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US3870952A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ballast resistance and track continuity indicating circuit

Assignee: SASIB SpA Bologna
•
Filing: 1973-07-16
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-07-16
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Abstract

Abstract A track quality meter for determing ballast resistance of a track section, regardless of whether or not the track section is insulated. An oscillator produces a signal at an appropriate frequency which is applied to the track section. Detector means, connected across the track section, is responsive to the voltage across the track section. From this voltage the characteristic impedance of the track section can be determined in a number of ways. In a preferred embodiment, the signal applied across the track section is also applied across a variable resistor. By adjusting the variable resistor so that the voltage across it equals the voltage across the track section, the resistor value is a measure of the characteristic impedance of the track section at the frequency produced by the oscillator. The characteristic impedance of the track section has a number of parameters, but only the ballast resistance in the track section is variable. As a result, the ballast resistance for the track section can be read off a calibration table.

Inventors

  • 👤 Henry C Sibley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; B; B61; B61L; B61L1/00; B61L1/18; B61L1/181; B61L1/187

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
A measuring device for measurement of ballast resistance in a section of track comprising, an oscillator producing a high frequency signal, coupling means connected to said oscillator, a variable resistor connecting said coupling means to said track, and detector means connected to said track and to said variable resistor including further means to indicate, as the variable resistor is varied in value, when the voltage across said resistor is equal to the voltage acrOss said track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
A measuring device for measurement of ballast resistance in a section of track comprising, an oscillator producing a high frequency signal, coupling means connected to said oscillator, a variable resistor connecting said coupling means to said track, and detector means connected to said track and to said variable resistor including further means to indicate, as the variable resistor is varied in value, when the voltage across said resistor is equal to the voltage acrOss said track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 76 words
A measuring device for measurement of ballast resistance in a section of track comprising, an oscillator producing a high frequency signal, coupling means connected to said oscillator, a variable resistor connecting said coupling means to said track, and detector means connected to said track and to said variable resistor including further means to indicate, as the variable resistor is varied in value, when the voltage across said resistor is equal to the voltage acrOss said track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
A measuring device for measurement of ballast resistance in a section of track comprising, an oscillator producing a high frequency signal, coupling means connected to said oscillator, a variable resistor connecting said coupling means to said track, and detector means connected to said track and to said variable resistor including further means to indicate, as the variable resistor is varied in value, when the voltage across said resistor is equal to the voltage acrOss said track.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said further means comprises a meter selectively connectable across either said track or said variable resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 64 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said further means comprises comparison means producing a signal whose magnitude is indicative of whether or not said voltage across said track is greater or less than said voltage across said resistor, and indicating means connected to said comparison means for indicating whether the voltage across said track is greater or less than the voltage across said resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 57 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes a pair of indicating lamps, each of said lamps being connected to the collector of a pair of complementary transistors, the emitters of said complementary transistors being connected together and connected to a bias potential, the bases of said complementary transistors being connected to said comparison means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2930888A Cited
US2985752A Cited
US3387064A Cited
US3553481A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-03-10 1978-09-09 1979-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-03-10 1982-09-09 1983-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-03-10 1986-09-09 1987-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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