RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/533,452 filed July 17, 2018, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to the field of rail lubrication. More, specifically, the present invention is directed to a replaceable tank liner for efficiently switching out rail lubrication grease. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An inherent challenge with railway operation is the amount of friction that exists between wheels on rail cars and a rail surface. Depending upon railway location, for example, a hump yard or on curved sections of rail, excessive friction can lead to premature slowing or stopping of the rail car while also leading to excessive wear on the rails. A common approach to reducing friction at certain high-friction locations is to continuously apply a grease or similar style lubricant to the rail.

Conventional rail lubricant systems can use nozzles to spray the rail lubricant onto a desired rail surface or can use lubrication bars to position lubricant for contact by passing wheels. Regardless of the system design, the rail lubricant is generally contained in a storage tank located proximate to a desired lubrication area. As the rail lubricant is pumped from the storage tank to a lubricant applicator, the amount of rail lubricant in the storage tank will drop requiring periodic filling. In addition, certain seasonal changes, for example, temperature and precipitation changes (both amount and type), may require the use of seasonal lubricants based on lubricant properties such as, for example, viscosity. Adding and/or changing out rail lubricant from conventional storage tanks is extremely labor intensive, can require special cleaning equipment and result in excess costs associated with rail downtime, environmental disposal and clean-up costs as well as lubricant waste.

For at least these reasons, it would be advantageous to improve upon existing rail lubricant storage designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a replaceable tank liner that can be placed or dropped into and removed from a rail storage tank so as to refill the rail storage tank with rail lubricant or to change out a rail lubricant with a second rail lubricant having different properties.

Embodiments relate to a disposable lubrication tank liner for a rail lubricating system, including an upper sidewall portion, a lower outlet portion, and an intermediate edge surface. The upper sidewall portion has a plurality of generally vertically disposed walls extending downwardly from an upper flange surface. The vertically disposed walls partially define a reservoir space for holding rail lubricant. The lower outlet portion includes a plurality of angled wall portions converging inwardly to a lower flange surface to further define the reservoir space. Further, the intermediate edge surface connects the upper sidewall portion and the lower outlet portion.

Embodiments relate to a lubrication tank liner, including a corrosion-resistant body that covers an interior reservoir of a lubrication tank of a rail lubrication system. The lubrication tank liner has vertical walls of rectangular dimensions and angled wall portions of trapezoidal dimensions integrally formed and contoured for conforming engagement with the interior reservoir.

Embodiments further relate to a method of maintaining a lubrication tank of a rail lubricating system. The method includes providing a lubrication tank including an interior reservoir and opening the lubrication tank to expose the interior reservoir. The method further includes placing a lubrication tank liner within the interior reservoir. The lubrication tank liner is shaped to generally match to the interior reservoir and includes an upper sidewall portion and a lower outlet portion including a plurality of angled wall portions converging inwardly. The method includes securing the lubrication tank liner to the lubrication reservoir with a plurality of fasteners and filling the lubrication tank liner with lubrication fluid. Further, the method includes pumping lubrication fluid from the lubrication tank to a lubricant applicator for a railway and removing the lubrication tank liner for disposal.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a prior art railway having a rail lubricating system.

FIG. 2 is a section view of a prior art rail member from FIG. 1 at section 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a lubrication tank, according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an interior view of a lubrication tank having a tank liner, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a tank liner, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a tank liner, according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view of a tank liner, according to an embodiment.

While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The lubrication tank liner 100 and related apparatus, components, methods, and systems disclosed can be understood from the following embodiments and environments described. In general, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict prior art embodiments of a rail lubrication system 10. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a top view of a railway 20 and FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a rail member 22a at section 2-2 of FIG. 1.

As shown, railway 20 generally comprises a pair of rail members 22a and 22b that lie on a railbed 24 in a parallel relationship with one another. Each rail member 22a and 22b generally has a rail profile 26 that includes a crown 28 upon which a rail wheel rotates. Rail profile 26 further defines a gauge-face 30 and a field face 32, with the gauge-face 30 facing internally toward an opposed rail member and the field face 32 facing externally, away from the railbed 24. Each rail member 22a and 22b includes a rail base 34 that is used to secure the rail members 22a and 22b to the supporting rail ties 36 on the railbed 24.

In high friction locations such as, for example, at curves and switching/hump yards, a rail lubrication system 10 can be utilized to apply a lubricant to the rail members 22a and 22b so as to reduce friction and extend service life. Typically, the rail lubrication system 10 includes a remote lubrication supply 38, a lubricant supply hose 40 and a lubricant applicator 42 as shown in FIG. 1. The remote lubrication supply 38 can include a lubricant reservoir, a control system and a pump system. In some cases, the remote lubrication supply 38 will comprise a lubrication tank. At the direction of the remote lubrication supply 38, lubricant is pumped through the lubricant supply hose 40 and to the lubricant applicator 42, whereby the lubricant is applied to the rail. In some instances, the rail lubrication supply 38 can be configured as a top-of-rail lubrication system in which lubricant is applied to the crown 28. With top-of-rail lubrication systems, the lubricant applicator 42 is generally positioned in proximity to the field face 32. Alternatively, lubricant can be applied to the gauge-face 30 so as to provide lubrication to passing wheel flanges.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a lubrication tank 80. This lubrication tank 80 may serve as the lubrication supply 38, for a system like the rail lubricating system 10 described above. The lubrication tank 80 can be freestanding or otherwise contained as part of a lubrication assembly. The lubrication tank 80 is generally made of metal or other suitable rigid and robust material. Contained within the lubrication tank 80 is a lubrication reservoir (not shown). The lubrication reservoir can comprise a container of various shapes and dimensions. Generally, the lubrication reservoir will have an opening in the top of the reservoir into which fluid can be loaded, for example. In various embodiments, the lubrication tank 80 generally has outside dimensions of roughly a rectangular prism or cube. The lubrication tank 80, as shown in FIG. 3, generally includes six outer wall panels, collectively referred to as wall panels 82 herein. Specifically, these wall panels 82 include a front wall panel 82a, rear wall panel 82b, side wall panels 82c and 82d, top wall panel 82e, and bottom wall panel 82f. Lubrication tank 80 can alternatively include other shapes or forms for a storage container and is not limited to the shape depicted in the FIGS. Front wall panel 82a is shown with a hinged access door 84 and top wall panel 82e is shown with a pivoting or removable access door 86 as well.

In some embodiments, the access door 84 can provide access to an internally-located, control system and/or pump system of the remote lubrication supply 38. In some embodiments, a lubricant reservoir can be accessed from an opened access door 86 or an opened or removed top wall panel 82e of the lubrication tank 80. In other embodiments, the lubrication reservoir could be accessed from an access door 84 located in a front or side wall panel. FIG. 4 generally depicts an embodiment with an open access door 86 in the top wall panel 82e. Access door 86 is propped open via a hydraulic cylinder 88 at one side of the opening 90 in the top wall panel 82e. A lubrication tank liner 100 is shown internally within the lubrication reservoir of the lubrication tank 80. Tank liners 100 can protect lubrication tanks 80 from corrosion and provide for easy, efficient clean-up and reduced disposal costs compared to direct use of the reservoir. The tank liner 100 can be situated in the lubrication tank 80 by being dropped in or inserted from above, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 4-8, a representative embodiment of a lubrication tank liner 100 is shown. Lubrication tank liner 100 can comprise a liner body 102 that is molded or otherwise formed for placement in a lubrication tank 80. The lubrication tank liner 100 can be aligned and closely matched with internal reservoir structures within the lubrication tank 80. In some embodiments, the lubrication tank liner 100 can be loosely or rigidly coupled within the lubrication tank 80. The lubrication tank liner 100 can be fabricated of suitable materials including metals, plastics or chemically compatible polymers. In various embodiments, the thickness of the tank liner 100 can be 2 millimeters to 0.5 inches.

Generally, tank liner 100 can include an upper sidewall portion 104 and a lower outlet portion 106. Upper sidewall portion 104 can include a front wall 110a, a rear wall 110b and opposed sidewalls 110c, HOd. Upper sidewall portion 104 can further comprise an upper flange surface 120 providing a lip around the top of the tank liner 100. Upper flange surface 120 is defined by a front flange surface 120a, a rear flange surface 120b and a pair of opposed side flanges 120c, 120d. An upper liner opening 122 is defined between the front flange surface 120a, rear flange surface 120b and opposed side flanges 120c, 120d. Upper flange surface 120 contains a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 124 around its perimeter. These apertures 124 provide locations in which fasteners 126 can secure the tank liner 100 to the inside of the lubrication tank 80, as shown in FIG. 4.

