US3865042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic switching control system for railway classification yards
Assignee: SASIB SpA Bologna
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Filing: 1973-04-04
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling the positioning of switches in a railway classification yard so as to route successive cuts from a train, as they are uncoupled at the hump of the yard, to their respective destination tracks. A digital computer receives information respecting the location of the various cuts as they are traveling through the yard and operates the various switches in the yard to safely route each of the cuts to its destination track. Protection is provided to handle blocked and fouled tracks and also to detect stalled cars and prevent cornering. The computer is responsive to information received from a variety of sensing devices placed throughout the yard and means are further provided to detect failures of these sensing devices in order to enable the system to operate in spite of such failures. The apparatus is so arranged that it can be applied to a wide variety of classification yards with a minimum amount of modification. In particular, the yard characteristics are separately stored in a storage means. To modify the apparatus to control a classification yard with differing characteristics, it is only necessary to modify the yard characteristic data stored in the storage means and the apparatus can be operated in a virtually unchanged manner.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Depaola
- 👤 Charles W Morse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:35
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; computer means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stored therein: a. a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars, b. the characteristics of the yard including a table which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, c. said computer means further providing, 1. means for determining the number of cars in each cut, 2. means responsive, to each cut at said crest, to said table and said list to determine the position of the first switch in said classification yard, 3. means responsive to said last named means to correctly position said first switch to route said cut to its destination track unless the proper positioning of said switch would result in an unsafe condition, 4. means responsive, to the presence of a cut at any subsequent switch, to said table and said list to determine the position of the next succeeding switch in the yard for the cut to reach its required destination track, 5. means responsive to said last named meAns to correctly position said next succeeding switch unless the correct positioning of said next succeeding switch would result in an unsafe condition, 6. means to compare the position of each switch as each cut is adjacent thereto with the required position for said cut to reach its intended destination track, 7. means responsive to said last named means when indicating a lack of comparison and to said table to select a different destination track for said cut, and 8. means responsive to said last named means to modify said list for said cut by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
351 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; computer means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stored therein: a. a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars, b. the characteristics of the yard including a table which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, c. said computer means further providing, 1. means for determining the number of cars in each cut, 2. means responsive, to each cut at said crest, to said table and said list to determine the position of the first switch in said classification yard, 3. means responsive to said last named means to correctly position said first switch to route said cut to its destination track unless the proper positioning of said switch would result in an unsafe condition, 4. means responsive, to the presence of a cut at any subsequent switch, to said table and said list to determine the position of the next succeeding switch in the yard for the cut to reach its required destination track, 5. means responsive to said last named meAns to correctly position said next succeeding switch unless the correct positioning of said next succeeding switch would result in an unsafe condition, 6. means to compare the position of each switch as each cut is adjacent thereto with the required position for said cut to reach its intended destination track, 7. means responsive to said last named means when indicating a lack of comparison and to said table to select a different destination track for said cut, and 8. means responsive to said last named means to modify said list for said cut by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
means responsive, to each cut at said crest, to said table and said list to determine the position of the first switch in said classification yard,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
means responsive, to each cut at said crest, to said table and said list to determine the position of the first switch in said classification yard,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
In the apparatus of claim 1 including apparatus to prevent a switch movement until a cut has cleared a switch, said apparatus comprising: bistable means to prohibit the movement of said switch, when in one condition, and allowing movement of said switch, when in said other condition, first means responsive to the actuation, by said cut, of said sensing device at a switch to set said bistable means to its one condition, timing means, second means rsponsive to said sensing device for setting said timing means to a predetermined value sufficient to allow said cut to clear said switch, and third means, responsive to said timing means having timed out said predetermined value of time to set said bistable means to its other condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
means, responsive to said last named means when a lack of comparison has been determined, to select a different destination track, and,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
means, responsive to said last named means when a lack of comparison has been determined, to select a different destination track, and,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
means, responsive to said last named means, to modify said list by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
means, responsive to said last named means, to modify said list by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including apparatus to prevent cornering, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the multiple actuation of said sensing device at a switch by the multiple axles of said cut to compute the velocity of said cut, time computing means responsive to said last named means to compute and store the expected time for said cut to reach the clearance point of said switch, identifying means responsive to the velocity computation for said cut to identify and locate the next immediately following cut destined for said switch, means responsive to said last named means to compute the estimated velocity for said cut at said switch, said time computing means being further responsive to said last named means to compute and store the expected time for said last named cut to reach the clearance point of said switch, comparison means, responsive to said time computing means last recited operation, to compute the time difference between said first and second time computed values, and means to disable said second means and set said timing means to said difference time if said difference time exceeds the predetermined value of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
means responsive to said last named means to correctly position said first switch to route said cut to its destination track unless the proper positioning of said switch would result in an unsafe condition,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
means responsive to said last named means to correctly position said first switch to route said cut to its destination track unless the proper positioning of said switch would result in an unsafe condition,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
means responsive, to the presence of a cut at any subsequent switch, to said table and said list to determine the position of the next succeeding switch in the yard for the cut to reach its required destination track,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
means responsive, to the presence of a cut at any subsequent switch, to said table and said list to determine the position of the next succeeding switch in the yard for the cut to reach its required destination track,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
183 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including further apparatus to provide cornering prevention, said apparatus comprising, means responsive to the multiple actuation of said sensing device at a switch by the multiple axles of a cut to compute the velocity of said cut at said switch, time and velocity estimating means, responsive to said last named means and further responsive to the grade and distance between said switch and the next switch in the route for said cut to compute the estimated velocity of said cut at said next switch and the expected time of travel for said cut from said switch to said next switch, storage means, responsive to said last named means to store said estimated velocity of said cut at said next switch, timing means, means responsive to said time and velocity estimating means to set said timer to said estimated time, monitoring means to indicate when said timing means times out said estimated time, means responsive to said monitoring means to set said bistable means to its one position when said monitoring means indicates said timing means has timed out.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard in order to provide cornering protection for each cut of cars rolling from the crest to its proper destination track at each of the several switches in the route of the car wherein said classification yard Includes car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; first means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stored therein data which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, said first means further including second means for computing when a cut is sensed at a switch, the estimated time required for said cut to travel from said switch to the clearance point associated with said switch, means for identifying and locating a second cut immediately following said cut and destined for said switch, means for computing the estimated velocity of said second cut at said switch, computing means to compute the estimated time required for said second cut to travel from said switch to the clearance point associated with said switch, and means, if said last named time is less than said first named time, to disable said switch from being thrown for a time at least equal to the difference between said times.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard in order to provide cornering protection for each cut of cars rolling from the crest to its proper destination track at each of the several switches in the route of the car wherein said classification yard Includes car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; first means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stored therein data which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, said first means further including second means for computing when a cut is sensed at a switch, the estimated time required for said cut to travel from said switch to the clearance point associated with said switch, means for identifying and locating a second cut immediately following said cut and destined for said switch, means for computing the estimated velocity of said second cut at said switch, computing means to compute the estimated time required for said second cut to travel from said switch to the clearance point associated with said switch, and means, if said last named time is less than said first named time, to disable said switch from being thrown for a time at least equal to the difference between said times.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
means responsive to said last named meAns to correctly position said next succeeding switch unless the correct positioning of said next succeeding switch would result in an unsafe condition,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
means responsive to said last named meAns to correctly position said next succeeding switch unless the correct positioning of said next succeeding switch would result in an unsafe condition,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
means to compare the position of each switch as each cut is adjacent thereto with the required position for said cut to reach its intended destination track,
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
means to compare the position of each switch as each cut is adjacent thereto with the required position for said cut to reach its intended destination track,
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
In the apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first means further includes, a plurality of registers, each of said registers associated with one of the switches in the yard and each said register contains the designation of the next approaching cut, storage means containing data with respect to each cut, said data including for each cut, its intended destination track, said data being correlated with the designation stored in each register, said identifying and locating means, including means to interrogate in sequence, the register associated with the immediately preceding switch in the route of said cut to identify and locate said immediately succeeding cut.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including additional apparatus to limit the operation of said identifying and locating means, said additional apparatus comprising, counting means responsive to the number of registers interrogated by said means to interrogate, register means settable to a predetermined number, and comparing means to limit the operation of said identifying and locating means to the predetermined number of interrogation stored in said register means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
means responsive to said last named means when indicating a lack of comparison and to said table to select a different destination track for said cut, and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
means responsive to said last named means when indicating a lack of comparison and to said table to select a different destination track for said cut, and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
means responsive to said last named means to modify said list for said cut by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
means responsive to said last named means to modify said list for said cut by substituting said different destination track for said intended destination track.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; computer means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stoed therein: a. a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars, b. the characteristics of the yard including a table which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, c. said computer means further providing
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each switch, said apparatus comprising; computer means responsive to said sensing devices and which has stoed therein: a. a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars, b. the characteristics of the yard including a table which identifies, for each destination track, the switches included in the route from the crest to said destination track and the proper position for each of said switches to route a cut from said crest to said destination track, c. said computer means further providing
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which said means to select a different destination track includes a second table identifying, for each switch and destination track said different destination track.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each sWitch, said apparatus comprising, computer means including a digital computer, a plurality of tables stored therein, said tables uniquely defining characteristics of said yard, a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars stored in said computer and a program distinct from said tables also stored in said computer, said computer means responsive to said car sensing devices said list, said tables and said program to control each of said switches to route each of said cars to its destination track.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for controlling the switches in a railway classification yard to route each cut of cars rolling down the crest to its proper destination including car sensing devices at the crest and at each sWitch, said apparatus comprising, computer means including a digital computer, a plurality of tables stored therein, said tables uniquely defining characteristics of said yard, a sequential list of cars as they appear at the crest and an intended destination track for each of said cars stored in said computer and a program distinct from said tables also stored in said computer, said computer means responsive to said car sensing devices said list, said tables and said program to control each of said switches to route each of said cars to its destination track.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to determine a misroute of a cut, means responsive thereto to refer to one of said tables to determine another destination track for said cut and further means responsive to said means to determine for routing said cut to said another destination track.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to prevent cornering.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to detect failure of said sensing devices.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to detect blocked tracks.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to detect fouled tracks.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said program and said digital computer include means to detect stalled cars.
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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |