Patents Assigned to Progress Rail Services Corporation
  • Patent number: 10392754
    Abstract: A low maintenance rail seat has recess in the concrete tie and an abrasion plate that covers the floor of the recess and its sides parallel to the rail base. The abrasion plate includes ribs which seat in additional recesses in the tie to retard longitudinal movement. The anti-abrasion assembly preferably has four flanges which wrap around the top of concrete tie to prevent dust particles from entering and abrading the concrete rail seat. These flanges also wrap around the support shoulder for additional resistance to longitudinal movement. The components are designed to provide 8.5? of lateral support along the side of the rail base while the traditional e clip fastener provides only 3? of lateral support. The interlock feature between the anti-abrasion assembly and the concrete tie also minimizes relative movement between abrasion plate and concrete tie, which results in less concrete surface abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Thai Nguyen, Jose Ricardo Mediavilla
  • Publication number: 20190148800
    Abstract: An end of train (EOT) system includes monitoring equipment with a sensor to monitor a pressure of air in a brake mechanism in a railcar, and a power supply having battery cells and a temperature control system for the battery cells. The temperature control system includes a heat sink in heat transference contact with the battery cells, and an electronically controlled heater for the battery cells. The temperature control system includes a temperature sensor, and a control device coupled with the temperature sensor and the electronically controlled heater to vary an output of the heater based on an output of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: George Toth
  • Publication number: 20190144020
    Abstract: A device attached to a railcar of a train is provided. The device comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to transmit and receive a RF signal. The device includes a RF modem configured to convert the received RF signal into a low frequency (LF) analog signal. The device includes a digital signal processor to process the LF signal. The digital signal processor includes a phase detector, a loop filter, and a digitally controlled oscillator. The phase detector compares the LF signal and a reference signal to generate an error signal. The phase detector also determines a state of the digital signal processor, the state being one of a lock state or an out of lock state. Further, the phase detector detects an event that the RF signal is lost and generate a loss signal. The loop filter filters the error signal and generates an error control signal. The digitally controlled oscillator generates the reference signal based on the error control signal, the state, and the loss signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Toth
  • Patent number: 10240299
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for coupling track rail to a substrate includes a fastener body formed by a metallic base and an overmolded non-metallic coating. Metallic pillars are coupled with the fastener body, and define bores for receiving anchors held fast within a substrate. The coating encases the metallic base and extends peripherally around the metallic pillars to position vibration-attenuating non-metallic material between the metallic base and the metallic pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler
  • Publication number: 20190063393
    Abstract: A warm-up system for an engine of a machine is provided. The machine has a primary alternator and an auxiliary alternator. The warm-up system includes at least one coolant heater configured to heat a coolant flowing through one or more coolant passages of the engine. The coolant heater is electrically powered by the auxiliary alternator of the machine when the engine runs at low load or idle conditions. The engine warm-up system further includes a thermostatic device operably coupled to the coolant heater and configured to control the operation of the coolant heater based on a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Smith, John F. Kral, Stephen Boucher
  • Publication number: 20180310485
    Abstract: An implement system for a machine. The implement system includes a boom, an implement, a roller assembly and a carriage. The boom has a telescopic structure and a first end. The implement is coupled to the first end of the boom. The roller assembly is configured to be coupled to the machine. The carriage is engaged with the roller assembly and is coupled to the boom. The carriage is configured to move linearly along a longitudinal axis of the machine between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Lynn West, Mark T. Plyler, Richard David Mills
  • Publication number: 20180291854
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a fuel injector includes a nozzle body and a needle tip positioned within the nozzle body. The needle check includes a terminal end surface positioned in spaced, facing relation to a sac surface of the nozzle body, to form a sac cavity. The terminal end surface and sac surface each have spherical shapes, and are centered about a longitudinal axis of the nozzle body. Structures of the terminal end surface and the sac surface are such that a clearance between them is nowhere less than along a line segment between centers of the terminal end surface and the sac surface, the sac cavity has a reduced volume, and wall thickness at the nozzle tip is sufficient for improved fracture resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Rolando Lopez, Randall Gunderson
  • Patent number: 10081915
    Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a track rail to a substrate includes a rail plate and a base plate, where the rail plate surrounds the base plate. An overmolded coating is formed of a non-metallic material and encases the rail plate and the base plate. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 10012546
    Abstract: A temperature detection system for railway applications is provided. The system may include at least one infrared (IR) sensing element configured to detect IR signals emitted by a rail or a railcar, and a controller in communication with the at least one IR sensing element. The controller may be configured to receive the IR signals from the at least one IR sensing element, extract IR data corresponding to at least one of a rail and an undercarriage of the railcar from the IR signals, and generate a characteristic thermal profile of at least one of an ambient temperature and a rail temperature based on the IR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Bartonek, Donald J. Arndt, Steven Conrad Hamerle
  • Patent number: 9991767
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for generating power for a machine. The method may include inverting a common power at a first location and outputting a first inverted power. The method may further include inverting the common power at a second location, outputting a second inverted power, and shifting an operational phase of the second inverted power so that the first inverted power and the second inverted power are in phase. The method may further include passing the first inverted power to a transformer, passing the second inverted power to the transformer, and transforming the first inverted power and the second inverted power to a transformed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Madan Mohan Jalla
