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 for reducing vibration has a mount for attaching to a vibrating body, such as the frame of an aircraft. A plate is spaced from the mount with a mass there between. A first elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the mount, and a second elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the plate. The rings act as a spring having a stiffness that defines a resonant frequency at which the mass oscillates. Vibration in the body is reduced by the mass movement absorbing vibrational energy and the energy absorption is maximized when the mass resonates at the vibration frequency. A controller senses body vibration and operates a mechanism that alters the spacing between the mount and the plate thereby adjusting the spring stiffness. The stiffness of the spring is changed until the resonant frequency of the mass is tuned to the vibration frequency of the body.

Abstract: A high pressure water cleaning method and apparatus using a nozzle assembly wherein abrasive particles (172) are separated from a transport gas and injected into a high pressure water spray within an impact and mixing chamber (320) at an incidence angle (MA, MA') and velocity sufficient for the separated particles to penetrate into and thereby mix with a high velocity core (360) of the water spray (FS). The spray pattern is preferably fanned shaped instead of cone shaped, and preferably does not touch at least one outlet passage wall downstream of the impact chamber (320) to provide an exit flow path (AG) for the separated transport gas. For this purpose, an axis (CL) of the spray pattern may be offset (OS) from the center (SC) of the outlet passage (302) of the nozzle assembly, which may be either fixed (280, 285) or rotated (650).

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.

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.