A payload monitoring system is disclosed for use with a haul vehicle. The payload monitoring system may have at least one emitter configured to direct an energy beam into the haul vehicle during relative movement between the at least one emitter and the haul vehicle, and at least one receiver configured to detect the energy beam and to generate a corresponding signal. The payload monitoring system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one receiver and configured to determine a loading condition of the haul vehicle based on the corresponding signal.

A payload monitoring system is disclosed for use with a haul vehicle. The payload monitoring system may have at least one emitter configured to direct an energy beam into the haul vehicle during relative movement between the at least one emitter and the haul vehicle, and at least one receiver configured to detect the energy beam and to generate a corresponding signal. The payload monitoring system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one receiver and configured to determine a loading condition of the haul vehicle based on the corresponding signal.

A weighbridge for weighing a ladle transfer car has a foundation pit, a weighing platform, and a plurality of load cells. The foundation pit has a base and the weighing platform, positioned in the foundation pit, bears upon the base. The plurality of load cells are arranged in the foundation pit to collectively bear the weight of the weighing platform. A characterizing feature of the weighbridge is that, during use, the foundation pit contains a liquid, with a level that is maintained to at least partially submerge each of the load cells.

A railway track (1) including at least two railway rails (2) and at least one measuring apparatus (3), disposed under at least one of the railway rails (2), for measuring vertical contact pressure, wherein the measuring apparatus (3) has at least one mat-shaped or planar carrying body (4) with a multiplicity of measuring sensors (5), disposed at a distance from one another, for measuring the vertical surface pressure at the respective positions of the respective measuring sensors (5).

The present invention relates to a weighing module for measuring wheel contact forces of rail-bound vehicles, comprising a measuring rail and a number of strain gauges, wherein the strain gauges are applied directly on the measuring rail. The measuring rail comprises a load introduction region, made of at least one load introduction part, and at least two deformation bodies, which are connected fixedly in each case to a load output plate and, via a hinge, to the load introduction region. The strain gauges are arranged on the deformation bodies and capture the shear strain acting between the hinges and load output plates.

Transport rail system capable of detecting a weight of a rail vehicle, includes one or more rails, and one or more sensors for measuring a magnetic property. At least one of the sensors is adapted to measure a change of a magnetic property in order to determine a weight bearing on one or more of the rails, the change of the magnetic property being caused by stress exerted on the rail by the weight, and one or more of the sensors are adapted to measure the change of a magnetic property of the rail itself and/or that one or more of the sensors are adapted to measure the change of a magnetic property of a supporting structure of the rail.

The invention is intended for conserving energy expended by railway rolling stock, for instance by a locomotive when carrying out train operations and shunting, when trains are run in an automatic mode or in a train operator assistance mode. A method for increasing the efficiency of rolling stock includes the following steps: obtaining the parameters of the rolling stock, including at least the following: speed, coordinates, overhead system voltage, traction engine current voltage, brake line discharging; in addition, determining at least the dependence parameters of an active traction force, braking force, motion resistance force, force of wheel adherence to the rails, and the mass of the rolling stock; then, determining the optimal control to be carried out by traction and braking equipment of railway rolling stock based on the dependence parameters obtained during the previous step; then, transmitting the optimal control, determined during the previous step, to a rolling stock control system for implementation or for displaying to the train operator.

The invention is intended for conserving energy expended by railway rolling stock, for instance by a locomotive when carrying out train operations and shunting, when trains are run in an automatic mode or in a train operator assistance mode. A method for increasing the efficiency of rolling stock includes the following steps: obtaining the parameters of the rolling stock, including at least the following: speed, coordinates, overhead system voltage, traction engine current voltage, brake line discharging; in addition, determining at least the dependence parameters of an active traction force, braking force, motion resistance force, force of wheel adherence to the rails, and the mass of the rolling stock; then, determining the optimal control to be carried out by traction and braking equipment of railway rolling stock based on the dependence parameters obtained during the previous step; then, transmitting the optimal control, determined during the previous step, to a rolling stock control system for implementation or for displaying to the train operator.

The disclosed technology pertains to methods and systems for measuring and deploying mass transported by railway vehicles. A computing system may receive sensor data from multiple sensors coupled to a railway vehicle as the railway vehicle moves along a track. The computing system may use the sensor data to determine acceleration data and force data corresponding to the railway vehicle as the railway vehicle moves along the track. The force data represents a quantity of force applied to the railway vehicle to cause the railway vehicle to move along the track. The computing system may then estimate, based on the acceleration data and force data for the railway vehicle, a mass of the railway vehicle. The computing system may further use sensor data to determine that the railway vehicle is located proximate a drop zone and trigger an automatic release of cargo carried by the railway vehicle.

A system for estimating a load index of a railway vehicle is described, comprising: an image acquisition means arranged to acquire a real-time image of a predetermined area inside a wagon of such a railway vehicle; and a control means arranged to determine the load index of the railway vehicle as a function of this image acquired by the image acquisition means.