System and method for improving the strength of railcar axles
OwnerRichard Ruebuschinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for increasing a railcar transportation axle's resistance to failure comprising treating at least one area of the axle to create a compressive surface layer on the component in order to reduce the occurrences of stress related surface defects.
Claims20
A method of improving a rail transportation axle's resistance to failure comprising the step of treating at least one area of the axle to create a compressive surface layer on the axle in areas of high stress resulting from tension during operation of the axle.
A treatment system for treating one or more areas of interest on a rail transportation axle, the system comprising:
- a work holding fixture adapted to affix the rail transportation axle in position for the application of a surface improvement treatment where the work holding fixture is configured to allow the axle to rotate;
- and
- at least one surface treatment system applied to the rail transportation axle for improving the surface of the axle in areas where the axle is subject to tensile force during its intended use.
A treatment system for treating one or more areas of interest on a rail transportation axle, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting a rail transportation axle along a path through a treatment area, the conveyor including a plurality of individual carriers that travel along a track through a treatment area, each carrier equipped with rotatable rail transportation axle retaining elements and means for rotating a retained axle for presentation to a treatment device;
- at least one treatment device located in the treatment area;
- and
- a part-manipulating device located in the treatment area, the part-manipulating device adapted to position the carriers in one or more orientations to at least the one treatment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.