US3806979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rail cleaning system
Assignee: Swift Independent Packing Co
•
Filing: 1973-01-12
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1993-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled and reversible apparatus for cleaning all surfaces of an overhead rail system wherein all of the operative brushing elements are movable between positions in contact with the rail and inoperative positions beneath the rail.
Inventors
- 👤 E Bonami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:52
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H8/00; E01H8/10; E01H8/105; B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/04; B61K; B61K3/00; B61K3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An improved overhead rail cleaning apparatus comprising: a carriage means; trolley means for suspending said carriage means from an overhead rail; a plurality of rotary brushes movably supported on said carriage means for contacting each of the surfaces of said rail; pressure exerting means connected to each of said rotary brushes for moving said brushes from positions clear of said rail to operative positions where said brushes forcefully contact said surfaces of said rail; reversible power means connected to rotate each of said brushes; and means to drive each of said power means to concurrently impart to said brushes rotary movement tending to propel said carriage in a given direction upon said rail, whereby said carriage will be movable in said direction when said brushes forcefully contact said rail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An improved overhead rail cleaning apparatus comprising: a carriage means; trolley means for suspending said carriage means from an overhead rail; a plurality of rotary brushes movably supported on said carriage means for contacting each of the surfaces of said rail; pressure exerting means connected to each of said rotary brushes for moving said brushes from positions clear of said rail to operative positions where said brushes forcefully contact said surfaces of said rail; reversible power means connected to rotate each of said brushes; and means to drive each of said power means to concurrently impart to said brushes rotary movement tending to propel said carriage in a given direction upon said rail, whereby said carriage will be movable in said direction when said brushes forcefully contact said rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure exerting means are fluid cylinders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reversible power means are fluid motors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure exerting means are air cylinders, and said reversiable power means are air motors, and said means to drive said power means includes a source of air under pressure and a system of valves for directing said air to selected ports on said air motors and to ports on said air cylinders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rotary brushes include a first pair of oppositely disposed cylindrically shaped brushes contactable with opposite sides of said rail, a disc shaped brush with flared bristles located a distance from said first pair of brushes and contactable with a first side of said rail to which rail hangers are secured, and top and bottom disc shaped brushes with radial bristles located between said pair and said disc shaped brushes, said top and bottom brushes being contactable with the top and bottom surfaces of said rail, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said top disc shaped brush has connected thereto a conically shaped brush which is contactable with the upper portion of said first side of said rail and with the adjacent portion of hangers secured to said first side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said disc shaped brush with flared bristles and one of said first pair of brushes contactable with said first side of said rail each have cams associated therewith, said cams being contactable with said rail hangers to cause said associated brushes to be moved outwardly from contact with said rail whereby to pass around and brush said hangers as said carriage is moved along said rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said disc shaped brush with flared bristles has a drive shaft mounted to be pivotable in a plane generally parallel to said rail and said cam associated therewith causes said drive shaft to pivot in said plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said pair of brushes, said disc shaped brush and said top brush are rotatably supported on frames, each of said frames being mounted to be pivotable in a direction substantially perpendicular to and outwardly from said rail, and each of said frames having said pressure exerting means connected thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said top and bottom brushes are journaled in mounting levers, said mounting levers being pivotable in a vertical plane and connected to said pressure means for movement toward and away from top and bottom surfaces of said rail.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3314819A
Cited
US3641618A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |