Abstract: This invention is an electro-hydraulic system to automatically lubricate railroad switches and enhance their performance. The lubrication covers switch plates, switch rods, switch points, the base of stock rail adjacent to switch rail and the top of both switch and stock rails. Wear and tear of the switch rail and lateral creep force impact are thus reduced and the switch operates smoothly. Switch related derailments, rail fractures and maintenance labor will be reduced significantly. A pressurized tank with a microprocessor controller, placed on the wayside, supplies an environmentally acceptable smooth-flowing lubricant via hoses or pipes to two nozzle holders with check valves mounted with special brackets a short distance from the switch point on both rails. Lubricant is sprayed with one or more nozzles on each rail switch to cover all or part of the switch length. One or two solenoid valves in the flow lines control the quantity of lubricant applied in each shot and the frequency of application.

Abstract: A wiper bar for application to a rail of a railroad track for applying lubricant to the head of the rail having a series of lubricant outlets and a rubber or the like guide or brush for confronting the gage face of the rail head and guiding lubricant discharged from the outlets up on the gage face, and the wiper bar/rail installation.

Abstract: Wayside lubrication apparatus for railroad track wherein metered charges of lubricant are delivered to points spaced at intervals along the gage sides of the heads of the rails, and systems for and methods of monitoring the apparatus at a location remote from the site thereof.

Abstract: A skirt for use on an applicator bar, wherein the applicator bar includes a body and a flow passageway having an exit end defined in the body, and wherein a second section of the skirt defining a lip is adapted to coact with the body so that the second section is positioned adjacent the exit end of the body.

Abstract: To lubricate a length of track, a plurality of lubricating nozzles are provided. Each nozzle is fed by the output of a single positive displacement pump, and all the pumps are controlled by a computer. Vibration sensors, sound sensors, or L/V ratio sensors detect physical qualities which occur as a train passes a given point, and another detector measures the time between successive wheels on the truck of a car as it passes a given point to measure train speed. The computer compares the output readings measured by the detector to a table of outputs in its memory that are indicative of a lubricated track to determine if lubrication is needed.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying friction modifying materials to a railroad track includes an input for receiving a signal representative of the passage of railroad vehicle wheels, and means for applying friction modifying material to the railroad track for a user defined, field programmable time duration when the number of wheels reaches the user defined, field programmable, activation level. A method of applying friction modifying materials to a railroad track performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump for use in a pump assembly of a railway track lubricating system includes a housing defining an intake chamber having an intake port, an outlet channel leading to an outlet port, a gear chamber containing interengaged gears, a discharge port having a discharge port, a window opening between the gear chamber and the discharge chamber, and a double head piston having a first head in the intake chamber, a second head in the discharge chamber, and a spring for biasing the piston to a first position where the first head is spaced a maximum from a wall between the intake chamber and the discharge chamber. The outlet port has a smaller cross section than the outlet channel so that checked charged deliveries of hydraulic fluid into the intake chamber will cause the piston to move from its first position to a second position and force grease out of the discharge chamber through the discharge port.

Abstract: A method for the lubrication of Vignole type railroad track, especially preceding a curved portion which is subject to wear by the wheel flanges of railroad cars, by applying lubricant essentially horizontally against the inner side of the Vignole type railroad track by an application device supplied with lubricant, wherein the lubricant is applied to the track through the movement of the application device along the track to be lubricated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lubricating device for applying lubricant to the wheel flange of a running wheel, or to the side surface of a running rail. The lubricating device has a lubricating head that is guided with axial displaceability and is acted upon by a pressure spring. This lubricating head rests against the surface to be lubricated under the action of the pressure spring. This lubricating head has a dispensing opening for dispensing lubricant, which is fluidly connected with a lubricant hose or a lubricant dispenser.

Abstract: A device for lubricating a flange portion of a railroad wheel attachable to a composition brake shoe. The device comprises at least one lubricating member formed from a polymer based compound selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, epoxy resins, polyamides, polytetrafluoroethenes, and various combinations thereof. The lubricating member has a substantially flat first side engageable with a longitudinal flat surface of such composition brake shoe and a radially opposed second side that has a substantially flat portion for contacting such flange portion of such railroad wheel. The device further includes a means for attaching the lubricating member or members to such composition brake shoe.

Abstract: A wiper bar for application to a rail of a railroad track for applying lubricant to the head of the rail having a series of lubricant outlets and a rubber or the like guide or brush for confronting the gage face of the rail head and guiding lubricant discharged from the outlets up on the gage face, and the wiper bar/rail installation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for lubricating transport systems or parts thereof, especially for lubricating guideways and rails in elongating systems. The inventive method can be realized in that the lubricant film continuity comprises the equation: X=(lubricating active time/lubricating inactive time)≧100 and/or the lubricant film continuity comprises the equation: Y=(lubricating active time/(lubricating active time+lubricating inactive time))≧10%.

