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US 6,199,661 B1Granted
Top-of-rail lubrication rate control by the hydraulic pulse width modulation method
AssigneeTranergy Corporation
InventorSudhir Kumar
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTranergy Corporation
InventorSudhir Kumar
Estimating the term…
A lubrication system for a railroad locomotive applies a lubricant with great accuracy in computer-controlled, precise quantities behind the last axle of the last locomotive such that the lubricant is consumed by the time the entire train has passed under all track, speed, temperature and train size conditions. Hydraulic pulse-width modulation (PWM or %PWM) controls the quantity of lubricant delivered. Time is divided into a series of windows each consisting of a few seconds. Lubricant delivered from a pressurized tank through long hoses to a solenoid controlled valve is then metered by the duration within this time window for which the computer computes and opens the valve. Compensation is provided for train tonnage and lubricant temperature as well as track curvature and train speed.
In a railroad locomotive of the type having a nozzle for applying a lubricant to the top of a rail behind the last axle of the locomotive, a lubricant supply tank, a lubricant conduit connecting the supply tank to the nozzle, means for pressurizing the lubricant supply tank, and computer means for controlling the lubricant flow rate, an improved method of controlling the lubricant flow rate comprising the steps of:
In a railroad locomotive an improved assembly for applying a lubricant to the top of a rail, comprising a nozzle connected to the locomotive and arranged for applying the lubricant to the top of a rail behind the last axle of the locomotive, a lubricant supply tank mounted on the locomotive, a lubricant conduit connecting the supply tank to the nozzle, means on the locomotive for pressurizing the lubricant supply tank, a solenoid valve in the lubricant conduit, a computer for controlling the solenoid valve and thereby controlling the flow of lubricant from the lubricant supply tank to the nozzle, a check valve in the lubricant conduit immediately upstream of the nozzle, between the solenoid valve and the nozzle.
In a railroad locomotive of the type having a nozzle for applying a lubricant to the top of a rail behind the last axle of the locomotive, a lubricant supply tank, a lubricant conduit connecting the supply tank to the nozzle, means for pressurizing the lubricant supply tank, a solenoid valve in the lubricant conduit, and a computer for controlling the flow of lubricant, the improvement comprising a method of increasing hydraulic response time of lube application comprising the step of placing a check valve in the conduit intermediate the nozzle and the solenoid valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.