Method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles
First Claim
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1. A method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching tags to the automotive vehicles;
performing an automated railcar identification; and
generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the automotive vehicles; and
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.
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Abstract
A method is provided of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles. The method includes the steps of attaching tags to the automotive vehicles and performing an automated railcar identification. The method also includes the step of generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the automotive vehicles. The method includes the step of locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup. The method further includes the step of shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching tags to the automotive vehicles;
performing an automated railcar identification; and
generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the automotive vehicles; and
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching tags to the automotive vehicles;
performing an automated railcar identification;
generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the automotive vehicles;
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup;
removing the attached tags from the automotive vehicles; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.
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11. A computerized method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching radio frequency (RF) tags to the automotive vehicles;
performing automated automotive vehicle identification;
performing an automated railcar identification;
generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the identified automotive vehicles;
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computerized method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching tags to the automotive vehicles;
performing automated automotive vehicle identification;
performing an automated railcar identification;
generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the identified automotive vehicles;
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup;
removing the attached tags from the automotive vehicles; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.
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19. A method of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching radio frequency (RF) tags to the automotive vehicles;
moving the tagged automotive vehicles to a vehicle release point adjacent to a rail yard;
moving the tagged automotive vehicles from the vehicle release point into load lanes in the rail yard;
performing automated automotive vehicle identification;
performing an automated railcar identification;
generating an automated load makeup comprising a track spot, railcar number, number of vehicles to be loaded on railcar, and destination route code based on the identified railcar and the identified automotive vehicles;
locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup;
removing the attached tags from the automotive vehicles; and
shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.
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Specification