Patents Assigned to Georgetown Rail Equipment Company
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Patent number: 10717451Abstract: A system to transport and unload bulk materials includes at least one rail car and a moving wall system. The moving wall system has a first end, a second end, and a trough. The trough is configured to contain a payload of the at least one rail car. The trough includes sidewalls that contact the payload when loaded and move with the payload to move the payload towards the second end. The trough may be formed of at least one conveyor belt that forms a hopper of the at least one rail car. The trough may span a plurality of rail cars. The system may include a take-up system connecting the sidewalls. Each of the rail cars may include a frame and a plurality of pulleys connected to the frame may support the trough.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: Charles W. Aaron, Joshua A. Graham
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Patent number: 10714227Abstract: A shutter for controlling radiation exposure includes a rotatable member. The rotatable member is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The rotatable member includes a passageway, wherein the passageway is positioned to receive radiation in the open position and is not positioned to receive radiation in the closed position. In the closed position, the rotatable member may substantially block or absorb the radiation. The passageway may collimate the radiation into a beam of radiation. The rotatable member may include a plurality of passageways positioned to receive radiation in the open position. The rotatable member may be rotatable between a plurality of open positions, each open position corresponding to at least one passageway. The open positions may align the source of radiation with different passageways in the rotatable member to form a different beam shape, a different number of beams, a different beam direction, or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignees: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INCORPORATEDInventors: Charles Wayne Aaron, Shuang Cui, Michael John Liesenfelt, Paul Daniel Ridgeway, James Edward Baciak, Jeb Everett Belcher
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Patent number: 10436725Abstract: A method of operating a radiation inspection system includes identifying a regulatory region along a predetermined path where public access is restricted based upon criteria other than radiation exposure, measuring a radiation exposure level from a radiation source of the radiation inspection system within the regulatory region, irradiating a target within the regulatory region using the radiation source and without erecting a physical barricade, and determining a restricted area around the radiation source. The restricted area corresponds to an area where a radiation exposure rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. The radiation exposure rate may be determined by the radiation exposure level from the radiation source and a speed of the radiation inspection system. The method may include operating the radiation inspection system to dynamically adjust the restricted area so that it does not extend beyond the regulatory region. The radiation inspection system may be moveable along the predetermined path.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignees: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, University of Florida Research Foundation, IncorporatedInventors: Jeb Everett Belcher, Jessica Emily Kelley
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Patent number: 10286929Abstract: A system to transport and unload bulk materials includes at least one rail car and a moving wall system. The moving wall system has a first end, a second end, and a trough. The trough is configured to contain a payload of the at least one rail car. The trough includes sidewalls that contact the payload when loaded and move with the payload to move the payload towards the second end. The trough may be formed of at least one conveyor belt that forms a hopper of the at least one rail car. The trough may span a plurality of rail cars. The system may include a take-up system connecting the sidewalls. Each of the rail cars may include a frame and a plurality of pulleys connected to the frame may support the trough.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: Charles W. Aaron, Joshua A. Graham
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Patent number: 10151716Abstract: An internal imaging system has a radiation source and a plurality of detectors positioned to receive portions of the plurality of collimated beams that have been attenuated by interaction with the target. The radiation source is configured to irradiate a target with a plurality of collimated beams of radiation. Two of the plurality of collimated beams of radiation may have different beam shapes. Another internal imaging system includes a radiation source configured to irradiate a target with at least one collimated beam of radiation and at least one detector. A planar rotating collimator is positioned adjacent to the radiation source and is configured to form the at least one collimated beam. The at least one detector is positioned to receive attenuated portions of the at least one collimated beam. The radiation source may be or include a neutron source. The detectors may be or include a plurality of neutron converters.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: Jeb E. Belcher, Gregory Thomas Grissom, James Edward Baciak, Kelly Alexander Jordan, Jyothier Nimmagadda, Shuang Cui, Michele Viola Manuel
