Patent classifications
B61L23/00
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GATHERING DATA FROM SENSORS ORIENTED AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE RELATIVE TO A RAILWAY TRACK
A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.
Method to determine clearance of an obstacle
A method of determining when a first train has cleared an intersection a distance to permit travel of a second train through the intersection without risk of collision or contact includes: (a) sampling first GPS data corresponding to a location of a lead vehicle of the first train travelling on a first track when the lead vehicle passes proximate a marker; (b) sampling second GPS data corresponding to a location of a last vehicle of the first train moving on the first track; (c) comparing the second GPS data and the first GPS data: (d) repeating steps (b)-(c) until the location corresponding to the first GPS data and the location corresponding to the second GPS data are within a predetermined distance of each other, and (e) generating a signal when the locations are within the predetermined distance.
Method to determine clearance of an obstacle
A method of determining when a first train has cleared an intersection a distance to permit travel of a second train through the intersection without risk of collision or contact includes: (a) sampling first GPS data corresponding to a location of a lead vehicle of the first train travelling on a first track when the lead vehicle passes proximate a marker; (b) sampling second GPS data corresponding to a location of a last vehicle of the first train moving on the first track; (c) comparing the second GPS data and the first GPS data: (d) repeating steps (b)-(c) until the location corresponding to the first GPS data and the location corresponding to the second GPS data are within a predetermined distance of each other, and (e) generating a signal when the locations are within the predetermined distance.
System and method for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, and related portable signal analyzing device
System, method and portable device for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, wherein at least one antenna captures, in a contactless manner, a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit, and a demodulator is adapted to separate into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by the antenna and selectively demodulate one or more of the captured signals. An interface is adapted for transferring, to a user interface, data indicative of the demodulated signals. Each demodulated signal is displayed on a screen for a user to trigger any needed corrective action.
System and method for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, and related portable signal analyzing device
System, method and portable device for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, wherein at least one antenna captures, in a contactless manner, a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit, and a demodulator is adapted to separate into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by the antenna and selectively demodulate one or more of the captured signals. An interface is adapted for transferring, to a user interface, data indicative of the demodulated signals. Each demodulated signal is displayed on a screen for a user to trigger any needed corrective action.
CAR DOOR MONITORING SYSTEM AND CAR DOOR MONITORING METHOD
Even in a case where an external camera image-captures a door of a car, with high precision, it can be set to be determined whether or not a foreign substance inserted into the door is present. A monitoring apparatus acquires a camera image that results from a camera image-capturing the vicinity of a door of a car using an external camera, from a camera. A processor of the monitoring apparatus detects the door from the camera image, sets a determination area based on a position of the detected door, acquires an image of the determination area from the camera image, determines whether or not a foreign substance inserted into the door is present, based on the image of the determination area, and performs report outputting to a monitor and a reporting apparatus according to a result of the determination.
PRESSURE SENSING PROBE
In one embodiment, a probe includes a first facet associated with a first pressure port operable to measure a first wind pressure, a second facet associated with a second pressure port operable to measure a second wind pressure, and a third facet associated with a third pressure port operable to measure a third wind pressure. The second facet is adjacent to the first facet and the third facet adjacent to the second facet. The probe further includes a fourth facet adjacent to the third facet and a fifth facet adjacent to the fourth facet and to the first facet. The first facet, the second facet, the third facet, the fourth facet, and the fifth facet are located between a first end portion and a second end portion of the probe.
PRESSURE SENSING PROBE
In one embodiment, a probe includes a first facet associated with a first pressure port operable to measure a first wind pressure, a second facet associated with a second pressure port operable to measure a second wind pressure, and a third facet associated with a third pressure port operable to measure a third wind pressure. The second facet is adjacent to the first facet and the third facet adjacent to the second facet. The probe further includes a fourth facet adjacent to the third facet and a fifth facet adjacent to the fourth facet and to the first facet. The first facet, the second facet, the third facet, the fourth facet, and the fifth facet are located between a first end portion and a second end portion of the probe.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING WIND VELOCITY FOR VEHICLES TRAVERSING A CURVE
In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by a controller, a first wind direction relative to a first vehicle and determining, by the controller, a first wind speed relative to the first vehicle. The method also includes calculating, by the controller, an absolute wind direction relative to ground using the first wind direction relative to the first vehicle and calculating, by the controller, an absolute wind speed relative to the ground using the first wind speed relative to the first vehicle. The method further includes calculating, by the controller, a second wind direction relative to a second vehicle using the absolute wind direction and calculating, by the controller, a second wind speed relative to the second vehicle using the absolute wind speed. A front end of the first vehicle and a front end of the second vehicle face different directions.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING WIND VELOCITY FOR VEHICLES TRAVERSING A CURVE
In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by a controller, a first wind direction relative to a first vehicle and determining, by the controller, a first wind speed relative to the first vehicle. The method also includes calculating, by the controller, an absolute wind direction relative to ground using the first wind direction relative to the first vehicle and calculating, by the controller, an absolute wind speed relative to the ground using the first wind speed relative to the first vehicle. The method further includes calculating, by the controller, a second wind direction relative to a second vehicle using the absolute wind direction and calculating, by the controller, a second wind speed relative to the second vehicle using the absolute wind speed. A front end of the first vehicle and a front end of the second vehicle face different directions.