Patents Examined by Mark T. Le
  • Patent number: 11679791
    Abstract: A dead axle of a rail vehicle, a rail vehicle, and a rail transportation system are provided. The dead axle of a rail vehicle includes: an axle body; a running wheel; a guiding frame; a horizontal wheel; and a connecting rod component, including a first transverse pull rod and a second transverse pull rod, where when the rail vehicle turns left, the horizontal wheel cooperates with a rail beam to drive the guiding frame to swing and drive the first transverse pull rod to move together, and the second transverse pull rod is driven by the first transverse pull rod to drive the running wheel to swing to the left, and when the rail vehicle turns right, the horizontal wheel cooperates with the rail beam to drive the guiding frame to swing and drive the first transverse pull rod to move together, and the second transverse pull rod is driven by the first transverse pull rod to drive the running wheel to swing to the right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Qingzeng Hu, Xiaojin Yao, Xiaofang Xiong, Jia Wei, Huiyue Liu
  • Patent number: 11661091
    Abstract: A line bypass system includes a support structure including a first support portion and a second support portion spaced apart from the first support portion. The support structure includes an attachment portion that attaches the first support portion to the second support portion. The first support portion and the second support portion define a first opening on a first side of the attachment portion and a second opening on a second side of the attachment portion. The first opening movably receives a first guide wire and the second opening movably receives a second guide wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO.
    Inventors: Adam Deel, Randy Cloud
  • Patent number: 11654942
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch and a travelling nut. The latch couples to a deck of an auto rack car. The latch includes a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position. The body includes a key. The travelling nut engages a ball screw. The travelling nut includes a slot. The travelling nut rotates with the ball screw when the body is in the first position. The key engages the slot when the body is in the second position. The travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of the deck in the auto rack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Huck, Christopher C. Harkey, Lee Reitz, Kyle R. Coston
  • Patent number: 11654943
    Abstract: A device adapted for attachment to a coupler of a trailing railcar of a train includes an enclosure defining an internal compartment, a port adapted for connection to an air brake hose receiving air from a brake pipe of the train, a handle extending from the enclosure, a communication device disposed within the internal compartment of the enclosure, and at least one antenna connected to the communication device and extending at least partially through the internal compartment of the enclosure and into an internal cavity of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Padam Dhoj Swar, Benjamin L. Henniges, Michael B. Colson, Carl L. Haas, David Andrew Gloyd
  • Patent number: 11649592
    Abstract: A railroad sleeper (1) for fixation of at least a pair of rails (2,2?) of a railroad network is disclosed, including a contact surface (3), wherein each rail of the pair of rails (2,2?) is fixed spaced apart from each other, the railroad sleeper (1) being configured by including a hollow sector (4) delimited by association of the contact surface (3) with the anchorage walls (5,5?), thus establishing a free portion (17) adjacent to the anchorage walls (5,5?) and opposite the contact surface (3). An embodiment in which the hollow sector (4) of the railroad sleeper is delimited by a support surface and the process of manufacturing a railroad sleeper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Braskem S.A.
