Method and apparatus for applying railway ballast
US7707944B2 · kind B2 · utility
18Cited by
33References
2Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 4, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2026 |
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.