US3731088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Station stop control arrangement for self-propelled vehicles
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-17
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-02-17
Abstract
Abstract Coils tuned to a first and a second frequency are positioned in pairs along the track in approach to the station at which trains are to stop automatically, two pairs being shown. -the first pair are spaced a distance which establishes a selected passage time in accordance with average train speeds while the second pair are separated a distance proportional to predetermined differences in train lengths. On the train two transmitter and/or receivers are coupled by a common pair of coils to inductively respond to the corresponding frequency wayside coil. Response to the initial first frequency coil opens a gate which enables the other transmitter-receiver for a predetermined time or distance interval to respond to the second frequency wayside coil of the initial pair. Only if the train coils pass this second frequency coil during this gating interval is the station stop program initiated by the response of the second transmitter-receiver. While passing the second set of wayside coils, the response of the first or second transmitter-receiver is selectively used, in accordance with a preset train length condition, to modify the station stop program to improve the accuracy of the station stop position.
Inventors
- 👤 R Grundy
- 👤 D Little
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:42
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L3/00; B61L3/02; B61L3/08; B61L3/12; B61L3/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A station stop control arrangement for a vehicle having propulsion and braking apparatus and movIng on a fixed right-ofway along which are located stations at which said vehicle is to stop, comprising in combination, a. an initial set of first and second wayside means positioned in spaced relationship along said right-of-way at a preselected location in approach to each station, each means of a set having a distinctive characteristic, b. at least one other set of said first and second wayside means positioned in spaced relationship along said right-of-way at another selected location closer in approach to each station, c. first and second signal means on said vehicle, each uniquely responsive to passage by a first and second wayside means, respectively, for producing an output signal, d. a station stop program control means on said vehicle control by said second signal means and operable when initially activated by an output signal from that signal means for controlling the vehicle propulsion and braking apparatus to stop the vehicle at the next station in advance along said right-of-way, e. a first gating means on said vehicle connected to normally inhibit response by said second signal means to a second wayside means, f. an interval measurement means on said vehicle controlled by said first signal means for establishing a predetermined interval subsequent to said first signal means output signal, g. said interval measurement means connected for activating said first gating means only during said predetermined interval to permit said second signal means to respond to a second wayside means, h. said station stop program control means further controlled selectively in accordance with a preset vehicle length condition by said first or second signal means during response to each other set of wayside means for modifying the established train stop program in accordance with vehicle propulsion conditions existing when that additional set is passed by said vehicle, and i. a second gating means controlled by said program control means and connected for inhibiting control of said program control means by said first signal means except when a station stop program has been previously activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
A station stop control arrangement for a vehicle having propulsion and braking apparatus and movIng on a fixed right-ofway along which are located stations at which said vehicle is to stop, comprising in combination, a. an initial set of first and second wayside means positioned in spaced relationship along said right-of-way at a preselected location in approach to each station, each means of a set having a distinctive characteristic, b. at least one other set of said first and second wayside means positioned in spaced relationship along said right-of-way at another selected location closer in approach to each station, c. first and second signal means on said vehicle, each uniquely responsive to passage by a first and second wayside means, respectively, for producing an output signal, d. a station stop program control means on said vehicle control by said second signal means and operable when initially activated by an output signal from that signal means for controlling the vehicle propulsion and braking apparatus to stop the vehicle at the next station in advance along said right-of-way, e. a first gating means on said vehicle connected to normally inhibit response by said second signal means to a second wayside means, f. an interval measurement means on said vehicle controlled by said first signal means for establishing a predetermined interval subsequent to said first signal means output signal, g. said interval measurement means connected for activating said first gating means only during said predetermined interval to permit said second signal means to respond to a second wayside means, h. said station stop program control means further controlled selectively in accordance with a preset vehicle length condition by said first or second signal means during response to each other set of wayside means for modifying the established train stop program in accordance with vehicle propulsion conditions existing when that additional set is passed by said vehicle, and i. a second gating means controlled by said program control means and connected for inhibiting control of said program control means by said first signal means except when a station stop program has been previously activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 1, in which said interval measurement means is a timing device which establishes said predetermined interval beginning a timed delay period after said first signal means output signal preselected in accordance jointly with the average speed of vehicles at and the spacing between said initial set of wayside means so that each vehicle passes the initial second wayside means during said predetermined interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 1, in which said interval measurement means is a distance measurement device jointly responsive to a first signal means output signal and the movement of that vehicle along said right-of-way to establish said predetermined interval when that vehicle has moved a preselected distance, at which the initial set of wayside means is spaced apart, beyond the location of a first wayside means so that said vehicle passes the second wayside means of said initial set during said predetermined interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
