US2027414A - Rail and flange lubricator - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l s. E. BATES RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Original Filed May 14, 1928 w ns 4 .Z 1w/M 5 1,4 J @5 4N E h Q 1 n MMU M.

Jan. 14, 1936.

Jan. 14, 1936. s. E. BATES RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Original Filed May 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (fin/ven W' .SzkwergEa/S Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES FATEN'` OFFIQE RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR corporation of Illinois Application May 14, 1928, Serial No. 277,524 Renewed April 27, 1934 16 Claims.

My invention relates to lubricating devices and lhas a special relation to devices for lubricating rails and car wheel flanges of railroad equipment. One of the great difficulties in railroad engineering has been caused by the fact that rails are particularly susceptible to wear at curves, due to the enormous lateral thrust thereon by car wheel flanges as a result of centrifugal force generated in traversing the curves. This thrust is, of course, applied on the inner side of the rail face, on which side the flange of the car wheel bears, and the wear is so great that curve rails must' frequently be replaced to avoid derailing of cars. Attempts have been made in the past to solve this difculty by manually greasing the rails at the points oi greatest wear, but, 0bviously this is an expensive and unsatisfactory procedure. In some instances the Wheels of the locomotive or motor car have been sprayed with oil, but this has not been entirely satisfactory.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to pro'- vide a mechanical lubricator adapted to be attached to a rail and operable by the passage of a car wheel thereover to apply lubricant to the rail at the desired point or points. A further object is to provide such a device which will distribute the lubricant along the rail at a plurality of points and so eject it that it will be picked up by a car wheel for further distribution on the rail and wheel. A still further object is to provide such a device which will transmit the force of the car wheel to the lubricant feeder in such a manner that, after all lubricant has been ejected, on further contact of a car wheel with the device, no force will be transmitted to the feeder, and hence no damage will be caused tothe apparatus. Another object is to provide such a device which is easily iilled and re-flled with lubricant, and which is rugged in construction and simple in operation and may readily be applied to a rail without the necessity of any reconstruction thereof or requiring temporary removal of the rail. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be-obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference cha acters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a device illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the deVCe ShQWll in Fig. 1;V showing the inside of a rail with the device attached;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed section taken on an en- 5 larged scale, showing the parts between lines i o Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar detail on an enlarged scale showing the parts between lines 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 6 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation upon an enlarged scale taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. i0 is a sectional View taken on line iB IU of Fig. 9.

A device embodying my invention is shown as applied to a rail iii. Suitable clamps Il, which are fastened to the base of the rail by bolts and nuts or other suitable means, make a rigid connection therewith to support a tubular grease container l2. This container includes a cylindrical casing I3 closed at its ends by means of caps I4, ifi which are secured in any suitable manner. Passing through the tubular container is a spindle l5, oppositely threaded from the center to its opposite ends, on which are mounted a pair of grease ejectors or plungers i6, I6. A plurality of rods l'i pass through the tubular container and the grease ejectors and 'may be secured in the caps by nuts il' and hold the caps in place. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the grease ejectors each comprise a metallic member iS which is threaded on the central spindle l5. Attached to the inner faces of each of the metallic members by means of a ring i9 is a plunger 2t of leather or other suitable material. Packing glands 2l are threaded into the metallic members to provide for the passage of the rods Il and to prevent leakage of lubricant.

On one end of the spindle l5 outside of the tubular container (see Fig. 5) is rigidly mounted, say by means of a pin or set screw 22, a retaining ring 23, and frictionally mounted on the spindle adjacent the retaining ring are a ratchet 24 and a retaining ring 25, these three rings being separated by washers 23a and 23h. Bearing against the ring 25 is a coil spring 26 which is retained on the spindle by means of a nut 21.

The tubular container l2 is held in place by means of clamping rings 28 which are fastened to the rail by the clamps l l described above.

Intermediate the ends of the tubular container, preferably at the center, is a member 2S (seen in section in Fig. 7) which has openings 3S and 3l at the top and side respectively to permit the convenient introduction of grease into the container. These openings may be closed by screw caps. An orice 32 is provided at the bottom of the member which communicates with a conduit 33 for carrying grease from the container to the distributing means to be described later. Pref erably, an additional clamp is provided for securing the conduit 33 to the rail.

Pivotally mounted on the rail at 34 is a lever 35 (see Figs. l, 6 and 8) carrying near the end opposite its pivot a tread 36 which lies parallel to and in close proximity to the upper face of the rail. Pivoted at 37 to an extension of the tread is a link 38 pivoted at 39 to a lever 45, one end of which is formed with a yoke which loosely engages the rings 23 and 25 and has attached thereto a paWl 4I. This pawl carries a tooth at its end which engages the teeth on the ratchet 24. Fastened to the lower side of the tread 36 and retained by a bolt and nut or other suitable means is a coil spring 42 which is retained at its other end by a suitable bracket 43 mount-ed on the rail.

The conduit 33, described above, leads from the tubular container I2, passing under the rail, to a distributor indicated generally at 44 which is mounted by suitable brackets 45 on the inner side of the rail. As clearly shown in Figs. 2, 9 and 10, the distributor comprises a tube 46 which extends along the rail and provides a main passage for the lubricant, its ends being closed by caps. Prcerably cast integrally with the tube is a pair of spaced lugs 41 and 41. Seated between the lugs are opposing plates 48 and 49 and 48 and 4S', one of which plates may have vertical slots 5S at certain desired intervals which form branch ducts leading from the main lubricant duct of thV tube 46 to the edge of the plate, said plates constituting a distributing bar for distributing lubricant along the side face of the rail head near the upper edge thereof.

The plates may be maintained rigidly in place by bolts and nuts indicated at 5I. A suitable oneway valve indicated at 52 (Fig. 7) may be provided to regulate the direction of flow of lubricant into the distributor.

From the above description, it is believed that the operation of the device will be clearly apparent. Lubricant may be introduced into the container I2 through either one of the apertures 3B or 3! after the plungers have been adjusted at the ends of the spindle. When a car wheel passes along the rail above the lubricating device, the tread of the wheel will depress the tread 36 of the lever 35 as shown in Fig. 6. The lever will act through the link 38 to rotate the lever 4D and actuate the paWl 4! which, being engaged in the ratchet 24 frictionally mounted on the spindle iii will rotate the spindle. The spindle being threaded Within the ejectors I5, i6' Will cause these ejectors to move toward the center of the container. The plungers will accordingly exert pressure on the lubricant in the container, forcing it out through the orifice 32, the conduit 33, and valve 52, into the distributor, by means of which it will be extruded between the plates 48 and 49 through the slots Obviously, the flange of the car Wheel, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, will readily pick up the lubricant ejected along the side of the rail face and aid in distributing it.

It will be apparent that various elements may be adjusted so as to control the amount of lubricant which is to be ejected. Thus the distance which the tread 35 projects above the track may be varied, as Well as the number of threads to the inch on the spindle I5 and the adjustment of the pawl and ratchet.

It will also be apparent that when all of the lubricant has been discharged from the container and the ejectors have moved to their limits near the center of the container, continued actuation of the lever by wheels passing thereover will result in no damage to the apparatus. In view of the frictional engagement of the ratchet 24, this ratchet Will simply slip on the spindle and the device Will remain functionally inoperative.

It Will be particularly noted that the device may be readily applied adjacent to any rail without requiring rails of special construction or special Work on the rails at the time of installation of the device. Likewise, it is not necessary to drill through the rails, the discharge ports for the lubricant being entirely without the confines of the rail. The lubricant is applied at the desired points and in the required quantity. The lubricant is not automatically and continuously fed out While a train may be standing over the device, but only fed out While the train is moving, and at that time the feeding is positive and direct. Likewise, the port openings are so disposed that the wheel treads do not come into contact ,"f

thereat, thereby avoiding any possibility of upsetting the material about the openings or otherwise partially closing them by forcing dirt, cinders or foreign matter into the ports.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modiiications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movable longitudinally Within said container from opposite ends toward the center for ejecting grease therefrom, means actuated by a car wheel moving along the rail for actuating the last mentioned means, and an orice in said container intermediate its ends.

2. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movable longitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward the center for ejecting grease therefrom, means actuable by a car wheel moving along the rail for actuating said ejecting means, means for guiding said ejecting means, and an orifice in said container intermediate of its ends.

3. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movable longitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward the center for ejecting grease therefrom, reciprocating means actuable by a car Wheel moving along the rail for actuating said ejecting means, and an orifice in said container intermediate of its ends.

4. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movable longitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward the center for ejecting grease therefrom, means for guiding said ejecting means, reciprocating means for actuating said ejecting means actuable by a car wheel moving along the rail, and an orice in said container intermediate of its ends.

5. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, a feeding device comprising an elongated reservoir having spaced longitudinal flanges, and means disposed betwen said flanges for distributing lubricant along the surface of a rail.

6. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, a feeding device comprising an elongated reservoir having spaced longitudinal flanges, and a pair of grease distributing plates seated between said flanges.

'7. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, a feeding device comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinal flanges ex.- tending therefrom, and a pair of grease-distributing plates seated within said flanges, one of said plates being apertured to permit the extrusion of grease from said barrel.

8. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, a feeding device comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinal flanges extending therefrom, and a pair of grease-distributing plates seated within said flanges, one of said plates being apertured to permit the extrusion of grease from said barrel, the external ends of said plates having beveled edges lying in the same p-lane.

9. In a rail lubricator of the class described, a lubricant distributing member adapted to be positioned longitudinally of a rail at the side thereof, said member comprising a portion having a main longitudinally extending lubricant conduit, and an upwardly projecting flange portion adapted to extend alongside the rail head beneath the car wheel flange, said flange portion being downwardly and outwardly beveled on its outer side, there being a plurality of spaced outlet openings in the beveled flange portion and branch passages leading from the main conduit to the several outlet openings,

l0. In a rail lubricator, a relatively long lubricant distributing member positioned at one side of the rail, an operating member adapted to be actuated by a passing car wheel and positioned at the opposite side of the rail, a lubricant reservoir and means for forcing lubricant therefrom, and clamp devices spaced with relation to each other longitudinally of the rail and embracing the base portion thereof for supporting all of the parts from the rail; one of said clamp devices including a conduit for conducting the lubricant from the reservoir to the distributing member.

11. In a rail lubricating device of the character described, a lubricant distributor positioned at one side of the rail comprising a lubricant distributing bar positioned along the side face of the rail head so that the inner face of said bar extends in substantially the same plane as the said side face of the rail head, there being a plurality of lubricant discharge ducts in said bar which extend to the upper edge thereof and the said distributor being provided also with a portion having a main lubricant supply passage extending longitudinally of the rail and connecting the several lubricant discharge ducts, and means for supplying lubricant to said main lubricant supply passage. n 12. In a rail lubricating device of the class described, a lubricant distributor positioned at one side of the rail and including means extending 5 longitudinally of the rail in the fishing space beneath the rail head and provided with a main lubricant duct, said means having a surface extending in the plane of the adjacent side face of the rail head, and a lubricant distributing bar l0 secured against said surface; the said bar having lubricant branch ducts leading from said main duct to the upper edge portion of said bar for discharging lubricant against the side face of the rail head. l5

13. In a rail lubricator of the character described, a lubricant distributor positioned at one side of the rail comprising a lubricant distributing bar having a beveled upper edge and a plurality of lubricant discharge ducts extending 20 from the lower portion of said bar to the beveled upper edge thereof and means for supporting the bar flat against the side face of the rail head comprising a member extending longitudinally of the rail in the space between the rail head and the base flange of the rail and provided with a lubricant supply duct extending longitudinally of the rail in communication with said discharge ducts, said member having a flat surface extending in substantially the same plane as the side face of the rail head, the said iiat surface of the longitudinally extending member serving to maintain the said distributing bar flat against the side face of the rail head, and means for forcing lubricant through said supply and discharge ducts,

14. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributor formed with a main duct for lubricant extending lengthwise of the rail and comprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face of the rail head and is formed with a plurality of branch ducts leading from the main duct to the upper edge of the bar, and means for forcing lubricant through the main and branch ducts.

l5. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributor formed with a main duct for lubricant extending lengthwise of the rail and comprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face of the rail head and is 50 formed at intervals with a plurality of branch ducts leading from the main duct to the upper edge of the bar, and means for forcing lubricant through said main and branch ducts.

16. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributor formed with a lubricant space extending lengthwise of the rail and comprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face of the rail head and is formed with a plurality of distributing ducts leading from the lubricant space to the upper edge portion of said distributing bar, and means for forcing lubricant into said space and through said ducts.

SIDNEY E. BATES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,027,414. January 3.4, 1956.

SIDNEY E. BATES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 7245, claim 4, strike out the words "actuable by a car wheel moving along the rail" and insert the same after "means" second occurrence, in line 7l, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents.

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