US 5,209,021 AGranted

Apparatus and method for sprue removal and grinding of railroad wheels

AssigneeAMSTED Industries Incorporated

InventorsC. Dale Christie, Charles W. Taff, Jaime F. Pozo

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Abstract

An apparatus for grinding cast steel railroad wheels is provided. The apparatus comprises a railroad wheel support assembly that includes a roller assembly to receive and grasp the railroad wheel and rotate the railroad wheel about its center axis. A grinding assembly is also provided that includes a motor operatively connected to a grinding wheel. The motor and grinding wheel are mounted to a support assembly. The railroad wheel support assembly oscillates about an axle assembly during grinding. The grinding assembly is designed to advance the grinding wheel laterally into the railroad wheel during grinding. The lateral advancing of the grinding wheel and oscillating of the railroad wheel are controlled to achieve a finish grinding of the selected surface of the railroad wheel to a preselected contour.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A grinding apparatus comprising

a base frame,
a railroad wheel support assembly comprising a railroad wheel support frame, railroad wheel support roller means affixed to said railroad wheel support frame, roller drive means operatively connected to a railroad wheel support drive roller means, a railroad wheel held in said railroad wheel support roller means and said railroad wheel support drive roller means such that said railroad wheel can be rotated about a center axis of said railroad wheel when said railroad wheel is held in said railroad wheel support roller means and said railroad wheel support drive roller means,
a grinding support assembly comprising a grinding wheel motor, grinding wheel operatively connected to said grinding wheel motor, a grinding wheel support frame onto which said grinding wheel motor is mounted, said grinding wheel support frame being movable such that said grinding wheel can be brought into contact with said railroad wheel,
railroad wheel support frame axle and bearing means, flange sections extending downwardly from said railroad wheel support frame,
said flange sections including openings and bearing means which receive said railroad wheel support frame axle means,
and a first operating cylinder having one end attached to said base frame, with another end of said first operating cylinder operatively attached to said railroad wheel support frame bearing means such that upon extension of said first operating cylinder, said railroad wheel support frame is rotated about said railroad wheel support frame axle means to expose a surface of said railroad wheel to said grinding wheel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.