Patents by Inventor Aric Albert Weingartner
Aric Albert Weingartner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11124210Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Aric Albert Weingartner, Aaron Richard Mitti
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Publication number: 20190193761Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Aric Albert Weingartner, Aaron Richard Mitti
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Patent number: 10252735Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLCInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Patent number: 9751545Abstract: A system includes a communication module and an analysis module. The communication module is configured to be operably connectable to a wayside unit of a transportation network and to transmit a simulation message to the wayside unit. The simulation message simulates at least one of a request or command from at least one transportation network element corresponding to a wayside action to be performed by the wayside unit. The simulation message is configured to elicit a wayside message from the wayside unit upon receipt of the simulation message. The analysis module is configured to obtain the wayside message and to provide a display corresponding to the wayside message.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Michael Steffen, II, Jeffrey Fries, Aric Albert Weingartner, Jesse Herlocker
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Publication number: 20170050653Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Patent number: 9522685Abstract: Methods and systems relate to establishing a communication link with a wayside device, determining whether or not to at least one of update or configure the wayside device in dependence upon at least one update parameter, and when it is determined to update or configure the wayside device, updating or configuring the wayside device from a remote location.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Aric Albert Weingartner
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Patent number: 9481385Abstract: A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20160107663Abstract: Methods and systems relate to establishing a communication link with a wayside device, determining whether or not to at least one of update or configure the wayside device in dependence upon at least one update parameter, and when it is determined to update or configure the wayside device, updating or configuring the wayside device from a remote location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jared Klineman COOPER, Aric Albert WEINGARTNER
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Patent number: 9126609Abstract: A system includes a timing determination module configured to be disposed onboard an approaching vehicle system during travel of the approaching vehicle system along a first route toward a crossing between the first route and a second route. The timing determination module is configured to determine one or more arrival times of the approaching vehicle system to reach the crossing and to repeatedly communicate notification messages having the one or more arrival times to a remote crossing system that is configured to activate one or more warning devices disposed at or near the crossing to notify other vehicles on the second route that the approaching vehicle system is approaching the crossing along the first route. The timing determination module is configured to determine the one or more arrival times at different respective locations along the first route as the approaching vehicle system travels toward the crossing.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Steffen, II, Jeffrey Michael Fries, Aric Albert Weingartner, William Shields, Sherri Boyd
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Publication number: 20150192636Abstract: A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20150158511Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a points machine obtains operating characteristics of the points machine that are representative of operations of the points machine during a movement event of rails at a switch. A waveform of the operating characteristics is examined to at least one of identify or predict a problem with the operations of the points machine. The waveform is examined by comparing the operating characteristics during the first movement event with at least one of: the operating characteristics obtained during a previous movement event; an expected value of the operating characteristics; or an expected duration of a moving time period during which the first rail is expected to move from or to an unlocked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20150158510Abstract: A wayside monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Patent number: 9026360Abstract: A system includes a determination module and a communication module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard a first vehicle configured to travel along a first route including a crossing corresponding to an intersection of the first route with a second route. The determination module is configured to be communicatively coupled with a remote crossing module. The determination module is configured to determine, based on a speed of the first vehicle, timing information corresponding to a time at which the first vehicle will travel proximate to the crossing on the first route. The communication module is configured to transmit the timing information to the remote crossing module. The timing information includes a reference time configured as an absolute time corresponding to a time for impeding travel of a second vehicle along the second route through the crossing.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Jeffrey Baker, Aric Albert Weingartner, Michael Steffen, II, Jesse Lee Herlocker, William Shields
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Publication number: 20140367526Abstract: A system includes a timing determination module configured to be disposed onboard an approaching vehicle system during travel of the approaching vehicle system along a first route toward a crossing between the first route and a second route. The timing determination module is configured to determine one or more arrival times of the approaching vehicle system to reach the crossing and to repeatedly communicate notification messages having the one or more arrival times to a remote crossing system that is configured to activate one or more warning devices disposed at or near the crossing to notify other vehicles on the second route that the approaching vehicle system is approaching the crossing along the first route. The timing determination module is configured to determine the one or more arrival times at different respective locations along the first route as the approaching vehicle system travels toward the crossing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael STEFFEN, II, Jeffrey Michael FRIES, Aric Albert WEINGARTNER, William SHIELDS, Sherri BOYD
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Publication number: 20140361125Abstract: A system includes a determination module and a communication module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard a first vehicle configured to travel along a first route including a crossing corresponding to an intersection of the first route with a second route. The determination module is configured to be communicatively coupled with a remote crossing module. The determination module is configured to determine, based on a speed of the first vehicle, timing information corresponding to a time at which the first vehicle will travel proximate to the crossing on the first route. The communication module is configured to transmit the timing information to the remote crossing module. The timing information includes a reference time configured as an absolute time corresponding to a time for impeding travel of a second vehicle along the second route through the crossing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Jeffrey Baker, Aric Albert Weingartner, Michael Steffen, II, Jesse Lee Herlocker, William Shields
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Publication number: 20140365160Abstract: A system includes a communication module and an analysis module. The communication module is configured to be operably connectable to a wayside unit of a transportation network and to transmit a simulation message to the wayside unit. The simulation message simulates at least one of a request or command from at least one transportation network element corresponding to a wayside action to be performed by the wayside unit. The simulation message is configured to elicit a wayside message from the wayside unit upon receipt of the simulation message. The analysis module is configured to obtain the wayside message and to provide a display corresponding to the wayside message.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael STEFFEN, II, Jeffrey FRIES, Aric Albert WEINGARTNER, Jesse HERLOCKER
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Publication number: 20090079560Abstract: Remote monitoring and diagnosis of railroad devices using data structures defined for each of the railroad devices. The railroad devices are configured to populate the data structures with status data. The railroad devices transmit the status data for analysis using a network protocol. The analysis of the data results in reduced maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Aric Albert Weingartner, Derald J. Henrickx