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US 9,168,937 B2Granted
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 a first set of signals from the plurality of sensors;
- select a plurality of signals from the first set of signals based on a predetermined fault condition to form a second set of signals, the second set of signals corresponding to a combination of sensors from the plurality of sensors;
- determine a parameter based on characteristics of a combined signal obtained from the second set of signals;
- detect a fault condition when the parameter exceeds a threshold;
- identify a type of the fault condition based on the combination of the sensors corresponding to the second set of signals;
- and trigger an alarm corresponding to the identified fault condition.
6 more elements
A method of detecting a fault condition on a railroad track, comprising:
- generating a first set of signals corresponding to impact forces acting in a plurality of directions using a plurality of sensors;
- selecting, using a processor, a plurality of signals from the first set of signals based on a predetermined fault condition to form a second set of signals, the second set of signals corresponding to a combination of sensors from the plurality of sensor;
- determining, using the processor, a parameter based on characteristics of a combined signal obtained from the second set of signals;
- identifying, using the processor, a type of fault condition based on the combination of the sensors corresponding to the second set of signals, when the parameter exceeds a threshold;
- and triggering, using the processor, an alarm corresponding to the identified fault condition.
2 more elements
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;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a first set of signals from the first, second, third, and fourth sensors, and the speed detector;
- select a plurality of signals from the first set of signals based on a predetermined fault condition to form a second set of signals, the second set of signals corresponding to a combination of sensors from the first, second, third, and fourth sensors;
- determine a parameter based on characteristics of a combined signal obtained from the second set of signals;
- detect a fault condition when the parameter exceeds a threshold;
- identify a type of the fault condition based on the combination of the sensors corresponding to the second set of signals;
- and trigger an alarm corresponding to the identified fault condition.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.