Method and apparatus for applying liquid compositions in rail systems

Abstract

A method for applying a liquid composition to a rail surface is provided. This method involves supplying a liquid composition in one or more reservoirs on a rail car (revenue generating car), and applying the liquid composition from the one or more reservoirs to the rail surface.

1. A liquid composition application system, comprising:
 i. a topological device comprising a single global position system (GPS) for acquiring topological information of a rail system based upon sampling of data from the single GPS in real-time, the topological information comprising speed, heading, altitude, change in speed, change in direction, change in elevation or orientation of a rail car in the rail system, or a combination thereof; 
 ii. an applicator for application of the liquid composition; and 
 iii. a processing device for receiving the topological information, and controlling the application of the liquid composition, wherein control of the application of the liquid composition is based on the topological information received by the processing device. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises:
 i. one or more than one reservoir for holding the liquid composition; 
 ii. a pipe connected to the one or more than one reservoir; 
 iii. one or more than one dispensing nozzle; and 
 iv. a pump, in fluid communication with the pipe, for moving the liquid composition from the one or more than one reservoir to the one or more than one dispensing nozzle. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid composition application system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device comprises a controller for controlling operation of the pump. 
     
     
       4. The liquid composition application system of  3 , wherein the controller is selected from the group consisting of a programmable logic controller, a microprocessor and a computer. 
     
     
       5. The liquid composition application system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device comprises a metering device for controlling operation of the pump. 
     
     
       6. The liquid composition application system of  claim 2 , further comprising a source of pressurized air connected to the one or more than one dispensing nozzle to dispense the liquid composition as an atomized spray. 
     
     
       7. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device comprises a database having topological information of the rail system and the processing device coordinates the topological information acquired from the GPS with the topological information of the database for controlling the application of the liquid composition. 
     
     
       8. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device comprises one or more than one electronic component selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, a computer, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The liquid composition application system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more than one electronic component has an operator-actuated interface. 
     
     
       10. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the topological information received by the processing device for controlling the application of the liquid composition is selected from the group consisting of orientation of a rail car in the rail system, speed of the rail car, curve sensing, changes change in direction or change in elevation, and of the rail car, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the topological information acquired by the GPS and received by the processing device is selected from the group consisting of latitude, longitude, speed, heading, altitude, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS provides the processing device with topological information regarding speed of a rail car in the rail system to control a rate of application of the liquid composition. 
     
     
       13. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS provides the processing device with topological information regarding changes in position of a rail car in the rail system to determine whether or not the rail car is negotiating a curved portion of a rail track in the rail system and the processing device controls application of the liquid composition accordingly. 
     
     
       14. The liquid composition application system of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS provides the processing device with topological information regarding changes in elevation of a rail car in the rail system to determine whether or not the rail car is negotiating an inclining or declining segment of a rail track in the rail system and the processing device controls application of the liquid composition accordingly. 
     
     
       15. A method of applying a liquid composition in a rail system using the liquid composition application system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       16. A method of applying a liquid composition in a rail system comprising:
 i. providing the liquid composition application system of  claim 1 ; 
 ii. acquiring topological information of the rail system in real-time using the GPS; 
 iii. processing the topological information and controlling application of the liquid composition using the processing device, wherein control of the application of the liquid composition is based on the topological information received by the processing device.