Patents Examined by Robert J. McCarry, Jr.
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Patent number: 11820408Abstract: The bogie includes: running wheels to be rolled on a road surface of guideway; an axle which is installed on a lower part of a body of a guideway vehicle and to which the running wheels are attached; a chassis supporting the axle; a guide device which is configured to be guided by the guideway and is installed on the chassis so as to be capable of turning around a turning axis extending in a vertical direction; a steering device which is configured to steer the running wheels in response to a turning movement of the guide device when the guide device is turned along a curved section of the guideway; and a tilting device which is connected to the guide device and which is configured to generate a tilting force of directing one side of the body located at an outside of the curved section upward with respect to the other side of the body located at an inside of the curved section in response to the turning movement of the guide device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.Inventors: Kousuke Katahira, So Tamura
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Patent number: 11807284Abstract: A method and system for identification of obstacles near railways and for providing alarm to an operator of a train if obstacles constitute threat to the train are disclosed. The system comprise IR sensor disposed at the front of the train facing the direction of travel. The IR sensor receives images of the rails in front of the train. The system comprises pre-stored vibration profile of the train's engine that is used to eliminate influence of the engine's vibrations on the accuracy of the received images. Presence of rails in the received frames is detected based on inherent differences of temperature between the rails and the substrate in the rails' background, such as the railway sleepers and the materials underneath it. The system may detect defects in an electric conductor system of a train.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: RAIL VISION LTDInventors: Elen Josef Katz, Yuval Isbi, Shahar Hania, Noam Teich
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Patent number: 11801756Abstract: A permanent magnet electrodynamic suspension system includes a conductor track and a suspension and guidance device. The conductor track is disposed on a roadbed, and the suspension and guidance device is disposed above the conductor track. The suspension and guidance device includes a first permanent magnet array and a second permanent magnet array. The first permanent magnet array and the second permanent magnet array are the same in the magnetization direction arrangement. The first permanent magnet array and the second permanent magnet array are arranged perpendicular to each other. A guidance method for the permanent magnet electrodynamic suspension system is further provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Southwest Jiaotong UniversityInventors: Zigang Deng, Hongfu Shi, Yuqing Xiang, Ting Cao, Hao Lu, Junzhi Liu, Le Liang, Jun Zheng
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Patent number: 11795627Abstract: A direct fixation fastener comprising: a top plate; a bottom plate made of metal structural channel providing two spaced-apart side walls, wherein the bottom plate has a first end and a second end and wherein each of the first and second ends terminate in a first flat edge section and a second flat edge section, respectively, without spaced-apart side walls; first and second angle bars, wherein the first angle bar is attached to the first flat edge section and the second angle bar is attached to the second flat edge section; and an elastomeric layer disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate, between the top plate and angle bars and between the angle bars and the spaced-apart side walls.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: L. B. Foster CompanyInventors: Robert L. Alsop, Sheenfar S Fong, Korhan Ciloglu
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Patent number: 11794797Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a system that can include a traffic gate, an electronic circuit and a portable controller. The traffic gate can have an arm. The electronic circuit can have a controller, a first communication module, and one or more light sources configured to mount to the arm or other portions of the traffic gate. The controller can be configured to control the electronic circuit to selectively operate the one or light sources as desired. The portable controller can have a second communication module configured to communicate with the first communication module to actuate the controller to control of the electronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Railway Equipment Company, Inc.Inventors: David Fox, Randall Gene Honeck, Jason Lee Honeck
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Patent number: 11780477Abstract: A coupling box of a rail vehicle, including a fixed portion fixedly mounted on a vehicle body and a movable portion connecting to a coupler and draft gear; the movable portion is connected to an inner end of the fixed portion by means of a constant-force connecting member, the constant-force connecting member is broken when the coupler and draft gear pushes the movable portion to move inwardly at the time of a collision, so that the movable portion and the fixed portion are able to be separated from each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: CRRC ZHUZHOU LOCOMOTIVE CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuan Cao, Yangchun Min, Xihong Jin, Shangqiang Chen, Mingming Li
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Patent number: 11777297Abstract: A cord reel cable including a polymeric sheath with a conductive EMI drain and a method of manufacture therefor. The cord reel includes a cable comprising power and data conductors, as wells as a single drain wire which is grounded to a cord reel housing or spool or the like. The drain wire contacts an outer ETFE layer surrounding the cable in order to provide EMI shielding to the cable.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventors: John Alford, Chris Hinojosa, John S. Runzel, Christopher Gazdic
