Positive train control apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
- an elongated member attached at a first end to a first rail of a track way and having a second end;
a probe near the second end of said elongated member at a predetermined distance from the first end thereof;
a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way, the second end of said elongated member extending into said sensor device,said sensor device including a position sensor for sensing the position of said probe, said position sensor including;
a surface having a pattern thereon wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to said sensor device;
wherein said probe near the second end of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of said elongated member relative to said sensor device;
whereby said probe of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the first rail relative to the second rail.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A train control unit may comprise a probe attached to a first rail of a track way, and a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way configured to determine the position of the probe, whereby the position of the first rail relative to the second rail may be determined. The train control unit is preferably independent of equipment controlling the position of the first and second rails. Some embodiments of the train control unit may be employed as a track monitor, a switch monitor and/or a wayside monitor.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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an elongated member attached at a first end to a first rail of a track way and having a second end; a probe near the second end of said elongated member at a predetermined distance from the first end thereof; a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way, the second end of said elongated member extending into said sensor device, said sensor device including a position sensor for sensing the position of said probe, said position sensor including; a surface having a pattern thereon wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to said sensor device; wherein said probe near the second end of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of said elongated member relative to said sensor device; whereby said probe of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the first rail relative to the second rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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an elongated member attached at a first end to one of a stock rail and a switch rail of a switch and having a second end; a probe near the second end of said elongated member at a predetermined distance from the first end thereof; a sensor device attached to the other of the stock rail and the switch rail of the switch, the second end of said elongated member extending into said sensor device, said sensor device including a position sensor for sensing the position of said probe, said position sensor including; a surface having a pattern thereon wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to said sensor device; wherein said probe near the second end of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of said elongated member relative to said sensor device; whereby said probe of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the stock rail relative to the switch rail of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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an elongated member attached at a first end to a first rail of a track way and having a second end; a probe near the second end of said elongated member at a predetermined distance from the first end thereof; a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way, the second end of said elongated member extending into said sensor device, wherein said first rail and said second rail include a pair of substantially parallel stock rails; said sensor device including a position sensor for sensing the position of said probe, said position sensor including; a surface having a pattern thereon wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to said sensor device; wherein said probe near the second end of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of said elongated member relative to said sensor device; whereby said probe of said elongated member and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the first stock rail relative to the second stock rail. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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a sensor device for a switching system having switch rails and stock rails, said sensor device configured to provide a positive indication of the position of the switch rails relative to the stock rails independently of the switching system, said sensor device including a one or more position sensors and probes configured to determine switch closure by the switch rails being in intimate contact with one or the other of the stock rails by direct contact measurement; and a communication device coupled to said sensor device and configured to communicate the positive indication of the position and closure of the switch rails to the one or the other stock rails to a remote receiver, wherein the remote receiver is at a remote monitoring center and/or on a train, whereby the closure of the switch rails to the stock rails, or the lack thereof, can be communicated to a receiver at a monitoring center and/or to a receiver on a train within range. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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a sensor device for a switching system having switch rails and stock rails, said sensor device configured to provide a positive indication of the position of the switch rails relative to the stock rails independently of the switching system, said sensor device including a one or more position sensors and probes configured to determine switch closure by the switch rails being in intimate contact with one or the other of the stock rails by direct contact measurement; and a communication device coupled to said sensor device and configured to communicate the positive indication of the position and closure of the switch rails to the one or the other stock rails to a remote receiver, whereby the closure of the switch rails to the stock rails, or the lack thereof, can be communicated to a receiver at a monitoring center and/or to a receiver on a train within range, and wherein said one or more position sensors each comprise; a surface having a pattern thereon associated with the stock rail, wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to the stock rail; said probe associated with the switch rail configured to be near the surface pattern of said position sensor to cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of the switch rail relative to the stock rail; whereby said probe and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the switch rail relative to the stock rail. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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a sensor device for a switching system having first and second switch rails and first and second stock rails, said sensor device configured to provide a positive indication of the position of the switch rails relative to the stock rails independently of the switching system, said sensor device including first and second position sensors and probes configured to determine switch closure by the first and second switch rails being in intimate contact with the first and second stock rails by direct contact measurement; and a communication device coupled to said sensor device and configured to communicate the positive indication of the position and closure of the switch rails to the one or the other stock rails to a remote receiver, wherein the remote receiver is at a remote monitoring center and/or on a train, whereby the closure of the switch rails to the stock rails, or the lack thereof, can be communicated to a receiver at a monitoring center and/or to a receiver on a train within range. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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a sensor device for a switching system having first and second switch rails and first and second stock rails, said sensor device configured to provide a positive indication of the position of the switch rails relative to the stock rails independently of the switching system, said sensor device including first and second position sensors and probes configured to determine switch closure by the first and second switch rails being in intimate contact with the first and second stock rails by direct contact measurement; and a communication device coupled to said sensor device and configured to communicate the positive indication of the position and closure of the switch rails to the one or the other stock rails to a remote receiver, whereby the closure of the switch rails to the stock rails, or the lack thereof, can be communicated to a receiver at a monitoring center and/or to a receiver on a train within range, and wherein each of said first and second position sensors comprises; a surface having a pattern thereon associated with the stock rail, wherein the surface pattern defines positions in one dimension or in two dimensions relative to the stock rail; said probe associated with the switch rail configured to be near the surface pattern of said position sensor to cooperate to determine the position of said probe relative to the surface pattern, and thereby to determine the position of the switch rail relative to the stock rail; whereby said probe and the surface pattern of said position sensor cooperate to define the position of the switch rail relative to the stock rail. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification