Patent ID: 7559994

Claim:
A process for cleaning electrical insulators supporting a contact rail parallel to a rail track comprising: (a) moving a vehicle having one or more cleaning stations with cleaning tools mounted on said cleaning stations, along a rail track adjacent to a parallel contact rail supported by electrical insulators, said cleaning stations being mounted on one or more positioning arms; (b) positioning said cleaning tools in proximity to an electrical insulator, while the cleaning stations rotate around at least a portion of the circumference of the insulator, wherein said cleaning stations have one or more fingers with cleaning tools mounted on said fingers, said cleaning station being attached to an articulated positioning arm by means of a hinged connection that allows said cleaning station to turn at the end of said positioning arm, and the positioning of the cleaning tools is brought about by embracing said insulators with said fingers; (c) energizing the cleaning tools; (d) disengaging the cleaning tools from the insulator; and (e) returning the cleaning station to the engagement position.