Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for applying railway ballast

US7152347B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
31References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 2004
Grant dateDec 26, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE01B27/02
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.