Method and apparatus for detecting guideway breaks and occupation
First Claim
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1. A method of determining a distance to an anomaly in a guideway, the method preformed on a processor comprising the steps of:
- generating a wave pulse;
coupling the wave pulse into the guideway;
waiting a predetermined wait time to receive a return pulse from the guideway;
if the return pulse is received within the predetermined wait time, determining whether an anomaly exists on the guideway; and
after the predetermined wait time, repeating the generating, coupling, and waiting step.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for detecting guideway anomalies. In particular, the present invention generates and couples a wave pulse into a guideway. The wave pulse travels down the guideway until it reaches an anomaly. The anomaly causes a return wave pulse. The time difference between the generated wave and the return wave allows calculation of the deference to the anomaly.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of determining a distance to an anomaly in a guideway, the method preformed on a processor comprising the steps of:
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generating a wave pulse;
coupling the wave pulse into the guideway;
waiting a predetermined wait time to receive a return pulse from the guideway;
if the return pulse is received within the predetermined wait time, determining whether an anomaly exists on the guideway; and
after the predetermined wait time, repeating the generating, coupling, and waiting step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for detecting anomalies in a guideway, the system comprising:
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at least one signal generator;
at least one coupler connected to the at least one signal generator, the at least one coupler to transmit the signal generated by the at least one signal generator into the guideway;
at least one signal receiver, the at least one signal receiver connected to the at least one coupler such that a return signal is transmitted from the guideway to the at least one signal receiver; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the signal generator and the at least one signal receiver, such that the processor can determine whether the return signal is indicative of an anomaly based on the signal generated by the at least one signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for detecting breaks, potential breaks, or obstruction in railroad tracks, the system comprising:
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at least one rail vehicle; and
a pair of conductive rail tracks at least partially isolated from each other;
the at least one rail vehicle comprising;
a processor;
at least one signal generator, the at least one signal generator coupled to the processor such that the processor causes the at least one signal generator to generate electrical waveform information at a selected time;
at least one waveform generator connected to the at least one signal generator to covert the waveform information into a transmittable waveform capable of traveling along at least one track of the pair of conductive rail tracks;
at least one track coupler to transfer the transmittable waveform from the at least one waveform generator to the at least one track and to transfer a return waveform from the at least one track;
at least one signal receiver coupled to the at least one track coupler to receiver the return waveform from the at least on track and convert the return waveform into a return signal useable by the processor;
the at least one signal receiver coupled to the processor to transfer the return signal to the processor, wherein the processor can detect anomalies.
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Specification