    Inventors: Guilherme Longa Nose, Daniel Wenzer Trevizan, Luiz Francisco Muniz da Silva, Jorge Luis Goudene Spada, Claudio Pereira da Silva Zamith, Walter Vidon Junior, Renato Teixeira Vargas
  • Patent number: 11608096
    Abstract: A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL STEEL CAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Max Vanderby, Kenneth Wayne Black
  • Patent number: 11608092
    Abstract: A railcar comprises a first end, a second end, and a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side disposed between the first end and the second end. The first longitudinal side comprises a center panel and an intermediate panel. The center panel is disposed between a center of the railcar and the intermediate panel. The intermediate panel is disposed between the center panel and the first end or the second end. A width of the railcar at the intermediate panel is greater than a width of the railcar at the center panel. The center panel and the intermediate panel comprise generally straight panels coupled together at an angle. The first longitudinal side may further comprise an end panel disposed between the intermediate panel and the first end or the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY RAIL GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Kyle R. Coston
  • Patent number: 11608090
    Abstract: A railway vehicle car includes a lower level and an upper level that are separated by an intermediate floor. The intermediate floor defines an opening emerging on the upper level and on the lower level, and also defines a bridge extending at least partially along the opening. The bridge connects a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the car on the upper level. The circulation of passengers is blocked on the lower level at least at one of the first and second longitudinal ends. The car provides for dining for travelers. The lower level includes a preparation area and a dining area, with the preparation area extending continuously between a first side wall and a second side wall of the car, over an entire width of the lower level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SpeedInnov
    Inventors: Christophe Sarti, Joel Hachet, Alexis Bonnet, Joris Bonnesoeur, Etienne Feger
  • Patent number: 11590990
    Abstract: A station for a cable transportation system comprising a plurality of transporting units supported and driven outside the station by at least one cable, the station comprising an inlet and an outlet for the transporting units; a guiding device for guiding the transporting units uncoupled from the cable inside the station; an advancing auxiliary device for moving the transporting units along the guiding device; a control unit configured for controlling the advancing auxiliary device so that the advancing auxiliary device can switch, with no service interruption, from a first configuration, wherein the transporting units are individually arranged equidistant from each other and the boarding and landing occur inside the station without stopping the advancing movement, to a second configuration, wherein the transporting units are arranged in equidistant compact groups of at least two units and the boarding and landing occur inside the station by temporarily stopping the transporting units, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LEITNER S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lainé, Denis Ribot
  • Patent number: 11584403
    Abstract: A wheel drive apparatus of an automated guide vehicle (AGV) is provided, which includes: a bogie frame; drive frames including a pair of drive wheels installed so that power is transmitted through opposite side surfaces of the bogie frame, and first auxiliary wheels opposite to second auxiliary wheels, with a gap “b” outside of each of the opposite side surfaces of the bogie frame; rotation shaft portions pivotally coupled at shaft points of each of the drive frames and the bogie frame; and connection portions in which first connection arms are respectively formed in the drive frames, and second connection arms are respectively formed in the bogie frame, and the first and second connection arms are vertically connected as a slip rod so as to move up and down at a predetermined gap “a”, and thus which does not cause the drive wheel to float in the air even if any of the auxiliary wheels or any of the drive wheels of the AGV travelling along the floor contacts a depression, a barrier and a slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MACPION CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 11577762
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a pair of spaced trucks, a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of side structures on opposed sides of the railcar and a pair of end structures on opposed ends of the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, with each corner cap, or end cap including inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having a plurality of discharge chutes forming pockets for the body which open to the interior with a plurality of door operated through a pneumatic door operating system and further including a manual door operating override for each door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Wissinger, Todd L. Lydic, Michael A. Selapack
  • Patent number: 11565728
    Abstract: A railcar truck and adapter pad system for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck. Many different features of the pad and/or the adapter-pad interface are configured to improve stiffness characteristics to satisfy both curving and high speed performance of the railcar truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Nevis Industries LLC
    Inventors: Erik Gotlund, Jon R. Jeambey, F. Andrew Nibouar, James A. Pike, Jason C. Bryant, Jonathan A. Stull, William A. Kurtzhals, Roshan N. Manibharathi
  • Patent number: 11560166
    Abstract: A train control apparatus includes a setting reception unit that receives setting information regarding a temporary speed limit section and a speed limit. A control unit generates temporary speed limit information for the trains. A communication unit transmits the temporary speed limit information to the trains. If information regarding all temporary speed limit sections cannot be included in the temporary speed limit information, the control unit includes, in the temporary speed limit information, information regarding a specified number of temporary speed limit sections located on a traveling direction side, and changes a speed limit in one or more temporary speed limit sections included in the temporary speed limit information on the basis of a speed limit set in a temporary speed limit section that is adjacent to a temporary speed limit section included in the temporary speed limit information, and is not included in the temporary speed limit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Asuka, Takaya Katsuragi, Shuichi Takagi, Katsunori Tsuchida, Tomohiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 11541914
    Abstract: A tread strip for a vehicle is formed of at least two parts, an inner part and an outer part. The inner part is configured for attachment to the vehicle and/or to an outer part. The outer part is configured for attachment to the inner part and/or the vehicle. The outer part further includes an intermediate portion extending along a longitudinal axis between two attachment portions, the two attachment portions being configured for attachment to the inner part. The inner part has an intermediate portion extending along the longitudinal axis between two end portions. The end portions are configured for attachment of the inner part to the vehicle and/or for attachment to the outer part. The tread strip may be mounted to a vehicle by attaching the inner part and then attaching the outer part to the inner part and/or sealing the inner part with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: GEBR. BODE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Arend, Christoph Theis
  • Patent number: 11541917
    Abstract: A force analysis system and method include a truck assembly that is configured to travel along a track having rails. The truck assembly includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a bolster extending between the first side frame and the second side frame, a first wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame, a second wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame, and one or more load cells disposed within the first side frame and/or the second side frame. The load cell(s) are configured to detect forces exerted in relation to the first side frame, the second side frame, and/or the bolster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wike, Thomas Petrunich
  • Patent number: 11541912
    Abstract: Transit systems for travel overhead of streets, having: at least a first vehicle and a second vehicle; a main track on which the vehicles travel, the main track having a suspended overhead rail over the streets by a support structure, such that the vehicles travel at an elevated level overhead of street level; docking stations for the vehicles to lower to the street level for loading and/or unloading passengers and/or cargo; a two-position switch at each docking station, having cables enabling vertical movement of the vehicle, and a replacement track; wherein the two-position switch allows for docking of the first vehicle while the second vehicle passes the docked first vehicle, by enabling lowering of the first vehicle from the elevated level to the street level, and the replacement track providing a track portion for the second vehicle on which to pass the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Jean Victor Peloquin
  • Patent number: 11541916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sleeper transport vehicle (1) having a loading area (25) which includes a lower supporting loading plane (7) and an upper supporting loading plane (8), wherein in each loading plane (7,8) a guide (10) is arranged in which pallets (9) are guided in the longitudinal direction of the sleeper transport vehicle (1), wherein, at a front side, a transfer area (26) is arranged into which the guides (10) protrude in order to pass along during a working operation pallets (9) with new sleepers (15) in one loading plane (7, 8) to a further sleeper transport vehicle (1) or loading/unloading vehicle (34) arranged at the front side, and to receive pallets with old sleepers (16) in the other loading plane (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PLASSER & THEURER EXPORT VON BAHNBAUMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Gerard Lintz
  • Patent number: 11505222
    Abstract: A rail system includes a main track, a spur track connected to the main track by a switch changeable between a closed state and an open state, and a station spaced from the main track and accessible by the spur track. The rail system further includes a train with a passenger car and an EMDI releasably coupleable behind the passenger car. A method of operating the rail system includes decoupling the EMDI from the passenger car when the train is moving at a first speed toward the switch in the closed state. The EMDI is decelerated to a second speed less than the first speed. After the train has moved past the switch and the switch has been changed to the open state, the EMDI is diverted from the main track to the spur track via the switch in the open state and decelerated to a stop at the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: American Solar Rail, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Escoe Green
  • Patent number: 11505220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for automatic operation of a top hatch cover for a container, comprising a hatch cover, a cylinder mount, a main operating lever, a connecting link, and a hatch locking lever. The cylinder mount is configured for pivotally connecting a piston to the container. A lower portion of the main operating lever is connected to a cylinder rod of an air cylinder. A first extension of the connecting link is rotatably connected to an upper portion of the main operating lever and a second extension of the connecting link is coupled to the hatch cover. The main operating lever and the hatch locking lever are rotatably coupled to a main shaft mount, where the hatch locking lever is configured to pivot around the main shaft mount to move between a locked position and an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Fred Joseph Taylor
  • Patent number: 11499271
    Abstract: A switch device including a switch rail (12), the switch device having at least one stock rail (14), a junction rail (32) and a switch rail support (16), and the switch rail and the connecting rail being interconnected by a weld joint (34). The switch rail support (16) includes a through-opening (36) or a recess beneath the weld joint, the width of the through-opening or the recess being wider than the width of the switch rail (12). Furthermore, the length of the through-opening or the recess allows the junction rail (32) to connect to switch rails of the same or different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: VOESTALPINE BWG GMBH, VOESTALPINE VAE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Bergk, Thomas Christ, Jürgen Hellbach, Torsten Nolte