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Patent number: 9868451Abstract: A self-unloading aggregate train including a plurality of hopper cars and an individual conveyor belt located beneath each hopper car. The head pulley at one end of each individual conveyor belt may rotate the belt in a direction from a tail pulley towards the head pulley. The head pulley of one hopper car is positioned above and adjacent of a tail pulley of the adjacent hopper car. This arrangement of hopper cars with individual conveyor belts may be used to unload material from the train. The individual conveyor belts may be adapted so that the trajectory of material transfer to an adjacent belt is near the pivot point between the adjacent hopper cars. The individual conveyor belts may have a substantially constant slope. The hopper of the hopper cars may also be configured with a substantially constant slope that matches the slope of the individual conveyor belts.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: Charles Wayne Aaron, Edwin deSteiguer Snead
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Publication number: 20170356861Abstract: A method of operating a radiation inspection system includes identifying a regulatory region along a predetermined path where public access is restricted based upon criteria other than radiation exposure, measuring a radiation exposure level from a radiation source of the radiation inspection system within the regulatory region, irradiating a target within the regulatory region using the radiation source and without erecting a physical barricade, and determining a restricted area around the radiation source. The restricted area corresponds to an area where a radiation exposure rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. The radiation exposure rate may be determined by the radiation exposure level from the radiation source and a speed of the radiation inspection system. The method may include operating the radiation inspection system to dynamically adjust the restricted area so that it does not extend beyond the regulatory region. The radiation inspection system may be moveable along the predetermined path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated, GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: JEB EVERETT BELCHER, JESSICA EMILY KELLEY
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Publication number: 20170352444Abstract: A shutter for controlling radiation exposure includes a rotatable member. The rotatable member is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The rotatable member includes a passageway, wherein the passageway is positioned to receive radiation in the open position and is not positioned to receive radiation in the closed position. In the closed position, the rotatable member may substantially block or absorb the radiation. The passageway may collimate the radiation into a beam of radiation. The rotatable member may include a plurality of passageways positioned to receive radiation in the open position. The rotatable member may be rotatable between a plurality of open positions, each open position corresponding to at least one passageway. The open positions may align the source of radiation with different passageways in the rotatable member to form a different beam shape, a different number of beams, a different beam direction, or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated, GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: Charles Wayne AARON, Shuang CUI, Michael John LIESENFELT, Paul Daniel RIDGEWAY, James Edward BACIAK, Jeb Everett BELCHER
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Patent number: 9441956Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventors: John J. Kainer, Charles W. Aaron, Gregory T. Grissom, Antonio R. Mauricio, Jeb E. Belcher, David M. Pagliuco, Wilson T. Wamani, John A. Nagel, II, Christopher M. Villar, Steven C. Orrel, Zechariah Bertilson
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Patent number: 9175998Abstract: A method, performed by a computer having a processor and system memory, for calibrating a tie height of a ballast profiling rail vehicle having a remote sensing system, includes traversing the rail vehicle along a first calibration section of railroad track at a calibration speed, detecting, using the remote sensing system, a plurality of height to tie measurements in the first calibration section, establishing a rolling median average of the height to tie measurements, and determining a calibration tie height relative to the rail vehicle based upon the rolling median average.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: H. Lynn Turner, Nathan Bachman, William C. Shell, Brian Van Voorst, David Rozacky, Carlos Martinez, Charles W. Aaron, John Shackleton, Joel Scott Howard, Jonathan Paul Schewe
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Patent number: 9031188Abstract: A system for the inspection of the internal structure of a target includes at least one x-ray source that emits collimated x-rays to irradiate the target. At least one detector is positioned to detect backscatter x-rays from the target. The detector may include a collimation slot that limits the field of view of the detector. The target may be a railway component and the system may inspect the internal structure of the component as it is moved along the railway by a vehicle. The system may detect a change in the density of a target based on a comparison of the detected backscatter x-rays. The use of a plurality of segmented backscatter x-ray detectors having a collimation slot may pixelate the internal image in the direction of the collimation slot.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: Jeb Belcher, Charles Wayne Aaron
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Patent number: 8958079Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: John J. Kainer, Charles W. Aaron, Gregory T. Grissom, Antonio R. Mauricio, Jeb E. Belcher, David M. Pagliuco, Wilson T. Wamani, John A. Nagel, II, Christopher M. Villar, Steven C. Orrel, Zechariah Bertilson
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Patent number: 8934007Abstract: A system for detecting stress in rails includes a railcar, having a rail temperature detector, and a rail imaging device oriented to produce images of rail joints and rail anchors. The imaging device and temperature detector are connected to a computer controller, which is programmed to provide an output signal indicative of estimated axial stress in the rail based upon rail temperature and the images of at least one of the rail joints and rail anchors.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventor: Edwin deSteiguer Snead
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Patent number: 8875635Abstract: A method for delivering ballast to a section of railroad track includes measuring an existing ballast profile of a section of railroad track using a remote sensing system, and providing a signal indicative thereof to a first computer. Using the first computer, the existing ballast profile is compared with an ideal ballast profile to compute a track file representing a volume of additional ballast needed as a function of linear position along the section of railroad track, and data representing the track file is transmitted to a second computer of an automatic ballast dump train. Ballast is dumped along the section of railroad track according to the track file under control of the second computer.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: H. Lynn Turner, William C. Shell, Brian Roger VanVoorst, David Rozacky, Carlos Martinez, Charles W. Aaron, John Joseph Shackleton, Jr., Joel Scott Howard
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Publication number: 20140271071Abstract: A self-unloading aggregate train including a plurality of hopper cars and an individual conveyor belt located beneath each hopper car. The head pulley at one end of each individual conveyor belt may rotate the belt in a direction from a tail pulley towards the head pulley. The head pulley of one hopper car is positioned above and adjacent of a tail pulley of the adjacent hopper car. This arrangement of hopper cars with individual conveyor belts may be used to unload material from the train. The individual conveyor belts may be adapted so that the trajectory of material transfer to an adjacent belt is near the pivot point between the adjacent hopper cars. The individual conveyor belts may have a substantially constant slope. The hopper of the hopper cars may also be configured with a substantially constant slope that matches the slope of the individual conveyor belts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: Charles Wayne Aaron, Edwin deSteiguer Snead
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Patent number: 8711222Abstract: A laser profiling calibration system includes a light emitting device, a light-reflecting target, and an optical receiver. The light emitting device is configured to project a light and define a light plane. The light-reflecting target is configured to be positioned at multiple positions within the light plane, and has a plurality of non-reflective regions. The optical receiver is oriented to receive light reflected from the target, and further configured to capture a plurality of images, comprising at least one image at each of the target's multiple positions. The system is configured to use the plurality of images to calibrate the optical receiver within the light plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: Charles W. Aaron, Jeb E. Belcher
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Publication number: 20130202090Abstract: A system for the inspection of the internal structure of a target includes at least one x-ray source that emits collimated x-rays to irradiate the target. At least one detector is positioned to detect backscatter x-rays from the target. The detector may include a collimation slot that limits the field of view of the detector. The target may be a railway component and the system may inspect the internal structure of the component as it is moved along the railway by a vehicle. The system may detect a change in the density of a target based on a comparison of the detected backscatter x-rays. The use of a plurality of segmented backscatter x-ray detectors having a collimation slot may pixelate the internal image in the direction of the collimation slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANYInventor: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANY
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Publication number: 20130191070Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventor: Georgetown Rail Equipment Company
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Patent number: 8405837Abstract: A system and method for daylight inspection of a surface, such as a railroad track, is disclosed. The disclosed system includes lasers, cameras, and a processor. The lasers are positioned adjacent the surface. The laser emits a beam of light across the surface at a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts of intensity per inch of width of the surface, and the camera captures images of the surface having the beam of light emitted thereon. The camera includes a bandpass filter which passes only a band of light corresponding to a dip in solar radiation. The laser is selected to provide an emitted light beam which is more intense than the solar radiation at the dip. The processor formats the images so that they can be analyzed to determine various measurable aspects of the surface. The system and method includes one or more algorithms for determining these measurable aspects of the surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventors: John Anthony Nagle, II, Christopher M. Villar, Steven C. Orrell, Charles Wayne Aaron
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Patent number: 8328171Abstract: A linkage clamping system that may be used both for moving a clamp laterally and for rotating the clamp. The device includes a linear actuator, a rotational linkage assembly, and a clamping member. The linear actuator may first rotate the clamp, then move the clamp laterally, or may be configured to move the clamp laterally first, then rotate it. Both the lateral and rotational movements are achieved in distinct motions with a single linear actuator. The clamp may be rotated about 180 degrees and the lateral movement may only be limited by the lateral movement provided by the linear actuator. The linkage clamping system may be used to secure equipment, such as a material handler for unloading an open top railroad car.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment CompanyInventor: Charles W. Aaron