239 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 1 for a plurality of said vehicles operating along said right-of-way coupled into a train having one or the other of two predetermined train length conditions and only one active set of said first and second signal means, the combination further including, a. a train length selector means on said train associated with said active set of signal means and selectively operable to a first and a second position in accordance with a first or second length condition of said train, b. a circuit network connected between said program control means and both said gating means and controlled by said length selector means for activating said second or said first gating means in accordance as said length selector means is operated to its first or second position, respectively, when said program control means has been previously activated, c. another circuit network also controlled by said length selector means and connected for supplying to said program control means, when said train passes an additional set of wayside means, the output signal produced by said first or second signal means in accordance as said length selector means is operated to its first or second position, respectively, d. said second gating means interposed in said other circuit network for inhibiting the supply of the output signal from said first signal means to said program control means except when said program control means is already activated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
274 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 1, for a plurality of said vehicles coupled into a train having one or the other of two predetermined train length conditions and only one active set of said first and second signal means, which further includes, a train length selector selectively operable to a first and a second position as the corresponding train has a first or a second length condition, respectively, b. a first circuit including a first position contact of said length selector and said second gating means and connected for at times supplying the output signal of said first signal means to said program control means to modify the stopping program when the train passes an additional set of wayside means, c. a second circuit including a second position contact of said length selector and connected for at times supplying the output signal of said second signal means to said program control means to modify the stopping program when the train passes an additional set of wayside means, d. a third circuit including another first position contact of said length selector and connected for supplying at times from said program control means only while activated an activating signal to said second gating means, e. a fourth circuit including another second position contact of said length selector and connected for supplying at times from said program control means only while activated an activating signal to said first gating means, f. a reset circuit connected to said first and said second gating means from said program control means for supplying when the train has stopped a reset signal to deactivate any previously activated gating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 4 in which, a. said initial set of first and second wayside means is spaced apart a first distance preselected in accordance with the time of occurrence of said predetermined interval, so that said train will pass said second wayside means of that initial set during said predetermined interval, b. each additional set of first and second wayside means is spaced apart a second distance proportional to the difference in the length of trains having first and second length conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 6, in which said interval measurement means is a timing device which establishes said predetermined interval beginning a timed delay period, after an output signal from said first signal means, preselected in accordance with the average speed of trains at and the spacing between the initial set of first and second wayside means so that each train passes the initial second wayside means during said predetermined interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 6, in which said interval measurement means is a distance measurement device jointly responsive to an output signal from said first signal means and the movement of that train along said right-of-way to establish said predetermined interval when that train has moved a preselected distance, at which the initial set of wayside means is spaced apart, beyond the location of a first wayside means so that said train passes the second wayside means of said initial set during said predetermined interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A control arrangement as defined in claim 6 in which, a. each first and second wayside means comprises a coil tuned to a first or a second diStinctive frequency characteristic, respectively, b. each first and second signal means is a transmitter-receiver pretuned to respond only at said first or second frequency characteristic, respectively, c. each set of said first and second transmitter-receivers is coupled during movement of that train along said right-of-way to each successive wayside coil, a particular transmitter-receiver responding to produce an output signal only when the coupled wayside coil is tuned to the corresponding frequency characteristic.
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) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |