GB2174630A

GB2174630A - Cleaning railway track

Info

Publication number: GB2174630A
Application number: GB08610378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leon Edward Jacobs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-01
Filing date: 1986-04-28
Publication date: 1986-11-12
Also published as: GB8610378D0; GB2174630B

Abstract

The top surface 11 of a rail or track, e.g. of a model railway or a tram system, is cleaned by rubbing with an abrasive element 27 carried on a resilient mounting 25 e.g. foam plastics, from a heavy block 13 incorporating an electric motor 15 whose output shaft 16 may rotate the element 27 preferably through an eccentric coupling 24 to give an orbital motion around a small diameter. The block has wheels 19 and may be incorporated in a bogie unit. The element 27 may rub both rails of a pair of rails and is incorporated in a coach or locomotive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning apparatus This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and in particular cleaning apparatus for rails or tracks as used for example in railways, tram systems or other transportation systems in which wheeled vehicles run on rails or tracks.

According to this invention apparatus for cleaning the surface of a rail or track comprises means for rubbing the surface, and wheeled means for carrying the rubbing means along the rail or track.

There may be means for moving the rubbing means in an orbital motion.

The moving means may comprise an eccentric coupling.

There may be means for rotating the rubbing means about an axis.

The apparatus may include an electric motor for driving said rubbing means.

The rubbing means may comprise a disc.

The rubbing means may comprise abrasive rubber.

The apparatus may comprise spaced wheels for running on the track and may have a block supporting the rubbing means.

There may be means urging the rubbing means towards the rail or track. There may be resilient means mounting the rubbing means.

The apparatus may be incorporated in or adapted to replace a wheeled bogie for running a on pair of rails or tracks for example a coach or the like vehicle unit.

The rubbing means may be arranged for engaging both rails or tracks of a pair of rails or tracks.

The invention includes a vehicle unit for travelling on a pair of rails or tracks and including an apparatus as defined above.

The invention includes apparatus however defined for cleaning the surface of a rail or track.

The invention may be performed in various ways and three specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through rail cleaning apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle or coach incorporating the apparatus; Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another arrangement; and Figure 4 is a vertical section through part of another apparatus.

The apparatus 10 Fig. 1 is for cleaning the upper surface 11 of a rail 12, typically metal, and comprises a solid block 13, e.g. cast metal, in which is mounted an electric motor 14 having an armature 15 and an output drive shaft 16 generally at right angles to the surface 11 and rotatable in bearings 17, 18. The block 13 is supported via a spring suspension on flanged wheels 19 running on the rail 12.

A platform 20 is secured by means, for example screws 21, in a recess in the lower surface of the block 13 and supports an eccentric drive coupling 22 which is connected to the shaft 16 for rotation therewith and is supported in bearing 23 in the platform 20 and a bearing 24 in a flexible or resilient support element 25 formed for example of foamed plastics e.g. nylon. Secured to the element 25 is a circular disc mounting 26 for a disc-shaped cleaning element 27 for example of abrasive rubber. The flexibility and resilience of the element 25 provides a bias force to urge the cleaning element 27 into engagement with the surface 11 and the weight of the block 13 reduces vibration and helps in pressing on the surface 11.

The eccentric coupling 22 is such that the drive shaft 16 is rotated by the motor and the output axis of rotation of the coupling to which the cleaning element is secured itself rotates in a small diameter circle, for example 0.01 inch (0.25 cm) diameter to clean the surface 11. The cleaning element thus carries out an orbital motion.

The apparatus 10 may be fitted into a coach 30 Fig. 2 or other vehicle for running on the tracks 12. The coach would contain two such apparatus, one for each track. In a large coach the motors may be driven by a generator mounted in the coach. In the case of apparatus 10 for cleaning the rails of a toy or model railway, the apparatus is preferably incorporated in a locomotive unit and the motor energized similarly to the locomotive motor.

The impregnated abrasive element scours the surface 11 as the apparatus moves steadily along the track.

The apparatus 10 may be in a variety of sizes to suit different sizes of wheel bogie.

In a convenient arrangement the apparatus 10 replaces an existing wheel bogie or unit in a coach 40. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 and in this example there is a single motor arranged to drive a single rectangular cleaning element 27 which extends over and rubs against the tops of both tracks 12 and is orbited as a unit around a circle of small diameter.

The unit will be particularly suitable for model railway layouts where track is inaccessable such as tunnels or other awkward places and is greatly beneficial when clean track and good electrical contact is important.

In a modification the cleaning element can be rotated about an axis.

Fig. 4 shows a preferred arrangement 49 in which a centrally mounted heavy block 13 is of white metal for example and the motor 15 is supported on plate 50 through screws 51, the plate 50 being connected by dowels 52 to the block 13. The motor output shaft 16 has an eccentric drive element 53 in bearing 54 supported on a mounting plate 55 from which depends an abrasive circular pad 27.

The plate 55 is mounted to the plate 50 by fore-and-aft pressure posts or blocks 56 of resilient material e.g. nitrile rubber.

The pad 27 carries out an orbital motion around a small diameter e.g. 0.3mm and engages the surfaces 11 of both tracks 12. If desired the unit 49 can be sized and positioned to engage only one track and a cleaning coach or locomotive would then have two such units one for each track. The block 13 may have a central fore-and-aft groove in its top surface to receive cables supplying power to the motor.

The motor shaft 16 may for example rotate at revolutions per second.

The unit 49 could have wheels and replace an existing bogie as in Fig. 2.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a rail or track comprising means for rubbing the surface, and wheeled means for carrying the rubbing means along the rail or track.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, comprising means for moving the rubbing means in an orbital motion.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the moving means comprises an eccentric coupling.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, comprising means for rotating the rubbing means about an axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including an electric motor for driving the rubbing means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the rubbing means comprises a disc.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for urging the rubbing means towards the rail or track.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including resilient means mounting the rubbing means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising spaced wheels for running on the track.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, incorporated in a wheeled bogie for running on a pair of rails or tracks.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the rubbing means is arranged for engaging both rails or tracks of a pair of rails or tracks.

12. Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a rail or track and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1, or Fig. 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, of the accompanying drawings.

13. A vehicle unit for travelling on a pair of rails or tracks and including apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.