Rail vehicle identification and processing
First Claim
1. A method of processing rail vehicles, the method comprising:
- identifying each individual rail vehicle as it moves along a set of rails, the identifying including;
emitting and detecting a plurality of horizontally spaced electromagnetic beams across the set of rails, the plurality of electromagnetic beams having a height and angle that enable the detection of a gap between any two of a plurality of types of connected railroad cars without regard to a height of any component of any of the connected railroad cars with respect to the coupler assemblies of the connected railroad cars or a number of wheels of any of the connected railroad cars, wherein the horizontal spacing of the electromagnetic beams is less than a width of the gap; and
identifying each rail vehicle based on obstructions of the plurality of electromagnetic beams, an order in which the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed, and an amount of time the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed;
acquiring data for each identified rail vehicle as it moves along the set of rails; and
providing the acquired data for processing each identified rail vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solution for further automating the identification and processing of rail vehicles is provided. Each individual rail vehicle in a series of rail vehicles is identified and data is acquired for the rail vehicle. Identification of each rail vehicle can be implemented using a set of electromagnetic beams that are emitted and detected across a set of rails in such a manner as to enable the reliable identification of individual rail vehicles. Data acquisition for the rail vehicles can include evaluation of one or more parts of the rail vehicle, particularly the rail wheels, for the presence of one or more defects. Data on the part(s), such as rail wheels, can be reliably assigned to a corresponding rail vehicle by also accounting for changes in the direction of movement of the rail vehicle in locations such as a classification yard.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of processing rail vehicles, the method comprising:
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identifying each individual rail vehicle as it moves along a set of rails, the identifying including; emitting and detecting a plurality of horizontally spaced electromagnetic beams across the set of rails, the plurality of electromagnetic beams having a height and angle that enable the detection of a gap between any two of a plurality of types of connected railroad cars without regard to a height of any component of any of the connected railroad cars with respect to the coupler assemblies of the connected railroad cars or a number of wheels of any of the connected railroad cars, wherein the horizontal spacing of the electromagnetic beams is less than a width of the gap; and identifying each rail vehicle based on obstructions of the plurality of electromagnetic beams, an order in which the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed, and an amount of time the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed; acquiring data for each identified rail vehicle as it moves along the set of rails; and providing the acquired data for processing each identified rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for processing rail vehicles, the system comprising:
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a component for identifying each individual rail vehicle as it moves along a set of rails, wherein the component for identifying is configured to; emit and detect a plurality of horizontally spaced electromagnetic beams across the set of rails, the plurality of electromagnetic beams having a height and angle that enable the detection of a gap between any two of a plurality of types of connected railroad cars without regard to a height of any component of any of the connected railroad cars with respect to coupler assemblies of the connected railroad cars or a number of wheels of any of the connected railroad cars, wherein the horizontal spacing of the electromagnetic beams is less than a width of the gap; and identify each rail vehicle based on obstructions of the plurality of electromagnetic beams, an order in which the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed, and an amount of time the plurality of electromagnetic beams are obstructed; a component for acquiring data for each identified rail vehicle as it moves along the set of rails; and a component for providing the acquired data for processing each identified rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for processing a series of connected rail vehicles, the system comprising:
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a component for identifying each individual rail vehicle in the series of connected rail vehicles as it moves along a set of rails without regard to a height of any component of any of the connected railroad cars with respect to coupler assemblies of the connected railroad cars or a number of wheels of any of the connected railroad cars, wherein the component for identifying is located at an entrance of a classification yard; a component for acquiring data for each identified rail vehicle, wherein the component for acquiring is configured to; obtain a destination for each rail vehicle, wherein the destination is a distinct rail yard from the classification yard; detect a rail wheel while the rail vehicle is moving; determine a direction of the movement of the rail wheel; measure the rail wheel while the rail vehicle is moving; evaluate the rail wheel for at least one defect based on the measuring; and include evaluation data for the rail wheel in the data for the rail vehicle, wherein each individual rail vehicle is identified and the rail vehicle corresponding to the rail wheel is determined based on obstructions of a set of electromagnetic beams emitted across the set of rails and the direction of the movement of the rail wheel;
wherein the horizontal spacing of the electromagnetic beams is less than a width of a gap between the railroad cars; anda component for providing the acquired data for processing each identified rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification