Automatic Time Recording Patents (Class 246/123)
  • Patent number: 8924050
    Abstract: In a railway signalling system which transmits a control order to an on-board signalling system by a trackside signalling system, the on-board signalling system being mounted on a train running on a line and the control order being compliant with a signalling system of the line, the present invention allows the train to run through into lines with different signalling systems using a single on-board signalling system. When the train enters a line with a different signalling system from a current line, the on-board signalling system installs a train control application program compliant with the signalling system of the entering line. Then, the on-board signalling system executes the train control application program, allowing the train to be controlled on the entering line according to a control order created by the trackside signalling system of the entering line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Katsuta, Yoichi Sugita, Keiji Maekawa, Naoki Shibata, Kenji Imamoto, Motonari Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140277859
    Abstract: Systems and methods that can be used in a Positive Train Control system to continuously monitor train integrity and end of train location using radio frequency (RF) ranging techniques to determine the line of sight distance between the head end and the end of the train. The systems and methods allow PTC controlled trains to maintain positive length of train awareness and to determine if a portion of the train separates unintentionally. The systems and methods can be implemented on existing RF infrastructure used on trains, without impacting existing messaging traffic, adding bandwidth or power requirements. The systems and methods work on stretched trains running on tangent or straight track, as well as on foreshortened trains running on curved track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Charles W. MORRIS
  • Patent number: 7805227
    Abstract: A method for tracking assets within a rail yard, the method comprising: creating a track layout database for the rail yard, the track layout database providing a map of rail tracks and switches within the rail yard, wherein the track layout database includes machine readable data identifying discrete locations of the rail tracks and switches of the rail yard, each discrete location corresponding to a geographical position of a portion of a rail track or switch; associating rail yard processing steps with portions of the track layout database; receiving a geographical position signal corresponding to an asset within the rail yard; comparing the geographical position signal to the machine readable data of the track layout database in order to identify the location of the asset within the map; and presenting a graphical representation of the location of the asset on the map along with the yard process steps associated with the track section occupied by the asset, wherein the geographical position signal is recei
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Brakeley Welles, Rahul Bhotika, David Michael Davenport, John Erik Hershey, Robert James Mitchell, Emad Andarawis Andarawis