Patent US4932618A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4932618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sonic track condition determination system
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-11
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2009-04-11
Abstract
Abstract Sonic transponders mounted on a train and the track upon which it rolls transmit and receive sonic vibrations along the track. Information currently being transmitted electrically may also be thus transmitted sonically. Since the track interferes with the sonic vibration more than it does with an electrical signal, the condition of the track may also be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe L. Davenport
- 👤 Dominic L. Simard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:15
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/04; B61L23/042; B61L1/00; B61L1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the apparatus comprising: (a) means, mounted on the train, for impressing a first sonic vibration on the track, and for receiving a second sonic vibration from the track; (b) means for comparing the first sonic vibration with the second sonic vibration; and (c) means for converting the comparison of the vibrations into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the apparatus comprising: (a) means, mounted on the train, for impressing a first sonic vibration on the track, and for receiving a second sonic vibration from the track; (b) means for comparing the first sonic vibration with the second sonic vibration; and (c) means for converting the comparison of the vibrations into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impressing means and the receiving means form a single unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impressing means and the receiving means form separate units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sonic vibration impressing and receiving means comprises a piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sonic vibration impressing and receiving means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the method comprising: (a) impressing a first sonic vibration on the track at the train; (b) receiving a second sonic vibration from the track at the train; (c) comparing the first sonic vibration with the second sonic vibration; and (d) converting the comparison of the vibrations into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the method comprising: (a) impressing a first sonic vibration on the track at the train; (b) receiving a second sonic vibration from the track at the train; (c) comparing the first sonic vibration with the second sonic vibration; and (d) converting the comparison of the vibrations into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6, wherein each sonic vibration is impressed or received by means comprising a piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6, wherein each sonic vibration is impressed or received by means comprising a solenoid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the apparatus comprising: (a) means, mounted on the train, for impressing a first sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track, and for receiving a second sonic vibration from the track; (b) means, mounted on the track at the point on the track distant from the train, for receiving the first sonic vibration from the track, and for impressing the second sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track; (c) means for comparing the first or second sonic vibration as received with the corresponding sonic vibration as predetermined; and (d) means for converting the comparison of the vibration as received with the corresponding vibration as predetermined into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the apparatus comprising: (a) means, mounted on the train, for impressing a first sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track, and for receiving a second sonic vibration from the track; (b) means, mounted on the track at the point on the track distant from the train, for receiving the first sonic vibration from the track, and for impressing the second sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track; (c) means for comparing the first or second sonic vibration as received with the corresponding sonic vibration as predetermined; and (d) means for converting the comparison of the vibration as received with the corresponding vibration as predetermined into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the train mounted impressing means and the train mounted receiving means form a single unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the train mounted impressing means and the train mounted receiving means form different units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the track mounted impressing means and the track mounted receiving means form a single unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the track mounted impressing means and the track mounted receiving means form different units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first sonic vibration as received is compared with the first sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second sonic vibration as received is compared with the second sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first sonic vibration as received is compared with the first sonic vibration as predetermined, and wherein the second sonic vibration as received is compared with the second sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each sonic vibration impressing and receiving means comprises a piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each sonic vibration impressing and receiving means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the track mounted sonic vibration impressing and receiving means is powered by a solar collector.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the method comprising: (a) impressing a first sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track at the train; (b) receiving the first sonic vibration from the track at the point on the track distant from the train; (c) impressing a second sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track at the point on the track distant from the train; (d) receiving the second sonic vibration from the track at the train; (e) comparing the first or second sonic vibration as received with the corresponding sonic vibration as predetermined; and (f) converting the comparison of the vibration as received with the corresponding vibration as predetermined into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for determining the condition of a segment of a railroad track between a train on the track and a point on the track distant from the train, the method comprising: (a) impressing a first sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track at the train; (b) receiving the first sonic vibration from the track at the point on the track distant from the train; (c) impressing a second sonic vibration, in a predetermined form, on the track at the point on the track distant from the train; (d) receiving the second sonic vibration from the track at the train; (e) comparing the first or second sonic vibration as received with the corresponding sonic vibration as predetermined; and (f) converting the comparison of the vibration as received with the corresponding vibration as predetermined into a determination of the condition of the track between the train and the point on the track distant from the train.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the first sonic vibration as received is compared with the first sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the second sonic vibration as received is compared with the second sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the first sonic vibration as received is compared with the first sonic vibration as predetermined, and wherein the second sonic vibration as received is compared with the second sonic vibration as predetermined.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20, wherein each sonic vibration is impressed or received by means comprising a piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20, wherein each sonic vibration is impressed or received by means comprising a solenoid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of supplying power from a solar collector to a track mounted sonic vibration impressing and receiving means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |