results. It has also been found
that the tread or outer edge of the rail wheel should
contact an intermediate portion 78 of the skirt 70 for the
best application of the friction modifying material.
Preferably, the skirt is made of a flexible elastomeric
material, although it may be made of other materials such
as metal.
Figs. 8 and 9 show another alternative embodiment
26" of an applicator bar similar to that shown in Figs. 1-
6, except for the below noted difference. Like reference
numerals will be used for like elements.
First, the single elongated D-shaped seal 62 is
eliminated and two substitute D-shaped seals 62' and 62 "
are provided only on the ends of the applicator bar,
wherein a flat surface 100 of the D-shaped seals 62' and
62 " have an adhesive that permits the respective D-shaped
seals 62' and 62 " to be attached to plates PL. A portion
of the D-shaped seals 62' and 62 " extend into the back bar
64'. Back bar 64' is similar to back bar 64 except the L-
shaped extension (bracket 68) is not provided. The D-
shaped seals 62' and 62 " extend into the bracket and
contact ends of inner seal 54.
Preferably, a skirt 70' is secured to an outer
surface of the guide blade 60 and held in place by the back
bar 64'. The skirt 70' may be a rectangular metallic
sheet, a polymeric material that may contain reinforcing
fibers, such as a Kevlar° sheet with fiberglass fibers, or
polymeric rubber material such as Neoprene.
Operation of the applicator bar 26 " is similar
to that as applicator bar 26' except that as the rail
wheels pass over the skirt 70', lubricant is squeezed onto
the rail head between a passageway 74' defined by an end of
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the skirt 70' and the rail head 20. Alternatively, the
skirt 70' need not be flexible and the material flows
through 74' due to pump activation. Also, in this
arrangement the reservoir area 72' is defined by the area
that is bounded by a portion of the rail head 20, an inner
surface of the skirt 70', the D-shaped seals 62' and 62 ",
the front blade 56 and the inner seal 54. As can be seen
with respect to the embodiments 26' , 26 " and 26 " ' , the
skirts 70, 70' and the end 200 of the distribution blade 60
are positioned adjacent the exit end E and direct the
material to the upper surface SU of the rail. Preferably,
the skirts 70, 70' and the end 200 of the distribution
blade 60 are positioned over portions of the rail upper
surface SU.
Fig. 10 shows yet another embodiment of an
applicator bar 26 " ' , which is similar to applicator bar
26 ", except for the below noted difference. Like
reference numerals are used for like elements. The skirt
70' is not present in the applicator bar 26 " ' , however,
the distribution blade 60 is of substantial length so as to
have an end portion with an end 200 in close proximity to
the crown CR wherein the end portion, acts as a skirt,
thereby eliminating the need for the separate skirts 70 and
70 " .
Fig. 11 shows the reservoir R or dam 69 of the
applicator bar 26. Fig. 12 shows the reservoir R' or dam
69' of the applicator bar 26 " . Skirt 70 is shown in
phantom on Fig. 11.
Figs. 13 and 14 show another embodiment of an
applicator bar 26 " ", which is similar to applicator bar
26 except for the below noted differences. Like reference
numerals are used for like elements. A D-shaped seal 62 " '
is provided similar to D-shaped seal 62, except a slot 300
is cut along a lower edge of the D-shaped seal 62 defining
a passageway 350 so that ends of the front blade 56 and the
distribution blade 60 are received within the D-shaped seal
62 " ' and the exit E is in fluid communication with the air
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pocket A. D-shaped seal 62 " ' acts like a skirt. A
plurality of holes 400 are defined on the D-shaped seal
which are in fluid communication with the air pocket A.
The holes ark arranged to direct friction modifying
material toward the rail upper surface SU and the rail
crown CR. The inner seal 54 is replaced by a portion 500
of the D-shaped seal 62 " ' . The D-shaped seal 62 " ' is
flexible and acts as a distributer having a D-shaped body.
The plurality of holes 400 are in fluid communication with
the exit end E and the air pocket A or reservoir chamber.
Ends 700 and 800 of the D-shaped seal 62 " ' are clamped as
previously described. Further, a silica gel material can
be provided at the ends 700 and 800 to seal off the ends to
prevent leakage of the friction modifying material. In
operation friction modifying material flows from exit E
into air pocket A and out of holes 400 toward the upper
surface SU and the crown CR. A reservoir 600 may be
defined between portion 500 and the rail upper surface SU.
With reference to all of the applicator bars 26,
26' , 26 " 26 " ' and 26 " " , the position or the angle a
(shown in Fig. 2) of entry through the exit of the passage
E and the vertical axis Z passing through the rail web 22
can vary between, for example, 45°-70°. In other instances
it is believed that the applicator bar exit E can be
positioned away from the rail in any orientation, such as
for example vertical, and an applicator attachment attached
thereto which has a flow passageway to direct the friction
modifying material to the rail upper surface SU and the
crown CR. The vertical and horizontal position of the
crown CR relative to the applicator bars 26, 26', 26",
26" ' and 26 " " , with the exception of the skirts 70 and
70', the seals and the distribution blade 60, may be varied
to accommodate either passenger trains or freight trains,
so that the train wheels do not come in contact with and
damage the remaining structure of the applicator bars.
Further, in some instances, the dam 69 or 69' may be
removed and the friction modifying material is directed to
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the upper surface SU and the crown CR via the skirts 70 or
70', or distribution blade end 200, for example.
Having described the presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that
it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the
appended claims.
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