RAILWAY SWITCH WITH LUBRICIOUS LINER
A railway switch system includes a base plate that has an exterior surface and a movable elongate rail that has a mounting flange that has an exterior surface that faces the exterior surface of the base plate. The railway switch system includes a lubricious liner disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate that is one of: the exterior surface of the base plate, the exterior surface of the mounting flange, and an exterior surface of an intervening plate disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange. The lubricious liner has an exposed bearing surface, has a second width, extends continuously across the second width, and is substantially planar. The lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, fibers and a lubricant.
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This application claims priority to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/110,451 filed Nov. 6, 2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a maintenance-free railway switch having a lubricious liner therein and wherein the lubricious liner is a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant.
BACKGROUNDA railroad switch is used to allow a train to transition from one rail line to another. In order to perform this function, a set of switching rails must be moved horizontally to determine which rail line the train will be directed to. As shown in
Thus, there is a need for an improved railroad switch that addresses the foregoing problems.
SUMMARYThe present invention includes a railway switch system that includes an elongate rail (e.g., a switching rail) that has a mounting flange thereon. The mounting flange has a first exterior surface. The railway switch system includes a base plate that has a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface. The elongate rail is supported by and is laterally movable relative to the base plate. A lubricious liner is disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and is mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate. The substrate is one of: (a) the first exterior surface of the mounting flange, (b) the second exterior surface of the base plate, and (c) a third exterior surface of an intervening plate disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange. The lubricious liner: (i) has an exposed bearing surface, (ii) has a first width, (iii) extends continuously across the first width, and (iv) is substantially planar. The lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant.
In some embodiments, the polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, epoxy, silicate, nitrile phenolic, phenolic or polyimide resins.
In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are thermoplastic fibers comprising at least one of an aramid, glass, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyether ether ketone.
In some embodiments, the polymer lubricant includes polytetrafluoroethylene and/or polyether ether ketone.
In some embodiments, the lubricious liner is bonded to the substrate.
In some embodiments, the lubricious liner is mechanically secured to the substrate by at least one of an epoxy, an adhesive and mechanical fasteners.
In some embodiments, the base plate is secured to a sub-plate by at least one of welding and mechanical fasteners.
In some embodiments, the exposed bearing surface is in sliding engagement with one of the first exterior surface, the second exterior surface and the third exterior surface.
In some embodiments, the railway switch system includes one or more scrapers (e.g., a brush and a flexible material) secured to the mounting flange and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
In some embodiments, the railway switch system includes a counter-face layer removably retained on the elongate rail and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
In some embodiments, the railway switch system includes a scraper (e.g., a brush or a flexible material) secured to the counter-face layer and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
In some embodiments, the railway switch system includes a counter-face layer removably retained on the first exterior surface of the base plate and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
In some embodiments, the elongate rail extends along a longitudinal axis thereof and the mounting flange has a second width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first width of the lubricious liner is at least as great as the second width of the mounting flange.
In some embodiments, the lubricious liner includes one or more grooves extending at least partially into the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner. The grooves are configured to receive and discharge wear debris and contamination.
There is disclosed herein a railway switch system that includes an elongate rail that has mounting flange thereon. The mounting flange has a first exterior surface. The railway switch system includes a base plate that has a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface. The elongate rail is supported by and laterally movable relative to the base plate. A lubricious liner is disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate, the substrate being the second exterior surface. The lubricious liner: (i) has an exposed bearing surface, (ii) has a first width, (iii) extends continuously across the first width, and (iv) is substantially planar. The lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant. The railway switch system includes a counter-face layer removably retained on the mounting flange and in sliding engagement with an exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
There is further disclosed herein a railway switch system that includes an elongate rail that has a mounting flange thereon. The mounting flange has a first exterior surface. A counter-face layer is removably retained on the mounting flange. The railway switch system includes a base plate that has a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface. The elongate rail is supported by and is laterally movable relative to the base plate. A lubricious liner is disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and is mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate, the substrate being the counter-face layer. The lubricious liner: (i) has an exposed bearing surface, (ii) has a first width, (iii) extends continuously across the first width, and (iv) is substantially planar. The lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant. An exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner is in sliding engagement with the second exterior surface of the base plate.
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The lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free (i.e., an amount of graphite that is low enough that the graphite contribute little or no lubrication) material consisting of a blend of polymer resin 4R, polymer fibers 4F and a polymer lubricant 4L. The polymer resin 4R is one of, epoxy, silicate, nitrile phenolic, phenolic or polyimide resins. The polymer fibers 4F are thermoplastic fibers for example one or more of an aramid (for example nylon), polyester, glass, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polyether ether ketone. The polymer lubricant 4L a polytetrafluoroethylene and/or polyether ether ketone.
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Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A railway switch system comprising:
- an elongate rail having a mounting flange thereon, the mounting flange having a first exterior surface;
- a base plate having a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface, the elongate rail being supported by and laterally movable relative to the base plate;
- a lubricious liner disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate, the substrate being one of: (a) the first exterior surface, (b) the second exterior surface, and (c) a third exterior surface of an intervening plate disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange;
- the lubricious liner: (i) having an exposed bearing surface, (ii) having a first width, (iii) extending continuously across the first width, and (iv) being substantially planar; and
- wherein the lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant.
2. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, epoxy, silicate, nitrile phenolic, phenolic and polyimide resins.
3. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the polymer fibers are thermoplastic fibers comprising at least one of an aramid, glass, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyether ether ketone.
4. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the polymer lubricant comprises at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene and polyether ether ketone.
5. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the lubricious liner is bonded to the substrate.
6. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the lubricious liner is mechanically secured to the substrate by at least one of an epoxy, an adhesive, mechanical fasteners and combinations thereof.
7. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the base plate is secured to a sub-plate by at least one of welding, mechanical fasteners and combinations thereof.
8. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the exposed bearing surface is in sliding engagement with one of the first exterior surface, the second exterior surface and the third exterior surface.
9. The railway switch system of claim 1, further comprising a scraper secured to the mounting flange and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
10. The railway switch system of claim 9, wherein the scraper comprises at least one of a brush and a flexible material.
11. The railway switch system of claim 1, further comprising a counter-face layer removably retained on the elongate rail and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
12. The railway switch system of claim 11, further comprising a scraper secured to the counter-face layer and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
13. The railway switch system of claim 12, wherein the scraper comprises at least one of a brush and a flexible material.
14. The railway switch system of claim 1, further comprising a counter-face layer removably retained on the first exterior surface of the base plate and in sliding engagement with the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
15. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein:
- the elongate rail extends along a longitudinal axis thereof;
- the mounting flange has a second width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
- the first width of the lubricious liner is at least as great as the second width of the mounting flange.
16. The railway switch system of claim 1, wherein the lubricious liner comprises at least one groove extending at least partially into the exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner, the at least one groove being configured to receive and discharge wear debris and contamination.
17. A railway switch system comprising:
- an elongate rail having a mounting flange thereon, the mounting flange having a first exterior surface;
- a base plate having a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface, the elongate rail being supported by and laterally movable relative to the base plate;
- a lubricious liner disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate, the substrate being the second exterior surface, and
- the lubricious liner: (i) having an exposed bearing surface, (ii) having a first width, (iii) extending continuously across the first width, and (iv) being substantially planar;
- wherein the lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant; and
- comprising a counter-face layer removably retained on the mounting flange and in sliding engagement with an exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner.
18. A railway switch system comprising:
- an elongate rail having a mounting flange thereon, the mounting flange having a first exterior surface;
- a counter-face layer removably retained on the mounting flange;
- a base plate having a second exterior surface that faces the first exterior surface, the elongate rail being supported by and laterally movable relative to the base plate;
- a lubricious liner disposed between the base plate and the mounting flange and mounted in parallel engagement on top of a substrate, the substrate being the counter-face layer, and
- the lubricious liner: (i) having an exposed bearing surface, (ii) having a first width, (iii) extending continuously across the first width, and (iv) being substantially planar;
- wherein the lubricious liner consists of a non-metallic substantially graphite free material consisting of a blend of polymer resin, polymer fibers and a polymer lubricant; and
- an exposed bearing surface of the lubricious liner is in sliding engagement with the second exterior surface of the base plate.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 5, 2021
Publication Date: May 12, 2022
Applicant: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc. (Oxford, CT)
Inventor: Andrew Loutzenheiser (Tucson, AZ)
Application Number: 17/519,920