US4040292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for indicating the density of ballast
Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
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Filing: 1975-12-24
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1995-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for indicating the density of a mass of course particles, such as track ballast, uses the immersion of a tool capable of penetrating into the mass, for instance a tamping tool. The degree of the density is a function of the time of the immersion stroke, the length of the immersion stroke and the immersion force. One of these parameters is measured while the other two parameters are predetermined to determine the measured value of the degree of density, and the measured value is indicated. In a mobile track tamping machine, this is accomplished by actuating a time measuring device by switching elements arranged to be actuated by the immersing tool for measuring the time required by the tool for immersion in the ballast through a predetermined immersion stroke. The time measuring device transmits corresponding time signals to an indicator.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Theurer
- 👤 Waldemar Friedrich Thole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N3/00; G01N3/40; E; E01; E01B; E01B27/00; E01B27/12; E01B27/13; E01B27/16; E01B35/00; E01B2203/00; E01B2203/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In an apparatus for indicating the density of track supporting ballast, combined with a mobile track tamping machine and comprising a tool capable of penetrating into the ballast, a drive for applying a force to the tool to immerse the same in the ballast, a signal emitter producing a signal indicating the density of the ballast, and an indicator associated with the signal emitter to receive and indicate the signal: the improvement of 1. the signal emitter being a time measuring device for measuring the time required by the tool for immersion in the ballast through a predetermined immersion stroke and 2. spaced switching elements arranged to be actuated by the displacement of the penetrating tool a predetermined distance and for actuating the signal emitter to transmit corresponding time signals to the indicator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an apparatus for indicating the density of track supporting ballast, combined with a mobile track tamping machine and comprising a tool capable of penetrating into the ballast, a drive for applying a force to the tool to immerse the same in the ballast, a signal emitter producing a signal indicating the density of the ballast, and an indicator associated with the signal emitter to receive and indicate the signal: the improvement of 1. the signal emitter being a time measuring device for measuring the time required by the tool for immersion in the ballast through a predetermined immersion stroke and 2. spaced switching elements arranged to be actuated by the displacement of the penetrating tool a predetermined distance and for actuating the signal emitter to transmit corresponding time signals to the indicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the tool being a ballast tamping tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the tool being constituted by a ballast tamping unit comprising two reciprocal tamping tools.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the track tamping machine comprising a ballast tamping unit and the tool being arranged frontwards of the tamping unit in the direction of advancement of the machine along the track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the track tamping machine comprising a ballast tamping unit and the tool being arranged rearwards of the tamping unit in the direction of advancement of the machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the signal emitter being a digital time measuring device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the indicator including a system of lamps for stepwise actuation by the signal emitter for visual indication of the received time signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the apparatus of claim 7, the system of lamps being arranged for stepwise actuation of an increasing number of the lamps in response to an increasing value in the time signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the apparatus of claim 8, a voltage regulator being interposed between the signal emitter and the system of lamps for changing the light intensity of the lamps in response to a changing value in the time signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the apparatus of claim 8, the system of lamps consisting of groups of differently colored lights, the lamps in each of the groups being responsive to corresponding time signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the indicator being a digital indicator for indicating the time signals in numbers.
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) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |