Patent ID: 6588808
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B60B,B61C

Abstract:
A method of aligning a rail conditioning system installed on a rail vehicle for delivery of a rail conditioning material to a desired location on a rail relative to a wheel of the rail vehicle, the rail conditioning system including a delivery conduit having a nozzle for producing a diffused spray of a material centered along a line of flow directed toward the rail, the method comprising:removing a nozzle from a delivery conduit of a rail conditioning system of a rail vehicle; detachably securing a source of light on the delivery conduit in place of the nozzle to unmovingly align the source of light relative to the delivery conduit; energizing the source of light to direct a beam of light along a path corresponding to a central line of a flow of material to be delivered by the nozzle; detecting impingement of the beam of light on one of a rail and a wheel to assess alignment of the nozzle when installed on the delivery conduit for centering the flow of material on a desired location; removing the source of light from the delivery conduit; reinstalling the nozzle onto the delivery conduit; and delivering a spray of a rail conditioning material to provide a desired coverage of the rail by the rail conditioning material.