US3924461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring system for detecting defective rails or road beds
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-20
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Monitoring apparatus and system including a car movable over the rails and including rail following guides upon which accelerometers are mounted or which are attached to sensing means so as to produce signals indicative of variations in the rails. A recorder receives inputs from a plurality of sensing devices, as well as the signal indicative of the position at which measurements were taken, and a computer can be provided the output from the sensors so as to record or display rail variations. A modification utilizes radar transmitter and receiver for sensing the rail variations with radiant energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Harris A Stover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:05
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D15/00; B61D15/08; B61K; B61K9/00; B61K9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds comprising: a vehicle with rail engaging wheels; an odometer mounted on said vehicle to produce a position reference; sensing means for sensing the position of the rail as the vehicle passes by; correlation means receiving the outputs of said odometer and said sensing means to determine the condition of the rail; wherein said sensing means measures the distance from the vehicle to said rail; and wherein said sensing means measures the distance from the vehicle to the rail at two locations, one location being near the wheels and one location being remote from the wheels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds comprising: a vehicle with rail engaging wheels; an odometer mounted on said vehicle to produce a position reference; sensing means for sensing the position of the rail as the vehicle passes by; correlation means receiving the outputs of said odometer and said sensing means to determine the condition of the rail; wherein said sensing means measures the distance from the vehicle to said rail; and wherein said sensing means measures the distance from the vehicle to the rail at two locations, one location being near the wheels and one location being remote from the wheels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said correlation means comprises a recording means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said correlation means comprises a computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises an accelerometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a left rail sensor and a right rail sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a left rail accelerometer and a right rail accelerometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an accelerometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes two accelerometers with one mounted to measure the acceleration of the rail near the wheels and the other mounted to measure the acceleration of the rail remote from the wheels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails and road beds according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an arm connected to said vehicle and engageable with the rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for monitoring and testing rails according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a pair of arms connected together by servo controlled rotary joints with one joint connected to the vehicle and the other between the pair of arms and one of said arms engageable with said rail.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3353404A
Cited
US3638482A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |