Cleaning apparatus for overhead rails

Rail scrubbing apparatus for cleaning a rail having a hanger side and a clear side, comprising,

• a traveler,
• a frame in said traveler having spaced bearings,
• an axle in each said bearing having an end projecting therefrom,
• a trolley wheel on each said projecting end of each said axle cantilevered relative to said bearings allowing said trolley wheels to be mounted on and taken off a rail from the one clear side of the rail and to travel along a rail without obstruction from hangers on the opposite side of a rail;
• a travel motor mounted on said frame connected to one said axle and trolley wheel to rotate said trolley wheel to move said frame along a rail,
• a first brush,
• first means rotationally mounting said first brush on said frame for scrubbing the clear side of a rail including a first brush motor connected to said first brush to rotate said first brush relative to the clear side of a rail,
• a swing case pivoted on said frame on the hanger side of a rail,
• a second brush,
• second means rotatably mounting said second brush on said swing case including a second brush motor connected to said second brush for rotating said second brush relative to the hanger side of a rail, and
• hanger contact-walk-over means on said swing case to intercept hangers on the hanger side of a rail and to swing said case and second brush sidewise outwardly from a rail at hangers to permit said second brush to by-pass hangers;
• pivot mounting means swingably mounting said first brush, said first brush mounting means, and said first brush motor to move them sidewise outwardly from the clear side of a rail,
• a first bell-crank arm on said pivot means,
• a second bell-crank arm on said swing case, and
• actuator means on said frame for moving said bell-cranks to pivot said pivot mounting means and said swing case to move their respective brushes sidewise outwardly of a rail to eliminate interference by said brushes in mounting and dismounting said traveler on a rail.