US 5,991,952 AGranted

Railroad car wheel cleaning system

OwnerRobert R. Bintzler, John Gregory Bintzlerinventors

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Abstract

A system for cleaning the wheels of railcars as the railcars move along the rails of a railroad track comprises chairs supporting a track rail holding a frame. A movable brush plate is movably mounted on the frame and carries a brush mechanism mounted for moving with the brush plate toward and away from the rail to clean railcar wheels moving along the rail. A linkage system is operably coupled between said brush plate and said frame for moving the plate and brush mechanism. The linkage system includes two actuator arms pivotally mounted to move in opposite directions to direct the brush plate toward the rail when an actuating mechanism is operated. The brushes of the brush mechanism are coupled together by a solid coupling sleeve for easy and inexpensive maintenance. A motor is coupled to the brushes through a coupler which is uniquely shaped to reduce damage during use.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for cleaning the wheels of railcars as the railcars move along the rails of a railroad track comprising:

a chair for supporting a track rail;
a movable frame plate movably mounted with respect to said chair to be alternately movable toward and away from said track rail supported by the chair;
a brush mounted for moving with the frame plate toward and away from the rail to clean railcar wheels moving along the rail;
a linkage system operably coupled between said frame plate and said chair for moving the frame plate and brush with respect to the rail on the chair, the linkage system comprising:
a first actuator arm pivotally mounted with respect to said chair and coupled to the movable frame plate, the first actuator arm operable for pivoting in a first direction and directing the frame plate and brush toward the rail;
a second actuator arm pivotally mounted with respect to said chair and coupled to the movable frame plate, the second actuator arm operable for pivoting in a second direction opposite to the first direction and directing the frame plate and brush toward the rail;
an actuating mechanism for simultaneously pivoting both of said actuator arms so that the arms simultaneously direct the brush toward the rail to clean wheels thereon;
whereby the brush is directed against the rail by opposing forces to reduce the shifting of the brush in a direction other than toward or away from the track rail.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.