Grease Guide

Abstract

A trough for use on wiping bar assembly of a rail lubrication system, wherein the wiping bar assembly includes a manifold body and a flow passageway having an exit end at least partially defined in the manifold body. The trough includes a body having a first section and a second section extending away from the first section, wherein the first section of the body is positioned adjacent the exit end, and wherein a mat is provided within the trough.

1 . A trough for use on a wiping bar assembly of a rail lubrication system, wherein the wiping bar assembly includes a manifold body and a flow passageway having an exit end at least partially defined in the manifold body, said trough comprising a body having a first section and a second section extending away from said first section, said first section of said body positioned adjacent the exit end, wherein a mat is provided within said trough. 
   
   
       2 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a downwardly extending flange is attached to said first section of said body of said trough, and wherein said flange is adapted to attach to the wiping bar assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said trough is positioned adjacent the exit end of the wiping bar assembly such that said mat is adapted to coact with a wheel flange of a train. 
   
   
       4 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first section and said second section of said body of said trough define an angle. 
   
   
       5 . The trough as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said mat substantially conforms to the angle of said first section and said second section of said body of said trough. 
   
   
       6 . The trough as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first section and said second section of said body of said trough are angled such that excess lubricant material can flow back toward the exit end of the manifold body. 
   
   
       7 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mat is made of a fibrous material. 
   
   
       8 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mat is made of a flexible material. 
   
   
       9 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mat comprises a base and a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers axially extending from said base, and wherein said fingers are adapted to coact with a wheel flange of a train. 
   
   
       10 . The trough as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said base and said fingers of said mat are made of a unitary piece of elastomeric material. 
   
   
       11 . The trough as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said base is made of a flat piece of elastomeric material. 
   
   
       12 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mat having a first end and a second end further defines an upwardly extending flap extending from said first end toward a head of a railroad rail adjacent the exit end, whereby said flap is adapted to coact with a portion of a side surface of a wheel flange of a train. 
   
   
       13 . The trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mat having a first end and a second end further defines a seal flap extending from said first end toward the exit end, wherein said seal flap is positioned below the exit end and is biased against the wiping bar assembly, and wherein said seal flap acts as a seal to prevent excess lubricant material from flowing underneath said mat and onto said trough thereby wasting the lubricant material. 
   
   
       14 . The trough as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the mat having a first end and a second end further defines an upwardly extending flap extending from said first end toward a head of a railroad rail adjacent the exit end, whereby said flap is adapted to coact with a portion of a side surface of a wheel flange of a train. 
   
   
       15 . The trough as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said flap and said base are integrally formed. 
   
   
       16 . The trough as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said seal flap and said flap are integrally formed. 
   
   
       17 . An applicator bar for applying lubricant material to a head of a rail, comprising:
 a manifold body;   a flow passageway at least partially defined in said manifold body for the material to flow through, the flow passageway defining an exit end; and   a trough coacting with said manifold body and positioned adjacent the exit end for catching the overflow of material, wherein a mat is provided within said trough such that a flange of a train wheel passing on said mat receives material thereon.   
   
   
       18 . The applicator bar as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the exit end is partially defined by an elongated distribution blade for directing the material to a surface of the rail. 
   
   
       19 . The applicator bar as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said mat is made of a fibrous material. 
   
   
       20 . The applicator bar as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said mat is made of a flexible material. 
   
   
       21 . The applicator bar as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said mat is made of a resilient polymeric material comprising a plurality of non-uniform loops intertwined together thereby forming voids therein adapted to absorb lubricant material. 
   
   
       22 . 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 and said second wiping bar assembly, wherein each of said wiping bar assemblies comprises a trough having a mat provided thereon for catching the overflow of lubricant material, wherein the lubricant material retained on the mat coacts with a flange of a train wheel.   
   
   
       23 . A method of increasing the efficiency of lubricant transfer to a wheel flange of a train wheel using a wiping bar assembly of a rail lubrication system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a trough attached to the wiping bar assembly, wherein an exit end is defined in the wiping bar assembly for depositing lubricant material to a head of a rail, the trough positioned adjacent the exit end for catching the overflow of lubricant material, wherein a mat is provided within the trough, said mat adapted to coact with a wheel flange of a train wheel passing thereon;   supplying lubricant material to a head of a rail via the wiping bar assembly, wherein excess lubricant material then flows onto the mat provided within the trough; and   redepositing the excess lubricant material onto a wheel flange of a train wheel passing on the mat.