Wiping bar holder

Abstract

A holder for holding a rail applicator bar. The holder includes a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart side members attached to each other via an upper member and a lower member. At least one transversely extending support member is attached to each of the side members, wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be supported on each of the respective support members. The holder further includes a hook attached to the upper member of the frame, wherein the hook is adapted to hang over a top of an upright surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding rail applicator bars for lubricating railroad rails.

2. Description of Related Art

In the operation of railroads, it has long been the practice to apply grease or friction-modifying materials onto railroad rails, such as to the top of rails or sides of the rails at curves, turnouts, switches, and in some cases, the sections of the track immediately before a switch, and periodically spaced along the length of the track. Such lubricants and friction modifying materials, such as grease, can either reduce or increase the friction where necessary, to improve train performance and reduce wear on both the rails and the train wheels. Grease is typically pumped from a nearby central pump station to a rail applicator device for applying grease to the rails. This pump station is typically housed in an enclosure box. Two such devices used for applying friction-modifying material and/or lubricant to the top of the rail is disclosed in International Publication No. WO 00/61418 entitled “Top of Rail Applicator” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,958, entitled “Rail Lubrication Apparatus” which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The rail applicator device as disclosed in the above reference includes a rail applicator bar (oftentimes referred to as a “wiping bar”) to provide and/or direct lubricant towards a surface of the rail. When maintenance is performed on the rail or rail applicator device, the wiping bar is removed and/or replaced. The old wiping bars are typically scattered on the side of the railroad tracks. These wiping bars, which can later be cleaned and/or repaired, typically become damaged while scattered on the side of the railroad tracks before maintenance personnel are able to re-install the wiping bars. It is desirable to have a storage area nearby to hold the removed wiping bars until repairs can be performed on the adjacent rail system or rail applicator device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a holder for holding a rail applicator bar. The holder includes a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart side members attached to each other via an upper member and a lower member. At least one transversely extending support member is attached to each of the side members, wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be supported on each of the respective support members. The holder further includes a hook attached to the upper member of the frame, wherein the hook is adapted to hang over a top of an upright surface. The holder can be removably or permanently attached to an enclosure.

The present invention provides for a method of storing a rail applicator bar at a railroad installation. The method includes the steps of removing a wiping bar from a railroad lubrication system and placing the wiping bar on a holder as previously described such as to perform maintenance on the adjacent railroad rail system. Next, the wiping bar is removed from the holder, and subsequently replaced back into the railroad lubrication system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wiping bar holder made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the wiping bar holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the wiping bar holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational side view of the wiping bar holder shown in FIG. 1 coacting with a panel wall shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is an elevational side view of a wiping bar holder made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the wiping bar holder of FIG. 1 installed on an enclosure and supporting a wiping bar; and

FIG. 7 shows a wiping bar holder assembly made in accordance with the present invention, wherein a holder is permanently attached to an enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention provides for a wiping bar holder 10 for holding a rail applicator bar or wiping bar B (shown in FIG. 6) for applying grease or other friction-modifying material to a railroad rail. The holder 10 includes a rectangular-shaped frame 12 having a first end 14 and second end 16. The frame 12 is defined by a pair of spaced-apart side members 18, 20 attached to each other by an upper member 22 at the first end 14 and a lower member 24 at the second end 16 of the frame 12. The members 18, 20, 22 and 24 have a front surface 26 and a rear surface 28 (shown in FIG. 2) and can be made from angle, triangular channel or hollow tubing of either metal or a polymeric material. The frame 12 can be made of a unitary piece of metal or polymeric material or can be attached via welding or any other mechanical methods known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the holder 10 further includes an inverted, generally U-shaped member or hook 30 attached to the upper member 22 of the frame 12 and extending therefrom. The hook 30 is adapted to hang over a top of a panel wall 52 (shown in phantom in FIG. 4). Referring to FIG. 4, the hook 30 includes a linear rear portion 32 attached to a top portion 34, which is attached to a front portion 36 and defining a recess 38 therein. The holder 10 also includes a plurality of transversely extending support members 40 attached to the front surface 26 of the first side member 18 and the second side member 20 of the frame 12. The support members 40 are aligned substantially parallel to each other on each of the respective side members 18, 20. The support member 40 includes a first section 42, a second section 44 depending from the first section 42, and a lip 46 depending from the second section 44. The first section 42 and the lip 46 extend in a direction opposite from one another. The lip 46 of the support member 40 is attached to the front surface 26 of one of the side members 18, 20, such that a recessed area 48 is defined by the first section 42, the second section 44 and the front surface 26 of one of the side members 18, 20. The first section 42 and the second section 44 of the support member 40 which extend away from the side members 18, 20 can be L-shaped. A cushioning member 50 which can be made of a rubber material may be attached (such as with an adhesive) to the rear surface 28 of the frame 12, typically the first side member 18 and the second side member 20 of the frame 12. The hook 30 and the support member 40 can be attached via welding or any other mechanical methods known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the present invention also provides for the holder 10 in combination with a side panel wall 52 (shown in phantom in FIG. 4) of an enclosure E for housing a pump system and a lubrication tank for a railroad lubrication system. The enclosure E, which is well known in the art, includes a top wall 51 spaced apart from a bottom wall 53, and a plurality of side panel walls 52 attached to each other and forming a closed end. The side panel walls 52 are positioned between the top wall 51 and the bottom wall 53. Each of the side panel walls 52 has a rear upright surface 54, a front upright surface 56 and a top surface 58. When the top surface 58 of the panel wall 52 is received within the recess 38 of the hook 30, the linear rear portion 32 of the hook 30 is in communication with the rear upright surface 54, the top portion 34 is in communication with the top surface 58 and the front portion 36 is in communication with the front upright surface 56 of the panel wall 52, thus supporting the holder 10. The cushioning member 50 is adapted to contact the front upright surface 56 of the panel wall 52.

Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention provides for a wiping bar stand 60 made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The stand 60 includes a pair of attached wiping bar holders 62, 62′ that are similar to wiping bar holder 10, except that wiping bar holders 62, 62′ do not have an attached hook 30. Like reference numerals refer to like parts. The first end 14 of the rear surface 28 of the holder 62 is connected to the respective first end 14′ of rear surface 28′ of holder 62′. The second end 16 of holder 62 is spaced apart from the respective second end 16′ of holder 62′ such that the stand 60 defines a triangular-shaped profile. A bracket 64 can be attached to each of the holders 62, 62′ in order to provide additional support to the stand 60. The stand 60 is capable of freestanding on the ground adjacent a railroad installation.

Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention provides for a wiping bar holder assembly 70 that includes a plurality of transversely extending support members 40 permanently attached to a front upright surface 56 of a side panel wall 52 of an enclosure E as previously described.

The present invention also provides for a method of storing a rail applicator bar or wiping bar B at a railroad installation. Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7, the method includes the steps of removing a wiping bar B from a railroad lubrication system and placing the wiping bar B on a holder 10, stand 60 or holder assembly 70 as previously described. The wiping bar B is supported on the support members 40 of the holder 10, stand 60 or holder assembly 70. Next, the wiping bar B is removed and subsequently installed back into the railroad lubrication system. When holder 10 is used, the holder 10 is hung over a top surface 58 of a panel wall 52, via the hook 30.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the particular embodiments described in detail herein are illustrative only and are not limited to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A holder for holding a rail applicator bar, said holder comprising:

a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart side members attached to each other via an upper member and a lower member;

at least one transversely extending support member attached to each of said side members,

wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be supported on each of said respective support members; and

a hook attached to said upper member of said frame, wherein said hook is adapted to hang over a top of an upright surface.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a recess area is defined between said support member and said respective side member, and wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be received within the recess area of each of said respective support members.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support members on each of said respective side members are substantially parallel to each other.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame has a first end and a second end, said upper member attached to said side members at said first end and said lower member attached to said side members at said second end of said frame.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support members attached to said side members, wherein said support members on each of said respective side members are substantially parallel to each other.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hook is a U-shaped member comprising a linear rear portion, a top portion, and a front portion and defining a recess therein, wherein a panel wall is adapted to be received within the recess of the hook.

7. The holder as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a panel wall, said wall having a rear upright surface, a front upright surface and a top surface, wherein said top surface of said panel wall is received within the recess of said hook such that said linear rear portion of said hook is in communication with said rear upright surface, said top portion is in communication with said top surface, and said front portion is in communication with said front upright surface of said panel wall.

8. The holder as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a cushioning member attached to said side member opposite said support member, wherein said cushioning member abuts against said front upright surface when said hook is hung over said top surface of said panel wall.

9. The holder as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cushioning member attached to said side member opposite said support member, wherein said cushioning member is adapted to abut against an upright surface when said hook is hung over a top of the upright surface.

10. The holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cushioning member is made of rubber.

11. The holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support member comprises a first section, a second section depending from said first section, and a lip depending from said section, wherein said first section and said second section is L-shaped.

12. The holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lip is attached to said side member, and wherein the recess area is defined by said first section, said second section and said side member.

13. A stand for holding a rail applicator bar, said stand comprising:

a pair of frames, each frame having a first end and a second end and defining a pair of spaced apart side members attached to each other via an upper member and a lower member, and at least one transversely extending support member attached to each of said side members, wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be supported on each of said respective support members;

said pair of frames attached to each other at said first end, said second end of said frames spaced apart from each other, wherein the stand defines a triangular-shaped profile.

14. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein a recess area is defined between said support member and said respective side member, and wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be received within the recess area of each of said respective support members.

15. The stand as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a bracket attached to each of said pair of frames between the first end and the second end, wherein said bracket is adapted to provide additional support to the stand.

16. A method of storing a rail applicator bar at a railroad installation, said method comprising the steps of:

a. removing a wiping bar from a railroad lubrication system;

b. placing the wiping bar on a holder;

c. removing the wiping bar from the holder; and

d. installing the wiping bar back into the railroad lubrication system.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the holder comprising a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart side members attached to each other via an upper member and a lower member, at least one transversely extending support member attached to each of the side members, wherein the wiping bar is supported on each of the respective support members of the holder.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the holder comprising a hook attached to the upper member of the frame, the method further comprising the steps of hanging the holder over a top of an upright surface via the hook.

19. A holder in combination with an enclosure, the enclosure includes a top wall spaced apart from a bottom wall, and plurality of side walls attached to each other and forming a closed end positioned between the top wall and the bottom wall, each of the side walls has a rear upright surface, a front upright surface and a top surface, said holder comprising at least one transversely extending support member attached to the front upright surface of the side wall of the enclosure, wherein a rail applicator bar is adapted to be supported on the support member.