Abstract: A mount apparatus for mounting a measurement device on a rail car above a track surface of a railroad track including a securement member adapted to be secured to the unsprung component of the rail car, a pivot arm pivotably connected to the securement member, the pivot arm including a lever arm extending therefrom, and a swing arm connecting the lever arm of the pivot arm to the sprung component of the rail car. The swing arm rotates the pivot arm so that a distal end of the pivot arm is maintained at a substantially fixed height distance above the track surface.

Abstract: A protective system having an upstream detection subsystem to detect a contaminant in an airflow and to provide a contaminant signal, an upstream detection subsystem, a filtration subsystem to filter the contaminant from the airflow, a valve adapted to allow selective routing of the airflow, and a control system adapted to control the valve to route the airflow through the protective system upon receiving the contaminant signal from the upstream detection subsystem. In one embodiment, the upstream detection subsystem includes at least two different types of detectors for detecting same type of contaminants. In another embodiment, the upstream detection subsystem is adapted to detect a contaminant, and a daughter compound. In another embodiment, the protective system includes a downstream detection subsystem. In yet another embodiment, the protective system includes a vehicle data link subsystem.

Abstract: A protective system have an upstream detection subsystem to detect a contaminant in an airflow and to provide a contaminant signal, an upstream detection subsystem, a filtration subsystem to filter the contaminant from the airflow, a valve adapted to allow selective routing of the airflow, and a control system adapted to control the valve to route the airflow through the protective system upon receiving the contaminant signal from the upstream detection subsystem. In one embodiment, the upstream detection subsystem includes at least two different types of detectors for detecting same type of contaminants. In another embodiment, the upstream detection subsystem is adapted to detect a contaminant, and a daughter compound. In another embodiment, the protective system includes a downstream detection subsystem. In yet another embodiment, the protective system includes a vehicle data link subsystem.

Abstract: The method and device for locating underground utilities within an area includes traversing the area with a plurality of underground utility sensors and obtaining area location data to locate the area traversed. The sensor data and area location data are used to map the location of one or more utilities within the area traversed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gage sensing system having sensor heads positioned over each rail of a railroad track that measures both rail gage and height distance above the rails of a railroad track. Each sensor head includes an array of electromagnetic field generating coils and an array of electromagnetic field sensors positioned above each rail so as to extend substantially across the rail surface. A method of measuring gage distance is also provided in which lateral EM field output signal indicative of an edge surface of a rail is sensed.

Abstract: A video inspection system and method for facilitating inspection of a rail component while traveling on the railroad track. The system includes a light source that provides illumination to a rail of the railroad track, a triggering device for automatically providing a trigger signal, a camera adapted to provide an image of the illuminated rail component, and a computing device adapted to capture the image provided by the camera based on the trigger signal. A method for inspecting rail components is also provided, the method including the steps of illuminating a rail of the railroad track, automatically providing a trigger signal, providing a camera adapted to provide an image of the rail component, and capturing the image of the rail component that is provided by the camera based on the trigger signal.

Abstract: A vertical load measurement device and a method for measuring a load at least partially supported by an axle of a railcar are disclosed. The measurement device includes a bearing adapter sized to be mounted between a load bearing member of the railcar and an axle bearing housing of the railcar. The beam member has a first end and a second end, at least one end being secured to the bearing adapter, and a midsection extending between the ends which supports the load applied by the load bearing member of the railcar. The midsection of the beam member is vertically spaced from the bearing adapter to allow deflection of the beam member in response to the load applied by the load bearing member. The vertical load measurement device also includes a sensor secured to the beam member which measures the deflection of the beam member.

Abstract: A mount apparatus for mounting a measurement device on a rail car above a track surface of a railroad track including a securement member adapted to be secured to the unsprung component of the rail car, a pivot arm pivotably connected to the securement member, the pivot arm including a lever arm extending therefrom, and a swing arm connecting the lever arm of the pivot arm to the sprung component of the rail car. The swing arm rotates the pivot arm so that a distal end of the pivot arm is maintained at a substantially fixed height distance above the track surface.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating an underground object having stationary RF transmitter receivers that define a coordinate system for an area of interest, a sensor adapted to detect presence of an underground object and to provide a presence data, and a mobile RF transmitter receiver that is movable with the sensor, and is adapted to receive and/or transmit location data indicative of location of the mobile transmitter receiver in the coordinate system. A method is also provided for detecting and locating underground object including the steps of establishing a coordinate system for an area of interest, detecting presence of an underground object and providing a presence data upon detection of the underground object, and transmitting and/or receiving location data in a radio frequency, the location data being indicative of location of the underground object in the established coordinate system.

Abstract: An aided inertial navigation system and method for navigating a mobile object having constraints comprising an inertial measurement unit, a processor, and an error correction device. The inertial measurement unit provides acceleration data and/or angular velocity data of the mobile object. The processor is adapted to receive the acceleration data and/or angular velocity data, and to provide output data with position output indicative of position of the mobile object. The error correction device receives as input, state and dynamics information and auxiliary input data including map information associated with the path, speed data, wheel-angle data and discrete data. The error correction device provides as output, state corrections to the processor that enhance accuracy of the position output. The state corrections are used by the processor to estimate position of the mobile object based on the constraints to the mobile object and the map information associated with the path.

Abstract: A topical recognition apparatus for monitoring surface condition of a bowling lane surface and a method thereof. The apparatus has a lamp that provides light on the bowling lane surface, and a sensor positioned proximate to the bowling lane surface, the sensor being adapted to sense light provided by at least one lamp after the light is scattered off the bowling lane surface, the scattered light being indicative of a surface condition of the bowling lane. The surface condition of the bowling lane monitored may be the quantity of oil on the bowling lane surface and/or the amount of wear on the bowling lane surface.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for software testing, including analyzing the source code under test to generate a scan file, including a map of the source code under test and a tree structure for the source code under test; generating a stub file for the source code under test based on the scan file; generating a driver test script file based on the scan file and the stub file; generating a test driver based on the driver test script file; and running the test driver on the source code under test to generate a results file for summarizing the results of the software testing.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for aiding a consumer in choosing a beverage based upon personal preferences of the consumer, including obtaining spectral information of an inventory of beverages, obtaining spectral information of a sample of a beverage, and comparing the spectral information of the sample with that of the inventory to determine a beverage from the inventory that is similar to the sample. The spectral information for at least one of the inventory and the sample is obtained in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: A device for use in removing and installing an inline component from a drill string that is depending downward over a deck. The device has an elongate member with a flange adapted to abut the deck and support the elongate member in a substantially upright orientation, and an engagement member on the elongate member adapted to rotably engage the inline component.

Abstract: A railroad test vehicle extending in a longitudinal direction comprises a measurement axle comprising two flanged wheels rotatable about a measuring axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and adapted to run on two track rails. A cross member extends transversely to the longitudinal direction, is vertically spaced from an underside of the vehicle and is affixed thereto. The connection between the measurement axle and the cross member comprises two trunnions transversely spaced from each other and mounted on the cross member, each trunnion defining a clearance with the cross member sufficient to enable the trunnion to be freely tilted to either side of the vehicle about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a support frame mounted on each trunnion for pivoting freely about an axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and two pairs of linkages, the pairs being transversely spaced from each other by the same distance as the transversely spaced trunnions.

Abstract: An aided inertial navigation system and method for navigating a mobile object having constraints comprising an inertial measurement unit, a processor, and an error correction device. The inertial measurement unit provides acceleration data and/or angular velocity data of the mobile object. The processor is adapted to receive the acceleration data and/or angular velocity data, and to provide output data with position output indicative of position of the mobile object. The error correction device receives as input, state and dynamics information and auxiliary input data including map information associated with the path, speed data, wheel-angle data and discrete data. The error correction device provides as output, state corrections to the processor that enhance accuracy of the position output. The state corrections are used by the processor to estimate position of the mobile object based on the constraints to the mobile object and the map information associated with the path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the geometry of a rail for a railroad track which includes mounting first and second cameras in back to back relationship to create a single camera axis passing through the camera lenses and to define a coordinate system with an origin centered between the cameras on the camera axis. First and second targets are placed on the rail to be measured and spaced an equal distance from the origin between first and second cameras respectively. The first and second cameras record the position of the first and second targets and provide position signals from which the mid-chord value of a chord extending between the first and second targets is computed.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating an underground object having stationary RF transmitter receivers that define a coordinate system for an area of interest, a sensor adapted to detect presence of an underground object and to provide a presence data, and a mobile RF transmitter receiver that is movable with the sensor, and is adapted to receive and/or transmit location data indicative of location of the mobile transmitter receiver in the coordinate system. A method is also provided for detecting and locating underground object including the steps of establishing a coordinate system for an area of interest, detecting presence of an underground object and providing a presence data upon detection of the underground object, and transmitting and/or receiving location data in a radio frequency, the location data being indicative of location of the underground object in the established coordinate system.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the structural integrity of a hand rail structure. The hand rail having a plurality of substantially horizontal parallel rail members. The apparatus has an elongate lever arm and a mounting portion on the lever arm. The mounting portion is sized to span at least two rail members. A receptacle on the mounting portion opposite the lever arm receives one of the rail members and vertically supports the lever arm and mounting portion. A force is applied through the lever arm and transmitted to the hand rail. The force is measured by a torque wrench on the lever arm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for event detection utilizing data from a multiplicity of sensors is provided. In a first step, actual detections from a plurality of sensors identified with predetermined sensor sequences, each indicative of an event, are compared with the predetermined sensor sequence to determine whether the times between the actual detections match the times allocated between detections for any predetermined sensor sequence. If a match occurs, the event indicated by the matching predetermined sensor sequence is provided. If no match occurs, a second step is initiated wherein the actual detections are compared to a predetermined script file which defines criteria for a plurality of events. If this criteria is matched, the event for which the criteria is provided is indicated.