Railroad Sweeper Assembly

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/573,668 filed Apr. 3, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure relates generally to a railroad sweeper assembly, and more particularly to a railroad sweeper assembly having a pivotable sweeper subassembly.

Railroad tracks serve as critical infrastructure for transportation, facilitating the movement of trains carrying passengers and freight over long distances. The continuous exposure of railroad tracks to various environmental elements such as dust, debris, leaves, and other foreign objects can lead to the accumulation of contaminants on the track and track bed.

Traditionally, manual labor has been employed for the periodic cleaning and maintenance of railroad tracks. This manual approach often proves to be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, manual cleaning methods may not always effectively address the challenges posed by the diverse range of contaminants present on the tracks.

Various attempts have been made to automate the cleaning process of railroad tracks. These attempts typically involve the development of specialized machinery and equipment aimed at mechanizing the cleaning tasks, thereby reducing the reliance on manual labor and improving the overall efficiency of track maintenance operations. Existing automated systems can suffer from limitations such as inadequate cleaning performance, lack of adaptability to different track conditions, and complexity in operation and maintenance.

While known railway cleaning systems have proven acceptable for their intended purposes, a continuous need for improvement in the relevant art remains.

The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a rail sweeper assembly. The rail sweeper assembly includes a vehicle, a debris removal system, and a first conveyor system. The vehicle is configured to travel on a railroad track. The railroad track includes a pair of railroad rails. The debris removal system is rotatably coupled to the vehicle at a first location and configured to lift debris from the railroad track. The first conveyor system is rotatably coupled to the vehicle at a second location and configured to receive the debris from the debris removal system.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.

Referring to, a rail sweeper assemblyis illustrated. As will be explained in more detail below, the rail sweeper assemblymay clean (e.g., remove debris from) a railroad track. When the rail sweeper assemblyis cleaning the railroad track, it may be in a first (e.g., operating) position (), and when the rail sweeper assemblyis not cleaning the railroad track, it may be in a second (e.g., transport) position ().

As illustrated in, the railroad trackmay include a pair of railroad railsand a plurality of railroad tiessupporting the pair of railroad rails. In some implementations, the railroad trackincludes a transition area. In some implementations, the railroad trackincludes a walking area.

The rail sweeper assemblymay include a vehicle, a debris removal system, and a first conveyor system. The debris removal systemmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat a first location. For example, an armmay connect the debris removal systemto the vehicle. The debris removal systemmay rotate around a first axis of rotation Aat the first location. The debris removal systemmay remove (e.g., lift or sweep) debris (not shown) from the railroad track. The first conveyor systemmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat a second locationand may receive debris from the debris removal system. The first conveyor systemmay rotate around a second axis of rotation Aat the second location.

The vehiclemay be configured to travel on the railroad track. The vehiclemay include one or more sets of hi-rail wheels(e.g., front and rear sets). The hi-rail wheelsmay be configured to engage and roll along the railroad railsto keep the rail sweeper assemblyon the railroad track.

The debris removal systemmay include a debris elevatorand a sweeper head. The debris elevatormay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat the first location(e.g., by the arm). The debris elevatormay rotate around the first axis of rotation Aat the first location. The sweeper headmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the debris elevatorat a third location. The sweeper headmay rotate around a third axis of rotation Aat the third location. The sweeper headand debris elevatormay work in parallel to lift and remove debris from the railroad track.

The debris elevatormay include a plurality of paddlesconnected to each other by a track. The trackmay move the paddlesaround (e.g., counterclockwise) the debris elevator. The paddlesmay be configured to pick up debris from the railroad trackat a first endof the debris elevatorand deposit the debris in the first conveyor systemwhen the paddlereaches a second endof the debris elevator. In some implementations, the paddlesare scoops or buckets. In some implementations, the debris elevatorruns continuously while the rail sweeper assemblyis in operation.

