Automated railway monitoring system

• US 6,511,023 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sydney Allen Harland
• Original Assignee: Sydney Allen Harland
• Inventors: Harland, Sydney Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US09/828,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 246/3, 246/1.C, 246/122.R, 246/123, 246/124, 246/187.B, 246/182.R, 342/42, 342/71
• US Class Current: 246/122.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/224 using rail contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/284 using rail-contacts, rail microphones, or the like, controlled by the vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the real time location of wheeled cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track. The method creates a wheel count and a location point for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in a sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station, wherein the wheel counting station is stationary at a fixed location. The wheel count and location point for the train is then recorded in a computer. As the train passes subsequent wheel counting stations positioned along the track, the train is identified by recounting the wheels on the train and matching the number of recounted train wheels to the wheel count. The location point of the train is updated in the computer to correspond to the location of the last wheel counting station and to count the number of wheels on the train. Subsequently, a rail car location in the computer is created, wherein the rail car location corresponds to the last updated location point for the train. Accordingly, the method apparatus use a plurality of wheel counting stations, sensors, and a computer to determine the location of linked cars on a fixed track.

Claims

1. A method for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

a) creating a count and location point for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first counting station having a known location, the location point corresponding the location of the first counting station;

b) recording the count and location point in a computer,

c) identifying the train as the train passes subsequent counting stations positioned along the track by recounting the wheels on the train and matching the number of recounted train wheels to the count, each of said counting stations having a known location,

d) updating the location point in the computer when the train is identified to correspond to the location of the last counting station to count the number of wheels on the train,

e) creating a rail car location in the computer, the rail car location corresponding to the last updated location point for the train,

f) providing each rail car with an identification tag,

g) identifying each of the rail cars in the train in sequential order as the train passes an identification tag reading station, the identification tag reading station adapted to read the identification tag and transmit the sequential identity of the cars to the computer,

h) creating a wheel profile for the train by combining the wheel count and the sequential identity of the cars, the wheel profile listing the number of wheels on the train and the identification of each of the rail cars on the train,

i) recording a train schedule in the computer, the train schedule including a list of customer locations where the rail cars will be transferred and a list of the rail cars transferred at those respective customer locations, and

j) amending the wheel profile for the train as the train travels from customer locations by changing the wheel profile to reflect the scheduled transfer of the rail cars at the respective customer locations, the amended wheel profile containing a predicted number of wheels on the train and a predicted list of rail car identities.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of verifying the transfer of rail cars at a customer location by counting the number of wheels on the train as the train passes a counting station positioned after the customer location to the predicted number of wheels on the train according to the amended wheel profile.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of re-identifying each of the rail cars in the train as the train passes another identification tag reading station, said station adapted to transmit the identity of the cars to the computer, and updating the wheel profile for the train to reflect the re-identified rail cars.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of identifying the train as the train passes subsequent counting stations positioned along the track by re-recounting the wheels on the train and matching the number of recounted train wheels to the predicted number of wheels on the train, each of said counting stations having a known location, and updating the rail car location by changing the updated location point in the computer to correspond to the location of the last counting station to count the wheels on the train.

5. A system for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train travelling on a fixed track, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of counting stations positioned along the track, the counting stations each adapted to accurately count the wheels of the train as the train passes the station to create a wheel count for the train, the wheel count corresponding to the total number of wheels of the train counted by the counting station, each counting station having a known location;

b) the counting stations being adapted to transmit an information signal to a first computer operatively coupled to the counting stations when the train passes the stations, said information signal including the wheel count for the train and location information corresponding to the location of the counting station generating the wheel count;

c) the first computer adapted to store the wheel count and location information in a memory module;

d) the first computer adapted to identify the train when it passes each counting station by matching the number of wheels of the train counted by said counting station to the wheel count for the train;

e) the first computer adapted to generate a location point corresponding to the location of the last counting station to count the number of wheels on the train,

f) the first computer further adapted to create a rail car location corresponding to the location point;

g) the counting stations are further adapted to measure the speed and direction of the wheels on the train and the time the wheel count was taken, the counting stations being further adapted to transmit this information to the first computer;

h) each of the rail cars have identification tags identifying the rail car and further comprising at least one identification tag reading station positioned adjacent to the track and operatively coupled to the first computer, the identification tag reading station adapted to read the identification tags of the rail cars to identify each of the rail cars in the train in sequential order as the train passes the identification tag reading station, the identification tag reading station adapted to transmit the sequential identity of the cars to the first computer, the identification tag reading station positioned near a counting station, the first computer adapted to store the identity of each of the rail cars forming the train;

i) the first computer is further adapted to create a wheel profile for the train by combining the wheel count and the identities of the cars read from the identification tag reading station, the wheel profile listing the number of wheels on the train and the identification of each of the rail cars on the train;

j) wherein the first computer is further adapted to store a train schedule, the train schedule including a list of customer locations where the rail cars will be transferred and a list of the rail cars transferred at the respective customer locations, and wherein the first computer is further adapted to amend the wheel profile for the train as the train travels from a first customer location to a second customer location by changing the wheel profile to reflect the transfer of the rail cars, the amended wheel profile containing a predicted number of wheels on the train and a predicted identification list for the rail cars in the train.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first computer is further adapted to identify the train as the train passes subsequent counting stations positioned along the track by matching the number of wheels counted for the train by said counting stations to the predicted wheel count for the train, the first computer being further adapted to update the rail car locations when the train is identified by changing the updated location point to correspond to the location of the last counting station which read the wheels on the train.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first computer is further adapted to verify the transfer of rail cars at a customer location by comparing the number of wheels on the train counted when the train passed a wheel counting station positioned after the customer location to the predicted number of wheels on the train according to the amended wheel profile.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of identification tag reading stations positioned along the track, said stations adapted to transmit the identity of the cars in the train passing said stations to the first computer, and wherein the first computer is adapted to update the wheel profile for the train to reflect the re-identified rail cars.

9. A method for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

a) creating a wheel count and a location point for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station having a known location, the location point corresponding the location of the first wheel counting station;

b) recording the wheel count and location point in a computer,

c) identifying the train as the train passes subsequent wheel counting stations positioned along the track by recounting the wheels on the train and matching the number of recounted train wheels count, each of said wheel counting stations having a known location,

d) updating the location point in the computer when the train is identified to correspond to the location of the last wheel counting station to count the number of wheels on the train, and

e) creating a rail car location in the computer, the rail car location corresponding to the last updated location point for the train, wherein the first computer is further adapted to transmit the location point to a remove computer via the world wide web.

10. A system for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of counting stations positioned along the track, the counting stations each adapted to accurately count the wheels of the train as the train passes the station to create a wheel count for the train, the wheel count corresponding to the total number of wheels of the train counted by the counting station, each counting station having a known location;

b) the counting stations being adapted to transmit an information signal to a first computer operatively coupled to the counting stations when the train passes the stations, said information signal including the wheel count for the train and location information corresponding to the location of the counting station generating the wheel count;

c) the first computer adapted to store the wheel count and location information in a memory module;

d) the first computer adapted to identify the train when it passes each counting station by matching the number of wheels of the train counted by said counting station to the wheel count for the train;

e) the first computer adapted to generate a location point corresponding to the location of the last counting station to count the number of wheels on the train,

f) the first computer further adapted to create a rail car location corresponding to the location point,

g) the counting stations are further adapted to measure the speed and direction of the wheels on the train and the time the wheel count was taken, the counting stations being further adapted to transmit this information to the first computer,

h) each of the rail cars have identification tags identification tags identifying the rail car and further comprising at least one identification tag reading station positioned adjacent to the track and operatively coupled to the first computer, the identification tag reading station adapted to read the identification tags of the rail cars to identify each of the rail cars in the train in sequential order as the train passes the identification tag reading station, the identification tag reading station adapted to transmit the sequential identity of the cars to the first computer, the identification tag reading station positioned near a counting station, the first computer adapted to store the identity of each of the rail cars forming the train,

i) the first computer is further adapted to create a wheel profile for the train by combining the wheel count and the identities of the cars read from the identification tag reading station, the wheel profile listing the number of wheels on the train and the identification of each of the rail cars on the train,

j) the first computer is further adapted to store a train schedule, the train schedule including a list of computer locations where rail cars will be transferred and a list of the rail cars transferred at the respective customer locations, and wherein the first computer is further adapted to amend the wheel profile for the train as the train travels from a first customer location to a second customer location by changing the wheel profile to reflect the transfer of rail cars, the amended wheel profile containing a predicted number of wheels on the train and a predicted identification list for the rail cars in the train,

k) the first computer is further adapted to identify the train as the train passes subsequent counting stations positioned along the track by matching the number of wheels counted for the train by said counting stations to the predicted wheel count for the train, the first computer being further adapted to update the rail car locations when the train is identified by changing the updated location point to correspond to the location of the last counting station which read the wheels on the train,

l) the first computer is further adapted to verify the transfer for rail cars at a customer location by comparing the number of wheels on the train counted when the train passed a counting station positioned after the customer location to the predicted number of wheels on the trains according to the amended wheel profile,

m) wherein the first computer is further adapted to search for a specific rail car by corresponding rail car identify information and transmit the location point and estimated rail car location for said specific rail car to a remote computer via the world wide web.

11. A method for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

creating a first wheel count and location for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station having a known location;

recording a first wheel count in a computer;

identifying the train as the train passes a second wheel counting station positioned along the track;

counting the wheels on the train and matching the number of wheels to the first wheel count;

updating a location position in said computer corresponding to the second wheel counting station; and

recording a train schedule in said computer.

12. A method for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

creating a first wheel count and a location for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station having a known location;

recording a first wheel count in a computer;

identifying the train as the train passes a second wheel counting station positioned along the track;

counting the wheels on the train and matching the number of wheels to the first wheel count;

updating a location position in said computer corresponding to the second wheel counting station;

providing said rail cars with an identification tag for identifying the rail cars;

creating a wheel profile for said train; and

amending said wheel profile to reflect a transfer of a rail car at location.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising verifying said transfer of rail cars at said location following departure from said location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said transfer verification step further comprising counting a quantity of wheels on said train at said second wheel counting station.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising passing an identification tag reading station for identifying each of said cars subsequent to departing said location.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising updating said wheel profile and transmitting said profile and identification of said cars to said computer.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing said quantity of wheels to a predicted quantity of wheels.

18. A method for determining the real location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

creating a first wheel count and a location for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station having a known location;

recording a first wheel count in a computer;

identifying the train as the train passes a second wheel counting station positioned along the track;

counting the wheels on the train and matching the number of wheels to the first wheel count;

updating a location position in said computer corresponding to the second wheel counting station;

measuring and transmitting wheel profile data from said wheel counting stations to said computer; and

transmitting data from said computer to a remote computer via a global computer network.

19. A method for determining the real time location of wheeled rail cars linked together in a train traveling on a fixed track, the method comprising the following steps:

creating a first wheel count and a location for the train by counting the number of wheels on the train in sequential order as the train passes a first wheel counting station having a known location;

recording a first wheel count in a computer;

identifying the train as the train passes a second wheel counting station positioned along the track;

counting the wheels on the train and matching the number of wheels to the first wheel count;

updating a location position in said computer corresponding to the second wheel counting station;

measuring and transmitting wheel profile data from wheel counting stations to said computer; and

searching for said rail car location through use of said profile data.

20. A system for determining location of wheeled rail cars on a fixed track comprising:

a plurality of wheel counting stations positioned at specific locations along said track;

a computer adapted to receive a signal from said wheel counting stations, said signal provides said computer with a wheel count and station location;

a memory module within said first computer to store said wheel count and said station location; and

a data manager for compiling train identifying information, wherein said computer stores train schedule data.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said data manager is adapted to amend a wheel profile of said train as said train travels among customer locations and transfers rail cars.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said data manager transmits amended wheel profile data to said computer.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said computer transmits said train identifying information to a remote computer via a global computer network.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said remote computer is adapted to receive search queries for identifying rail car location.