Self-propelled rail heater car with movable induction heating coils
First Claim
1. A rail heater car comprising:
- a power generation means for generating power required for operation of the car;
drive means for propelling the car along a set of rails in a transportation mode and a creep mode, the drive means receiving its power requirements from the power generation means;
induction heater means connected to and extending from the car for operational engagement with the set of rails to induce heat into the set of rails, the induction heater means including first and second induction coils located on opposite sides of the car;
vertical moving means for moving the induction coils in a vertical plane for selectively lowering the coils from the car into operational position with the rails and for raising the coils from each of the rails and out of operational engagement with each of the rails; and
,a battery means for powering the vertical moving means, the battery means being electrically isolated from the power generation means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rail heater car for heating rails in a continuous track installation procedure is provided. The rail heater car includes a power generation arrangement for generating the power required for operation of the car. A drive system uses the generated power to propel the car along a set of rails in a transportation mode and a creep mode. An induction heater is connected to and extends from the car for operational engagement with the rails to induce heat in the rails. Data gathering devices are included on the car to input and store data concerning environmental conditions, time, and temperature of the rails for use in adjusting the output of the induction heater and for use in statistical predictive maintenance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A rail heater car comprising:
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a power generation means for generating power required for operation of the car; drive means for propelling the car along a set of rails in a transportation mode and a creep mode, the drive means receiving its power requirements from the power generation means; induction heater means connected to and extending from the car for operational engagement with the set of rails to induce heat into the set of rails, the induction heater means including first and second induction coils located on opposite sides of the car; vertical moving means for moving the induction coils in a vertical plane for selectively lowering the coils from the car into operational position with the rails and for raising the coils from each of the rails and out of operational engagement with each of the rails; and
,a battery means for powering the vertical moving means, the battery means being electrically isolated from the power generation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A self-propelled railroad car for continuously heating a rail, the car comprising:
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a power generating system carried on the car for generation of power required for operation; an induction heater extending from a lower portion of the car for selective operational engagement with the rail to induce heat therein; a drive system including a creep drive transmission for driving the car in a creep mode during operation of the induction heater and a transportation drive transmission for driving the car in a transportation mode at other times; and
,data gathering and storing means for gathering and storing data related to conditions existing at a time the induction heater induces a desired temperature rise in the rail. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for continuously heating a set of rails with a self-propelled railroad car, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating power for operation of the car by a generator carried on the car; driving the car along the rails at a selected speed, through operation of a drive system powered by the generator; moving an induction heater movably connected to the car into operational engagement with the rails; determining the amount of power to provide to the induction heater to develop a predetermined temperature rise in the rails while the induction heater is in operational engagement of the rails, based on external environmental conditions and the selected speed of the car; and energizing the induction heater according to the determining step, to heat the rails to the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A rail heater car comprising:
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a power generation means for generating power required for operation of the car; induction heater means connected to an extending from the car for operational engagement with a set of rails to induce heat into the set of rails; and
,drive means for propelling the car along the set of rails, the drive means including a creep drive transmission for driving the car in a creep mode during operation of the induction heater means and a transportation drive transmission for driving the car in a transportation mode at other times, the drive means receiving its power requirements from the power generation means.
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18. A rail heater car comprising:
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a power generation means for generating power required for operation of the car; drive means for propelling the car along a set of rails in a transportation mode and a creep mode, the drive means receiving its power requirements from the power generation means; induction heater means including a single induction coil connected to an extending from the car for operational engagement with the set of rails to induce heat into the set of rails; vertical and lateral moving means for moving the induction coil in a vertical plane for lowering the coil from the car into operational engagement with one of the rails and raising the coil towards the car out of operational engagement with one of the rails, and for moving the coil laterally to place the coil on an opposite side of the car for accessing the other one of the rails. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification