Automatic control means for retarders

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION, A CLASSIFICATION YARD INCLUDING A RETARDER HAVING AN EXIT LEADING INTO A TRACK SECTION OF KNOW TRACK CHARACTERISTICS, SAID TRACK SECTION EXTENDING FROM THE EXIT OF SAID RETARDER TO A DESTINATION IN THE YARD AT WHICH A CAR IS TO COUPLE AT A DESIRED VELOCITY, MEANS FOR GENERATING CONTROL ENERGY CORRESPONDING TO THE ROLLING CHARACTERISTIC OF SAID CAR, MEANS FOR GENERATING CONTROL ENERGY CORRESPONDING TO THE TRACK CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRACK SECTION TO BE TRANSVERSED BY SAID CAR, COMPUTING MEANS FOR COMBINING ALL OF SAID CONTROL ENERGIES TO PRODUCE A RESULTANT CONTROL ENERGY CORRESPONDING TO THE SPEED AT WHICH THE CAR MUST LEAVE THE RETARDER TO ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION AT THE DESIRED VELOCITY, SAID COMPUTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS REPRESENTATIVE OF SAID DESIRED COUPLING VELOCITY AND COOPERATING WITH SAID CONTROL ENERGIES TO PRODUCE SAID RESULTANT CONTROL ENERGY, AND MEANS FOR GENERATING A CONTROL ENERGY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTIC ON SAID CAR BY SAID RETARDER, AND MEANS JOINTLY RESPONSIVE TO SAID RESULTANT CONTROL ENERGY AND TO THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTIC CONTROL ENERGY FOR CONTROLLING THE RETARDER.