Abstract: A magnetic traction assembly is disclosed for a railcar mover that provides additional downforce to improve traction for a railcar mover when required. The magnetic traction assembly may comprise a frame, an actuator, and a magnetic element positioned underneath a railcar mover. The magnetic element may be lowered to a deployed position, where the magnetic element is positioned near the railroad rails such that the magnetic field from the magnetic element interacts with the railroad rail creating an attraction force that provides additional downforce to the railcar mover.

Abstract: A claw system for mechanical coupling a railcar mover to a railcar is disclosed herein. The claw assembly may comprise a set of arms and a set of claws each mounted on the interior side of one of the set of arms. When a railcar adjacent to a railcar mover on a set of tracks is positioned within a proximity of the railcar mover, the claw assembly may be utilized to grasp the air hose of the adjacent railcar. For example, the set of arms may be attached to the railcar mover via a motorized rail upon which the set of arms may be configured to move axially toward each other in a direction perpendicular to the tracks, thereby causing the claws to move toward each other and close around the air hose of the adjacent railcar. The claws may include openings configured to grasp the air hose.

Abstract: A gladhand device for automatically coupling the air brake hose of a railcar to a railcar mover is disclosed herein. The automated gladhand device may comprise a gladhand body that is attached to the end of a railcar mover and configured to receive the gladhand attached to an air brake hose of a railcar. In various embodiments, the gladhand device may comprise a piston housed within a lower portion of the gladhand body that is configured to extend vertically above a top edge of the lower portion of the gladhand body. When air pressure is allowed to enter the gladhand body via an electrically controlled solenoid, the piston presses against the gladhand of the air brake hose and pneumatically seals a coupling between the air brake hose of the railcar and the railcar mover.

Abstract: A modular drive train assembly is disclosed for the rail wheels of a railcar mover that provides a plurality of electric drive motors. Each electric drive motor may be connected to a gearbox and subsequently connected to a rail wheel. An automated control system may further control the power supplied to each of the electric drive motors such that the power supplied to each electric drive motor may be individually controlled to enhance the traction of each rail wheel. In addition, a plurality of sensors may monitor and communicate information from the electric drive motors to allow the control system to automatically control the power to each of the electric drive motors to enhance traction of the railcar mover.

Abstract: A system for visually assisting an operator of a railcar mover that provides a visual display and a pair of alignment lines superimposed on the image of the display to assist the operator to properly align a railcar mover to the railroad rails when transitioning from driving on the road to driving on the railroad rails. The system further includes a set of cameras positioned around the railcar mover and a processor, which can create a composite image of a top view of the railcar mover to further assist the operator position the railcar mover properly.

Abstract: A speed control system for a railcar mover where the speed control system prevents the railcar mover from exceeding a predetermined maximum vehicle speed. The speed control system determines a target engine speed that overrides a user's throttle control input to keep the railcar mover from exceeding the predetermined maximum vehicle speed. The speed control system also determines a target throttle control position and disables the throttle control from the user until the user moves the throttle control to a position at or less than the target throttle control position.

Abstract: A system for visually assisting an operator of a railcar mover that provides a visual display and a pair of alignment lines superimposed on the image of the display to assist the operator to properly align a railcar mover to the railroad rails when transitioning from driving on the road to driving on the railroad rails. The system further includes a set of cameras positioned around the railcar mover and a processor, which can create a composite image of a top view of the railcar mover to further assist the operator position the railcar mover properly.

Abstract: An auxiliary drive axle assembly is disclosed for a railcar mover that provides traction for a railcar mover when required. The auxiliary drive axle assembly comprises a frame, a plurality of hydraulic motors, and a plurality of wheel assemblies positioned underneath a railcar mover. The auxiliary drive axle assembly may be lowered to a use position where the wheels engage the rails either upon demand by the railcar mover operator or automatically by a control system based upon a set of monitored parameters. When in a use position, the control system directs the power to the hydraulic motors such that the wheel assemblies can have optimal traction to assist the railcar mover.

Abstract: A ballast load device for increasing a tractive effort of a railcar mover having a coupler includes a side member and a bottom attached to the side member. The bottom is adapted to support a weight. A primary coupler is attached to the side member and is adapted to removably connect to the coupler of the railcar mover such that the railcar coupler may lift the ballast load device.

Abstract: A wireless network based location system and method uses an existing wireless communication network to locate the position of any active phone or transceiver unit in the network. The system includes a plurality of agile vector sensor units, one each installed at each antenna site in the network, and a remote central monitoring station to which wireless network users can call for assistance in the event of an emergency. The system is designed to locate a portable phone transceiver unit using the reverse voice channel signal transmitted by the transceiver unit. Each agile vector sensor unit locks onto the reverse voice channel to determine azimuth and signal strength in the reverse voice channel, and also tracks any changes in voice channel by monitoring the forward voice channel. In the event of a voice channel change, the sensor unit tunes to the new voice channel. The azimuth, signal strength, and reverse voice channel information collected is used to track the location of a transceiver unit in real time.

