Lubricant applicator for a wheel of a trackbound vehicle

Abstract

A lubricant applicator ( 1 ) for a wheel ( 8 ) of a trackbound vehicle comprises an applicator cylinder ( 26 ) for a lubricant stick ( 6 ). The lubricant applicator ( 1 ) further comprises a piston ( 36 ), which is arranged to run in the applicator cylinder ( 26 ) and to press the lubricant stick ( 6 ) against said wheel ( 8 ), and a space ( 37 ) inside the applicator cylinder ( 26 ) which is arranged to receive a pressurized fluid for pressing the piston ( 36 ) against the lubricant stick ( 6 ).

1 . Lubricant applicator for a wheel of a trackbound vehicle, which applicator comprises an applicator cylinder for a lubricant stick, characterized in that the lubricant applicator further comprises
 a piston, which is arranged to run in the applicator cylinder and to press the lubricant stick against said wheel, and   a space inside the applicator cylinder which is arranged to receive a pressurized fluid for pressing the piston against the lubricant stick.   
     
     
         2 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator cylinder has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein a control device is arranged to receive at least one signal from a sensor, which senses at least one operating parameter of the trackbound vehicle, and to control the pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied to the space depending on this signal. 
     
     
         4 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein both the lubricant stick and the applicator cylinder are formed from electrically conductive material and are in electric contact with each other, wherein currents that passes from a rail to said wheel can be conducted via the lubricant stick and the applicator cylinder further to the trackbound vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 4 , wherein the lubricant stick is prepared from a material which comprises graphite. 
     
     
         6 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of the lubricant stick forms that piston which runs in the applicator cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein a separate piston is arranged to run in the applicator cylinder ( 126 ) and to be pressed against the lubricant stick ( 106 ). 
     
     
         8 . Lubricant applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator cylinder is releasably attached to a bracket which is mounted on the trackbound vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . Method of lubricating a wheel of a trackbound vehicle with the help of a lubricant applicator which comprises an applicator cylinder for a lubricant stick, characterized in that the lubricant applicator further comprises a piston, which is arranged to run in the applicator cylinder and to press the lubricant stick against said wheel, and a space inside the applicator cylinder which is arranged to receive a pressurized fluid for pressing the piston against the lubricant stick, wherein at least one operating parameter which describes the present operating condition of the trackbound vehicle is measured, and
 that the pressure in said space is adapted to provide a desired lubrication of said wheel with regard to said present operating condition.   
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein both the lubricant stick and the applicator cylinder are formed from electrically conductive material and are in electric contact with each other, wherein currents that passes from a rail to said wheel are conducted via the lubricant stick and the applicator cylinder further to the trackbound vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one operating parameter comprises at least one of the present curve position of the trackbound vehicle and the present speed of the trackbound vehicle.