Abstract: A wayside lubrication apparatus (10) for applying a lubricant (26) to a second position (36) of a rail (12) in response to the head of a train (14) being proximate a first position (20) of the rail. The distance (D) between the two positions prevents the lubricant from reducing the traction capability of the drive wheels (38) of the locomotives (16). The application of the lubricant is terminated before a number of rear load cars (46) passes the lubricant applicator (28) so that the residual lubricant remaining on the rail after the train has passed is reduced. Operation of the lubricant dispensing apparatus (22) may be bypassed by an operator-controlled bypass device (60) or in response to a signal (56) indicating moisture on the rail.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the delivery of lubricant between two parts which are movable relative to one another, in particular for lubricating rails, above all on curved tracks, in order to prevent or reduce squealing noises, wherein at least one sensor, e.g., a microphone, is provided for picking up sound vibrations, particularly structure-borne sound vibrations, the signal of the sensor being fed to a selective amplifier, e.g., an active bandpass filter, and used as an actuating variable for initiating the delivery of lubricant. For this purpose, at least two frequency bands are filtered out, the intensity of the sound vibrations of the filtered frequency bands is compared, and the determined difference or the ratio of the determined values is used as an actuating variable.

Abstract: The tracks of a railroad yard system have an access track and a plurality of switches leading to a plurality of yard tracks are lubricated by a lubricating station positioned on the access track. In addition to lubricating the tracks, lubrication nozzles are directed at the switch plates and switch points of the switches of the system. Detectors are positioned on the yard tracks to determine the speed of the cars as they roll down track and into the yard, and a computer, responsive to these detectors, control the discharge of lubricant by the lubricating station. Detectors are also positioned near each switch plate to detect when each switch plate moves, and a dispensing system dispense lubricant through the nozzle directed toward a switch plate whenever the switch plate is moved.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for distributing lubricants in grooved rails, particularly for railborne urban traffic. An elongated plate (6) is provided which can be arranged in the groove (10) of the rail (1) and which is provided with cutouts (22, 23) at least along one longitudinal edge, but preferably along both longitudinal edges (24, 25). The cutouts (22, 23) start at the longitudinal edge and are accordingly open-edged. The lubricant can be supplied to these cutouts (22, 23). The open-edged cutouts (22, 23) of the plate (6) are covered by a cover plate (7) which is preferably constructed so as to be elastic at least in the covering area.

Abstract: A retrofit for an actuator element in a railway track lubricating apparatus for applying lubricant to a rail of a railway track includes a housing with a chamber, an enclosure block, a spacer element for occupying the space in existing actuator elements, a T-shaped plunger with a base adjacent a coil spring, and an actuator stem movable in a bore in the top of the housing, and wherein the stem is supported by and in sealed communication with a bushing that is placed within the cavity of the bore. A hydraulic fluid inlet opening is located at the bottom of the housing and a hydraulic fluid outlet opening is located at the top of the housing. A second embodiment provides an actuator element for use in new lubricating systems whereby the actuator element is mounted onto the rail and does not involve a spacer element in the chamber of the actuator element.

Abstract: The tracks of a railroad yard system having an access track an a plurality of switches leading to a plurality of yard tracks are lubricated by a lubricating station positioned on the access track. The lubricating station has a positive displacement pump and dispenses a continues path of lubricant along a portion of track having a length equal to the circumference of a railroad car wheel such that the wheels will carry lubricant along the tracks of the system. Detectors are positioned on the yard tracks to determine the speed of the cars as they roll down track and into the yard tracks. A microprocessor receives information from the detectors and regulates the amount of lubricant dispensed through by the station.

Abstract: Wayside lubrication apparatus for railroad track wherein metered charges of lubricant are delivered to points spaced at intervals along the gage sides of the heads of the rails, and systems for and methods of monitoring the apparatus at a location remote from the site thereof.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a railroad locomotive applies a lubricant with great accuracy in computer-controlled, precise quantities behind the last axle of the last locomotive such that the lubricant is consumed by the time the entire train has passed under all track, speed, temperature and train size conditions. Hydraulic pulse-width modulation (PWM or %PWM) controls the quantity of lubricant delivered. Time is divided into a series of windows each consisting of a few seconds. Lubricant delivered from a pressurized tank through long hoses to a solenoid controlled valve is then metered by the duration within this time window for which the computer computes and opens the valve. Compensation is provided for train tonnage and lubricant temperature as well as track curvature and train speed.