Apparatus and method for dispensing a lubricant to the rail and determining the amount of lubricant dispensed and remaining

An apparatus for dispensing lubricant along a rail comprising:

• a housing;
• a reservoir for storing the lubricant and supported within said housing;
• a system for sensing the weight of the lubricant within said reservoir comprising:
• (a) two members for supporting said reservoir within said housing in a free-floating manner, and (b) at least one sensor for generating a first signal indicative of the weight of said reservoir and the lubricant within said reservoir;
• a microprocessor for receiving said signal to determine the weight of said reservoir and lubricant stored therein;
• a pump for advancing the lubricant from said reservoir to the rail;
• and
• a controller in communication with said microprocessor to activate said pump on demand.

An apparatus for dispensing lubricant along a rail comprising:

• a housing;
• a reservoir for storing the lubricant and supported within said housing;
• a system for sensing the weight of the lubricant within said reservoir comprising:
• (a) at least one member for supporting said reservoir within said housing wherein said reservoir is substantially fully supported by said at least one supporting member, and (b) at least one sensor for generating a first signal indicative of the weight of said reservoir and the lubricant within said reservoir;
• a microprocessor for receiving said signal to determine the weight of said reservoir and lubricant stored therein;
• a pump for advancing the lubricant from said reservoir to the rail;
• a controller in communication with said microprocessor to activate said pump on demand;
• a sensor adjacent the rail for sensing the passage of a rail wheel and sending a signal to said controller to activate said pump to dispense lubricant;
• a remote monitoring processor to receive data from said microprocessor and said controller and transmits the data by cellular or satellite to a website for collection and visualization;
• and
• a power source,
• wherein said microprocessor subsequently determines the weight of the lubricant remaining within the reservoir following said dispensing of lubricant to determine the amount of lubricant remaining in said reservoir.

An apparatus for dispensing lubricant along a rail comprising:

• a housing;
• a reservoir for storing the lubricant and supported within said housing;
• at least one member for supporting said reservoir within said housing in a free-floating manner,
• a microprocessor for receiving said first signal to determine a weight of said reservoir and lubricant stored therein;
• a pump for advancing the lubricant from said reservoir to the rail;
• a controller in communication with said microprocessor to activate said pump on demand;
• a sensor adjacent the rail for sensing the passage of a rail wheel and sending a signal to said controller to activate said pump to dispense lubricant;
• and
• a remote monitoring processor to receive data from said microprocessor and said controller and transmits the data by cellular or satellite to a website for collection and visualization,
• wherein said microprocessor subsequently determines the weight of the lubricant remaining within the reservoir following said dispensing of lubricant to determine the amount of lubricant remaining in said reservoir.

A method for determining the amount of lubricant remaining in the reservoir of one or more rail lubricating stations proximate railroad rails having rail wheels passing thereon, comprising the steps of:

• generating a signal from a first sensor indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the lubricant located therein within the lubricating station;
• determining the weight of the reservoir and lubricant located therein using a microprocessor;
• generating a signal from a second sensor proximate at least one rail indicative of the passing of a wheel;
• pumping lubricant from the reservoir onto the rail;
• generating a subsequent signal from the first sensor indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the remaining lubricant located therein;
• re-determining the weight of the reservoir and the remaining lubricant located therein using the microprocessor;
• and
• adjusting the amount of lubricant to be dispersed onto the rail based on the remaining amount of lubricant located within the reservoir.

A method for determining the amount of lubricant remaining in the reservoir of one or more rail lubricating stations proximate railroad rails having rail wheels passing thereon, comprising the steps of:

• generating a signal from a first sensor on a continuous basis indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the lubricant located therein within the lubricating station;
• determining the weight of the reservoir and lubricant located therein on a substantially continuous basis using a microprocessor;
• generating a signal from a second sensor proximate at least one rail indicative of the passing of a wheel;
• pumping lubricant from the reservoir onto the rail;
• generating a subsequent signal from the first sensor indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the remaining lubricant located within the reservoir;
• adjusting the amount of lubricant to be dispersed onto the rail based on the remaining amount of lubricant located within the reservoir;
• and
• transmitting all data received generated by the microprocessor resulting from the first sensor via cellular or satellite to a website for collection and visualization.

A method for determining the amount of lubricant remaining in the reservoir of one or more rail lubricating stations proximate railroad rails having rail wheels passing thereon, comprising the steps of:

• generating a signal from a first sensor on a continuous basis indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the lubricant located therein within the lubricating station;
• determining the weight of the reservoir and lubricant located therein on a substantially continuous basis using a microprocessor;
• generating a signal from a second sensor proximate at least one rail indicative of the passing of a wheel;
• pumping lubricant from the reservoir onto the rail;
• generating a subsequent signal from the first sensor indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the remaining lubricant located therein;
• adjusting the amount of lubricant to be dispersed onto the rail based on the remaining amount of lubricant located within the reservoir;
• and
• transmitting all data received generated by the microprocessor resulting from the first sensor via cellular or satellite to a website for collection and visualization.