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Patent number: 11772818Abstract: An unmanned, rapid and circular transportation system for airport passengers and luggage mainly includes an unmanned, rapid and vertical circular transportation system for passengers, an unmanned, rapid and full-plane or local-interchange circular transportation system for passengers' luggage, and a control system therefor. The whole system comprises an oval-shaped central area for passengers to consign and pick up luggage and a plurality of corridors which are arranged radially with the center of the oval shape as an origin. Passenger plane gate positions are arranged on two sides of the corridors. The unmanned, rapid and vertical circular transportation system for passengers is arranged at a second floor of the corridors, and the unmanned, rapid and full-plane or local-interchange circular transportation system for passengers' luggage is arranged in the central area and at a first floor of the corridors, and is substantially level with an external passenger plane docking deck.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2023Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Caixiong Huang
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Patent number: 11766954Abstract: A control method and system of neutral section passing of multi-locomotive short broke trains. Distance traveled by a train after a primary multiple unit enters a neutral section is calculated in real time, so that a neutral section passing procedure of a secondary multiple unit is effectively controlled, thereby solving the problem that when the multi-locomotive short broke trains operate with double-raised pantographs, if the distance between the two pantographs is shorter than the length of a neutral zone of a neutral section and longer than the length of a no-electricity zone of the neutral section, when the two pantographs pass through the neutral sections, the two pantographs will span the two neutral sections and generate an interphase short circuit. The method improves safety of the EMU when it passing neutral section and ensure that the EMU can reliably pass through the neutral section with double-raised pantographs.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Inventors: Yunxin Fan, Ande Zhou, Aijun Chen, Lili Ma, Jianlin Chen, Xining Li
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Patent number: 11753051Abstract: A system for improved intermodal freight transportation is described herein. Improved carriages and support trusses are provided that beneficially move the load-bearing structure to interconnected support trusses forming a top-end spine of the train with freight containers equipped with wheels hanging underneath. Upon entering a terminal, the floor adjacent to the rails may be configured to gradually rise until the container's wheels are supporting the container's weight. When properly aligned with a container exchange station, the container's connections to the train may be configured to release the container from the train, and the container's wheels may be configured to pivot, allowing the container to be rolled to the side of the train and replaced by another. This may allow the container to be replaced without having to lift the container or disconnect any of the rolling stock components.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Daniel J. Schneider
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Patent number: 11753775Abstract: A rail threader workhead is disclosed for attachment to an end of a rail machine boom and configured for placing a railroad rail upon a section of railroad ties. The rail threader workhead includes a first apparatus for mounting to the end of the rail machine boom and operable to pivot in a vertical pitch direction, a second apparatus extending from the first apparatus and operable to pivot in a horizontal yaw direction, and a third apparatus extending from the second apparatus. The third apparatus includes a pair of roller assemblies configured to engage the railroad rail, the third apparatus configured to pivot in a cant or roll direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: S.W.N.G., Inc.Inventors: Jason M. Fuessel, Justin J. Pipol
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Patent number: 11753057Abstract: A system can include a signal light for regulating traffic, a controller, a first communication module configured to electronically communicate with the controller, a memory and two or more position sensors coupled to the signal light is disclosed. The two or more position sensors comprise at least a first position sensor configured to detect a first position of the signal light according to a first measurable criteria and a second position sensor configured to detect a second position of the signal light according to a second measurable criteria. The memory configured to selectively store as a reference, desired position data. The controller can be configured to electronically communicate with the two or more position sensors to receive an updated data regarding the first position and the second position and is configured to compare the updated data to the desired position data.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Railway Equipment Company, Inc.Inventors: Randall Gene Honeck, Jason Lee Honeck, Haozhi Ding
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Patent number: 11745598Abstract: A magnetic wheel driving device and a driving method using the same. The magnetic wheel driving device includes a vehicle body, a guide rail system, at least two magnetic wheel systems and a power system. The guide rail system includes two conductor plates, respectively arranged at two sides of the vehicle body. The at least two magnetic wheel systems are symmetrically arranged at two side walls of the vehicle body. A gap is provided between each magnetic wheel system and the corresponding conductor plate. The power system is configured to drive the at least two magnetic wheel systems to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Southwest Jiaotong UniversityInventors: Zigang Deng, Kaiwen Li, Xin Liu, Hongfu Shi, Le Liang, Jun Zheng
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Patent number: 11745773Abstract: The electric vehicle can include: a payload interface, a payload suspension, a chassis, a set of bumpers, a sensor suite, a controller, a chassis suspension, and an electric powertrain. The electric vehicle 100 can optionally include a payload adapter, a power source, a cooling subsystem, and/or any other suitable components. The electric vehicle functions to structurally support a payload, such as a cargo container (e.g., intermodal container, ISO container, etc.), and/or to facilitate transportation of a payload via railway infrastructure.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Parallel Systems, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Soule, John Howard, Benjamin Stuart Stabler
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Patent number: 11746474Abstract: A cab enclosure for a railroad spike driving machine to protect the operators from the environment includes a pair of pivoting railroad spike trays which can pivot up/down and left/right.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: S.W.N.G., Inc.Inventors: Justin J. Pipol, Daniel Henke
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Patent number: 11745770Abstract: Device for supporting and guiding a hauling cable of a vehicle transportation installation by cable, including a sheave configured for supporting and guiding the hauling cable, a first girder provided with a main axis, a second girder supporting the sheave and mounted pivotally movable around the main axis, at least one recovery element mounted on the first girder, and at least one cooperating element mounted on the second girder at a distance from said at least one recovery element in a normal operating state where the second girder swivels around the main axis, and configured to be in contact with said at least one recovery element in an abnormal operating state corresponding to failure of the main axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: POMAInventors: Salah Messaoud, Sylvain Valayer, Stéphane Coudurier
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Patent number: 11731668Abstract: According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a center sill extending along a longitudinal centerline of the railcar, and two side sills. The two side sills are on opposite sides of, and extend parallel with, the center sill. The railcar further comprises a first inner discharge door coupled to the railcar proximate the center sill on a first side of a longitudinal centerline of the railcar (first side); a second inner discharge door coupled to the railcar proximate the center sill on a second side of the longitudinal centerline (second side); a first outer discharge door coupled proximate the side sill on the first side; a second outer discharge door coupled proximate the side sill on the second side; a first linkage coupling the first inner discharge door to the second outer discharge door; and a second linkage coupling the second inner discharge door to the first outer discharge door.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: TRINITY RAIL GROUP, LLCInventor: Lee A. Reitz
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Patent number: 11732423Abstract: A spring anchor assembly for fastening track rail includes a spring anchor having a hook end, a tail end, and a middle section. An insulator is fitted upon the spring anchor and includes a plurality of rib walls extending fore and aft between a first outer insulator wall and a second outer insulator wall. The outer insulator walls form downward depending wall sections extending, respectively, from termination locations of the rib walls to the lower peripheral edges. A channel is formed between the wall sections and receives the middle section, contacted by the plurality of rib walls at the termination locations. The insulator insulates the spring anchor to limit leaking electrical currents from the track rail to ground.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Progress Rail Services CorporationInventor: Edward Constantine
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Patent number: 11724723Abstract: A crane-less locked axle cradle system configured to lift a rail vehicle wheel off a rail and transport the lifted wheel along a rail is presented. The present disclosure discloses a system that can lift the locked-axle wheel off the rail with no crane thereby allowing the train with a locked axle to be transported off the mainline in a shorter period of time. A cradle system can have two parts (male and female members with wedges and rail wheels) that can be mated with each other around a rail wheel. As the male and female members are pulled together, locked wheel engagers can couple with different portions of the locked-axle wheel, causing the locked-axle wheel to lift off the rail given the gradient of the wedge or rotation of the wheel. In another embodiment, the wheel lifting can be assisted by an air bag, hydraulic cylinder, jack, or other.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Henry R. Schafer, Christopher M. Romero, Timothy Webb, Mike E. Teaford, Edward M. Meyers, Ryan L. Kimberlin, Larry C. Valentine
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Patent number: 11724601Abstract: A magnetic bearing system for controlling magnetic coupling between a mobile carriage and a guideway. The magnetic bearing system includes at least two engines successively arranged in a travel direction, wherein each of the at least two engines comprises at least two poles. The at least two engines have centerlines in the travel direction that are fixedly offset from each other, and the at least two engines are configured to be magnetically coupled to the guideway through air gaps.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Hyperloop Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Irfan-ur-rab Usman, Tim Lambert