Patent ID: 6464039
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: B61K

Abstract:
In a railway track lubricating system comprising at least one applicator element for applying lubricant to a rail of the railway track, a lubricant supply tank including a pump, a lubricant delivery system associated with said pump and with said applicator element, an actuator element positioned along the length of the rail to be activated by the wheel of the railway vehicle passing there over, and a hydraulic fluid system for delivering hydraulic fluid to and from said actuator element and said lubricant pump to operate said lubricant pump when said actuator element is activated for supplying said lubricant to said applicator element,said actuator element comprising: a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a hydraulic fluid chamber extending inwardly from said bottom surface of said housing, and a bore communicating between said chamber and said top surface of said housing; said housing including a hydraulic fluid outlet opening in communication with an upper part of said chamber and a hydraulic fluid inlet opening in communication with a lower part of said chamber, and said outlet and inlet openings being in association with said hydraulic fluid system whereby said hydraulic fluid passes within said chamber between said lower part and said upper part of said chamber; a plunger having a base and a stem and mounted in said housing such that said base is movable along said chamber and said stem is movable along said bore at said top surface of said housing, and wherein said stem is supported by and is in sealed communication with a bushing, said bushing placed within the cavity of said bore such that said bushing is in communication with the inner wall of said bore; an enclosure block mounted in said bottom surface of said housing and extending into said chamber; a spacer element mounted in said chamber between said enclosure block and said plunger; and a coil spring positioned between said plunger and said spacer element such that said coil spring is compressed by said base of said plunger when said wheel of said railway vehicle passes over said stem of said plunger to move said plunger in said chamber to force at least said hydraulic fluid out of said outlet opening in said upper part of said chamber for operation of said lubricant pump and delivery of said lubricant to said applicator element and to said rail and such that said coil spring is released when said wheel of said railway vehicle passes over and clears said stem of said plunger to force said stem of said plunger out of said housing in preparation for further activation of said actuator element by another wheel of a railway vehicle and to create a low pressure within said chamber relative to said hydraulic fluid recirculation system so as to draw the hydraulic fluid through said inlet opening and into said chamber.