Track sanders – Sand-delivery pipe
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2003-07-08
Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)
Track sanders
Sand-delivery pipe
C291S001000, C291S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06588808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of rail transportation, and more specifically to on-board systems for treating the rail directly in front of a locomotive wheel, and in particular, to verifying the proper alignment of a nozzle of a locomotive rail treatment apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modem locomotives are commonly powered by electric traction motors coupled via suitable gearing to one or more axles of the vehicle. In the motoring mode of operation, the traction motors are supplied with electric current from a controllable source of electric power, such as an engine-driven alternator, to rotate the axle. The axle drives a wheel which, in turn, supports the locomotive on the rail and propels the vehicle along the track. In the braking mode of operation, the electric motor may have its mode changed to function as a generator to assist the mechanical brakes in slowing the speed of the locomotive. In any mode of operation, good adhesion between the wheel and the rail is required for efficient operation of the vehicle. The peak pulling and braking capability of the locomotive may be limited by the adhesion available between the drive wheels and the rails. Contaminants such as snow, water, grease, insects and rust that are present on the rail can reduce the maximum available adhesion.
Systems for treating the rail directly in front of a rail vehicle wheel in order to improve adhesion between the wheel and the rail are well known in the art. The use of compressed air and steam to clean the rail in a railroad system began in the 1,800's. Modern locomotives are often equipped with a sanding system and a rail cleaning system. A cleaning system may include a supply of compressed air selectively delivered to a nozzle having an outlet directly in front of a drive wheel. The nozzle directs a blast of compressed air against the rail at a predetermined angle of attack in order to displace contaminants from the rail. Such cleaning systems are often used to remove accumulations of snow in cold environments. A sanding system may include a supply of sand or other particulate matter selectively delivered to a nozzle having an outlet directly in front of a drive wheel. The nozzle directs a quantity of sand between the rail and the wheel. The sand improves the adhesion between the wheel and the rail, particularly in the presence of snow, ice or grease.
The proper operation of rail treatment systems is important for minimizing the number of adhesion-related stalls that occur on a railway. This is particularly true for railroads in cold climates where snow and ice are a constant challenge. Such systems must be routinely inspected and maintained to ensure that the outlet nozzle of the system is properly aligned with respect to the wheel and the rail so that the material delivered by the nozzle is used effectively. The term “material” as used herein with respect to a rail conditioning system is meant to be inclusive of the sand, steam, compressed air, adhesion product, or other matter that is expelled from a nozzle of a rail conditioning system and directed toward the rail or wheel for accomplishing a desired treatment.
FIG. 1
is an example of a prior art rail conditioning system nozzle alignment verification system
10
, in this case applied to a sand application system
11
. A locomotive includes a drive wheel
12
and a sand nozzle
14
having an outlet
16
for directing a diffused spray
18
of adhesion-enhancing material toward a rail
20
directly in front of the wheel
12
. The diffused spray
18
will have a distribution pattern that is determined by the geometry of the nozzle outlet
16
and that is selected by the system designer to provide a preferred pattern of adhesion-enhancing material on the rail
20
. A centerline C/L
N
of the nozzle outlet
16
and of the diffused spray
18
may be aligned with a centerline C/L
W
of the wheel
12
for proper application of the adhesion-enhancing material. An alignment tool
22
includes a body member
24
designed to fit over the nozzle and an elongated handle
24
attached to the body
24
for manipulation by an inspector. The alignment tool
22
also includes a pointer
28
connected to the body
24
and extending in the direction of the material spray
18
. Pointer
28
is designed to have a shape that places its tip
30
along the centerline C/L
N
of the diffused spray
18
at a predetermined distance from the nozzle outlet
16
. An inspector may determine if the sand nozzle
14
is properly aligned by viewing the location of the tip
30
of the pointer
28
relative to the rail
20
. In the event that the nozzle
14
is not properly aligned, the handle
26
also provides leverage for the inspector to apply a force for bending the sand delivery tube
32
to achieve proper alignment of the nozzle outlet
16
.
Prior art rail conditioning system nozzle alignment verification system
10
is more effective as an adjustment tool than as an inspection tool. A typical sand delivery tube
32
may be a steel tube having and outside diameter of 1.25 inches and an inside diameter of {fraction (15/16)} inch. The tube
32
has such a sturdy construction in order to be able to minimize damage due to impacts with passing objects. In order to bend such a pipe for alignment purposes, it is necessary to apply a considerable amount of force while the material is heated to a red-hot condition. Alignment tool
22
functions as a large pry bar for exerting such force. There is a necessary gap between the inside dimension of the alignment tool body
24
and the outside dimension of the sand nozzle
14
in order for the tool
22
to fit over the nozzle
14
. This gap allows the body
24
to wobble relative to the true centerline C/L
N
of the nozzle outlet
16
, and that movement is exaggerated at the pointer tip
30
. Thus, the combination of a bending tool and an alignment mechanism into a single tool
22
results in a poor alignment guide. Alignment of the nozzle
14
may be expected to have an uncertainty of up to ±½ inch where the adhesion material strikes the rail
20
as a result of this movement. Furthermore, the alignment tool
22
is heavy and awkward for the inspector to use, since it must be able to withstand the forces necessary for bending the delivery tube
32
when adjustment is required.
FIG. 1
also illustrates the location of the outlet nozzle
34
of a type of rail cleaning system
35
called a Snow Blaster. A diffused pattern of compressed air
36
is generated by the nozzle
34
which receives the air through a delivery pipe
38
. The delivery pipe
38
may typically be a ½ inch schedule
80
steel tube with a ½ inch union welded onto an end to accept the nozzle
34
. The delivery pipe
38
is attached to the sand pipe support bracket, which in turn is attached to the truck at the journal box (not shown). The compressed air
36
is directed toward the rail
20
at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail
20
and with respect to a vertical axis through the rail
20
. The compressed air
36
is used to remove snow and ice from the rail directly in front of the locomotive wheel
12
. Current operating procedures require the nozzle
34
to be removed for cleaning and inspection on a periodic basis. The alignment of the nozzle
34
is also visually checked at that time and any gross misalignment corrected. Delivery pipe
38
must be heated to a red-hot condition and bent to change the alignment of the nozzle
34
. No process currently exists for accurately determining the alignment of the nozzle
34
with respect to the rail
20
.
One may appreciate that the operating environment of the nozzles
14
,
34
of a rail conditioning system can be quite harsh. The nozzles
14
,
34
are exposed to atmospheric conditions including rain, snow and temperature extremes. They are also subject to impact with foreign objects in the path of the rail
20
and with debris that is dislodged by the moving locomotive, for example rocks, litter and ice. As a result,
Beusse Brownlee Bowdoin & Wolter P.A.
General Electric Company
Le Mark T.
Maire David G.
Rowold Carl
LandOfFree
Locomotive rail conditioning system alignment verification does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Locomotive rail conditioning system alignment verification, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Locomotive rail conditioning system alignment verification will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3025787