US 6,148,732 A · Railcar track cleaning system

Abstract

A track cleaning system mounted on a railcar and comprising track rail cleaning nozzles, leaf removal nozzles and third rail cleaning nozzles. Each of the nozzles may provide a fan-shaped spray pattern diverging to either side of a central axis and having a major axis. For each track rail nozzle, the central axis may be perpendicular to a horizontal top rail surface and the major axis may be perpendicular to the rail surface centerline. For each leaf nozzle, the central axis may be directly downwardly from the horizontal and the major axis may be parallel to an elongated spray bar on which one or more leaf nozzles are mounted. For each third rail nozzle, the central axis may be directed downwardly from the horizontal and the major axis may be positioned vertically. The third rail nozzles may be mounted to the rear of the leaf nozzles to aid in leaf removal. Main water valves are remotely actuated by air to release high pressure water to corresponding sets of nozzles. A pressure control valve controls the pressure of water supplied to the main water valves from a positive displacement, high pressure water pump.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A track cleaning system for a railcar having a truck with at least one wheel for engaging the rail of a track along which the railcar may travel, said system comprising:

at least two track rail nozzles each for discharging a water spray against a top surface portion of the same track rail;
means for mounting said track rail nozzles on said wheel truck;
and,
water supply means for providing pressurized water to said track rail nozzles;
said water spray being discharged along and diverging from a central spray axis, one of said track rail nozzles being positioned with its central spray axis offset to one side of a centerline of the top surface portion of the track rail and another of said track rail nozzles being positioned with its central axis offset to another side of said rail centerline opposite to said one side of said rail centerline, and said offset track rail nozzles being positioned sufficiently close to said top surface portion of the track rail that the water sprays from said track rail nozzles impact said top surface portion over a lateral distance less than a lateral distance between opposite edges of said top surface portion where said lateral distances are perpendicular to said rail centerline.

2 more elements

A track cleaning system for a railcar having a truck with at least one wheel for engaging the rail of a track along which the railcar may travel, said system comprising:

an elongated leaf spray bar and having at least one leaf nozzle for providing a water spray to remove leaves from around said track rail, said leaf nozzle being arranged to receive pressurized water through said leaf spray bar;
a side nozzle for providing a lateral water spray to remove debris from a side area adjacent to said track rail, said side nozzle being positioned at a sufficient distance behind said leaf nozzle relative to the direction and speed of railcar travel along said track rail that leaves suspended in air by the spray of said leaf nozzle are kept suspended in air by the spray of said side nozzle and are propelled laterally further away from said track rail by said side nozzle spray;
and,
water supply means for providing pressurized water to said nozzles.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Railcar track cleaning system

Life of this patent

Railcar track cleaning system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24