US5086641A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for dynamic calibrating an absolute position encoder
Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
•
Filing: 1990-04-30
•
Granted: 1992-02-11
•
Expires: 2010-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic calibration arrangement comprising, a brake handle for controlling the braking of a railway vehicle, an absolute position encoder for monitoring the position of the brake handle, an electrical switch for ascertaining when the brake handle is in a release position, and a logic gate for activating an enable circuit for reading the absolute position encoder, and a storage register for storing and for employing the reading as an offset value for correcting subsequent readings of other positions of the brake handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Roselli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T15/00; B60T15/02; B60T15/04; B60T15/14; G; G01; G01D; G01D18/00; G01D18/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A calibration arrangement comprising, handle means for controlling braking of a railway vehicle, encoder means for monitoring the position of said handle means, means for ascertaining when said handle means is in a release position, and means for activating an enable means for reading said encoder means and for storing and for employing said reading as an offset value for subsequent readings of other positions of said handle means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A calibration arrangement comprising, handle means for controlling braking of a railway vehicle, encoder means for monitoring the position of said handle means, means for ascertaining when said handle means is in a release position, and means for activating an enable means for reading said encoder means and for storing and for employing said reading as an offset value for subsequent readings of other positions of said handle means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means is a rotatable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoder means is an absolute position device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said ascertaining means takes the form of an electrical switch which is closed when said handle means is in the release position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said activating means includes a push-button key switch which conditions an AND gate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said enable means is deactivated by said ascertaining means when said handle means is out of the release position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said storing means is a non-volatile storage medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoder means includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes and an equal number of phototransistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said encoder means includes a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentrically etched tracks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The calibration arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein a screen display informs an operator of the railway vehicle if the handle means is out of the release position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement for calibrating an absolute position encoder when a brake handle is in a release position comprising, first means for establishing that the brake handle is in the release position, second means for conditioning a third means, said third means for enabling a fourth means, said fourth means for causing a read-out of the encoder for obtaining an offset value, and fifth means for storing the offset value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement for calibrating an absolute position encoder when a brake handle is in a release position comprising, first means for establishing that the brake handle is in the release position, second means for conditioning a third means, said third means for enabling a fourth means, said fourth means for causing a read-out of the encoder for obtaining an offset value, and fifth means for storing the offset value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said first means takes the form of a electrical switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said electrical switch comprises a stationary contact and cam-operated movable contact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said electrical switch is closed when the brake handle is in the release position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said second means is a push-button switch which is closed to condition said third means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said third means is a logic circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 16, wherein said logic circuit is an AND gate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said fifth means is a non-volatile storage medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 11, said third means for conditioning a sixth means when the brake handle is out of the release position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 19, wherein said sixth means causes a seventh means to display a message that the brake handle is out of the release position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4524347A
Cited
US4382250A
Cited
US4470124A
Cited
US4604725A
Cited
US4654522A
Cited
SU1422059A1
Cited
US5036468A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-08-12 | 1996-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-08-12 | 2000-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-10 | 2003-08-12 | 2004-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |