Abstract:
A non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains is described including providing wheels and a truck as an efficient means of keeping rails clean of foreign material. The design provides a convenient and economical means of eliminating the manual operation of cleaning track to ensure good electrical contact between the current-carrying rails and locomotive.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains comprising of a wheel truck carriage arrangement that can be mounted underneath a railcar. The truck carriage contains different sized wheels coupled together with at least one wheel having a cleaning pad for the purpose of polishing and cleaning the rails.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Electric toy and model trains often require rail cleaning maintenance to ensure good electrical contact between the current carrying rails and locomotive. One approach to cleaning rails is to manually rub the rail surface with an abrasive block, which is very time consuming, especially with track layouts that have inaccessible arrangements or are covered by structures such as tunnels.  
           [0003]    One attempt at providing a rail-cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,233 to Richter, in which an electric motor is coupled to a cleaning pad guided by the rails. Although such a device is capable of cleaning the rails, the use of a separate motor and electronics for the purpose of cleaning the rails is expensive and requires motor-gear maintenance.  
           [0004]    Another attempt at providing a rail-cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,168 to Poissant, in which an electric motor is coupled to a cleaning pad that polishes the top surface of the rails. Although such a device is capable of cleaning rails, the degree of polishing is not governed by the speed of the train, which can cause over polishing if the locomotive looses traction while cleaning the rail. Once more, the use of a separate motor for the purpose of cleaning rails is expensive.  
           [0005]    Other attempts at providing a rail-cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,475,771 to Wittner, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,335 to Webster, in which pads containing chemicals are used to dissolve and clean residue on the rails. Although such a device is capable of cleaning the rails, the use of chemicals in the toy and model train environment is undesirable.  
           [0006]    Finally, many types of rail cleaning devices use a large cleaning pad attached to the railcar, which drag over the rail surface, such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,897 to Bonanno. Such devices must be constructed significantly wider than the rails, so they do not lose contact with the curvature of the rail, which is undesirable from an appearance standpoint, and the cleaning pads do not wear evenly nor compensate for uneven rail joints.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A. Objects  
           [0008]    It is therefore an object of the invention is to provide a non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains that is simple in construction.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains that is easily adaptable to a freight car.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains that is robust in construction.  
           [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains that is economical.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide a non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains that is easily adaptable to a freight car.  
           [0013]    B. Summary  
           [0014]    The invention comprises a wheel set comprising of at least two different sized wheels coupled together on a fixed axle, with at least one wheel combined with a cleaning pad, and optionally, at least one wheel combined with a friction tire. Although in one embodiment the invention comprises two different sized wheels coupled together on one axle, in other embodiments different structure for coupling the wheels together on a freight car truck may be used. Thus in another embodiment a belt and pulley system across the axles is used. In another embodiment a connecting rod attached to the wheels is used. In another embodiment gearing across the axles is used. When assembled into a railcar truck, as the train travels on the rails, both wheels rotate on the fixed axle at the same rate. In one wheel revolution of travel, the larger wheel travels more distance or circumference than the smaller wheel, causing the smaller wheel to slip on the rails. When a cleaning pad is combined with the smaller wheel, this slipping action polishes and cleans the rail. An optional friction tire combined with the larger wheel assures that the smaller wheel slips while rotating. To keep the railcar level, the railcar truck bolster frame is designed with an uneven surface, which compensates for the unleveled railcar truck due to the different sized wheels.  
           [0015]    In its simplest form, the invention comprises a railcar axle coupled with two different sized wheels with integral cleaning pad, and a means of leveling the railcar, which allows this invention to easily and economically adapt to different railcars having the same size track or model scale.  
           [0016]    Furthermore the invention accomplishes rail cleaning without the need of a separate motor or the use of cleaning solvents. And the invention works regardless if the railcar is moved manually or is pulled behind a locomotive as part of the train.  
           [0017]    Furthermore, the rail polishing action is directly controlled by wheel rotation and the speed at which the railcar moves. The flanged wheel design also allows the cleaning pad to closely follow the rails, and by the nature of the rolling wheels allows the pad to adjust or roll over uneven rail joints.  
           [0018]    Finally, the invention requires no adjustments, and is easily concealed inside the railcar truck frame, and does not take away from the realism of the model train consist.  
           [0019]    Further aspects and advantages of the various embodiment of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention showing different size wheels coupled together for the purpose of cleaning track.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the present invention showing different size wheels coupled together for the purpose of cleaning track.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention showing different size wheels coupled together for the purpose of cleaning track.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view showing one embodiment of the wheel assembly of present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a partial exploded isometric view showing one embodiment of the wheel assembly of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing one embodiment of the frame, which allows easy removal of wheel set.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view showing one embodiment of the present invention assembled to a freight car.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a partial view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a rail-cleaning truck with different size wheels mounted on separate axles coupled together through a gear train for the purpose of cleaning track.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a partial view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a rail-cleaning truck with different size wheels mounted on separate axles coupled together using a belt and pulley system for the purpose of cleaning track.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a rail-cleaning truck with different size wheels mounted on separate axles and coupled together using a connecting rod for the purpose of cleaning track.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The invention relates to a rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains comprising of a wheel truck carriage arrangement that can be mounted underneath a railcar. In some embodiments, the truck carriage contains different sized wheels coupled together with at least one wheel having a cleaning pad for the purpose of cleaning and polishing the rails.  
         [0031]    In one application, a larger flanged wheel diameter of 28.5 mm was coupled to a smaller flanged wheel diameter of 22.2 mm, and based on the difference in circumference for each wheel, in one revolution, the smaller wheel slip while rotating was calculated to be approximately 19.8 mm. In some embodiments, the wheels are pressed on a single axle shaft with splines or gearing near the end of the shaft to keep the wheels from rotating independently. In addition, weights can be added to the railcar to control the amount of friction or cleaning action between the wheel and rail. Cleaning action can also be controlled by the number of cleaning wheel arrangements included in the train consist, the type of cleaning wheel abrasive, and the diameter of the wheels.  
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the cleaning pad is in the form of a disk made from extra fine synthetic steel wool attached to the smaller wheel arrangement. The advantage of the synthetic steel wool material is that it is washable and reusable, and won&#39;t rust, shred, or splinter. Further, the open cell nature of this material also prevents debris from accumulating on the surface of the cleaning wheel.  
         [0033]    In other instances, the cleaning pad is made from a disk of polyethylene foam, a disk of non-abrasive rubber like material such as an ink eraser.  
         [0034]    In another embodiment the cleaning pad is made from cloth tape rapped around a wheel.  
         [0035]    In another embodiment a one-piece flanged wheel is molded from an abrasive material.  
         [0036]    Although specific types of cleaning pad materials are described here, one skilled in the art would foresee other cleaning pads made of abrasive and non-abrasives surfaces without distracting from the scope of the invention.  
         [0037]    In another embodiment the cleaning disk is attached to a wheel axle by press fitting a bushing onto the wheel axle and securing with an adhesive. In another embodiment a cleaning pad disk is attached to the wheel using an integral dowel pin molded onto the face of the wheel, and secured with a snap-fit disk pressed into a groove formed in the wheel shaft.  
         [0038]    Although specific types of mounting arrangements are described here, one skilled in the art would foresee other means of assembly without distracting from the scope of the invention.  
         [0039]    In another embodiment a friction tire is designed to fit inside a groove formed in the outer circumference of the larger diameter wheel. In one specific embodiment a friction tire was made from a 1.5-millimeter thick rubber tire, with an outer diameter of 28.5-millimeters and an inner diameter of 22.2-millimeters.  
         [0040]    In some embodiments, to level the railcar body, the railcar truck frame bolster is modified by providing an elevated surface on the frame on the side with the smaller wheels. In one specific embodiment, a wedged shaped piece of plastic is attached using foam tape.  
         [0041]    In another embodiment, the piece is attached by drilling holes and inserting screws.  
         [0042]    In another embodiment, the elevated surface is molded as part of the plastic frame.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that rail-cleaning truck  10  is generally comprised of a side frames  12 , bolster frame  13 , and wheel assemblies  14 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 2 it can be seen that wheel assemblies  14  consist of two different sized wheels coupled together on one shaft  17 . The smaller wheel  15  contains cleaning pad  16  for polishing the rails. The larger wheel  18  contains traction tire  19  to prevent wheel slip.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIG. 3 it can be seen that wedge shaped piece  20  attached or molded to bolster frame  13  is used to level the railcar body.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 4, the wheel assembly  14  previous described is shown. In one embodiment, cleaning pad  16  is disk shaped with center hole  22  and key hole  23  that align with wheel rim  24  with pin  21 . Pin  21  keeps cleaning pad  16  from rotating independently from wheel rim  24 . In one embodiment, cleaning pad  16  is secured to wheel rim  24  using slotted plastic disk  25 , which snap-fits over and inside groove  26  on end of axle shaft  17 . Disk  25  contains beveled edge  31  for supporting cleaning pad  16 .  
         [0047]    Bushing  28  is an alternate disc  25  for securing cleaning pad  16  to wheel rim  24 . As shown, bushing  28  contains hole  29  for accepting similar shaft  17 , and beveled surface  30  for supporting cleaning pad  16 . In one embodiment, bushing  28  is secured to shaft  17  by way of a press fit or by adhesive.  
         [0048]    Again referring to FIG. 4, axle shaft  17  contains spline key  27  on each end to keep larger wheel  18  and smaller wheel  15  from rotating independently. Larger wheel  18  contains groove  32  to accept traction tire  19 .  
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 5. it can be seen that in one embodiment the smaller wheel assembly  15  is of one construction with cleaning pad being in the form of a cloth tape tire  33  rapped around the wheel rim.  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 6 it can be seen in one embodiment, wheel assembly  14  can be easily removed from rail cleaning truck  10  by incorporating slot  38  in side frame  12 . Shaft  17  is held in place by snap-fit hook  39  when railcar is lifted and removed from the track.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 7 shows rail-cleaning truck  10  attached to the bottom of freight car  34  using screw  35 . In one embodiment, as shown the two rail-cleaning trucks  10  are arranged so that wheels containing (abrasive) cleaning material  16  are on each side of the railcar  34 . Weight plate  36  can be added to increase friction between cleaning material  16  and rail  37 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 8 it can be seen that rail-cleaning truck  10  previously described comprises smaller wheel  15  mounted on front axle  17 , and larger wheel  18  mounted on rear axle  17  are coupled together through gear train  38  attached to side frame  12 .  
         [0053]    Referring to FIG. 9 it can be seen that rail-cleaning truck  10  previously described comprises smaller wheel  15  mounted on front axle  17 , and larger wheel  18  mounted on rear axle  11 , are coupled together using pulley  39  mounted to axle  17  and connected by belt  40 .  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 10 it can be seen that rail cleaning truck previously described comprising smaller wheel  15  mounted on the front end of frame  41  and larger wheel  18  mounted on the rear end of frame  41 , are coupled together using connecting rod  42  secured with screws  43 .  
         [0055]    While he invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.