Upper sidewall portion 104 contains walls 110a, 110b, 110c, and HOd (or generally, walls 110) which are generally vertically disposed and extend downwardly from upper flange surface 120 to an intermediate edge surface 130. The vertically disposed walls 110a, 110b, 110c, and HOd partially define the upper portion of a reservoir lining container for holding rail lubricant. The walls 110 are each generally rectangular in shape and dimensions. Intermediate edge surface 130 is shown as a short lip that is largely horizontally disposed and extends inwardly from the lower perimeter of the walls 110. Intermediate edge surface 130 provides an interior intermediate lip and transition between the upper sidewall portion 104 and the lower outlet portion 106. Intermediate edge surface 130 includes a front lip 130a, rear lip 130b, and side lips 130c and 130d. Lower outlet portion 106 can include a plurality of inwardly angled wall portions 140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d (or generally, wall portions 140) converging inwardly from the intermediate edge surface 130 to a lower flange surface 150 to further define the reservoir space inside the liner. Inwardly angled wall portions 140 include a front angled wall portion 140a, a rear angled wall portion 140b and a pair of angled side wall portions 140c, 140d. Inwardly angled wall portions 140 are generally each trapezoidal in shape and dimensions. In some embodiments, inwardly angled wall portions 140 include spaced-apart, protruding, structural grooves 142 located along their lengths. These structural grooves 142 are integrally formed with the tank liner 100 in some embodiments. Structural grooves 142 can provide structural support for the strength and rigidity of the tank liner 100. Structural groove 142 can also provide support surfaces for resting the tank liner 100 on top of the internal reservoir features of the lubrication tank 80.

Lower outlet portion 106 can also comprise lower flange surface 150. Lower flange surface 150 is defined at a lowermost portion of the tank liner 100. The lower flange surface 150 can comprise a lower flange front surface 150a, a lower flange rear surface 150b, and a pair of lower flange side surfaces 150c, 150d. In embodiments, like FIG. 6, the lower flange surface 150 forms a generally rectangular shape. A lower liner opening 152 is defined between the lower flange front surface 150a, a lower flange rear surface 150b and lower flange side surfaces 150c, 150d. Rail lubricant can be drawn out from this opening 152 via pump components located either inside or outside the tank liner 100. Lower flange surface 150 contains a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 154 around its perimeter. These apertures 154 provide locations in which fasteners can secure the tank liner 100 to the inside of the lubrication tank 80. Alternatively, fasteners can attach to other structures that close the lower liner opening 152, when the tank liner 100 is being removed from the lubrication tank 80. In operation, a lubrication tank of a rail lubricating system can be maintained according to various methods. In some cases, a lubrication tank 80 is first provided including an interior reservoir. The lubrication tank 80 is opened, typically from above, to expose the interior reservoir. Prior to use of a lubrication tank 80 in a rail lubrication system 10, a lubrication tank liner 100 is inserted and placed into the internal reservoir cavity of the lubrication tank 80. This can be done by inserting the tank liner 100 through an opening in the top or side of the lubrication tank 80. The upper side portion 104 and lower outlet portion 106 of the liner 100, accordingly, are each coupled against the internal structures of the interior reservoir of the lubrication tank 80, via matching features. Fasteners 126 may be used to further secure the tank liner 100 to the lubrication tank 80 via apertures 124 and/or 154 in the upper flange surface 120 and lower flange surface 150. Once the tank liner 100 is secured into place, the liner 100 within the tank 80 may be filled with rail lubricant.

Rail lubricant, accordingly, then can be pumped from the storage tank 80 to a lubricant applicator 42 located on a railway 20. Once the tank liner 100 is emptied of lubricant, a change of lubricant type is required, a liner replacement is desired, or other cleaning is needed, the tank liner 100 can be readily removed and replaced. Specifically, a user may simply access the inside of the lubrication tank 80, remove any fasters 126, and lift out or otherwise remove the lubrication tank liner 100. In some cases the liner 100 may have a hook-up mechanism that permits easy lifting as well. The current tank liner 100 can be easily stored or disposed of and a new tank liner 100 can be inserted and secured in the lubrication tank 80.

Accordingly, using lubrication tank liners 100 makes it possible to change out seasonal rail lubricant or grease grades in minutes. The lubrication tank liners 100 provide the ability to store excess lubrication fluid and grease. Further, clean-up efforts are greatly reduced in addition to reducing environmental disposal costs. Other potential advantages realized by lubrication tank liners 100 include increased efficiency and up-time of equipment and the ability of users to readily switch between gage face and top of rail lubrication systems.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms "means for" or "step for" are recited in a claim.