Locomotive snow removal enhancement
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMirza Aref Ahmed Baig, Admir Mesalic, Ryan Eric Perry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device to further remove snow left by a locomotive snowplow while enhancing traction and control of a locomotive or powered car. The snow removal enhancement method and device typically include a flap arranged to extend beyond a bottom edge of a locomotive snowplow over each rail. The flap loosens and removes residual snow, as well as other debris, left by the snowplow. The device handily removes snow while being constructed of the thinnest material possible.
Claims27
A snow removal flap for a locomotive having sets of wheels and a snow plow ahead of a front set of locomotive wheels for removing snow left in place on a railroad rail by the snow plow, the flap comprising:
- a generally elongate member constructed to be of generally high rigidity and mechanical strength along a first axis generally parallel to a top of the rail to reset bending of the flap as the flap removes snow from the rail and to be of generally tow rigidity and mechanical strength along other axes so as to be deformable by the locomotive wheels if the flap becomes detached from the locomotive and comes to be positioned between the wheels and the rail, the member comprises:
- an upper portion operably secured to an underside of the locomotive;
- and
- a lower portion operably positioned below a bottom edge of the snowplow and adjacent the rail, with the member extending down from said upper portion thereof toward but stopping short of the railroad rail, with the member being positioned behind the snow plow and ahead of the respective locomotive wheel.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising:
- a flap extending below a lower edge of a locomotive snowplow, said flap including:
- an upper portion operably attached to said locomotive, and
- a lower portion extending from said upper portion, wherein said lower portion has a resistance to bending and is configured and dimensioned for normal operation of locomotive wheels should said lower portion detach from said upper portion operably attached to said locomotive wherein said lower portion is corrugated to increase strength and rigidity without increasing thickness.
A device for locomotive snow removal enhancement comprising:
- a locomotive snowplow;
- a flap having a lower portion and an upper portion, at least said lower portion extending below a lower edge of a locomotive snowplow;
- an area in said upper portion for mounting said flap, said flat extending toward a rail and within close proximity thereof;
- and
- a fixture assembly attachable to a locomotive and attachable to said area,
- wherein at least said lower portion of said flap is substantially curved, said flap is concave to a direction ahead of a direction of travel of a wheel of said locomotive;
- wherein said concavity of said flap is defined by first and second lateral edges of said flap being out of plane with a vertical median of said flap, said edges being cut of plane in the same direction as one another from said plane of said median, and
- wherein one of said first and second lateral edges is located more forward than the other of said first and second lateral edges relative to a direction ahead of a direction of travel of a wheel of said locomotive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.