Patents Assigned to Sperry Rail, Inc.
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Patent number: 11333635Abstract: A rolling search unit for ultrasonic inspection of railroad rails employs a wheel assembly including a fluid-filled tire that rolls along a rail with ultrasonic transducers that propagate ultrasonic beams through the fluid and tire into an underlying rail during an inspection operation. The beams reflected from defects in the rail return to the transducers and are detected and analyzed for subsequent care. The wheel assembly also includes an anti-rotation baffle to reduce rotation of the fluid with the tire and a pressure regulator for controlling the pressure of the fluid within the tire at various speeds.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Jan Kocur, Anthony Iorfino, John James O'Neill
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Patent number: 10913466Abstract: An adaptive inspection carriage for inspecting the rails of a railroad by one or more detectors supported by the carriage. The carriage includes a frame having a generally rectangular configuration with oppositely disposed side members and transverse members. The side members may be in an operative position extending parallel to a respective rail to be inspected. The transverse members may be in an operative position extending in a direction transverse to the rails. Each transverse member may be connected at one end with a side member by means of a swivel coupling having one swivel axis perpendicular to the plane of the generally rectangular frame and another swivel axis parallel to the side member, and connected at the other end to another side member by a swivel coupling having one swivel axis perpendicular to the plane of the rectangular frame and no swivel axis parallel to the second side member.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Jan Kocur, Daniel Morehouse
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Publication number: 20140251015Abstract: A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Robert Mark Havira, Anthony Iorfino
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Patent number: 8739631Abstract: A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Robert Mark Havira, Anthony Iorfino
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Publication number: 20130220019Abstract: A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: SPERRY RAIL, INC.Inventors: Robert Mark Havira, Anthony Iorfino
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Patent number: 7849748Abstract: An ultrasonic railroad rail inspection system, apparatus and method for in situ rail inspection including a wheel assembly containing a fluid-filled tire and an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the wheel assembly. The transducer is supported in the tire such that the ultrasonic beam generated by the transducer has a beam axis that intersects a head of a railroad rail at a position offset from the longitudinal median plane of the rail to the side of the head penetrated by the ultrasonic beam. The ultrasonic beam is reflected by flaws in the rail in the form of echoes. The echoes return to the transducer identifying the location of flaws.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventor: Robert Mark Havira
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Publication number: 20090282923Abstract: An ultrasonic railroad rail inspection system, apparatus and method for in situ rail inspection including a wheel assembly containing a fluid-filled tire and an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the wheel assembly. The transducer is supported in the tire such that the ultrasonic beam generated by the transducer has a beam axis that intersects a head of a railroad rail at a position offset from the longitudinal median plane of the rail to the side of the head penetrated by the ultrasonic beam. The ultrasonic beam is reflected by flaws in the rail in the form of echoes. The echoes return to the transducer identifying the location of flaws.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventor: Robert Mark Havira
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Patent number: 6600999Abstract: A railroad rail inspection system is provided for use in conjunction with a non-railbound vehicle having an equipment bay. The system comprises a detector carriage adapted for being propelled over a two-rail railroad track by the non-railbound vehicle. A magnetic induction sensor system adapted for magnetic induction inspection of at least one rail of the track is attached to the detector carriage. The system further comprises a data acquisition system in communication with the magnetic induction sensor system, the data acquisition system including at least one data processor adapted for processing induction data received from the magnetic induction sensor system. The system further comprises a power supply system adapted for supplying electrical power to the magnetic induction sensor system. The data acquisition system and the power supply system are configured for disposition and operation within the equipment bay of the non-railbound vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Robin Clark, Jeffery L. Boyle, Douglas T. Main, Jr., Brewster W. LaMacchia
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Patent number: 6594591Abstract: A data processing system is provided for use in conjunction with a rail inspection system having a detection carriage with a plurality of sensor units configured to sense discontinuities in a rail of a railroad track as the detector carriage travels along the railroad track. The system includes a data processing and recording computer connectable to the plurality of sensor units for receiving sensor data therefrom. At least one processor card may be included in the data processing and recording computer that includes at least one data object builder configured for building data objects using the sensor data from the plurality of sensor units. The at least one processor card may also include device for synchronizing the data objects with respect to location along the rail. The system may further include a defect detection module in the data processing and recording computer.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Robin Clark, Jeffery L. Boyle, Brewster W. LaMacchia
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Patent number: 6476603Abstract: A brush assembly for engaging and conducting electricity to or from a surface is provided. The brush assembly comprises a monolithic, electrically conductive bus block and a bristle holder removably attached to the bus block. The bristle holder is formed as a monolithic block having a plurality of parallel bristle holes formed therethrough. The brush assembly further comprises a plurality of bristle assemblies, each bristle assembly having an elongate, electrically conductive bristle and an electrically conductive bristle cap having a sleeve, the proximal end of the bristle being secured within the sleeve so that the bristle is in electrical communication with the sleeve. At least a portion of the bristle cap of each bristle assembly is removably disposed within an associated bristle hole so that the bristle of each bristle assembly extends through its associated bristle hole and downwardly away from the lower bristle holder surface. Each bristle cap is in electrical communication with the bus block.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Sperry Rail, Inc.Inventors: Robin Clark, Douglas T. Main, Jr.