APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SERVICING JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILROAD CARS

摘要

Apparatus and method for automatically servicing the journal boxes of railroad cars moving along a track at unknown speeds. A journal box servicing device, for example, a journal box lid lifter or a journal box oiler is positioned alongside the track. Sensors detect the presence of each journal box at a first point and at a second point on the track as the car travels toward the device. The sensors are used to provide information functional of the speed of the car. This information is utilized with a reference signal which represents the response time of the journal box servicing device to transmit an actuating signal to the servicing device at the proper time in advance of the arrival of the journal box at the servicing device so that the operation of the device is substantially synchronized with the arrival of the journal box at the device. Another reference signal is also supplied to the system that prevents giving of the actuating signal to the servicing device in the event that the travel time of the car and the journal box between the first point and the second point exceeds a predetermined maximum.