Abstract:
An apparatus and method for applying lubricant to a rail road track. The apparatus comprising a control module; a housing; a lubricant distribution block; and a plurality of tubes for connecting the control module to the housing wherein the housing houses the lubricant distribution block. The control module is positionable in close proximity to the rail road track and the housing is positionable adjacent to and along a section of rail road track to be lubricated. The lubricant is stored in a vessel in the control module and pumped from the control module to a lubricant distribution nozzle connected to the housing and wherein sliding the lubricant distribution nozzle along the section of rail road track in a first or second direction distributes lubricant along the section of rail road track.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to the distribution of lubricant on the gauge face or inside of the rail of railroad tracks through the use of an automatic sensor driven hydraulic system. The system allows for distribution of a greatly reduced amount of lubricant or grease to a targeted area. 
     Due to the enormous weight and centrifugal force involved with locomotives and rolling stock, a surprising amount of cohesion exists. This cohesion is between the wheel flange and the rail gauge face. Tiny flakes of steel from the rail and wheels are removed as a train&#39;s inside wheel contacts the rail. The only way to prevent such an occurrence is to apply lubrication to reduce cohesion. 
     Generally lubricant, or grease, is applied to the gauge face or inside of the rails at the point of wheel and rail contact. Currently, lubricant is applied by a wayside lubrication system that pumps lubricant to a distribution bar. This lubrication bar has many grooves from the top of the bar to a distribution port. This method piles large amounts of grease or lubricant toward the top of the rail. When the pile gets large enough the train wheels will contact the pile of grease or lubricant and spread the grease down the track. This method causes excessive throw off of grease or lubricant. 
     A problem occurs in lubricant application in that the excess amount of lubrication currently used coats an unnecessarily thick layer on the rail. This layer covers the tops of the rails and the lubricant is then inadvertently carried by the wheels to inclines or to other non-curved sections of the track. At areas where the tracks are inclined, friction is needed and the excess lubrication has an adverse effect on traction. In addition, the amount of lubricant currently required for minimum coverage is expensive. 
     This excess lubricant also covers the earthen area surrounding the rail section. As lubricant is applied now, a large amount is pumped in order to make sure the small area that needs lubrication is actually covered when a wheel comes in contact with it. This excess lubricant ends up not only coating the entire rail, but the ground surrounding it. While there may occasionally be pads laid down to absorb some of this excess lubricant, much of the excess seeps into the ground and migrates. This has negative impacts on the environment. Considering that major portions of railroad are set away from city areas, the lubricant can migrate into the environment near the tracks. Negative effects on the environment are compounded when the rails need to be repeatedly lubricated over time. Reducing the amount of lubricant needed will not only save money, it can reduce, if not eliminate any negative impact on the environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to an apparatus for applying lubrication to a rail road track. The apparatus comprises a control module, a housing, a lubricant distribution block, and a plurality of tubes for connecting the control module to the housing. The housing houses the lubricant distribution block and the housing is connected to the control module by the plurality of tubes. The control module is positionable in close proximity to the rail road track and the housing is positionable adjacent to and along a section of rail road track to be lubricated. 
     This disclosure also relates to a method for applying lubricant to a section of rail road track. The method comprises storing lubricant in a vessel in a control module, the control module positioned proximate the section of rail road track and pumping lubricant from the control module to a lubricant distribution nozzle connected to a housing. The housing is positioned adjacent to and along the section of rail road track and sliding the lubricant distribution nozzle along the section of rail road track in a first direction will distribute lubricant along the section of rail road track. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention as in place for use. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a process of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of still a further component of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the application of lubrication to only a limited portion of rail where lubrication is actually needed. Large amounts of lubrication and money will be saved by applying a limited amount of lubricant at a more precise time of applying lubrication. Applying lubrication just before a wheel comes in contact with the rail will reduce the amount of lubricant needed. The lubricant will be carried by the wheels immediately after application rather than migrating to other portions of the rail, or the ground. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is generally comprised of three major components. The first is a control module  10 . The control module  10  houses the major pressure, power and lubrication storage components of the invention. The control module  10  is stationed adjacent to a portion of railroad track. Second, the linear slide rack  30  houses the lubrication application components. The linear slide rack  30  is positioned in the track in close proximity to the surface in need of lubrication. The linear slide rack  30  is secured to the rails. Third, a series of steel tubes  68  and  70 , for pressure and return lines, connects the control module  10  to the linear slide rack  30 . The steel tubes  68  and  70  for pressure and return lines are to be buried at a depth under the tracks, deep enough to allow for track and ballast maintenance. When connected, the lubrication process is initiated in the control module  10 . The control module is equipped for manual initiation as well as automatic initiation of the lubrication process. The linear slide rack  30  contains the components that then carry out the lubrication distribution process. 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is the control module housing  10 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic of the internal components of the housing  10 . A control module housing  10  contains an electric motor, gas engine, LP engine, or diesel engine  14 . A hydraulic reservoir  16  in the control module  12  provides storage for hydraulic oil. A dual section hydraulic pump  22  provides 23 GPM @ 2300 PSI for the large section and 3 GPM @ 1400 PSI for the small section. The module housing  10  includes a Programmable Logic Control that provides for the control of all of the electrical functions necessary. Illustrated in further detail in  FIG. 2  is a hydraulic flow diagram of the components from the control module  10  to the application process in the linear side rack  30 . 