  • Patent number: 9991696
    Abstract: A memory module is disclosed. The memory module may have an enclosure and a device disposed within the enclosure. The memory module may also have an orifice in a wall of the enclosure and a wire passing through the orifice. One end of the wire may be attached to the device. The memory module may further have a stopper attached to the wire. The stopper may be located abutting an outer surface of the enclosure. The memory module may also have a filler disposed within the enclosure. The filler may be configured to expand and be ejected out of the orifice when subjected to a threshold temperature. The filler may also be configured to push the stopper away from the outer surface and disconnect the wire from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Bartonek
  • Patent number: 9988768
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a guard bar restraint for restricting movement of a guard bar. The guard bar restraint includes a hook block coupled to the front face of the guard bar, a back plate configured to contact the back face of the guard bar, and at least one fastener configured to hold the hook block against the front face of the guard bar and to hold the back plate against the back face of the guard bar. The guard bar restraint is coupleable to the guard bar and configured to allow no more than a maximum predetermined amount of lateral movement by the guard bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Brian F. Weaver, Phillip R. Merrifield
  • Patent number: 9932054
    Abstract: A derailer for use in a railroad system, has an outside switch point that selectively overlays a running surface of a first mainline track and rises above the running surface of the first mainline track and an outside switch rail mechanically fastened to the outside switch point. The derailer also includes an inside switch rail including a second switch point that selectively lies adjacent a head of a second mainline track and terminates between the first and second mainline tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Weaver, Phillip Merrifield, Russell Hein
  • Patent number: 9908542
    Abstract: A event recorder system carried on-board a locomotive may include a controller configured to receive data from one or more of a train management system, a cab signaling system, an energy management system, an exhaust aftertreatment monitoring system, a braking system, a communications management system, and an operator fatigue or distraction monitoring system. The data may include one or more of video data, audio data, sensor output data, GPS map data, scanned image data of an operator in a cab of the locomotive, and operational data associated with operation of the locomotive during a trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Marc David Miller, Gregory Richard Bessler, Stephen Harold Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20180030661
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a guard bar restraint for restricting movement of a guard bar. The guard bar restraint includes a hook block coupled to the front face of the guard bar, a back plate configured to contact the back face of the guard bar, and at least one fastener configured to hold the hook block against the front face of the guard bar and to hold the back plate against the back face of the guard bar. The guard bar restraint is coupleable to the guard bar and configured to allow no more than a maximum predetermined amount of lateral movement by the guard bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: PROGRESS RAIL SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian F. WEAVER, Phillip R. MERRIFIELD
  • Publication number: 20180023257
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for coupling track rail to a substrate includes a fastener body formed by a metallic base and an overmolded non-metallic coating. Metallic pillars are coupled with the fastener body, and define bores for receiving anchors held fast within a substrate. The coating encases the metallic base and extends peripherally around the metallic pillars to position vibration-attenuating non-metallic material between the metallic base and the metallic pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler
  • Publication number: 20180023256
    Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a track rail to a substrate includes a rail plate and a base plate, where the rail plate surrounds the base plate. An overmolded coating is formed of a non-metallic material and encases the rail plate and the base plate. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 9868430
    Abstract: An expansion module is disclosed for use in a communication network. The expansion module may include a housing, an input interface connected to the housing and configured to externally connect with at least one analog device, and an output interface connected to the housing and configured to externally connect with the communication network. The expansion module may also include at least one processor located in the housing and configured to receive analog signals from the input interface, to convert the analog signals to digital signals, and to direct the digital signals to the output interface. The expansion module may also include at least one sensor located in the housing and configured to generate digital signals indicative of a performance parameter associated with a fluid in communication with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Humphrey, Marc David Miller, Todd Charles Goergen
  • Publication number: 20170297592
    Abstract: A event recorder system carried on-board a locomotive may include a controller configured to receive data from one or more of a train management system, a cab signaling system, an energy management system, an exhaust aftertreatment monitoring system, a braking system, a communications management system, and an operator fatigue or distraction monitoring system. The data may include one or more of video data, audio data, sensor output data, GPS map data, scanned image data of an operator in a cab of the locomotive, and operational data associated with operation of the locomotive during a trip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Marc David MILLER, Gregory Richard Bessler, Stephen Harold Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20170291619
    Abstract: A signal structure is disclosed. The signal structure may include a housing and a light head disposed within the housing. The light head may include at least one signal light mounted thereto. The signal structure may also include at least one actuator operatively coupled to the light head and configured to move the light head within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Donald King, Thomas Tougas