Flow divider arrangement grease distribution system

Abstract

A flow divider arrangement for a rail lubrication distribution system for applying friction modifying material to a pair of adjacent railroad rails. The arrangement includes a first wiping bar assembly adapted to affix to a railroad rail, a second wiping bar assembly adapted to affix to an adjacent railroad rail and a flow divider in fluid communication with the first wiping bar assembly and the second wiping bar assembly. The flow divider is adapted to control the flow rate of friction modifying material to the wiping bar assemblies so that the flow rate of friction modifying material is at a constant rate independent of temperature and operating pressure to each wiping bar assembly.

1 . A flow divider arrangement for a rail lubrication system for applying friction modifying material to a pair of adjacent railroad rails, the arrangement comprising: 
 a first apparatus for applying friction modifying material to railroad rails adapted to affix to a railroad rail;    a second apparatus for applying friction modifying material to railroad rails adapted to affix to an adjacent railroad rail; and    a flow divider in fluid communication with said first apparatus and said second apparatus, said flow divider adapted to control the flow rate of friction modifying material to said apparatuses so that the flow rate of friction modifying material is at a constant rate independent of temperature and operating pressure to each apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least two first apparatuses adapted to affix to a railroad rail and at least two second apparatuses adapted to affix to an adjacent railroad rail.  
   
   
       3 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first apparatus and said second apparatus are wiping bar assemblies.  
   
   
       4 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatuses are fluidly connected to said flow divider via a pair of conduits.  
   
   
       5 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said conduits are in parallel communication to said apparatuses.  
   
   
       6 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said conduits have varying lengths, wherein the length of each conduit differs from the other.  
   
   
       7 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said conduits have varying diameters, wherein the diameter of each conduit differs from the other.  
   
   
       8 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said conduit is a flexible hose or tubing.  
   
   
       9 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a pressurized source of friction modifying material in fluid communication with said flow divider via an inlet line.  
   
   
       10 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the friction modifying material is grease.  
   
   
       11 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said flow divider includes at least two metering gears in parallel fluid communication with said first apparatus and said second apparatus, wherein said metering gears adapted to provide a constant flow rate of friction modifying material to said first apparatus and said second apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said flow divider further includes at least one bypass line having a bypass valve, wherein the bypass line is in fluid communication with said conduit and said inlet line for re-circulating friction modifying material back through said flow divider when a pressure build-up occurs  
   
   
       13 . The flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication said flow divider, wherein said pump is adapted to supply pressurized grease to said flow divider.  
   
   
       14 . A rail lubrication distribution system comprising: 
 a first railroad rail;    a second railroad rail spaced apart from said first railroad rail;    a first wiping bar assembly affixed to said first railroad rail;    a second wiping bar assembly affixed to said second railroad rail; and    a flow divider in fluid communication with said first wiping bar assembly via a first conduit and said second wiping bar assembly via a second conduit, wherein said flow divider is adapted to control the flow rate of friction modifying material to said wiping bar assemblies so that the flow rate of friction modifying material is at a constant rate independent of temperature and operating pressure to each wiping bar assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said flow divider is positioned between said first railroad rail and said second railroad rail, wherein said first conduit has a different length from said second conduit.  
   
   
       16 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said flow divider is positioned between said first railroad rail and said second railroad rail, wherein said first conduit has a different diameter from said second conduit.  
   
   
       17 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said flow divider is positioned adjacent to said second railroad rail, wherein said first conduit has a different length from said second conduit.  
   
   
       18 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said flow divider is positioned adjacent to said second railroad rail, wherein said first conduit has a different diameter from said second conduit.  
   
   
       19 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication said flow divider adapted to supply pressurized friction modifying material to said flow divider.  
   
   
       20 . The rail lubrication distribution system as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a lubricant tank for supplying friction modifying material to said flow divider, wherein said pump and said flow divider are located within said tank.  
   
   
       21 . A flow divider arrangement for a rail lubrication system for applying friction modifying material to a pair of adjacent railroad rails, the arrangement comprising: 
 a first apparatus for applying friction modifying material to railroad rails adapted to affix to a railroad rail;    a second apparatus for applying friction modifying material to railroad rails adapted to affix to an adjacent railroad rail;    a first flow divider in fluid communication with said first apparatus, said first flow divider adapted to control the flow rate of friction modifying material to said first apparatus so that the flow rate of friction modifying material is at a constant rate independent of temperature and operating pressure to said first apparatus; and    a second flow divider in fluid communication with said second apparatus, said second flow divider adapted to control the flow rate of friction modifying material to said second apparatus so that the flow rate of friction modifying material is at a constant rate independent of temperature and operating pressure to said second apparatus.    
   
   
       22 . A method of applying a constant flow rate of friction modifying material to a first railroad rail and an adjacent second railroad rail, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first means for applying friction modifying material to the first railroad rail;    providing a second means for applying friction modifying material to the second railroad rail;    providing a flow divider in fluid communication with said first means and said second means via a plurality of conduits, wherein said conduits have different lengths; and    supplying friction modifying material to said flow divider thereby providing the same amount of friction modifying material to the first railroad rail and the second railroad rail.    
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein pressurized friction modifying material is supplied to said flow divider.  
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the friction modifying material is grease.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  using the flow divider arrangement as claimed in  claim 1.