US3905012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic railroad freight car monitoring system
Assignee: United States Department of Transportation
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Filing: 1974-08-02
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1994-08-02
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a monitoring system that provides an engineer of a freight train with a real time picture of the coupling extensions of selected cars distributed throughout the entire length of his train. Located between each selected pair of cars is a sensor that detects whether a Buff (compressed) or a Draft (stretched) condition exists at the coupling. Individual encoders associated with each of the sensors respond thereto by providing one of two uniquely coded outputs representing, respectively, either a Draft or Buff condition as detected by the sensor. The outputs of the encoders are relayed by individual transmitters to a receiver located at a control station. Coupled to the receiver is a decoder that decodes the incoming signals and energizes a display that furnishes the engineer with a dynamic indication of the coupling condition existing at each of the selected points along the train.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D Vrabel
- 👤 Dennis W Gosselin
- 👤 Eugene Donald Sussman
- 👤 David S Ofsevit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:38
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L1/00; B61L1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for dynamically monitoring the relative positions of railroad freight cars and comprising: a plurality of individual sensors, each for detecting the extension on a coupling between a different pair of cars of a railroad train, said pairs of cars being distributed in locations along the length oF the train; a plurality of radio transmitters, one associated with each of said sensors and responsive thereto to produce an output signal indicative of the extension sensed thereby; a plurality of encoders, one associated with and providing each of said transmitters with a uniquely coded output; receiver means for receiving said output signals at a control station on the train; decoder means for decoding the signals received by said receiver; and indicator means for dynamically indicating the coupling extensions existing between said pairs of cars and sensed by said sensors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for dynamically monitoring the relative positions of railroad freight cars and comprising: a plurality of individual sensors, each for detecting the extension on a coupling between a different pair of cars of a railroad train, said pairs of cars being distributed in locations along the length oF the train; a plurality of radio transmitters, one associated with each of said sensors and responsive thereto to produce an output signal indicative of the extension sensed thereby; a plurality of encoders, one associated with and providing each of said transmitters with a uniquely coded output; receiver means for receiving said output signals at a control station on the train; decoder means for decoding the signals received by said receiver; and indicator means for dynamically indicating the coupling extensions existing between said pairs of cars and sensed by said sensors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said encoders provides its associated transmitter with one output signal in response to the detection of a Draft condition by its sensor and a different output signal in response to the detection of a Buff condition thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said one and different output signals from each of said receivers possesses a unique tone frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said transmitters operate on a limited duty cycle such that said encoders provide either said one or said different signal asynchronously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the outputs of all said transmitters occur at least once during a given operating time cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said decoder comprises trouble means that provides said display means with a trouble indication in response to a failure to receive either said one or different output signal from any of said transmitters during a given time period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said given time period is at least twice said operating time cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said encoder immediately provides an appropriate signal to its associated transmitter in response to a change of extension condition detected by its associated sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises a display including diagramatic representation of the cars of the train, and electrical signal lights positioned between the diagramatic cars representing the actual cars between which said sensors are disposed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said signal lights provide in response to said decoder a distinct indication representing either a Buff or Draft condition as detected by said sensors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2961640A
Cited
US3273145A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |