Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the spacing between axles of a vehicle which may be in motion, on the basis of weight alone. A weighbridge is provided with a first load cell spaced from a second load cell along the length of the weigh bridge by a distance L, with each load cell being responsive to the load on its respective location on the weighbridge. After a first axle is on the weighbridge, the weight on the first load cell and the weight on the second load cell are periodically sampled. The average stored weight M1 of the first axle is determined at the time that a second axle is about to enter the weighbridge. The instantaneous weight W2 on the second load cell is measured at the time that the second axle is about to enter the weighbridge. The distance X.sub.1 between the first axle and the second axle is determined by calculatingW2L/M1Distances between subsequent axles can also be determined in accordance with this invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for loading railroad cars coupled in motion. Prior to loading, an "empty" composite weight is obtained of the front and rear trucks of an empty selected railroad car, the rear truck of the adjacent forward railroad car with load and the front truck of the adjacent rearward railroad car. This "empty" composite weight is stored in a memory. The dynamic composite weight during loading is sensed. A desired net weight of the load (to be loaded into the selected railroad car) is selected. A total composite weight that is equal to the "empty" composite weight plus the desired net weight of the load is stored in a memory. The selected railroad car is loaded until the dynamic composite weight appears equal to the total composite weight. The actual net weight of the load is then determined by substracting the empty composite weight from the actual total composite weight.

Abstract: A system is provided for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading. An upstream weigh bridge is provided and is mechanically separated from a downstream weigh bridge, with a loading chute overlying one of the weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars. The upstream weigh bridge has a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car.The position of the freight car under consideration is sensed and the chute is opened to load the freight car. The full draft weight of the freight car during loading is detected, taking the weight on the upstream weigh bridge into consideration. The chute is closed when the weight reaches a predetermined amount. The weight of the loaded freight car is determined after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge is taken into consideration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for weighing railroad cars coupled together and in motion is disclosed which eliminates the necessity for special scales and, in particular, can be retrofitted and used in conjunction with most existing weigh bridges regardless of the length of the weight bridge, without any modification of the physical construction thereof, and with most existing weigh mechanisms.Generally, the apparatus provides two types of weighing, summation of axle weights and full draft. In addition, combinations of each are possible. During weighing by the summation of axle weights, as each axle enters the weigh bridge, a weight measurement is made and stored in memory. Cars with up to a maximum of nine axles (this is limited by the requirement rather than the electronics) are weighed by adding the axle weights, when the last car axle has entered the weigh bridge. A printer provides a hard copy record of car weights.

Abstract: A system for measurement and recording of data as to events and conditions is disclosed including a recorder unit adapted to be located at a surveillance site and connected to detectors providing successive signals responsive to successive actuations by individual events, and a portable reader instrument adapted to be connected to said recorder unit. The recorder unit has semi-conductor memory for data and for instructions of a program, and a programmable data processor operable under the control of a program of instructions stored in memory to function in a recording mode. The data processor includes an arithmetic and logic unit for performing computational and decisional processes in a sequence determined by a program to count events in response to the detector signals, and to classify and accumulate the counts as data in separate locations in semi-conductor memory for separate real time periods.

Abstract: A system for bidirectional in-motion weighing of freight cars of a train includes a weighbridge, first and second sets of load cells, three wheel sensing devices, a control device, a device initiated by the control device for weighing operations, and a printer for the total car weight. The sets of load cells are mounted to receive the load from opposite ends of the weighbridge. Each set has a rapid change of output voltage when an axle enters or leaves the associated weighbridge end. The weighbridge is located between two spaced, aligned tracks and has a third track. The three tracks provide a path of train travel. Each wheel sensing device has a component to provide a signal when a wheel passes. Two components are mounted beside the first two tracks a predetermined distance from opposite ends of the third track. The third component is located beside one of the three tracks a predetermined distance from one end of the third track.

Abstract: A low profile platform scale having a rigid rectangular platform and a base assembly, supporting the platform, adapted to rest on an underlying foundation and having four independent corner pads, each with beam load cells mounted in cantilever fashion on the corner pads, with the load cell elements coupled to the platform in an arrangement where the load on the platform is transmitted to the load cell elements by means of a tension member. The tension member is connected by ball and socket means to both the platform and the load cell element. The corner pads are connected to each other by slightly flexible, inelastic rods arranged beneath and adjacent borders of the platform in a rectangular array, and fastened to adjacent corner pads for fixing the spacing between them. The underlying corner pads operate independently and accommodate locally irregular surfaces causing any one of the corner pads to be slightly tilted without affecting the accuracy of response of the load cell.

Abstract: A batching system for operating each cycle of a batching process includes a communications bus to which are connected a basic processor, a control console, an analog/digital converter module, and an interface unit. The basic processor includes RAM memory means, PROM memory means and a central processing unit containing a microprocessor. The control console includes display means, a group of set-up pushbutton switch means, a group of operate pushbutton switch means, keyboard means having a number of pushbutton switch means each providing a different BCD signal, and switch means to activate alternatively the group of set-up pushbutton switch means or the group of operate pushbutton switch means. When the set-up pushbutton switch means are activated, the pressing of each button activates a different mode of the PROM memory means. By operating these switch means followed by operation of one or more buttons of the keyboard changes can be made in the digital information stored in the RAM memory means.

Abstract: A low-profile platform scale has a horizontal base, a lower primary U-shaped lever, an upper secondary U-shaped lever, a horizontal platform, and load cell means mounted on the base. The base has a unitary structure including a front pair and a rear pair of modified vertical angle irons connected to the ends of a horizontal shallow rectangular tubing and supporting short inverted channel irons each with one leg shorter than the other, to provide a pair of spaced upstanding portions of the base at the central part of the front and rear margins of the base with a portion of the short flanges and a portion of the long flanges of the pair of channel irons providing mounting means at upper and lower elevations as vertical flat surfaces facing the ends of the scale. These flat surfaces are at two transverse vertical planes.