Method and apparatus for detecting railroad cars
US4248396A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1979 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61L1/165
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for detecting railroad cars in a moving train. The cars are assumed to be of the type having two wheel trucks, each with at least two axles arranged adjacent to each other such that the maximum distance between the axles of a single truck is less than the center distance between facing axles of two trucks of a single car. The system includes a device for measuring the distance between successive axles as a train of cars moves in one direction along a track, a device for comparing each measured distance with the maximum axle distance for a truck, and a device for determining whether the axle spacing of a first truck equals the axle spacing of a second truck after the maximum axle distance for a truck has been exceeded. In this way, an individual car is detected upon identification of two identical truck assemblies which are separated by an axle spacing that is greater than the maximum permissible axle distance in a truck.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.