Particulate guide

Abstract

A particulate delivery plumbing system for a locomotive including a body portion having a through hole formed therethrough. A particulate charge inlet opening is provided at a first end of the plumbing, and a particulate outlet opening is provided at a second end of the plumbing. A pair of spaced-apart protective guide members extend from the body portion at the second end and straddle the particulate outlet opening to define a slot between the protective guide members through which particulate may be deposited onto a locomotive rail.

1 . A product comprising: 
 particulate delivery plumbing comprising a body portion and a through hole formed therethrough to provide a particulate charging inlet opening at a first end of the plumbing and a particulate outlet opening at a second end of the plumbing, a pair of spaced-apart protective guide members extending from the body portion at the second end of the plumbing and straddling the particulate outlet opening.    
     
     
         2 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of the protective guide members includes a wall having a first end attached to the body portion and a second free end, and an inner face extending between the body portion and the second free end to define a slot between the inner faces of the protective guide members.  
     
     
         3 . A product as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of the inner faces includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portions of the inner faces are parallel to each other and the second portions are tapered toward each other.  
     
     
         4 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing includes a hose.  
     
     
         5 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing includes a nozzle.  
     
     
         6 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing includes a particulate guide.  
     
     
         7 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing includes a particulate guide connected to a nozzle.  
     
     
         8 . A product as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the particulate guide is adjustably connected to the nozzle.  
     
     
         9 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing includes a particulate guide connected to a hose.  
     
     
         10 . A product as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the particulate guide is adjustably connected to the hose.  
     
     
         11 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate guide delivery plumbing comprises a single continuous integral piece of material.  
     
     
         12 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particulate delivery plumbing comprises a particulate guide connected to a nozzle, and wherein the nozzle is connected to a hose.  
     
     
         13 . A product as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the particulate guide and nozzle comprise a single continuous integral piece of material.  
     
     
         14 . A product as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the particulate guide is adjustably connected to the nozzle.  
     
     
         15 . A product comprising: 
 a locomotive particulate delivery plumbing system comprising a nozzle having a body portion and a through hole formed therethrough to provide a particulate charging inlet opening at a first end and a particulate outlet opening at a second end of the body portion of the nozzle, and wherein the body portion of the nozzle includes a first locking feature;    a particulate guide having a body portion with a through hole formed therethrough to provide a particulate charging inlet opening at a first end and a particulate outlet opening at a second end, and a pair of spaced-apart protective guide members extending from the body portion of the protective guide and straddling the particulate outlet opening, and wherein the spaced-apart protective guide members define a slot therebetween for discharging particulate from the particulate delivery plumbing system onto a locomotive rail.    
     
     
         16 . A product as set forth in  claim 15  wherein each of the protective guide members includes a wall having a first end attached to the body portion of the particulate guide and a second free end, and an inner face extending from the body portion of the particulate guide to the free end, and wherein the slot is located between the inner faces of the protective guide members.  
     
     
         17 . A product as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the body portion of the particulate guide further includes an inner wall defining the through hole through the body portion of the particulate guide, and the particulate guide further comprising a second locking feature matable with the first locking feature on the nozzle to connect the nozzle and a particulate guide together.  
     
     
         18 . A product as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the second locking feature comprises a rib formed on the inner wall defining the through hole through the body portion of the particulate guide.  
     
     
         19 . A product as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the first locking feature on the nozzle comprises at least one slot formed in the outer surface of the nozzle and constructed and arranged so that the rib of the particulate guide may be received in the slot.  
     
     
         20 . A product as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a plurality of slots formed in the outer surface of the nozzle and constructed and arranged so that the particulate guide may be adjustably connected to the nozzle wherein the rib may be received in one of the slots.  
     
     
         21 . A product as set forth in  claim 16  wherein each of the inner faces includes a first portion and wherein the first portions are parallel to each other, and wherein each of the inner faces further includes a second portion, and wherein the second portions are tapered toward each other.  
     
     
         22 . A product as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the second portion is near the second free end of the particulate guide member.