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US3646328A
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Method and apparatus utilizing unique cdab sequence for correcting synchronization error in railway vehicle readout signal
Assignee: Mangood Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-27
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-02-27
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for correcting synchronization error in a system for synchronizing a readout signal with some unique axle count condition in a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion. Axle movement are detected at four locations identified as A, B, C and D in that order, in the direction of movement of the train, locations A and D being between 9 feet 4 inches and 11 feet apart for the axle spacings employed on standard American railway vehicles. Other A to D spacings may be used where axle spacings differ from current American practice. Axle movements are counted at A and D locations and the system remains in synchronism as long as the first axle of each vehicle is counted starting with a one-count regardless of the number of axles in the previous vehicle. If synchronized, when axles pass the locations in the proximate CDAB sequence, axle counts at A and D will have the following unique combinations: A 3, D 2 for four-axle vehicles; A 4, D 3 for six-axle vehicles; A 5, D 4 for eight-axle vehicles; and A 1, D 0 for uncoupled and certain long-coupled vehicles. If out of synchronism, the system is resynchronized according to the present invention by detecting the unique CDAB sequence and repeatedly, if necessary, setting the A and D counts to one of the above unique combinations until a vehicle identified by such combination moves past the detector locations. If out of synchronism, the system is resynchronized according to the present invention by detecting the unique CDAB sequence and repeatedly, if necessary, setting the A and D counts to one of the above unique combinations until a vehicle identified by such combination moves past the detector locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A Tonies
- 👤 James R Teasdale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:21
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L1/00; B61L1/16; B61L1/162; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of correcting synchronization error in a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. detecting the movements of axles at first, second, third and fourth locations in the direction of movement of the train, identified herein as locations A,B, C and D; b. detecting axle movements at said locations in a unique CDAB sequence which completes once per vehicle when the center of each vehicle is at said locations; c. counting axle movements per vehicle at each of A and D starting with a one-count for the first axle on each vehicle; and d. making a revision in the axle count at A and D, when the CDAB sequence completes, to change the axle count to a predetermined combination proper for a four-, six- or eight-axle vehicle if the system were synchronized, and repeating said axle count revision on completion of subsequent CDAB sequences until the system is resynchronized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of correcting synchronization error in a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. detecting the movements of axles at first, second, third and fourth locations in the direction of movement of the train, identified herein as locations A,B, C and D; b. detecting axle movements at said locations in a unique CDAB sequence which completes once per vehicle when the center of each vehicle is at said locations; c. counting axle movements per vehicle at each of A and D starting with a one-count for the first axle on each vehicle; and d. making a revision in the axle count at A and D, when the CDAB sequence completes, to change the axle count to a predetermined combination proper for a four-, six- or eight-axle vehicle if the system were synchronized, and repeating said axle count revision on completion of subsequent CDAB sequences until the system is resynchronized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the first and fourth locations are spaced apart less than the minimum distance between inner axles on trucks at opposite ends of a standard railway vehicle, and more than the maximum distance between adjacent axles on any one truck of a standard railway vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, in which the revision in step (d) changes the axle counts to A 3, D 2 when the CDAB sequence occurs on the assumption that one or more following vehicles will be four-axle vehicles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, in which the revision in step (d) changes the axle counts to A 3, D 2 when the CDAB sequence occurs on the assumption that one or more following vehicles will be four-axle vehicles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the resynchronization method of claim 1 in which the revision in step (d) changes The axle counts to A 4, D 3 when the CDAB sequence occurs, on the assumption that one or more following vehicles will be six-axle vehicles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the resynchronization method of claim 1 in which the revision in step (d) changes the axle counts to A 5, D 4 when the CDAB sequence occurs, on the assumption that one or more following vehicles will be eight-axle vehicles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, in which A and D are spaced between 9 feet 4 inches and 11 feet apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, in which A and D are spaced between 9 feet 4 inches and 11 feet apart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
257 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, apparatus for correcting synchronization error comprising: first, second, third and fourth axle detectors arranged in the direction of movement of the train, identified herein as detectors A,B, C and D and being spaced along the line of movement of the train; a counter for each of detectors A and D effective to count and totalize the number of axles passing each corresponding detector, these counters being identified herein as counters A and D, each counter having change means actuatable to change the count thereon; axle identification logic effective to program each counter to reset after it has counted all the axles on a vehicle beginning with a one-count for the first axle on each vehicle; error signal means activatable in response to synchronization error between either of the counters and the axles of a vehicle; a sequence detector effective to sense actuation of said detectors in a unique CDAB sequence which completes once per vehicle when the center of each vehicle is at the detector locations; and control means effective in response to activation of said error signal means coincident with completion of the unique CDAB sequence to actuate the change means on the counters to change the counts to a predetermined combination which would be proper for a standard railway vehicle if the system were synchronized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
257 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, apparatus for correcting synchronization error comprising: first, second, third and fourth axle detectors arranged in the direction of movement of the train, identified herein as detectors A,B, C and D and being spaced along the line of movement of the train; a counter for each of detectors A and D effective to count and totalize the number of axles passing each corresponding detector, these counters being identified herein as counters A and D, each counter having change means actuatable to change the count thereon; axle identification logic effective to program each counter to reset after it has counted all the axles on a vehicle beginning with a one-count for the first axle on each vehicle; error signal means activatable in response to synchronization error between either of the counters and the axles of a vehicle; a sequence detector effective to sense actuation of said detectors in a unique CDAB sequence which completes once per vehicle when the center of each vehicle is at the detector locations; and control means effective in response to activation of said error signal means coincident with completion of the unique CDAB sequence to actuate the change means on the counters to change the counts to a predetermined combination which would be proper for a standard railway vehicle if the system were synchronized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the first and fourth axle detectors are spaced apart less than the minimum distance between inner axles on trucks at opposite ends of a standard railway vehicle, and more than the maximum distance between adjacent axles on any one truck of a standard railway vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus for correcting synchronization error according to claim 7 in which the control means is effective in response to the CDAB sequence to actuate the change means on the counters to change the counts to a predetermined combination proper for a four-axle vehicle, on the assumption that the following vehicle will be a four-axle vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus according to claim 9 in which the predetermined count combination is a 3-total on the A counter and a 2-total on the D counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system foR synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus for correcting synchronization error according to claim 7 in which the control means is effective in response to the CDAB sequence to actuate the change means on the counters to change the counts to a predetermined combination proper for a six-axle vehicle, on the assumption that the following vehicle will be a six-axle vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus according to claim 11 in which the predetermined count combination is a 4-total on the A counter and a 3-total on the D counter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus for correcting synchronism error according to claim 7 in which the control means is effective in response to the CDAB sequence to activate the change means in the counters to change the counts to a predetermined combination proper for an eight-axle vehicle, on the assumption that the following vehicle will be an eight-axle vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus according to claim 13 in which the predetermined count combination is a 5-total on the A counter and a 4-total on the D counter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a system for synchronizing a readout signal per vehicle, for a train of standard railway vehicles coupled and in motion, which system counts axles and activates the readout signal in response to a unique axle count condition per vehicle, the apparatus according to claim 13 in which detectors A and D are spaced between 9 feet 4 inches and 11 feet apart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |