Abstract: An EOT emergency arming apparatus and method in which an engineer at the HOT operates a standard air brake control and responds to a resulting report of change in air pressure from the EOT within a prescribed short interval. The response is a signal which includes the EOT unique identification code, and if received within the short interval is interpreted by the EOT as if the EOT ARM switch had been activated.

Abstract: An electronic device having a plurality of leads comprises a three dimensional electronic element holder of a non-conducting material having at least one cavity therein and a plurality of lead slots extending from the cavity to a base of the holder, an electronic element mounted in the cavity and having a plurality of leads extending therefrom, a plurality of the leads extending within the slots from the element to the base, and a plurality of lead terminals mounted on the holder and each having one end extending into one of the slots into conducting engagement with a lead and a free end extending outward therefrom.

Abstract: A motor driven ball valve may be driven in two modes of operation; those modes are a normal or testing mode and an emergency mode. The ball valve, when in its full open position, has an air passage that allows for the rapid exhaust of air in the air pipe of the air brake system to atmosphere, thereby inducing the emergency application of the brakes. The rotating ball valve assembly is capable of infinite variation between its full closed and its full open positions. Thus, the motor drive, which is remotely controlled, can effectively modulate the reduction in air pressure in the air pipe for a variety of purposes, including normal operation of the brakes and testing the air brake system. The motor drive mechanism may be in a cam, gear, or follower configuration. When an emergency application of the brakes is required, the motor drive mechanism is disengaged to allow a spring or other torsion device to rapidly rotate the ball to full open position, while drawing minimal electrical power.

Abstract: A telemetry receiver which is capable of automatically recognizing certain incompatible code formats and correctly decoding received data from a remotely located telemetry transmitter is disclosed. The specific embodiment is an end of train receiver mounted in the cab of a locomotive which receives encoded transmissions, including encoded brake pipe pressure data, a transmitter mounted on the last car of a train. The receiver permits telemetry equipment to be "mixed-and-matched"; that is, the receiver in the locomotive will respond to the transmissions of a telemetry transmitter attached to the last car of the train no matter what the vendor source. The telemetry receiver is provided with a microprocessor which analyzes the received transmission. The microprocessor is programmed to recognize certain known transmission protocols and formats and then invoke the correct routine for decoding the received data.

Abstract: An improved railroad coupler mount (18) secures end of train signalling and monitoring equipment (40) to the coupler head (10) of the last car in a train. The coupler mount (18) is secured to the coupler head (10) by a banana shaped arm (20) which extends through relief holes (14a and 14b) in the guard arm side (12) of the coupler. A swivel toggle (22) positioned at the end of the arm (20) is pivoted to a perpendicular orientation relative to the arm (20) after it has been inserted through the relief holes (14a and 14b). A tightening screw (28) turned by knob (26) draws the arm (20) back out of the relief holes (14a and 14b) and causes the swivel toggle (22) to bear against the sidewall of the coupler head (10). A bulge (38) in the arm (20) is braced tightly against an inside wall of the coupler head (10) after tightening the arm (20).

Abstract: A measure of diastolic blood pressure is provided by the product of HR and TT wherein HR is a measured heart beat rate and TT is an elapsed time between emission of an electrocardiographic R wave and arrival of the consequent blood pressure pulse at a chosen blood vessel.Apparatus is disclosed for sensing HR and TT and displaying a value or index of diastolic blood pressure, which is intended to be worn on the wrist and may serve also as a timepiece.

Abstract: An improved timer circuit for engineman monitoring devices allows a "drag operation" without frequent operation of the audio/visual alarms of the monitoring devices. The circuit receives an input from an existing switch in the locomotive to select the drag input state, but this input state does not necessarily select a longer time period for the reset window. More particularly, if drag is off and the speed is between approximately 1/3 and 31/2 mph, the timeout period is long (e.g., 123 seconds), but if drag is on for this speed, the timeout period is doubled (e.g., 246 seconds). Over 31/2 mph, the state of the drag switch is ignored, and the timeout period is long until a predetermined speed is reached and thereafter decreases with increasing speed. In addition, at "zero" speed, i.e., below 1/3 mph, the timeout period is reduced to 20 seconds to prevent defeat of the system by tampering with the axle drive wires.

Abstract: End of train marker light equipment (10) has been designed with a battery compartment (13) which can receive either a lead/acid battery (100), a Ni/Cd battery pack (250) or a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352). In a first configuration, the lead/acid battery (100) mates with an electrical connector (30) positioned on the back wall (20) of the battery compartment (13). In a second configuration, an adapter (200) is fitted into the battery compartment (13) to receive a Ni/Cd battery pack (250). The adapter (200) includes an electrical connector (218) which is copmlimentary to the electrical connector (30). In a third configuration, a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352) are fitted in the battery compartment (13) to contact a contact pattern (300) positioned on the back wall (20).

Abstract: An automated initial terminal testing system tests the air pressure and leakage of the brake pipes and the operation of brakes of railroad trains (10) in a terminal yard before trains are allowed to go on a railroad. The system includes end of train devices (16) attached to the trailing coupler of the last car of each train, head of train devices (14) connected to a source of yard air (26) and the air hose connection to the brake pipe of the first car of each train, and a central control console (18). The end of train devices, normally used to transit brake pipe pressure data to the engineer in locomotive when a train is on a railroad, monitors the air pressure in the brake pipe during the charging operation and transmits this data to the central control console. The head of train devices control the charging and venting of air pressure at the front of the train. These devices monitor air pressure and transmits this data to the central control console.

Abstract: A fuel measuring system of the bubble type is adaptable for use with a plurality of tanks of predetermined differing geometries. The system employs at least two bubbling tubes located at predetermined locations in a tank. A predetermined volume flow of air is made to pass through each tube. Pressure transducers are used to periodically measure the air pressures supplied to the bubbling tubes. Temperature is also periodically sampled, and the pressure and temperature data is used by a microprocessor to make the necessary computations to first determine the averaged normalized air pressure and then the height of the fuel in the tank. In order to correlate the computed value of fuel height with the actual quantity of fuel in the tank, the microprocessor accesses data in a table lookup memory for the particular tank and performs calculations in order to derive the instantaneous volume of fuel in the tank.

Abstract: A system for acquiring, storing, transmitting and processing blood pressure information. The system utilizes an ambulatory patient unit which emits a warning signal alerting the patient that a blood pressure reading is about to be taken. The patient unit takes the blood pressure reading, by electronically manipulating a pressure cuff, and stores the blood pressure information in a memory device. After accumulating a plurality of blood pressure readings within the memory device, the patient unit is electrically coupled to a programmable control unit. The programmable control unit accesses the memory device within the patient unit and relays the blood pressure information to a central processing computer. A central processing computer generates medical reports based on blood pressure information received from various programmable control units.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor for rotating a shaft formed of a hard material and having a general circular cross-section which drives a load having preselected torque characteristics and a known frictional force which opposes rotation of the shaft and load is shown. The piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric translation apparatus which is operatively coupled to the shaft for producing incremental angular rotation thereof. The piezoelectric translation apparatus includes a base plate, an annular-shaped housing and a support pin which passes through an aperture in the housing enabling the support pin to pivotally attach the housing onto the base plate. The piezoelectric translation apparatus further includes a piezoelectric driver assembly having an engaging member, at least one piezoelectric driving element and a compliance means. A control circuit for selectively applying electrical signals to the piezoelectric driving element for expanding and contracting the same is shown.

Abstract: A gravity operated switching circuit, having particular application in end of train equipment, allows the microprocessor circuit board in the equipment to be turned off. The circuit turns the power off when the equipment is laid on its side after a predetermined time constant, and when the equipment is again mounted in an upright position, the power is turned on after a different predetermined time constant. A modification of the basic circuit requires a reset button to be manually pressed to restore power after the equipment is again mounted in an upright position.

Abstract: An anti-stall motor drive circuit for a very slow running permanent magnet d.c. motor is disclosed. The slow running speed of the motor sometimes allows an insulating film to build up between the brushes and the commutator which causes the stalled condition. The motor (10) is connected in the collector circuit of a drive transistor (Q1) which has a current limiting resistor (R9) connected in its emitter circuit. A stalled condition of the motor (10) is sensed by a lack of output from a tachometer (16) output. The output of the tachometer is full wave rectified by an operational amplifier (22) and diodes (CR1 and CR2). The rectified tachometer voltage is applied to an integrator (24 and C1) having a clamping diode (CR7) connected in its feedback circuit. A zero output from the rectifier allows the integrator output to ramp up to a limiting value determined by the clamping diode.

Abstract: An improved automatic train-line air brake pressure monitoring system includes circuits that emulate an automatic brake valve and cause an automatic brake manifold release whenever a four psi increase in pressure is sensed. The system includes a pressure sensor amplifier (10) which provides a signal proportional to the sensed pressure in a brake pipe. This signal is tracked by a peak hold circuit (12) that stores the peak value of the signal. The output of the sensor amplifier is subtracted from the output of the peak hold circuit in a subtractor (14) to provide a difference signal. The difference signal is tracked by a reduction hold circuit (22) which stores the minimum value of the difference output from the subtractor. An increase in measured pressure from the stored minimum value is compared in a comparator (24) with a reference value representing the four psi level, and when the increased pressure exceeds the reference value, a system reset is generated.

Abstract: An electromechanical translation apparatus comprising a driven member which is adapted to be incrementally moved in a selected direction, and a piezoelectric multiaxis micropositioner adapted to produce incremental movement of the driven member in the selected direction wherein the micropositioner includes a mounting means, at least one piezoelectric driver assembly having a housing, an engaging member formed of a hard material having a selected driving end at one end thereof and a driven end at the other end wherein the engaging member's one end is positioned to selectively engage and translate said driven member in response to a driving force, and at least three piezoelectric driver elements positioned between the driven end of the engaging member and the housing wherein the piezoelectric driver elements are positioned in a spaced, angular relationship to the others and wherein each piezoelectric driver element is capable of separately responding to an electrical signal having a predetermined frequency and

Abstract: A valve for use in distributing irrigation water in a surge irrigation system. The valve having a diverter member rotatably mounted within the cylindrical cavity of a valve body. The diverter member has an arcuate diverter plate mounted thereon which conforms to the curvature of the cylindrical cavity and wiper blades extending from said diverter plate into the space between said plate and the interior of the valve body. Upon circulatory or oscillatory rotation of the diverter member, the wiper blades sweep the interior of the valve body. The diverter plate may be selectively aligned with one of the outlet ports in the valve body, thereby diverting flow from the inlet port to the remaining outlet ports. The diverter member design minimizes engagement with particulate matter and it minimizes the force exerted upon this member by the irrigation water to decrease the torque and corresponding power consumption required to rotate the diverter member.