Locomotive snow removal enhancement
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMirza Aref Ahmed Baig, Admir Mesalic, Ryan Eric Perry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device to further remove snow left by a locomotive snowplow while enhancing traction and control of a locomotive or powered car. The snow removal enhancement method and device typically include a flap arranged to extend beyond a bottom edge of a locomotive snowplow over each rail. The flap loosens and removes residual snow, as well as other debris, left by the snowplow. The device handily removes snow while being constructed of the thinnest material possible.
Claims45
A snow removal flap for a locomotive having sets of wheels and a snow plow ahead of a front set of locomotive wheels for removing snow left in place on a railroad rail by the snow plow, the flap comprising:
- a generally elongate member constructed to be of generally high rigidity and mechanical strength along a first axis generally parallel to a top of the rail to resist bending of the flap as the flap removes snow from the rail and to be of generally low rigidity and mechanical strength along other axes so as to be deformable by the locomotive wheels if the flap becomes detached from the locomotive and comes to be positioned between the wheels and the rail, the member comprises:
- an upper portion adapted to be secured to an underside of the locomotive, the member extending from said upper portion toward but stopping short of the railroad rail, with the member being positioned behind the snow plow and ahead of the front set of locomotive wheels;
- and
- a lower portion adapted to be positioned below a bottom edge of the snowplow.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising a flap having material characteristics that do not interfere with the normal operation of locomotive wheels should said flap detach from said locomotive.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising a flap having a resistance sufficient to deflect settled snow that is not removed by a locomotive snowplow.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising:
- a flap including;
- an upper portion, and
- a lower portion, wherein said lower portion has a resistance to bending and is configured and dimensioned for normal operation of locomotive wheels should said lower portion detach from said locomotive.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising:
- a flap having a lower portion and an upper portion;
- an area in said upper portion for mounting said flap, said flap extending toward a rail and within close proximity thereof;
- and
- a fixture assembly attachable to a locomotive and attachable to said area .
A method for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprises:
- plowing snow utilizing a locomotive snowplow acting as a primary snow removal device;
- and
- removing additional snow left by said snowplow from a rail on which said locomotive traverses with a snow removal enhancement device at a specific orientation behind said locomotive snowplow and extending closer to a rail than said snowplow, whereby said device removes snow and debris from a rail left by said snowplow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.