Rail-cleaning freight car wheels and truck

Abstract

A non-electric rail-cleaning device for toy and model trains is described including providing wheels and a truck as an efficient means of keeping rails clean of foreign material. The design provides a convenient and economical means of eliminating the manual operation of cleaning track to ensure good electrical contact between the current-carrying rails and locomotive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning device comprising: 
 a set of different size wheels coupled together for the purpose of cleaning track; and    at least one wheel incorporating an abrasive or cleaning material.    
     
     
         2 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning device according to  claim 1  including a frame for attaching said wheels to railcar truck.  
     
     
         3 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein a traction tire is mounted around said opposing wheel coupled with said cleaning wheel.  
     
     
         4 . The rail-cleaning device truck of  claim 3  with said traction tire mounted around said larger wheel.  
     
     
         5 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning device according to  claim 4  wherein said abrasive or cleaning material is mounted on the smaller wheel arrangement.  
     
     
         6 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning device according to  claim 5  wherein said abrasive or cleaning material is mounted on both wheels.  
     
     
         7 . The rail-cleaning device of  claim 1  with keyed or geared mechanical means located on an axle shaft to prevent independent rotation of wheels.  
     
     
         8 . The rail-cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein said abrasive or cleaning material is mechanically keyed to the wheel.  
     
     
         9 . The rail-cleaning device of  claim 1  with wherein said abrasive or cleaning material is mechanically keyed to axle shaft.  
     
     
         10 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning truck comprising: 
 a set of different size wheels coupled together for the purpose of cleaning track;    at least one wheel incorporating an abrasive or cleaning material;    and a frame for attaching said wheels to railcar truck.    
     
     
         11 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  with said frame having means for keeping a car body suppported by said truck level.  
     
     
         12 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 11  wherin a bolster plate is provided on said truck having surfaces to keep said railcar body level.  
     
     
         13 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 12  wherein said bolster plate includes a separate triangular wedged shaped surface.  
     
     
         14 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  containing integrated hand means for manual cleaning of rails.  
     
     
         15 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  wherein said abrasive or cleaning material is secured with at least one key to allow easy wheel removal and replacement.  
     
     
         16 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  with means on said truck frame to allow easy wheel replacement.  
     
     
         17 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  with abrasive or cleaning material adhered to wheel.  
     
     
         18 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 10  attached to a railcar or locomotive.  
     
     
         19 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 16  having adjustable added weight.  
     
     
         20 . A toy and model train rail-cleaning truck comprising: 
 a set of different size wheels coupled together on one axle for the purpose of cleaning track;    at least one wheel containing an abrasive or cleaning material;    and a frame for attaching wheels to railcar.    
     
     
         21 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with a traction tire mounted around said opposing wheel coupled with cleaning wheel.  
     
     
         22 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 21  with said traction tire mounted around said larger wheel.  
     
     
         23 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with abrasive or cleaning material mounted on said smaller wheel.  
     
     
         24 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 23  wherein abrasive or cleaning material is mounted on both wheels.  
     
     
         25 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with keyed or geared mechanical means on axle shaft to prevent independent rotation of wheels.  
     
     
         26 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with abrasive or cleaning material mechanically keyed to said wheel.  
     
     
         27 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with abrasive or cleaning material is mechanically keyed to an axle shaft on said truck.  
     
     
         28 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  with means on said frame for keeping said car body level.  
     
     
         29 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  wherein said bolster plate includes surfaces to level said railcar body.  
     
     
         30 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 29  wherein said bolster plate includes at leat one separate triangular wedged shaped surface.  
     
     
         31 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  including integrated hand means for manual cleaning of said rails.  
     
     
         32 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  wherein abrasive or cleaning material is secured using at least one key to allow easy wheel removal and replacement.  
     
     
         33 . The rail-cleaning truck of  claim 20  wherein said truck frame includes means for allowing easy wheel replacement.