Lube car for locomotive

Abstract

A lube car is provided for a locomotive configured to power a consist of revenue cars. The lube car includes a control unit, and a dispensing unit. The control unit is configured to determine one or more of a rolling resistance of the revenue cars, and a number of revenue cars trailing the lube car in the consist. The control unit is further configured to generate a control signal based on the determined rolling resistance, and number of revenue cars trailing the lube car in the consist. The dispensing unit is operatively connected to the control unit, and is configured to dispense lube onto an underlying rail based on the control signal. In an embodiment, a size and weight of the lube car is substantially smaller than a size and weight of the revenue cars thus allowing easy hoisting of the lube car with a lifting device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lube car for a locomotive configured to power a consist of revenue cars, the lube car comprising:
 a control unit configured to:
 determine one or more of a rolling resistance of the revenue cars, and a number of revenue cars trailing the lube car in the consist; and 
 generate a control signal based on the determined rolling resistance, and number of revenue cars trailing the lube car in the consist; and 
   a dispensing unit operatively connected to the control unit, and configured to dispense lube onto an underlying rail based on the control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The lube car of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control an amount of lube dispensed onto an underlying rail. 
     
     
         3 . The lube car of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control a rate of dispensing the lube onto the underlying rail. 
     
     
         4 . The lube car of  claim 1  further including:
 a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; and 
 a body mounted on the frame and configured to store lube. 
 
     
     
         5 . The lube car of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit includes one or more weight sensors coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The lube car of  claim 5 , wherein the weight sensors are mechanical strain gauges. 
     
     
         7 . The lube car of  claim 4  further including one or more lifting attachments on one of the body and the frame, the lifting attachments configured to allow hoisting of the lube car with a lifting device. 
     
     
         8 . A locomotive system comprising:
 a locomotive;   a consist powered by the locomotive; and   a lube car including:
 a control unit configured to:
 determine one or more of a rolling resistance of the revenue cars, and a number of revenue cars trailing the lube car in the consist; and 
 generate a control signal based on the determined rolling resistance, and number of trailing revenue cars in the consist; and 
 
 a dispensing unit operatively connected to the control unit, and configured to dispense lube onto an underlying rail based on the control signal. 
   
     
     
         9 . The locomotive system of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to control an amount of lube dispensed onto an underlying rail. 
     
     
         10 . The locomotive system of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control a rate of dispensing the lube onto the underlying rail. 
     
     
         11 . The locomotive system of  claim 8 , wherein the lube car further includes:
 a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; and   a body mounted on the frame and configured to store lube.   
     
     
         12 . The locomotive system of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit includes one or more weight sensors coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The locomotive system of  claim 12 , wherein the weight sensors are mechanical strain gauges. 
     
     
         14 . The locomotive system of  claim 11 , wherein the lube car includes one or more lifting attachments on one of the body and the frame, the lifting attachments configured to allow hoisting of the lube car with a lifting device. 
     
     
         15 . The locomotive system of  claim 8 , wherein a weight and size of the lube car is lesser than a weight and size of the trailing revenue cars in the consist. 
     
     
         16 . The locomotive system of  claim 8 , wherein the lube car is variably positioned along a length of the consist. 
     
     
         17 . A method of lubricating rails underlying a consist of a locomotive system, the method comprising:
 determining one or more of a rolling resistance of the revenue cars, and a number of revenue cars in the consist while accounting for a pusher locomotive if present;   generating a control signal based on the determined weight, and the number of revenue cars in the consist; and   dispensing lube onto the underlying rails based on the control signal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining one or more of the rolling resistance, and the number of revenue cars in the consist of the locomotive system includes determining one or more of a rolling resistance, and a number of revenue cars trailing a lube car of the consist. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein dispensing lube onto the underlying rails includes controlling an amount of lube dispensed onto the underlying rails in each dispense. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein dispensing lube onto the underlying rails includes controlling a rate of dispensing the lube onto the underlying rail.