Patents Assigned to BNSF Railway Company
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Patent number: 11932290Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving first Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data associated with a railroad environment, extracting an asset from the first LiDAR data associated with the railroad environment, and superimposing the asset into a spatial model. The method also includes receiving a field indication associated with a modification to the railroad environment and modifying the spatial model in response to receiving the field indication associated with the modification to the railroad environment. The method further includes receiving second LiDAR data associated with the railroad environment and comparing the second LiDAR data to the modified spatial model.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Philip Gerald Davis, Ross Aaron Springer, Devin Scott Wagner, Jacob Scott Ford
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Patent number: 11926351Abstract: A railroad wheel impact load detection test panel includes a secondary instrumentation rail proximate a field side of a primary or running rail of a section of railroad track, and elevated a prescribed distance so that the wheels of a rail car traverse the instrumentation rail within the test panel. The instrumentation rail includes an optical strain gauge to sense the wheel impact load. The sensed impact data is correlated with wheel damage signatures to identify wheels to be restored or replaced before failure occurs.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Hark Braren, Erik Karl Frohberg
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Patent number: 11926352Abstract: A railroad wheel impact load detection test panel includes a secondary instrumentation rail proximate a field side of a primary or running rail of a section of railroad track, and elevated a prescribed distance so that the wheels of a rail car traverse the instrumentation rail within the test panel. The instrumentation rail includes an optical strain gauge to sense the wheel impact load. The sensed impact data is correlated with wheel damage signatures to identify wheels to be restored or replaced before failure occurs.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2023Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Hark Braren, Erik Karl Frohberg
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Publication number: 20240075970Abstract: A system for modeling risk of rail buckling in railroad infrastructure is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to railroad tracks and/or railroad operations, and weight the data using specially-designed weighting factors that can be unique to each data type. The weighted data can be transformed via specialized algorithms to generate location scores reflective of a risk isolated to a particular area. The system can further utilize additional specialized algorithms to elucidate how such isolated risk can be extrapolated from one location to another. The system can implement a multilayer approach, formulating one or more layers of risk models and aggregating such models into an overarching risk model that can more-accurately forecast risk of rail buckling in a railroad track.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Christopher Neil Pickard, Kyle Keilty Williams, Michael L. Schram
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Publication number: 20240070598Abstract: Methods and systems for providing automated asset management are provided. In embodiments, an asset data collector is configured to automatically collect asset data associated with assets in an intermodal facility according to a mission plan. An automated data collection configurator is configured to configure the mission plan based on one or more parameters and to instantiate the asset data collector to initiate collection of the asset data according to the mission plan. An automated asset data analyzer is configured to identify data in which one or more assets appear, to identify the one or more assets detected in the set of data, to inspect, based on the set of data in which the one or more assets are detected, the one or more assets to determine a condition of the one or more assets, and to output the condition of the one or more assets.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Nicholas Dryer, Zachery Bettis, Bryan Gabric, Michael Ibanez, Yasha Hajizeinalibiouki
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Publication number: 20240071080Abstract: Methods and systems for providing mechanisms for automated inventory control are provided. In embodiments, an operational workflow for providing automated inventory control includes automated data collection and automated image data analysis. The automated data collection includes capturing image data for a storage facility by a capturing device (e.g., an unmanned aerial system (UAS)). The automated image data analysis includes functionality to detect objects (e.g., containers, trailers, empty slots, and/or other objects) appearing in the image data (e.g., using a machine learning (ML) model), to identify the objects in the image data (e.g., using the ML model), to inspect the objects (e.g., including determining a condition and/or location of the objects) based on the collected image data and metadata associated with the image capturing device and correlated to the image data (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Nicholas Dryer, Zachery Bettis, Bryan Gabric, Michael Ibanez, Yasha Hajizeinalibiouki
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Patent number: 11914619Abstract: A system and method for managing data lifecycles that can provide an adaptable data management system configured to optimize the lifecycles of data and the reliability of databases. The system can provide data management systems with the ability to attach, detach, and drop segments of data based on key partitions of the data objects to optimize database utilization. By including the key partitions to the data objects, the database including the data objects can now perform data management operations based on the key partitions. The system, based on the key partitions, can identify a location of the data object to attach row entries, detach row entries from the existing tables, and delete the detached row entries from the database altogether. The system can operate on any relational database management system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventor: Robert McKinley Collins, Jr.
