Abstract: A track cleaning system mounted on a railcar and comprising track rail cleaning nozzles, leaf removal nozzles and third rail cleaning nozzles. Each of the nozzles may provide a fan-shaped spray pattern diverging to either side of a central axis and having a major axis. For each track rail nozzle, the central axis may be perpendicular to a horizontal top rail surface and the major axis may be perpendicular to the rail surface centerline. For each leaf nozzle, the central axis may be directly downwardly from the horizontal and the major axis may be parallel to an elongated spray bar on which one or more leaf nozzles are mounted. For each third rail nozzle, the central axis may be directed downwardly from the horizontal and the major axis may be positioned vertically. The third rail nozzles may be mounted to the rear of the leaf nozzles to aid in leaf removal. Main water valves are remotely actuated by air to release high pressure water to corresponding sets of nozzles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a coating of undesirable material from a substrate of desired material by impacting the coating with narrowly focused streams of fluid discharged at high velocity from nozzle tips rotated rapidly by a nozzle head during linear, relative movement between the nozzle head and the coated substrate. The nozzle head may be rotated by a motor or self-actuated by tilting the tips out of the plane of the spin axis. The nozzle tips also may be canted radially to undercut and peel away the coating. The nozzle assembly may be continuously or intermittently actuated, fixedly or movably mounted, and used singularly or in plural array. Specific applications are described for descaling metal, cleaning electrolytic bath deposits from electrodes, and removing resinous materials from metal surfaces.