Logistics system and method with position control

• US 6,704,626 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herzog Contracting
• Original Assignee: Herzog Contracting
• Inventors: Bounds, Ivan E., Herzog, Stanley M., Poggemiller, Randy L., Schmitz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROADHEAD, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/285,290
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 701/215, 701/19, 701/50, 246/127
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 27/02 Placing the ballast; Making ballastway; Redistributing ballasting material; Machines or devices therefor; Levelling means

Abstract

A logistics system and method are mounted on a vehicle and utilize vehicle position control for logistics operations, such as loading and unloading material to and from the vehicle. The position control can be GPS-based and/or based on linear movement of the vehicle, such as movement of a railcar along a rail track. A computer-based position control subsystem mounted on the vehicle is connected to and operates vehicle-mounted components for performing the logistics functions.

Claims

1. A logistics system to control application of ballast along a selected section of railroad and comprising:

a) a railroad car including a ballast hopper and a pair of hopper doors engaged with said hopper and operable to open and close to thereby control discharge of ballast from said hopper;

b) a pair of hydraulic door actuators engaged respectively with said hopper doors and controllable to open and close said hopper doors;

c) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver engaged with said car and operative to generate a location signal representing a location of said car, said GPS reciever being adapted to receive GPS coordinate signals from both a GPS satellite constellation and from a differential GPS;

d) said railroad car including a wheel and travel distance measuring means including a wheel encoder with said wheel for counting revolutions and partial revolutions thereof, a travel distance converter receiving input from said encoder, and a travel distance computer connected to and adapted for receiving input from said travel distance converter;

e) a position control subsystem coupled to said GPS receiver, said encoder, and said hopper door actuators, said position control subsystem storing data representing a location of said selected section of said railroad along which application of ballast is desired; and

f) said GPS receiver communicating information relating to the railroad car position to the position control system, said travel distance computer interfacing with said position control system whereby GPS position information and linear-movement travel distance information therefrom respectively are utilized to cause said position control subsystem to activate said hopper door actuators to open said hopper doors at the beginning of said selected section of said railroad and to retain same along said selected section with said railroad car in motion and only for such a duration in which said GPS receiver detects a location of said car corresponding to said selected section of said railroad.

2. A logistics system to control application of ballast along a selected section of railroad and comprising:

a railroad car including a ballast hopper and a pair of hopper doors engaged with said hopper and operable to open and close to thereby control discharge of ballast from said hopper;

b) a pair of hydraulic hopper door actuators engaged respectively with said hopper doors and controllable to open and close said hopper doors;

c) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver engaged with said car and operative to generate a location signal representing a location of said car, said GPS receiver being adapted to receive GPS coordinate signals from both a GPS satellite constellation and from a differential GPS;

d) said railroad car including a wheel and travel distance measuring means including a wheel encoder engaged with said wheel for counting revolutions and partial revolutions thereof, a travel distance converter receiving input from said encoder, a rough position marker fixedly mounted at a predetermined location along the railroad, a rough position detector mounted on the railroad car and adapted for generating a signal in response to proximity of said railroad car to said rough position marker, and a travel distance computer connected to and adapted for receiving input from said travel distance converter and said rough position detector;

e) a position control subsystem coupled to said GPS receiver, said encoder, and said hopper door actuators, said position control subsystem storing data representing a location of said selected section of said railroad along which application of ballast is desired; and

f) said GPS receiver receiving input from said GPS satellite constellation and from said differential GPS, said GPS receiver communicating information relating to the railroad car position to the position control system, said travel distance computer interfacing with said position control system whereby GPS position information and linear-movement travel distance information thereform respectively are utilized to cause said position control subsystem to activate said hopper door actuators to open said hopper doors at the beginning of said selected section of said railroad and to retain same along said selected section with said railroad car in motion and only for such a duration in which said OPS receiver detects a location of said car corresponding to said selected section of said railroad.