US3646891A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlling system for means for adjusting speeds of freight cars in a yard
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1970-03-03
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A controlling system for means for adjusting speeds of freight cars in a yard, which is designed such that self-powered freight car speed adjusting means having arms to catch a thrust freight car, in catching said freight car, detects the freight car at a point a predetermined distance ahead of said arms, whereby it is preliminarily accelerated to make the speed differential between it and the freight car small.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Murato
- 👤 Kenji Takei
- 👤 Masayuki Takayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:11
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B1/00; B61B1/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A controlling system for adjusting speeds of freight cars in an assorting yard comprising a self-powered mobile retarder means for retarding the speed of a moving freight car, said retarder means having arms for operatively connecting the freight car to the retarder means, detecting means on said retarder means for detecting the passage and the speed of said freight car, said detecting means being spaced a predetermined distance from said arms in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the freight car, starting means responsive to said detecting means for preliminarily accelerating said retarder means a variable predetermined amount corresponding to the detected speed of the freight car, arm actuating means for actuating said arms to operatively connect said freight car to said retarder means after the preliminary acceleration of said retarder means, decelerating means for slowing down said retarder means and operatively connected freight car to a predetermined speed, releasing means for releasing the operative connection between said retarder means and said freight car after the freight car has been slowed to the predetermined speed, and returning means for returning said retarder means to a predetermined waiting position after the release of the freight car, whereby the adjustment of the freight car speeds is enhanced by minimizing the speed differential between the freight car and the retarder means at the time they are initially coupled together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A controlling system for adjusting speeds of freight cars in an assorting yard comprising a self-powered mobile retarder means for retarding the speed of a moving freight car, said retarder means having arms for operatively connecting the freight car to the retarder means, detecting means on said retarder means for detecting the passage and the speed of said freight car, said detecting means being spaced a predetermined distance from said arms in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the freight car, starting means responsive to said detecting means for preliminarily accelerating said retarder means a variable predetermined amount corresponding to the detected speed of the freight car, arm actuating means for actuating said arms to operatively connect said freight car to said retarder means after the preliminary acceleration of said retarder means, decelerating means for slowing down said retarder means and operatively connected freight car to a predetermined speed, releasing means for releasing the operative connection between said retarder means and said freight car after the freight car has been slowed to the predetermined speed, and returning means for returning said retarder means to a predetermined waiting position after the release of the freight car, whereby the adjustment of the freight car speeds is enhanced by minimizing the speed differential between the freight car and the retarder means at the time they are initially coupled together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said starting means includes constant acceleration means for accelerating said retarder means at a constant acceleration rate for a time duration variable in accordance with the speed detected by the detecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A controlling system according tO claim 1, characterized in that said starting means includes variable acceleration means for accelerating said retarder means for a fixed period of time at an acceleration rate variable in accordance with the speed detected by the detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said starting means includes means for varying both the acceleration rate and the acceleration time duration in accordance with the speed detected by the detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined distance is variable such that it can be changed for different relative velocities between the retarder means and the freight car at the moment of their operative connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said retarder means rides on tracks positioned between railroad tracks carrying the freight car.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said retarder means is propelled by a linear motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said detecting means includes a first detector for detecting the initial passage of a portion of the freight car and a second detector spaced from the first detector in the freight car travelling direction to detect the presence of said portion at said second detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A controlling system according to claim 8, characterized in that said arm actuating means are operatively connected to said first detector for initiating the actuation of said arms in response to the detection of said portion by said first detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A controlling system according to claim 9, characterized in that said starting means includes controller means for starting the acceleration of said retarder means in response to the detection of said portion by said second detector and for ceasing the acceleration of said retarder means in response to a stop signal from a timer, said timer being started in response to the detection of said portion by said first detector and said timer being operative to issue said stop signal a predetermined amount of time after the timer has been started.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A controlling system according to claim 1, characterized in that said starting means includes controller means for starting the acceleration of said retarder means in response to the detection of said portion by said second detector and for ceasing the acceleration of said retarder means in response to a stop signal from a timer, said timer being started in response to the detection of said portion by said first detector and said timer being operative to issue said stop signal a predetermined amount of time after the timer has been started.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1553723A
Cited
US3398276A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |