Locomotive Sand Plow System

Abstract

A sand plow system for a locomotive is described. The sand plow system may comprise an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails. The sand plow system may further comprise a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive. The fixed plow may be vertically raised above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sand plow system for a locomotive configured to move with respect to rails, comprising:
 an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails; and   a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the fixed plow being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.   
     
     
         2 . The sand plow system of  claim 1 , wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the adjustable plows. 
     
     
         3 . The sand plow system of  claim 2 , wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the fixed plows. 
     
     
         4 . The sand plow system of  claim 3 , wherein the set of the fixed plows comprises two fixed front plows disposed axially forward of and vertically higher than a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the forward-facing end of the locomotive, and wherein each of the two fixed front plows are disposed vertically above one of the rails. 
     
     
         5 . The sand plow system of  claim 4 , wherein a bottom edge of the fixed rear plow is vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of between about 64 millimeters and less than 150 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The sand plow system of  claim 5 , wherein the fixed rear plow includes a first panel and a second panel joined at a junction to form a V-shape. 
     
     
         7 . The sand plow system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first panel, the second panel, and the two fixed front plows are angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°. 
     
     
         8 . The sand plow system of  claim 7 , wherein the sweep angle (θ) is about 32.5°. 
     
     
         9 . The sand plow system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the two fixed front plows and the fixed rear plow include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The sand plow system of  claim 7 , wherein the set of the adjustable plows includes two adjustable plows each being disposed over one of the rails. 
     
     
         11 . The sand plow system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the two adjustable plows are angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°. 
     
     
         12 . The sand plow system of  claim 11 , wherein the sweep angle (θ) of each of the two adjustable plows is about 37.5°. 
     
     
         13 . The sand plow system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the two adjustable plows includes an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion. 
     
     
         14 . The sand plow system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the two adjustable plows includes a bottom portion and a replaceable panel configured for removable attachment to the bottom portion, and wherein the replaceable panel is substantially flat and extends downwardly from the bottom portion for contact with the rails in the lowered position. 
     
     
         15 . The sand plow system of  claim 14 , wherein the replaceable panel is formed from polyurethane. 
     
     
         16 . A locomotive configured to move with respect to rails, comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis and configured to ride along the rails;   an engine generally associated with the wheels to drive the wheels; and   a sand plow system attached to at least one of a front end and a back end of the locomotive and comprising
 an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails, and 
 a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the fixed plow being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters. 
   
     
     
         17 . The locomotive of  claim 16 , wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the adjustable plows and a set of the fixed plows, and wherein the set of the fixed plows includes a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the locomotive and having a bottom edge vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters, and fixed front plows disposed axially forward of the rear fixed plow with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The locomotive of  claim 17 , wherein each of the adjustable plows, each of the fixed front plows, and the fixed rear plow include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion. 
     
     
         19 . The locomotive of  claim 17 , wherein the set of the adjustable plows are adapted to vertically adjust to the lowered position in response to a trainline request sent through a 27 pin multi-unit cable. 
     
     
         20 . A method for plowing sand on rails in front of a locomotive with a sand plow system attached to a forward-facing end of the locomotive, comprising:
 lowering a set of adjustable plows to a lowered position in which the adjustable plows are in contact with the rails;   removing a portion of the sand with a set of fixed plows disposed axially forward of the set of adjustable plows with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the set of fixed plows being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters; and   removing a remaining portion of the sand on the rails with the set of adjustable plows in the lowered position.