Portable profiler for locomotive or railcar wheels

A system configured to profile a first wheel of a first pair of wheels mounted on an axle of a train car or locomotive and the system being configured to be at least partially in contact with a track comprising a first rail and a second rail to provide a profile to the first wheel matching an electronically stored profile, wherein the first wheel is raised from the first rail while allowing one or more second pairs of wheels of the train car or locomotive to engage the track, the system comprising:

• a control configured to control a positioning system configured to hold a cutting tool;
• an apparatus configured to be disposed on the first rail of the track, the apparatus comprising:
• the cutting tool, wherein the cutting tool configured to engage the first wheel;
• the positioning system, wherein the positioning system is configured to position the cutting tool;
• and
• wherein the positioning system is controlled by the control so that the first wheel is profiled to the electronically stored profile, wherein an entirety of the cutting tool and the positioning system is disposed between a line parallel to the first rail and through a center point of the first wheel and a bottom of the first rail when profiling the first wheel;
• and
• a lifting device configured to raise the first wheel from the first rail, the lifting device being separate from and not in contact with the apparatus.

A portable system for profiling a first wheel of a locomotive or train car on a track comprising a first rail and a second rail, wherein the locomotive or train car comprises a first pair of wheels comprising the first wheel on the first rail and a second wheel on the second rail, wherein the locomotive or train car comprises a second pair of wheels disposed on the track, the second pair of wheels comprising a third wheel on the first rail and a fourth wheel on the second rail, wherein the first wheel is lifted from the first rail and the second wheel is lifted from the second rail when the first wheel is lifted from the first rail, wherein the second wheel is connected to the first wheel through an axle, and wherein the first wheel is lifted so that at least the second pair of wheels remain on the first and the second rails, the apparatus comprising:

• a lifting device configured to lift the first wheel from the first rail without contacting the first wheel;
• a base configured to be attached to the first rail;
• a cutter;
• a positioning system configured to move the cutter relative to the first wheel and being coupled to the base;
• and
• a computer control configured to control the positioning system, wherein the positioning system is controlled so that the first wheel is profiled to a desired profile, wherein the first wheel is free to spin, wherein the base, the positioning system and the cutter are disposed between a line parallel to the first rail and through a center point of the first wheel and a bottom of the first rail.