Lubrication – Rail or rail vehicle wheel lubricator – On vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-02-06
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Rail or rail vehicle wheel lubricator
On vehicle
C222S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182793
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a lubrication system and method for applying a lubricant to the wheels of a vehicle that runs on tracks, and more specifically, to a lubrication system and method for automatically applying a viscous fluid lubricant to the flanges of the rail wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Evidence of the need for lubricating the flanges of rail wheels is audibly evident when a train travels around a curved section of track. The sound of the flanges of each wheel of the train rubbing against the sides of the rails is normally very audible as a high-pitched “squealing” sound. Of greater importance than the annoying sound this action produces is the wear on the rails and the wheels that results from the friction between these components. A common cure for friction between two rubbing surfaces and the wear that results is the application of a lubricant to the surfaces. However, in the case of rail wheels and tracks, care must be taken not to apply a lubricant to the interface between the crown of the rails and the rolling surfaces of the driving wheels of a locomotive, since friction is required at this interface to drive the locomotive forward, particularly on grades. Even if the lubricant is applied only to the flanges of the wheels, it may creep onto the rolling surfaces, where it is not needed or desired.
U.S. Pat No. 4,915,856 discloses a solid lubricant composition that can be formed into strands, blocks, or rods of lubricant. An applicator applies the solid lubricant to the rail wheels by rubbing it onto the flanges of the wheels. The solid lubricant transfers to the sides of the rails and from thence onto the side of following rail wheels, thereby lubricating the wheel flanges of substantially all of the cars in a train. Due to its high viscosity, the solid lubricant does not creep onto the adjacent surfaces of the wheels, where it is not desired. As a practical matter, the lubricant is typically applied to the wheel flanges of a locomotive at the front of a train.
One of the problems with the solid lubricant disclosed in the above-noted patent is that only a relatively limited amount of the material can conveniently be held in an applicator mounted adjacent to the wheel flange. The rate of application is sufficiently great that the solid lubricant supply is relatively quickly consumed. For short haul locomotives and light rail commuter trains, this limited quantity of the solid lubricant that is available to be applied is not such a problem, since the maintenance intervals on such trains are typically only a few days or weeks. Also, short haul trains are more readily available for servicing, during which the supply of solid lubricant in an applicator can readily be replenished. In contrast, long haul trains of the type that carry freight across the country, operate with a much longer maintenance interval, e.g., with scheduled maintenance occurring about every 92 days. Replenishing a solid lubricant block or rod in an applicator every few days is simply not practical on a long haul locomotive.
Ideally, it would be desirable to apply a lubricant to wheel flanges on the wheels of a locomotive at a rate that is determined by the rolling speed of the wheels. By controlling the rate of application as a function of train speed, it should be possible to meter the application of the lubricant to the wheel flanges in a manner that applies only the amount of lubricant required. Clearly, sufficient wheel flange lubricant to last for the entire normal maintenance interval cannot be contained within an applicator mounted under a locomotive. Instead, a different type of lubricant will be required, the lubricant must be stored in a compartment on the locomotive rather than under it, and the lubricant must be applied in a novel manner that ensures the wheel flanges are properly lubricated the entire time that the train is in operation. To ensure adequate lubrication is applied to transfer to the wheel flanges of other railcars in the train, it will be preferable to apply the lubricant to a plurality of wheel flanges on both sides of the trains, but from a single supply source, thereby simplifying the replenishment of the supply of lubricant, when needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accord with the present invention, a system is provided for applying a lubricant to a rail wheel flange of a rail wheel that rolls along a track. The system includes a container of the lubricant and a pump having an inlet port and outlet port. The inlet port of the pump is coupled in fluid communication with the container. An applicator is mounted adjacent to the rail wheel flange and is connected in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pump. Preferably, an electric motor, or other prime mover, is drivingly connected to the pump, to apply a driving force that causes the pump to draw the lubricant from the container. The lubricant is forced through the applicator onto the rail wheel flange, thereby lubricating it to reduce friction and wear between the rail wheel flange and a side of the track.
Preferably, additional containers of the lubricant are provided and are also connected in fluid communication with the inlet port of the pump. The number of additional containers of lubricant is sufficient to provide adequate lubrication for a standard maintenance interval of a rail vehicle on which the system is disposed. In the preferred form of the invention, each container comprises a collapsible, flexible bag disposed within a box.
The containers are disposed at a plurality of different elevations, so that lubricant in a container that is at a lower elevation is preferably drawn by the pump and applied to the rail wheel flange before lubricant in a container that is at a higher elevation. Additional applicators that are preferably coupled in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pump and are mounted adjacent other rail wheel flanges to which the lubricant is applied. In the preferred form of the invention, a fluid distributor sequentially directs lubricant from the pump to each applicator in succession.
Also preferably provided in the system is a connector that is adapted to couple to a wheel speed sensor used on the locomotive to monitor a rotational speed of a rail wheel, as the wheel rolls along the track. The wheel speed sensor produces a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the rail wheel. A controller is coupled to the prime mover and to the connector and is employed to control a rotational speed of the prime mover in response to the signal indicative of the rotational speed of the rail wheel flange. The pump is thereby driven by the prime mover at a speed proportional to the rotational speed of the rail wheel. As a result, the lubricant is applied to the rail wheel flange at a flow rate proportional to the wheel's rotational speed.
Typically, the applicator is mounted under a locomotive and applies the lubricant to the rail wheel flange of a rail wheel mounted on the locomotive. In addition, the applicators are adapted to mount a front end and a rear end of the locomotive and to apply the lubricant to the rail wheel flanges of at least one rail wheel mounted adjacent thereto. The applicators are used in pairs, such that when one applicator of a pair is mounted to apply lubricant to a rail wheel flange on one side of the locomotive, a second applicator of the pair is mounted to apply lubricant to the rail wheel flange on an opposite side of the locomotive.
In one version, a fixed mounting bracket is provided that is adapted to mount the applicator on a locomotive having rail wheels turning on tapered roller bearings. In a different version, a mounting bracket is employed that allows for lateral movement of the applicator and is adapted to mount the applicator on a locomotives having rail wheels turning on cylindrical roller bearings.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed at a method for lubricating a rail wheel flange of a rail wheel that rolls along a track, during an extended predefined maintenance interval
Anderson Ronald M.
Bucci David A.
Kim Chong H.
Warren Jamison
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