WO1991010537A1

WO1991010537A1 - Rail grinding machine spark and dust suppression apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1991010537A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/000249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan L. Dzubak; Robert J. Monson; Bruce E. Kallevig
Original assignee: Loram Maintenance of Way Inc
Current assignee: Loram Maintenance of Way Inc
Priority date: 1990-01-12
Filing date: 1991-01-11
Publication date: 1991-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-12
Also published as: CA2071528A1; AU7151791A

Abstract

An apparatus for suppressing sparks and dust generated in the process of grinding railroad track rails (34) is disclosed. A liquid nozzle (318), air nozzle (316) or both are positioned by an adjustable mounting assembly in close proximity to the grinding stone (50). Pressurized air or liquid is directed towards the sparks, metal tailings, and grinding stone residue generated by the grinding process. The sparks and debris are entrained in the fluid, cooling the sparks, neutralizing the debris' naturally occurring electrostatic charge, reducing the velocity of the sparks and debris and settling the spark debris out to the ground adjoining the rail (34).

Description

RAIL GRINDING MACHINE SPARK AND DUST SUPPRESSION APPARATUS

Technical Field

This invention relates to machines for maintaining railroad track rails by grinding corrugations and other irregularities on the rail surface. In particular, it relates to a device for suppressing sparks and dust generated in the rail grinding process.

Background Art Railroad track rails are subject to wear by the passage of trains over the rails. In particular, depressions in the upper surface of a rail may develop such that the railhead presents a modulating, corrugated surface. Moreover, the rail may develop burrs, or otherwise lose its symmetrical profile. Mainten nce of smooth running surfaces on railroad track rails is important for reasons of safety, riding comfort, protection of the track, track bed and rolling stock, noise suppression, and reduced maintenance of the track and track bed.

Grinding machines have been developed for maintaining railroad track rails in smooth, properly shaped condition. Such grinding machines generally comprise a plurality of rotatable grinding modules carried by a locomotive or the like in close proximity to the railhead surfaces of the track rail. The grinding modules include rotatable, abrasive grinding stones that can be lowered into a position flush with the rail surface to grind and restore the rail surface to a smooth, desired profile.

The operation of grinding railroad track rails with abrasive stones necessarily produces sparks, metal tailings, and grinding stone residue. The sparks present a fire hazard as well as a safety hazard to personnel involved in the grinding operation. Often, the mere threat of a fire hazard in extremely dry areas may require the cessation of grinding activities, prolonging the time to accomplish necessary track maintenance and increasing maintenance costs.

The metal tailings and grinding stone residue produced by the rail grinding process has recently come under the scrutiny of several governmental agencies concerned with maintaining air quality standards. Rail grinding operations in several air quality control districts have been temporarily suspended by such agencies under allegations that the metal tailings and grinding stone residue generated by specific rail grinding operations exceeded air quality limits for suspended dust and debris. Since there has heretofore been no suitable apparatus for controlling the dust and debris generated in rail grinding operations, necessary railroad track maintenance has accordingly been delayed and even canceled.

Grinding machines have in the past been provided with metal spark shields. The spark shields comprise metal flaps that are placed on the external side of a grinding head to intercept the outward path of travel of the sparks, before the sparks pass beyond the railroad rail bed. The metal flaps are typically mounted on hinges and can be swung up and out of the way to provide access to the grinding modules.

Metal flap spark shields are only marginally effective in suppressing sparks, and are ineffective in controlling the dust and debris generated in the grinding process. Among other problems, metal flaps prevent personnel operating the grinding machine from observing the grinding modules for stone wear, grinding module operation, and proper grinding head orientation. The flaps are necessarily spaced some distance from the grinding head, and accordingly provide no protection to flammable debris that may be on the road bed internal to the guard. Because the metal flaps are spaced from the grinding head, the metal flaps also increase the operating envelope of the grinder, and require removal when operating the grinder close to track switching apparatus or other obstructions. Finally, the metal flap spark shields are subject to damage and wear, and may present gaps in shielding coverage where they have been bent or worn.

A spark suppression device for a rail grinding machine that could suppress sparks, while minimally obstructing the view of the grinding module or increasing the envelope of the grinding machine, and which would be effective in suppressing metal tailings and grinding stone residue, would be a decided advantage.

Summary of the Invention The rail grinding machine spark and dust suppression apparatus in accordance with the present invention in large part solves the problems outlined above. The suppression apparatus includes an air nozzle, a liquid nozzle, or both, for creating an air, liquid, or combined spray pattern in the vicinity of the grinding stone and railhead. The sparks and dust are entrained within the spray pattern and are directed downwardly to the ground. The sparks are cooled by the air pattern or liquid spray or both. The air and liquid nozzles can be mounted on adjustable supports for rotation about the grinding head, movement towards and away from the rail, and shifting of the nozzles in elevation relative to the ground.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevation view of a railroad grinding machine having a spark and dust suppression apparatus in accordance with the present invention installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the grinding machine depicted in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a grinding module having a spark and dust suppression apparatus in accordance with the present invention thereon;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the grinding module motor housing and the split ring for mounting the spark and dust suppression apparatus thereon;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the mounting as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 5, but depicting a dual track split ring configuration for the spark and dust suppression apparatus;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a liquid nozzle for the spark and dust suppression apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8, but showing a liquid nozzle and air nozzle mounted together;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of an alternate embodiment for an air nozzle;

Fig. 11 is a top plan, sectional view of a grinding module having individually mounted liquid nozzle and air nozzle mounted thereon;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of an individual grinding module with a second embodiment of the spark and dust suppression apparatus mounted thereon;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the grinding module depicted in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a grinding module having a third embodiment of the spark and dust suppression apparatus mounted thereon;

Fig. 15 is similar to Fig. 14, but showing an air nozzle and liquid nozzle mounted together; Fig. 16 is similar to Fig. 15, but showing a liquid nozzle mounted on the grinding module without an air nozzle;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 17-17 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a grinding module having a fourth embodiment of the spark and dust suppression apparatus mounted thereon.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring to the drawings, a rail grinding machine 20 having a spark and dust suppression apparatus in accordance with the present invention mounted thereon is depicted in Figs. 1 and 2. The rail grinding machine 20 broadly includes a railroad mounted main frame 22 supported by rail engaging wheels 24, and a grinding undercarriage 26 supported from the main frame 22. Engine compartment 28 and operator 's cab 30 are carried by the main frame 22. The wheels 24 support the grinding machine 20 along railroad track 32. Railroad track 32 includes parallel rails 34 supported on railroad bed 36 by railroad ties 38.

The rail grinding machine 20 depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 is identical to the rail grinding machine disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4, 862. 647 issued September 5, 1989 which is incorporated herein by reference, and which may be referred to for a complete description of the grinding machine 20 . In general, however, individual grinding modules 40 are carried by grinding module supporting undercarriages 26. Each individual grinding module 4G includes a grinding motor 44, grinding shaft 48, and grinding stone 50. Referring to Fig. 12, each grinding module 40 is supported on a grinding module base plate 51. Shiftable grinding module support rods 52, 54 extend upwardly from the base plate 51 of each grinding module 40. A grinding module top brace 56 extends between the grinding module support rods. The vertical, grinding module support rods 52, 54 are received within vertical, grinding module support sleeves 58, 60. Gauge side shroud 61 extends between sleeves 58, 60. The grinding module support sleeves 58, 60 are pivotally connected to brackets 62, 64 by pivot supports 66, 68. An extensible grinding module elevation adjusting piston and cylinder assembly 72 extends between pivot support 66 and top brace 56.

Referring to Figs. 3-9, a spark and dust suppression apparatus 80 in accordance with the invention broadly includes a liquid nozzle 82 for atomizing and forming a liquid into a directed spray s, mounting assembly 84 for mounting the liquid nozzle 82 on the grinding module 40, and a liquid supply line 86 for providing water or other liquid to the nozzle 82.

Referring in particular to Fig. 3, mounting assembly 84 comprises a split ring track 88 carried by the casing of the grinding module grinding motor 44, a whisker mount 90 slidably carried by the split ring track 88, an elongated whisker rod 92, and a nozzle mount 94 for shiftably mounting the liquid nozzle 82 to the whisker rod 92. Referring to Fig. 5, whisker mount 90 includes clevis 96 slidably retained by split ring 88, stem 98, and knurled tightening ring 100. Tightening bolt 102 is threadably received through clevis 96 for abutable engagement with the split ring track 88. Referring to Fig. 6, whisker rod 92 includes ball 104 received within the ball socket 106 defined by the stem 98 and tightening ring 100.

Referring to Fig. 3, nozzle mount 94 shiftably mounts liquid nozzle 82 along whisker rod 92. Nozzle mount 94 includes mounting block 110, tightening knob 112, and knee fitting 114 pivotally coupling the nozzle 82 to the mounting block 110. The liquid nozzle 82 includes a changeable nozzle head 116 and a nozzle head retaining ring 118.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that a plurality of whisker mounts 90 and whisker rods 92 can be carried by split ring 88, each whisker rod 92 carrying its own liquid nozzle 82. Phantom lines in Fig. 4 depict fan spray patterns 120 and a broadcast spray pattern 122, the different spray patterns being obtained by employing differing nozzle heads 116. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that a plurality of split rings 88, 88' can be provided on the casing of a single grinding motor 44.

