Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for driving a vehicle from a remote control station achieving tele-operation of the vehicle. A television sensor mounted on the vehicle provides video image information which is reduced in bandwidth by a factor of approximately 1000:1 for transmission by narrow band RF data link to a remote control station. The large bandwidth reduction is accomplished by first sampling the video output of the sensor at a reduced frame rate and then compressing the data further by standard data compression techniques. Vehicle position and attitude data which may be derived from the vehicle's on board inertial reference unit are also transmitted via narrow band data link to the control station.

Abstract: A marker light using an array (2) of light emitting diodes (12) in combination with lenses (3) provides a light beam of required intensity, shape and color for railroad applications. The light emitting diodes are arranged in various configurations to form the array (2). The lenses may be Fresnel lenses. Control circuitry (C) energizes the light emitting diodes at predetermined or variable flashing rates. Sensing circuitry (222) senses the failure of light emitting diodes in the array and provides an indication of such failure.

Abstract: An improved attaching device is provided for securely mounting railroad signalling and monitoring equipment (10, 12) on the coupler (36) of a railroad car. A package including a supporting frame (22) to which the equipment is fastened by a draw pull (16) rests on the top surface of the coupler. The supporting frame includes a mounting bracket (32) having an integral rod (50) which extends through the flag hole in the coupler knuckle. The end of the rod projects beyond the bottom of the coupler so that it can be secured. In the second embodiment (FIGS. 8 and 9), the rod (111) has bifurcated extensions (116, 118) which serve to strengthen the supporting frame (80). This embodiment also includes shock absorbing elements (108, 110 and 122). In a third embodiment, a post (162) slidably carries a shaft or rod (188) that is retractable into a locking position with the coupler. A crank (176) is used to retract the shaft into a locking position.

Abstract: A heat saving device is provided for use in connection with the flue pipe of a stove, furnace, or similar heater. Instead of being exhausted directly into the atmosphere through the flue pipe, hot exhaust gases and other combustion products pass through a heat transfer chamber. An open-ended tube forms the inside wall of the chamber so that heat from the gases and other combustion products passing through the chamber is transferred to the useful air flowing through the tube. A removable shroud open at one end and baffled at the other partially surrounds the outer wall of the heat transfer chamber in spaced relationship to the outer wall, permitting flow of useful air through the space thus formed. The useful air flowing through this space is preheated by heat transferred through the outer wall and subsequently entrained by and mixed with air being blown through the inner tube by a fan.