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Patent number: 11914618Abstract: A system and method for managing data lifecycles that can provide an adaptable data management system configured to optimize the lifecycles of data and the reliability of databases. The system can provide data management systems with the ability to attach, detach, and drop segments of data based on key partitions of the data objects to optimize database utilization. By including the key partitions to the data objects, the database including the data objects can now perform data management operations based on the key partitions. The system, based on the key partitions, can identify a location of the data object to attach row entries, detach row entries from the existing tables, and delete the detached row entries from the database altogether. The system can operate on any relational database management system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventor: Robert McKinley Collins, Jr.
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Patent number: 11915404Abstract: An on-board thermal track misalignment detection system method therefor is presented. The system can use on-board locomotive sensors attached to an end-of-train device to detect (on the edge), signs and symptoms of thermal misalignments of the track. Once detected an alert can be transmitted to prevent potential derailments. The system can also include a forward-facing and rearward-facing imaging sensors (e.g., camera, LiDAR sensor, etc). The system can wirelessly communicate (e.g., via radio) with a leading locomotive to ensure proper air pressure and location. The system can be powered by an on-board battery and/or air pressure device. Advantageously, the system can calculate whether any rail deviation is significant (e.g., via one or more threshold values). The system can also leverage image processing functionality, executed by one or more processors) to find the centerline and the distance between the tracks.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Asim Ghanchi, Nicholas Dryer, Coleman Barkley, Michael Saied Saniei
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Publication number: 20240061007Abstract: In one embodiment, a probe includes a first facet associated with a first pressure port operable to measure a first wind pressure, a second facet associated with a second pressure port operable to measure a second wind pressure, and a third facet associated with a third pressure port operable to measure a third wind pressure. The second facet is adjacent to the first facet and the third facet adjacent to the second facet. The probe further includes a fourth facet adjacent to the third facet and a fifth facet adjacent to the fourth facet and to the first facet. The first facet, the second facet, the third facet, the fourth facet, and the fifth facet are located between a first end portion and a second end portion of the probe.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicants: BNSF Railway Company, AIRFLOW SCIENCES CORPORATIONInventors: Brian J. Dumont, James Paul, Matthew Fleming, Paul Harris, Corey D. Wills, Corey T. Pasta, Paul K. Gabler, Dennis W. Morgart
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Patent number: 11907262Abstract: A system and method for managing data lifecycles that can provide an adaptable data management system configured to optimize the lifecycles of data and the reliability of databases. The system can provide data management systems with the ability to attach, detach, and drop segments of data based on key partitions of the data objects to optimize database utilization. By including the key partitions to the data objects, the database including the data objects can now perform data management operations based on the key partitions. The system, based on the key partitions, can identify a location of the data object to attach row entries, detach row entries from the existing tables, and delete the detached row entries from the database altogether. The system can operate on any relational database management system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventor: Robert McKinley Collins, Jr.