The sweeper headmay include a plurality of bristlesconfigured to remove debris from the railroad track. The sweeper headmay be configured to operate between the pair of railroad rails. For example, the sweeper headmay be sized to fit in between the pair of railroad rails. The plurality of bristlesmay be arranged (e.g., concentrically) around a central axis Aof the sweeper head. In some implementations, the sweeper headmay be substantially in the shape of a drum or roller.

The first conveyor systemmay include a first hopperand first conveyor belt. The first hoppermay be configured to hold debris received from the debris elevator. In some implementations, the first hopperis a bucket or basket. The first conveyor beltmay be configured to move the first hopperfrom a first position, where the first hoppermay receive the debris from the debris elevator, to a second position, where the first hoppermay transfer the debris (e.g., to the second conveyor system). As illustrated, the first positionmay be located at a proximal end of the first conveyor system, and the second positionmay be located at a distal end (opposite the proximal end) of the first convey system. In some implementations, the first hopperremains in the first positionuntil the debris removal systemfinishes removing debris. In some implementations, the first hoppernever fills completely with debris. In some implementations, a strutcouples the first conveyor systemto the vehicle.

In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes a second conveyor system. The second conveyor systemmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat a fourth location. The second conveyor systemmay rotate around a fourth axis of rotation Aat the fourth location. The fourth axis of rotation Amay extend in a direction substantially (e.g., +/−10 degrees) orthogonal to the first, second, and/or third axes of rotations A-A. The second conveyor systemmay include a second hopperand a second conveyor belt. The second hoppermay be configured to hold debris received from the first conveyor system(e.g., the first hopper). In some implementations, the second hopperis a bucket or basket. The second conveyor beltmay be configured to move the second hopperfrom a third position, where the second hoppermay receive debris from the first conveyor system(e.g., the first hopper), to a fourth position, where the second hoppermay transfer the debris. In some implementations, at the fourth position, the second hoppertransfers the debris to a train car or dump truckcoupled to the vehicle. In some implementations, at the fourth position, the second hoppertransfers the debris to a positionoutside of the railroad track. In some implementations, the second conveyor systemis capable of rotating three hundred sixty degrees (360°) around the fourth axis of rotation A.

In some implementations, the debris removal system, the first conveyor system, and the second conveyor systemare hydraulically-driven.

In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes a vacuum systemcoupled to the vehicle. The vacuum systemmay include an air compressorcoupled to an air spade. The vacuum systemmay be configured to remove debris from the transition areaof the railroad track. For example, the vacuum systemmay force a fluid (e.g., air) out of the air spadeusing the air compressor. The forced air may loosen or remove (e.g., blow away) debris in the transition area. In some implementations, the vacuum systemthen collects (e.g., suck up) the loosened debris out of the transition area.

In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes one or more side sweeperscoupled to a bottom sideof the vehicle. In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes two side sweepersthat are thirty-six inches (36″) in diameter. The side sweepersmay be configured to remove debris from the railroad rails, railroad ties, or the walking areaof the railroad track. The debris removed by the side sweepersmay be pushed inside the pair of railroad railsto be picked up by the sweeper heador the debris may be pushed off of the railroad track.

Referring now to, a rail sweeper assemblyis shown. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the rail sweeper assemblywith respect to the rail sweeper assembly, like reference numerals are used hereinafter, and in the drawings, to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions (e.g., “a”) are used to identify those components that have been modified. Any references herein to the rail sweeper assembly, or any component thereof, will be understood to apply equally to the rail sweeper assembly, or the corresponding component thereof, unless otherwise noted.

The rail sweeper assemblymay include the vehicle, a debris removal system, and the first conveyor system. In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes a second conveyor system. In some implementations, the rail sweeper assemblyincludes at least one of the vacuum systemor the one or more side sweepers.

The debris removal systemmay include the debris elevatorand the sweeper head. The debris removal systemmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat the first locationand at a fifth location. For example, a first arm-may connect the debris removal systemto the vehicleat the first locationand a second arm-may connect the debris removal systemto the vehicleat the fifth location. The debris removal systemmay rotate around the first axis of rotation Aat the first location. The debris removal systemmay also rotate around a fifth axis of rotation Aat the fifth location. The debris elevatormay be coupled (e.g., rotatably coupled) to the vehicleat the first location(e.g., by the first arm-) and at the fifth location(e.g., by the second arm-).

The second conveyor systemmay include the second hopperand the second conveyor belt. The second conveyor systemmay be coupled (e.g., rotatably-, translatably-, and/or pivotably-coupled) to the vehicle. For example, the second conveyor systemmay move between a first (e.g., working) position () and a second (e.g., traveling) position (). When the second conveyor systemis in the second position (), the second conveyor systemmay be located at the fourth location. When the second conveyor systemis in the first position (), the second conveyor systemmay be located at a sixth location. The second conveyor systemmay move (e.g., translate) from the second position () to the first position () by translating (e.g., sliding) along one or more rails. In particular, the second conveyor systemmay translate along the railsin a direction substantially parallel to the axes A, A, and/or A, and substantially orthogonal to the axis A.

The second conveyor systemmay pivot and rotate around the fourth axis of rotation Aat the fourth location. In this regard, the second conveyor systemmay move (e.g., pivot and/or rotate) the second conveyor beltfrom a position beneath the first conveyor system() to a position above the vehicle(). In some implementations, the second conveyor systemis capable of rotating three hundred sixty degrees) (360° around the fourth axis of rotation A. The second conveyor systemmay be hydraulically-driven.

A method of operating a rail sweeper assembly (e.g., rail sweeper assembly,) will now be described with reference to. The method may begin with the rail sweeper assembly,disposed off of the railroad track. When the rail sweeper assembly,is off of the railroad track, it may be in the second (e.g., transport) position (). The vehicleof the rail sweeper assembly,then drives onto the railroad track. The rail sweeper assembly,then deploys the one or more sets of hi-rail wheels, which engage the pair of railroad rails.

The rail sweeper assembly,then moves to the first (e.g., operating) position () by first rotating the second conveyor system,around the fourth axis of rotation A. In implementations with the second conveyor system, the second conveyor systemmoves along the one or more railsfrom the sixth locationto the fourth locationbefore rotating around the fourth axis of rotation A. Next, the debris removal system,rotates around the first axis of rotation Auntil the debris elevatorcontacts the railroad track. In some implementations, the debris removal systemalso rotates around the fifth axis of rotation Auntil the debris elevatorcontacts the railroad track. Next, the sweeper headrotates around the third axis of rotation Auntil the sweeper headcontacts the railroad track. Finally, the first conveyor systemrotates (e.g., by a force applied by the strut) around the second axis of rotation Auntil the second positionof the first conveyor systemis located above the second conveyor system.

Once the rail sweeper assembly,is in the first (e.g., operating) position (), the rail sweeper assembly,begins to remove debris from the railroad track. The sweeper headloosens debris (e.g., by the plurality of bristles) on the railroad trackby spinning around the central axis A. The plurality of paddlesof the debris elevatorcapture the debris at the first endof the debris elevatorand deposits the debris in the first hopper, when the paddlereaches the second endof the debris elevator. Once the sweeper headand debris elevatorare done operating, the first hopperwill hold the debris picked up from the railroad track.

The first conveyor beltmay drive the first hopperfrom the first positionto the second position. When the first hopperreaches the second position, the first hoppertransfers (e.g., dumps) the debris into the second hopper. The second conveyor beltthen drives the second hopperfrom the third positionto the fourth position. The second hopperthen dumps the debris (e.g., into a train car or dump truckor a position outside of the railroad track). Throughout operation of the rail sweeper assembly,, the side sweepersmay continuously operate to remove debris from the railroad rails, railroad ties, or the walking areaof the railroad track.

