Abstract: A removal tool configured for removing an insertable engine component from an engine assembly. In the removal tool may include a coupling device, a drive member, and a lifting member attached to a main shaft. The coupling device is mounted onto a retainer securing an engine component, and the lifting member is positioned against the underside of a flange of the engine component. A rotational force applied against the drive member is transferred to the coupling device and causes the retainer to be unscrewed. As the retainer is unscrewed, this causes a lifting force from the retainer pushing against the coupling device, which causes the lifting member to be pushed upward, and further causing the engine component to be pushed upward and away from the engine assembly. This facilitates removal of the engine component concurrently with the removal of the retainer (e.g., in a single operation).

Abstract: A method for switching railcars at a railroad yard includes accessing a list of selected railcars for an outgoing train. The method further includes generating a plurality of train consists that each comply with a set of train rules. The method further includes displaying indications of the generated train consists and their associated number of railyard switch moves on an electronic display. The method further includes receiving a user selection of a desired train consist from the plurality of displayed train consists. The method further includes generating a plurality of switch lists according to the desired train consist and a current inventory of railcars in the railyard. The switch lists include instructions about how to form the desired train consist in the railyard. The method further includes displaying the plurality of switch lists on the electronic display.

Abstract: A system for enhancing personnel safety on a railroad track is presented. The system can receive data from sensors and/or a PTC system to determine positions of clients/worker and/or vehicles, and further utilize such data to determine if a vehicle is within a certain proximity of the client/worker location. The system can further generate geofences around clients/vehicles to and determine when such geofences intersect one another. Additionally, the present disclosure can assign severity levels and generate alerts with the assigned severity levels, and such severity levels can indicate how close a vehicle is to a particular location. It is an object of the invention to provide a system for generating alerts to notify personnel when they much retreat to a place of safety.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image generated by a camera associated with a vehicle. The image includes a point of interest (POI) associated with a physical object. The method also includes determining a number of pixels from the POI of the image to an edge of the image. The edge of the image represents a location of the camera. The method further includes determining an offset distance from the POI to a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit associated with the vehicle using the number of pixels.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a virtual approach signal restriction upgrade between physical signaling components is presented. In one embodiment, in a CTC type of operation, the use of a virtual signal with signal type functionality to split a block into two or more sections can allow a train currently governed by an approach indication to accelerate on a clear indication if the advance signal indication upgrades. The addition of audio frequency type circuits with the advance signal indication can allow a train to upgrade from a restricting indication to an approach or clear indication, while protecting open HT switches, broken rail, hazards, and follow up moves. The present invention provides a system for allowing trains to upgrade from a “restricting” indication to an “approach” or “clear and accelerate” indication with an upgraded PTC track line for the segment.

Abstract: A crane-less locked axle cradle system configured to lift a rail vehicle wheel off a rail and transport the lifted wheel along a rail is presented. The present disclosure discloses a system that can lift the locked-axle wheel off the rail with no crane thereby allowing the train with a locked axle to be transported off the mainline in a shorter period of time. A cradle system can have two parts (male and female members with wedges and rail wheels) that can be mated with each other around a rail wheel. As the male and female members are pulled together, locked wheel engagers can couple with different portions of the locked-axle wheel, causing the locked-axle wheel to lift off the rail given the gradient of the wedge or rotation of the wheel. In another embodiment, the wheel lifting can be assisted by an air bag, hydraulic cylinder, jack, or other.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a machine vision system on the undercarriage of a rail vehicle while the rail vehicle is in the field is presented. The system enables operators to calibrate the machine vision system without having to remove the machine vision system from the undercarriage of the rail vehicle. The system can capture, by a camera of an image capturing module, a first image of a target. The image capturing module and a drum can be attached to a fixture and the target can be attached to the drum. The system can also determine a number of lateral pixels in a lateral pitch distance of the image of the target, determining a lateral object pixel size based on the number of lateral pixels, and determining a drum encoder rate based on the lateral object pixel size. The drum encoder rate can be programmed into a drum encoder.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for temporary fluid commodity transfer stations. A fluid commodity transfer structure can include a base member, a casing, and a fluid commodity transfer system. The fluid commodity transfer system can be configured to dispense a commodity for transloading from opposite sides of the fluid commodity transfer structure. A modular fueling station system can include one or more receptacles operably coupled to a fluid commodity transfer structure to allow a fluid commodity transfer system to utilize each receptacle as a fuel reservoir. The fluid commodity transfer structure can be loaded onto an intermodal transport vehicle, unloaded at a location, deposited at the location, and be operably coupled with one or more receptacles and/or other fluid commodity transfer structures to provide fueling infrastructure for fleet vehicles or allow for the commercial transfer of fluid from one receptable to another as a mobile fluid transfer system.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for optimizing hub resources and maximizing hub throughput based on dual-stream resource optimization (DSRO). In embodiments, a first flow of units arriving to the hub from customers to be loaded into departing trains is represented as a consolidation stream, and a second flow of units arriving to the hub via arriving trains to be unloaded and delivered customers is represented as a deconsolidation stream. A time-space network is generated for each of the consolidation and deconsolidation streams, and included in a DSRO model. Each stage of the streams is represented as a node of the corresponding time-space network in the DSRO model, which also models resource interdependence between the streams. An operating schedule based on the DSRO model optimizes the resources over a planning horizon to ensure they are allocated to both streams fairly so as to maximize the unit flow during operations.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.

Abstract: A railroad crossing signal test system includes a power source, a timer device configured to provide periodic electrical pulses, and first and second relays. The first relay can be configured to alternately provide the periodic electrical pulses to a left and right light of the railroad crossing signal. The second relay can be configured to alternately change a polarity of a common connection between the left light and the right light of the railroad crossing signal. The test system also includes a first switch configured to test a bell of the railroad crossing signal, a second switch configured to enable flashing of the left light according to the periodic electrical pulses, and a third switch configured to enable flashing of the right light according to the periodic electrical pulses. The system also includes test leads for electrically coupling the test system to test terminals of the railroad crossing signal.