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Patent number: 11908165Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a camera of an image capturing module, a first image of a target. The image capturing module and a drum are attached to a fixture and the target is attached to the drum. The method also includes determining a number of lateral pixels in a lateral pitch distance of the image of the target, determining a lateral object pixel size based on the number of lateral pixels, and determining a drum encoder rate based on the lateral object pixel size. The drum encoder rate is programmed into a drum encoder. The method further includes capturing, by the camera, a second image of the target while the target is rotated about an axis of the drum, determining a number of longitudinal pixels in a longitudinal pitch distance of the second image, and comparing the number of lateral pixels to the number of longitudinal pixels.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Darrell R. Krueger, Garrett Smitley
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Patent number: 11904914Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Dennis William Morgart, Joshua John McBain, Corey Tremain Pasta, Aaron Thomas Ratledge
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Patent number: 11906343Abstract: A rail vehicle includes a truck having wheels for engaging a railroad track, a bolster supported by the truck, and a tank supported by the bolster for storing a lading. A measurement system measures the level of the lading within the tank and includes gauges and a controller. The gauges are disposed at selected points on the bolster for sensing at least one of lateral and longitudinal localized displacement experienced by the bolster during motion of the rail vehicle. The controller calculates the level of the lading within the tank and compensates for changes in the level of the lading during motion of the rail vehicle in response to signals generated by the gauges.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Darrell Robert Krueger, Corey D. Wills
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Publication number: 20240053395Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining the integrity of an engine harness are provided. In embodiments, an engine harness tester may include a power source providing an input voltage, a voltage regulator configured to convert an input voltage to an operating voltage, which may be applied to individual circuits that include segments of the engine harness routed through corresponding injectors, and a display for displaying the condition of each segment of the engine harness. In embodiments, the condition of a respective segment may include the condition of the electrical continuity of the individual circuit including the respective individual segment. The display of the engine harness tester may include a plurality of status indicators, each status indicator configured to display the condition of a respective individual segment of the engine harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Dustin Roduner, Roger L. Jackson, III
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Patent number: 11897527Abstract: A system and method for automating workflow and performing root cause analysis for enforcement events is presented. The system can enable accurate detection of an enforcement event and identifies the root cause of such events. The system can provide a user with an interface to monitor the enforcement event by collecting a list of data characterizing the enforcement event, as well as analyze the data to evaluate what is the root cause of the enforcement event. The system can extract critical information from train system logs of the train using an extraction model to generate a window of activity providing an analysis model with a comprehensive scope to analyze the enforcement event. The system can give the user robust and accurate information of the root cause of the enforcement event.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Scott Alan Neal, Jr., Siju Pallimolel Kuriakose
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Patent number: 11897525Abstract: A system for enhancing personnel safety on a railroad track is presented. The system can receive data from sensors and/or a PTC system to determine positions of clients/worker and/or vehicles, and further utilize such data to determine if a vehicle is within a certain proximity of the client/worker location. The system can further generate geofences around clients/vehicles to and determine when such geofences intersect one another. Additionally, the present disclosure can assign severity levels and generate alerts with the assigned severity levels, and such severity levels can indicate how close a vehicle is to a particular location. It is an object of the invention to provide a system for generating alerts to notify personnel when they much retreat to a place of safety.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Eric Peter Olsen, Shanmugasundaram Rajasubramanian, Nithin Paul Mathew, Marutha Pandian Jagadesan, Michael Howard, David Himmelstein, Aamir Ahmad Halim, Wayne Morgan, Amit Kumar Dash, Jacob Bunkley, Dickson Waudo, William Stewart, Raven Wylie
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Publication number: 20240042865Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by an auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power input sources from a plurality of power input sources. The method also includes determining, by the auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power consuming devices from a plurality of power consuming devices. The method further includes managing, by the auxiliary power controller, transfer of auxiliary power from the first selection of the one or more power input sources to the first selection of the one or more power consuming devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Michael Cleveland, James Taylor
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Patent number: 11895752Abstract: A smart lamp system and method for monitoring a status of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The system can provide LED status monitoring using a logic controller communicating with at least one strip of LEDs. The system can utilize the logic controller to assign a unique identifier (ID) to the at least one strip of LEDs based on a physical position of a plurality of dual-inline package (DIP) switches incorporated within a smart lamp housing. The system can provide a hardware architecture to interface the logic controller with a power-line communication (PLC) transceiver. The system can establish a communication protocol between the PLC transceiver and a PLC receiver to efficiently communicate the statuses of the LEDs. The logic controller can generate a payload including a binary representation of the unique ID of the smart lamp and the statuses of the LEDs and transmit the payload to the PLC transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventor: Ross Martin Sterling
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Publication number: 20240034155Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by an auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power input sources from a plurality of power input sources. The method also includes determining, by the auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power consuming devices from a plurality of power consuming devices. The method further includes managing, by the auxiliary power controller, transfer of auxiliary power from the first selection of the one or more power input sources to the first selection of the one or more power consuming devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Michael Cleveland, James Taylor