US4401175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for weighing railroad cars in motion during loading
Assignee: Mangood Corp
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Filing: 1981-07-16
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading. An upstream weigh bridge is provided and is mechanically separated from a downstream weigh bridge, with a loading chute overlying one of the weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars. The upstream weigh bridge has a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car. The position of the freight car under consideration is sensed and the chute is opened to load the freight car. The full draft weight of the freight car during loading is detected, taking the weight on the upstream weigh bridge into consideration. The chute is closed when the weight reaches a predetermined amount. The weight of the loaded freight car is determined after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge is taken into consideration. The downstream weigh bridge may comprise a plurality of mechanically separated weigh bridge sections, operable for full draft weighing of different size freight cars during loading.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack R. Caldicott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/02; G01G19/04; G01G19/045; G01G19/047; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for weighing freight cars coupled in motion, which comprises the steps of: providing an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; providing a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car is on said upstream weigh bridge; and determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight of the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for weighing freight cars coupled in motion, which comprises the steps of: providing an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; providing a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car is on said upstream weigh bridge; and determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight of the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 1, including the step of detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading by taking into consideration the combined weights on said upstream and downstream weigh bridges.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises the steps of: providing an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; providing a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; providing a chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being loaded is on said upstream weigh bridge; determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight of the downstream weigh bridge into consideration; said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and closing the chute when the weight reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises the steps of: providing an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; providing a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; providing a chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being loaded is on said upstream weigh bridge; determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight of the downstream weigh bridge into consideration; said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and closing the chute when the weight reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 3, including the step of sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and closing the chute to stop loading the freight car when it reaches a predetermined location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 3, including the step of detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading by taking into consideration the combined weights on said upstream and downstream weigh bridges.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being weighed is on said upstream weigh bridge; and means for determining the weight of the freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being weighed is on said upstream weigh bridge; and means for determining the weight of the freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined by claim 6, wherein said upstream weigh bridge has a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of a freight car and the front axle of the succeeding car.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system as defined by claim 6, including a loading chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; first means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; and means for closing the chute when the weight reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as defined by claim 6, said downstream weigh bridge comprising a plurality of mechanically separated weigh bridge sections, operable for full draft weighing during weighing of different size freight cars.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; a loading chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; first means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while axles of the car being loaded are on said upstream weigh bridge; means for determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and said downstream weigh bridge comprising a plurality of mechanically separated weigh bridge sections, operable for full draft weighing during loading of different size freight cars.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; a loading chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; first means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while axles of the car being loaded are on said upstream weigh bridge; means for determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration, said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and said downstream weigh bridge comprising a plurality of mechanically separated weigh bridge sections, operable for full draft weighing during loading of different size freight cars.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; a loading chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; first means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being loaded is on said upstream weigh bridge; means for determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration; said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and means for closing the chute when the weight reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading, which comprises: an upstream weigh bridge having a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car; a downstream weigh bridge mechanically separated from said upstream weigh bridge; a loading chute overlying one of said weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars for loading of the coupled freight cars during movement thereof; first means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for opening the chute to load said freight car under consideration; means for detecting the full draft weight of the freight car during loading taking the weight on said upstream weigh bridge into consideration while an axle of the car being loaded is on said upstream weigh bridge; means for determining the weight of the loaded freight car after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and taking only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge into consideration; said determining means including means for electrically disconnecting said upstream weigh bridge from said downstream weigh bridge after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge; and means for closing the chute when the weight reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as described in claim 11, including second means for sensing the position of the freight car under consideration and for closing the chute to stop loading the freight car when the freight car reaches a predetermined location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as described in claim 11, said detecting means being operable to detect the full draft weight of the freight car during loading by taking into consideration the combined weights on said upstream and downstream weigh bridges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as described in claim 11, said first sensing means being operable to open the chute only after the first axle of the freight car has reached the downstream weigh bridge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as described in claim 11, said first sensing means comprising means for sensing the transition from the upstream weigh bridge to the downstream weigh bridge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as described in claim 11, said first sensing means comprising a track switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as described in claim 11, said downstream weigh bridge comprising a plurality of mechanically separated weigh bridge sections, operable for full draft weighing during loading of different size freight 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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |