Multi-function dragger
AssigneeProgress Rail Services Corporation
InventorMark Joseph BARTONEK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a dragger. The dragger may have a plurality of sensors configured to be located adjacent a railroad track. Each of the plurality of sensors may be oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The dragger may also have a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller may be configured to receive signals from the plurality of sensors, determine a parameter based on at least one of the received signals, and detect a fault condition when the parameter exceeds a threshold.
Claims20
A dragger, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors configured to be located adjacent a railroad track, each of the plurality of sensors being oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal plane;
- and
- a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors, the controller being configured to:
- receive signals from the plurality of sensors;
- determine a parameter based on at least one of the received signals;
- and
- detect a fault condition when the parameter exceeds a threshold.
A method of detecting a fault condition on a railroad track, comprising:
- generating a plurality of signals corresponding to impact forces acting in a plurality of directions;
- determining a parameter based on signals selected from the plurality of signals;
- and
- triggering an alarm indicating a specific fault condition based on the selected signals, when the parameter exceeds a threshold.
A dragging equipment detector system, comprising:
- a first sensor configured to be located adjacent a first rail of a railroad track, located outside the railroad track, and oriented at a first angle relative to a horizontal plane;
- a second sensor configured to be located adjacent the first rail, between the first rail and a second rail of the railroad track, and oriented at a second angle relative to the horizontal plane;
- a third sensor configured to be located adjacent the second rail, between the first rail and the second rail, and oriented at a third angle relative to the horizontal plane;
- a fourth sensor configured to be located adjacent the second rail, located outside the railroad track, and oriented at a fourth angle relative to the horizontal plane;
- an alarm configured to indicate a fault condition;
- a speed detector configured to generate signals indicative of a speed of a railroad car;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive signals from the first, second, third, and fourth sensors, and the speed detector;
- determine a parameter based on at least one of the received signals;
- trigger the alarm to indicate a dragging equipment fault, when the parameter based on signals from the second and third sensors exceeds a threshold;
- trigger the alarm to indicate derailment, when the parameter based on signals from the first and third, or the parameter based on signals from the second and fourth sensors exceeds the threshold;
- and
- trigger the alarm to indicate a flat wheel, when the parameter based on signals from the first and second sensors, or the parameter based on signals from third and fourth sensors exceeds the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.