Mobile waterjet rail repair system
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorJoep Jacobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A translatable, ultra-high pressure liquid jet system includes a translatable frame configured to maintain mechanical contact with a rail. The liquid jet system includes a liquid jet processing head affixed to the frame and configured to maintain a distance from the rail and provide a liquid jet that contacts the rail. The liquid jet system also includes an ultra-high pressure liquid pump in fluid communication with the liquid jet processing head. The ultra-high pressure liquid pump is configured to supply pressurized liquid to the liquid jet processing head.
Claims24
A translatable, ultra-high pressure liquid jet system for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation, the system comprising:
- a translatable frame configured to maintain mechanical contact with a rail;
- a liquid jet processing head affixed to the frame and configured to maintain a distance from the rail and provide a liquid jet that contacts the rail;
- an ultra-high pressure liquid pump in fluid communication with the liquid jet processing head, the ultra-high pressure liquid pump capable of supplying pressurized liquid to the liquid jet processing head to generate a liquid jet pressure of at least 30,000 psi for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation;
- an abrasive feed system in fluid communication with the liquid jet processing head;
- and
- a nozzle for directing a focused jet of water and abrasive onto a portion of the rail for cutting or shaving the portion of the rail.
A curved jet nozzle for an ultra-high pressure liquid jet system configured for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation, the nozzle comprising:
- a frame configured to engage a rail;
- at least two liquid jet processing heads attached to the frame at different angles with respect to a ground plane;
- an ultra-high pressure liquid pump fluidly connected to the at least two liquid jet processing heads, the ultra-high pressure liquid pump capable of supplying pressurized fluid to each of the at least two liquid jet processing heads to form a first liquid jet and a second liquid jet that intersects the first liquid jet to form a composite liquid jet that contacts the rail, wherein a liquid jet pressure of the composite liquid jet is sufficient for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation;
- and
- an abrasive feed system in fluid communication with the at least two liquid jet processing heads,
- the nozzle configured to direct a focused jet of water and abrasive onto a portion of the rail for cutting or shaving a portion of the rail.
A translatable, ultra-high pressure liquid jet system for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation, the system comprising:
- first means for maintaining mechanical contact with a rail;
- second means for providing a liquid jet that contacts the rail, the second means attached to the first means and configured to maintain a distance from the rail;
- third means for supplying pressurized liquid to the second means to generate a liquid jet pressure of at least 30,000 psi for a rail cutting operation or a re-profiling operation, the third means in fluid communication with the second means;
- and
- fourth means for directing a focused jet of water and abrasive onto a portion of the rail for cutting or shaving the portion of the rail, the fourth means in fluid communication with the second means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.