Referring to Fig. 9, a second nozzle mount 124 is provided in conjunction with the first nozzle mount 94 on single whisker rod 92. The second nozzle mount 124 includes mounting block 126 shiftably carried by the rod 92, tightening knob 127, and a knee fighting 128, all similar to the first nozzle mount 94. An air nozzle 130, however, is carried by the. mount 124, instead of the liquid nozzle 82 carried by the first nozzle mount 94. The second nozzle mount 124 is provided with a separate supply line 132 for providing a supply of compressed air to the air nozzle 130. The air nozzle 130 may comprise a so-called high pressure air knife nozzle described below in conjunction with figures 12 and 13. Alternatively, and referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the air nozzle 130 may comprise a simple large volume duct 134 having a flat pattern tip 136 providing a generally linear opening 138. As is made clear by Fig. 11, an air nozzle can be mounted on its own whisker rod 92, separate from a liquid nozzle. In operation, dust and debris d consisting of metal tailings, grinding stone residue, and sparks, is generated when the grinding stone 50 is brought into rotating contact with rail 34. Liquid nozzle 82 is brought into a desired position relative to the grinding dust and debris d by shifting the clevis 96 of whisker mount 90 around split ring 88, shifting the whisker rod 92 relative to the ball socket 106, adjusting the nozzle mount block 110 along the whisker rod 92, and pivoting the nozzle 82 relative to the block 110. It will be appreciated from viewing the drawings that both the liquid nozzle 82 and the air nozzle 130 may be positioned in the same manner. It will also be appreciated that different shapes and sizes of spray patterns may be obtained by using nozzle heads of different designs. Once the nozzles are placed in a desired position relative to the stream of debris d, fluid, in the form of either air, liquid, or both, is provided under pressure to the appropriate nozzles. The air and liquid spray patterns that result entrains the debris d, cools it, neutralizes any electrostatic charge it may have, reduces its velocity, and causes the debris d to fall to the ground close to the track 34 where it was generated. It will be appreciated that the nozzle, once in position relative to the grinding stone 50, will maintain its position relative to the stone 50 as the stone 50 is tilted or otherwise shifted. The nozzle will accordingly maintain its preferred position relative to the spark and debris stream generated by the grinding process, regardless of the operating position of the stone.

A spark and dust suppression apparatus 200 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figs. 12 and 13. The apparatus 200 comprises a compressed air nozzle assembly 202 mounted on fixed bracket 204. Nozzle assembly 202 may preferably be of the type manufactured by the Exxair Corporation, 419 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214 under the name Exxair-Knife. The nozzle assembly 202 preferably defines a slotted nozzle 206 along the length of its top wall 208. Nozzle assembly front wall 210 is oriented at a 90° angle to top wall 208. The high pressure air exiting nozzle 206 adheres to the top wall 208 and front wall 210 of the nozzle assembly 202 due to the coanda effect (wall attachment of a high velocity fluid), and presents a downwardly extending curtain of air flow A.

Bracket 204 is mounted to the case of grinding motor 44 by bolts 212, 214. The bracket 204 includes a plurality of apertures 216 which allow for height adjustment of the nozzle assembly 202 mounted on the bracket 64. Referring to Fig. 4, interaction of the air curtain A with the web of the railroad track rail 34 creates a vortex current of air V immediately beneath the grinding stone 50 which captures and entraps sparks and debris generated in the rail grinding process. The sparks are cooled by the curtain of air and are prevented from transiting beyond the immediate vicinity of the railhead.

Referring to Figs. 14-17, a third embodiment of the spark and dust suppression apparatus 300 in accordance with the present invention is depicted. The apparatus 300 includes mounting plate 302 fixedly attached to the casing of grinding motor 44. A telescoping mount 304 includes a first element 306 pivotally coupled to the mounting plate 302, and a second element 308 shiftably mounted on the first element 306. A tightening cam 310 is mounted on the first element 306, and is received through an arcuate slot 312 in the mounting plate 302. Either an air nozzle 316 (Fig. 14) or a liquid nozzle 318 (Fig. 16) is mounted on the second element 308 of telescoping mount 304. Alternatively, and referring to Fig. 15, both an air nozzle 316 and a liquid nozzle 318 can be provided on a single telescoping mount 304.

A fourth embodiment of the spark and dust suppression apparatus 400 is depicted in Fig. 18. The apparatus 400 includes first and second extensible piston and cylinder assemblies 402, 404 pivotally mounted on mounting bracket 406. The mounting bracket 406 is fixedly mounted to the casing of grinding motor 44 by bolts 408, 410 at a desired height. A fluid nozzle 412 is pivotally coupled to the pistons of the first and second piston and cylinder assemblies 402, 404 at single pivot axis 414. A third piston and cylinder assembly 416 extends between the cylinder of the first assembly 402 and the fluid nozzle 412 for pivoting the fluid nozzle 412 about the pivot axis 414. The fluid nozzle 412 may be positioned in a variety of positions, some of which are depicted in Fig. 18 in phantom line, by extending and retracting the first, second and third piston and cylinder assemblies 402, 404, 416.

Claims

We claim:

1. An apparatus for suppressing sparks and dust generated by the interaction of the grinding stone of a rail grinding machine with a rail of a railroad track, comprising means for presenting a directed current of fluid proximal said grinding stone for entraining and settling said sparks and dust.