Patent ID: 6182793
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B61K

Abstract:
A system for applying a lubricant to a rail wheel flange of a rail wheel that rolls along a track, comprising:(a) a plurality of containers adapted to store a quantity of a lubricant, said plurality of containers being stored in a vertical stack at a plurality of different elevations, and having valves that are connected together in fluid communication by lubricant supply lines;(b) a pump having an inlet port and outlet port, said inlet port being coupled in fluid communication with said plurality of containers through the lubricant supply lines;(c) an applicator adapted to be mounted adjacent to a rail wheel flange and connected in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pump; and(d) a prime mover drivingly connected to the pump, said prime mover adapted to apply a driving force to the pump that causes the pump to draw a lubricant from a container that is disposed at a lower elevation in the stack before a lubricant in a container that is disposed at a higher elevation in the stack, and to force a lubricant so drawn through the applicator onto a rail wheel flange, thereby lubricating a rail wheel flange to reduce friction and wear between a rail wheel flange and a side of the track.