Abstract: An alarm system for protecting premises comprises a fully integrated, alarm detecting cellular phone unit which is linked to various sensors in order to detect the sensor outputs. The cellular alarm unit includes, in addition to cellular phone functions, a formatter or processor for generating an emergency signal on detection of a sensor output, the emergency signal including information on the type of emergency detected. The unit is programmed to establish a cellular connection to a remote monitoring station. The connection is wireless at least from the premises to a local cell site. Once connection is established, the emergency signal is transmitted to the monitoring station via the local cell site.

Abstract: A tracking system for tracking a portable or mobile phone unit utilizes an array of fixed wireless signal transceivers forming part of a wireless telephone system. The phone unit includes a processor for generating an emergency signal on detection of an emergency condition and transmitting the emergency signal to a remote monitoring station via the wireless telephone network. The emergency signal includes identifying information for identifying the phone unit, as well as identifying or control channel signals received by the phone unit from adjacent wireless signal transceivers which are retransmitted as part of the emergency signal to be used at the remote monitoring station to compute an approximate location of the phone unit.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for use on a railcar moving vehicle designed to couple with European-type railway cars having an end sill at each end of the car which supports a centrally disposed draft hook and a pair of buffers mounted one at each end of the end sill, the coupling mechanism including a casting which moves laterally on a plurality of rollers, a crossbar or lifting beam carried on the end of the casting and pivotal relative thereto about a vertical axis, a pair of lifting forks carried on the respective ends of the crossbar, and a pair of buffer plates carried at opposite ends of the crossbar and positioned to push against corresponding buffers on a railway car. The coupling mechanism also includes a sensing device which controls lateral movement of the casting during a pushing or pulling operation in accordance with relative lateral movement of the railcar end sill and buffers.

Abstract: A railcar moving vehicle having a hydraulic system for raising the vehicle coupler while coupled to a railroad car or the like to transfer weight from the railcar to the vehicle. By this invention, fluid pressure in the hydraulic power line is sensed, to monitor an increase in the fluid pressure as the hydraulic system raises the vehicle coupler while coupled to a railcar. Then, when a substantial termination of the increase in fluid pressure is sensed as the hydraulic coupler is raised, an indicator signals the occurrence of this event, typically by automatically terminating the hydraulic raising of the vehicle coupler. Thus, weight may be transferred without overraising the railcar, without the need for estimating the weight of the railcar prior to the weight transfer process.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system makes use of a conventional cellular telephone network including a plurality of fixed cellular transmitter sites each covering a predetermined area. The system includes a plurality of cellular signal processing units for installation at hidden locations in vehicles to be monitored. Each unit is connected to one or more different sensors in the vehicle, at least one of the sensors being a break-in detector for detecting tampering with the vehicle, and to a cellular antenna, and includes a controller for monitoring the sensor outputs and initiating an emergency message transmission to a remote monitoring station in the event of actuation of a sensor.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of a selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated which includes a fixed array of cellular sites each site having a wireless signal detecting and generating units each of which is capable of receiving an input alarm signal having a signal strength which is a function of the distance between the position of the vehicle generating the alarm signal and the position of each of the wireless signal detecting units. Each unit also is capable of transmitting an output signal which is a function of the strength of the input alarm signal.

Abstract: Rail wheels and road wheels of vehicles may be easily modified to differing axle lengths, so that, typically, the vehicle may roll on rails of differing gauges. An easily installable and removable spacer is provided to the axle systems of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of a selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated which includes a fixed array of cellular sites each site having a wireless signal detecting and generating units each of which is capable of receiving an input alarm signal having a signal strength which is a function of the distance between the position of the vehicle generating the alarm signal and the position of each of the wireless signal detecting units. Each unit also is capable of transmitting an output signal which is a function of the strength of the input alarm signal.

Abstract: A railcar moving vehicle having rail wheels for operating on railroad track and having retractable road wheels for operating on road, the vehicle having a main frame and a pivotable frame which is connected to the main frame by a longitudinal pivot, there being mounted on the pivotable frame one rail wheel axle, a pair of driven road wheels, and hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering the driven road wheels between inoperative and operative positions, whereby both the driven road wheels as well as the rail wheels are capable of oscillating or pivoting action to maintain equal wheel loadings on both the rail wheels and the road wheels.