Patent ID: 6033291
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: E01B

Abstract:
A grinding machine for grinding a railhead surface of a rail, the rail having a gage side and a field side, the railhead surface presenting a generally curved surface extending between a point of intersection with a gage side surface and a point of intersection with a field side surface, comprising:at least a first substantially cylindrical grinding stone having an outer cylindrical circumference and an inner cylindrical circumference defined about a grinding stone center axis, the grinding stone being disposable on the gage side of the rail having a grinding surface for being selectively contactable with at least a first portion of the railhead surface, the grinding surface of the grinding stone acting to affect surface characteristics of the railhead surface when in rotational contact with the railhead surface, the grinding surface being defined between the inner cylindrical circumference and outer cylindrical circumference, the grinding stone being advanced along the grinding stone center axis to engage the railhead surface, the grinding stone center axis being offset with respect to the rail such that an extension of the grinding stone center axis does not intersect the rail; andat least a second substantially cylindrical grinding stone having an outer cylindrical circumference and an inner cylindrical circumference defined about a grinding stone center axis, the grinding stone being disposable on the field side of the rail having a grinding surface for being selectively contactable with at least a second portion of the railhead surface, the grinding surface of the grinding stone acting to affect surface characteristics of the railhead surface when in rotational contact with the railhead surface, the grinding surface being defined between the inner cylindrical circumference and the outer cylindrical circumference, the grinding stone being advanced along the grinding stone center axis to engage the railhead surface, the grinding stone center axis being offset with respect to the rail such that an extension of the grinding stone center axis does not intersect the rail.