In some instances, the rail sweeper assembly,reaches a transition areaof the railroad track. The rail sweeper assembly,may stop using the debris removal systemat the transition area. The rail sweeper assembly,instead uses the vacuum systemto remove debris from the transition area. The vacuum systemforces a fluid (e.g., air) out of the air spadeusing the air compressorto loosen or remove (e.g., blow away) debris in the transition area. The vacuum systemthen collects (e.g., sucks up) the loosened debris out of the transition area. After the rail sweeper assembly,passes the transition area, it continues using the debris removal system.

When the rail sweeper assembly,completes cleaning of the railroad track, it exits the railroad trackand moves back into the second (e.g., transport) position ().

Referring now to, at various times, the rail sweeper assembly,may operate in a third (e.g., reloading) position. The third position may be substantially similar to the second (e.g., transport) position (), except that in the third position the debris removal systemmay rotate (e.g., counterclockwise) about the third axis of rotation A(e.g., at the third location), such that the sweeper headis disposed above the first hopper. With the sweeper headdisposed above the first hopper, the first hoppermay receive debris from a loader(e.g., a front-end loader, backhoe, bobcat, etc.). The loadermay collect debris from the railroad track(e.g., before or after the railroad track is cleaned by the rail sweeper assembly,).

The following Clauses provide an exemplary configuration for a rail sweeper assembly, as described above.

Clause 1: A rail sweeper assembly comprising: a vehicle configured to travel on a railroad track having a pair of railroad rails; a debris removal system rotatably coupled to the vehicle at a first location and configured to lift debris from the railroad track; and a first conveyor system rotatably coupled to the vehicle at a second location and configured to receive the debris from the debris removal system.

Clause 2: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 1, wherein the debris removal system includes: a debris elevator rotatably coupled to the vehicle at the first location; and a sweeper head rotatably coupled to the debris elevator at a third location.

Clause 3: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 2, wherein the debris elevator includes a plurality of paddles configured to move debris from the railroad track to the first conveyor system.

Clause 4: The rail sweeper assembly of clauses 2 or 3, wherein the sweeper head includes a plurality of bristles arranged concentrically around a central axis of the sweeper head and configured to lift debris from the railroad track.

Clause 5: The rail sweeper assembly of any of clauses 2 through 4, wherein the sweeper head operates between the pair of railroad rails.

Clause 6: The rail sweeper assembly of any of clauses 2 through 5, wherein the first conveyor system includes: a first hopper configured to receive debris from the debris elevator; and a first conveyor belt configured to move the first hopper.

Clause 7: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 6, further comprising a second conveyor system coupled to the vehicle at a fourth location and configured to receive the debris from the first conveyor system.

Clause 8: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 7, wherein the second conveyor system includes: a second hopper configured to receive debris from the first hopper; and a second conveyor belt configured to move the first hopper.

Clause 9: The rail sweeper assembly of clauses 7 or 8, wherein the second conveyor system is configured to rotate three hundred sixty degrees.

Clause 10: The rail sweeper assembly of clauses 8 or 9, further comprising a train car coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the second conveyor system deposits debris in the train car.

Clause 11: The rail sweeper assembly of any of clauses 1 through 10, further comprising a vacuum system coupled to the vehicle and configured to remove debris inside of a transition area of the railroad track.

Clause 12: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 11, wherein the vacuum system includes an air compressor and an air spade coupled to the air compressor.

Clause 13: The rail sweeper assembly of clause 12, wherein the vacuum system is configured to force a fluid out of the air spade using the air compressor, and the fluid loosens or removes the debris inside the transition area.

Clause 14: The rail sweeper assembly of any of clauses 11 through 13, wherein the vacuum system is configured to collect the debris inside the transition area.

Clause 15: The rail sweeper assembly of any of clauses 1 through 14, further comprising at least one side sweeper configured to remove debris from at least one of: a railroad rail of the railroad track; a railroad tie of the railroad track; or a walking area of the railroad track.