Abstract: A grounded operations facilities management system is disclosed that can facilitate communications in grounded operations facilities. Specifically, a method is provided for managing and supervising trucks as they park in truck spots to await freight deposits. Check-in instances reflecting, among other things, the actual truck spot a fleet vehicle is parked in can be retrieved by a client from a server or database in operable communication with the client, and upon instantiation and execution of several processes, the check-in instance can be updated and retrieved/served as needed throughout the system. The system can be managed and controlled via a geofence, such that fleet vehicle operators can only check-in to particular truck spots when located within the geofence.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an object reconstruction module, a first image and a second image. The first image includes a first region of an object and the second image comprises a second region of the object. The method also includes identifying, by the object reconstruction module, a transitional image. The transitional image includes the first region of the object and the second region of the object. The method further includes determining, by the object reconstruction module, that the first region of the object in the transitional image and the first region of the object in the first image are equivalent regions and generating, by the object reconstruction module, a reconstruction of the object using the first image and the transitional image. The reconstruction of the object includes the first region of the object and the second region of the object and excludes equivalent regions.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a virtual approach signal restriction upgrade between physical signaling components is presented. In one embodiment, in a CTC type of operation, the use of a virtual signal with signal type functionality to split a block into two or more sections can allow a train currently governed by an approach indication to accelerate on a clear indication if the advance signal indication upgrades. The addition of audio frequency type circuits with the advance signal indication can allow a train to upgrade from a restricting indication to an approach or clear indication, while protecting open HT switches, broken rail, hazards, and follow up moves. The present invention provides a system for allowing trains to upgrade from a “restricting” indication to an “approach” or “clear and accelerate” indication with an upgraded PTC track line for the segment.

Abstract: A method for assigning train blocks at a railroad merchandise yard includes determining, using a first optimization model and historical train block volume data, a first list of train block assignments for a plurality of train blocks and a plurality of classification tracks of a classification bowl. The method further includes displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model if the volume of the train blocks is not greater than the total available track length of the classification tracks. The method further includes determining and displaying, using a second optimization model and the historical train block volume data, a second list of train block assignments for the plurality of train blocks and the plurality of classification tracks of the classification bowl if the volume of the plurality of train blocks is greater than the total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for preventing receptacle overfilling are presented. The system can include a sensor member configured to couple with a receptacle and sense a material level within the receptacle, such as via a sight glass of the receptacle. The system can include a controller in operable communication with the sensor member and configured to instantiate the shutoff of material flow from a material dispensing system if a particular material level is detected by the sensor member. The system can include an intermediate member configured to relay communications between the sensor member and the controller. The intermediate member can be coupled to a fluid line and can further act as a holster for the sensor member, such as by facilitating the coupling of the sensor member to the intermediate member and/or the fluid line.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for preventing receptacle overfilling are presented. The system can include a sensor member configured to couple with a receptacle and sense a material level within the receptacle, such as via a sight glass of the receptacle. The system can include a controller in operable communication with the sensor member and configured to instantiate the shutoff of material flow from a material dispensing system if a particular material level is detected by the sensor member. The system can include an intermediate member configured to relay communications between the sensor member and the controller. The intermediate member can be coupled to a fluid line and can further act as a holster for the sensor member, such as by facilitating the coupling of the sensor member to the intermediate member and/or the fluid line.

Abstract: A crane-less locked axle cradle system configured to lift a rail vehicle wheel off a rail and transport the lifted wheel along a rail is presented. The present disclosure discloses a system that can lift the locked-axle wheel off the rail with no crane thereby allowing the train with a locked axle to be transported off the mainline in a shorter period of time. A cradle system can have two parts (male and female members with wedges and rail wheels) that can be mated with each other around a rail wheel. As the male and female members are pulled together, locked wheel engagers can couple with different portions of the locked-axle wheel, causing the locked-axle wheel to lift off the rail given the gradient of the wedge or rotation of the wheel. In another embodiment, the wheel lifting can be assisted by an air bag, hydraulic cylinder, jack, or other.

Abstract: A railroad infrastructure communication network is presented. The network can include a plurality of infrastructure nodes distributed proximate a railroad track, such as near railroad equipment and/or assets. Infrastructure nodes can be configured to receive data from equipment sensor and/or assets and transmit such data via the network. Infrastructure nodes can further generate alert and/or alert packets based on such received data. Infrastructure nodes can self-define in a network infrastructure depending on configured connection types, and can for example, serve as repeater nodes (to promulgate a transmission to additional infrastructure nodes) and/or collector nodes (to collect data for a centralized server node). A server node can be configured to receive data and/or packet from infrastructure nodes and generate requests for additional systems, personnel, etc. to address such requests.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for temporary fluid commodity transfer stations. A fluid commodity transfer structure can include a base member, a casing, and a fluid commodity transfer system. The fluid commodity transfer system can be configured to dispense a commodity for transloading from opposite sides of the fluid commodity transfer structure. A modular fueling station system can include one or more receptacles operably coupled to a fluid commodity transfer structure to allow a fluid commodity transfer system to utilize each receptacle as a fuel reservoir. The fluid commodity transfer structure can be loaded onto an intermodal transport vehicle, unloaded at a location, deposited at the location, and be operably coupled with one or more receptacles and/or other fluid commodity transfer structures to provide fueling infrastructure for fleet vehicles or allow for the commercial transfer of fluid from one receptable to another as a mobile fluid transfer system.