     The electric motor or fueled engine  14  provides mechanical motion to drive a hydraulic pump  22 . The hydraulic pump  22  provides pressure and volume. The hydraulic pump directs pressure to a hydraulic directional valve section  62  and accepts and directs return hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic reservoir  16 . The hydraulic directional valve section  58  directs hydraulic pressure and flow to a hydraulic grease pump  28 . The hydraulic directional valve also directs hydraulic pressure and flow to the hydraulic cylinder. 
     In further detail, as can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  the linear slide rack  30  is an enclosure made from suitable material, preferably aluminum. The linear side rack  30  has a removable cover for easy access to the inside components. The linear slide rack  30  is secured to the base of a portion of rail by mounting brackets or other suitable fasteners (not shown). The lubricant is distributed to the gauge face side of the railroad track by a lubricant distribution nozzle  32 . The term “lubricant” as used herein means the type of lubricant used to effect rail adhesion and rail and wheel wear protection. Preferably, such lubricant has some rain resistance and ability to be “carried” down a rail by a wheel engaging the rail. The words “lubricant” and “grease” are used interchangeably herein. Suitable lubricants are made from a variety of materials and are available commercially as “rail lubricants”. 
     The lubricant distribution nozzle  32  is attached to a lubricant distribution block  34  in which lubricant is delivered to the gauge face of the rail. The lubricant distribution block  34  is comprised of a small aluminum or other suitable metal box or riser to raise the nozzle  32  to the height of the intended lubrication surface. The lubricant distribution block  34  can be secured to a plate  38  on the lubrication surface facing side of the plate  38 . The lubricant distribution block  34  extends upward or outward from a connection with the plate at a height equal to the inside or gauge face of the area targeted for lubricant distribution. The application nozzle  32  is oriented to face the intended distribution surface. In a further embodiment, the applicant nozzle  32  may extend toward the surface to be lubricated. The plate  38  with the application nozzle  32  together form the lubricant distribution block  34 . The lubricant distribution block  34  is secured by a mounting attachment  42  or other suitable mechanism to an end of a piston rod or hydraulic cylinder  44 . 
     The lubricant distribution block  34  is connected to a flexible hydraulic hose  46 . A solenoid operated hydraulic valve section  54  provides hydraulic pilot pressure to shift the lubricant distribution block  34 . The hydraulic activation valve section  58  provides hydraulic pressure to operate the hydraulic reciprocating lubrication pump  28 . The lubrication pump  28  provides pressurized grease to the lubricant distribution block  34 . The lubrication distribution block  34  provides pressurized grease for distribution to the rail. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the piston rod or hydraulic cylinder  44  is connected to the grease distribution block  34 . The piston rod or hydraulic cylinder for lubrication distribution  44  is also connected to the hydraulic cylinder barrel  60 . The hydraulic cylinder barrel  60  lies along the length of the linear side rack. The hydraulic pressure reducing and directional valve section  62  provides bi-directional hydraulic pressure to operate the hydraulic cylinder barrel  60 . The hydraulic cylinder barrel  60  provides the linear bi-directional motion for the lubricant distribution block  34 . The hydraulic directional valve section  62  provides hydraulic pressure to operate the hydraulic cylinder  44 . The hydraulic cylinder  44  moves the grease distribution block  34  into the application or stored position. The hydraulic valve section  56  provides a heating circuit that goes through entire conduit that goes out to the slide rack and back to the control module. 
     In further detail a flow line for each element, lubrication and pressure and return, connects the control module  10  and the linear side rack  30 . The flow lines are comprised preferably of a steel tube  68  and  70  for each pressure function. Each steel hose is set externally underground, between the control module  10  and the linear side rack  30 . Each opposing end of each steel tube  68  and  70  is connected to an adapter. The opposing end of each adapter is then connected to a flexible hose. Hoses (not shown) are connected to the control module  10 . Additional hoses  76  and  78  are connected to the linear slide rack  30  completing the flow line. Each connection of a flexible hose  76  and  78  to steel tube  68  and  70  is completed by a suitable adapter or fastener  80  to seal the connection from potential leaks. Each corresponding flexible hose  76  and  78  inside the linear slide rack  30  connects to the corresponding application component. An additional steel tube  82  is connected in the same fashion as described above to a flexible hose  46  in the linear slide rack  30  for lubrication flow. 
     A metal detecting proximity switch (not shown) allows for automatic lubrication, reset and reverse sliding of the applicator slide  40 . The lubrication process can additionally be initiated manually on demand. Operation begins when a signal, whether automatic or on demand, is sent to the hydraulic pump  22 . The hydraulic pump  22  will then initiate the flow of lubrication to the grease distribution block  34  and pressure to initiate movement of the application slide through the process described above. 
     The process begins as a train approaches the area of track in need of lubrication. Automatic lubrication is initiated by the metal detecting switch, which is triggered by a train&#39;s proximity to the linear side rack  30 . Sliding extension of the lubrication application block  34  and application of the lubricant begins immediately prior to train wheel contact with the rails. The full lubrication application process of the selected area of track is carried out quickly. The process is initiated when the train is in close proximity to the portion of track and is complete immediately prior to train wheel contact. Further, on demand lubrication follows the same process, however an operator using a switch (not shown) in the control module  10  initiates lubrication. Lubrication can be bi-directional or set automatically for reset and reverse sliding to the initial position. 
     In a further embodiment the module  10  is equipped to send information to rail road personnel regarding maintenance and care of the module  10  as well as conditions of the system including lubricant levels, fuel level, operational condition and any other pertinent information regarding operation of the system. System updates may be sent from the control module to a mobile device or computer via text, voice or e-mail message. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.