Patents Examined by Zachary L Kuhfuss
  • Patent number: 11325620
    Abstract: A portable rope tow assembly is used to transport people, typically skiing or snowboarding, along snow covered ground and usually up hill. The assembly is extremely lightweight, portable and rapid to deploy. It uses a variable frequency drive to control an electric drive motor, and enables convenient variable speed and reverse direction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Towpro Lifts, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Deane Roy, William W. Mayo
  • Patent number: 11318965
    Abstract: A bogie for a rail vehicle, such as a locomotive, includes a frame, two wheelsets and at least one drive unit. The drive unit is mounted to the frame and to the wheelset. A motor is at least partially supported by the frame while a gearbox to which it is flexibly connected has a main gear mounted on the one wheelset as well as a pinion for driving the main gear. The gearbox is connected to the frame by a reaction rod placed away from the wheel-axle on which the gearbox is mounted. The reaction rod, which defines an axis, is aligned so that its axis extends substantially through a center of the bogie when projected in a longitudinal-vertical plane bisecting the bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Cepak, Andreas Bauer, Federic B. Carl, Primoz Neme
  • Patent number: 11318964
    Abstract: The invention belongs to the field of vehicles, and particularly relates to a mobile cabin, a rail, and a three-dimensional rail transit system. The mobile cabin includes a mobile cabin chassis, wherein a transparent housing is arranged on the mobile cabin chassis, two or more seats are arranged in a cavity defined by the transparent housing and the mobile cabin chassis, front rubber steering wheels and a rubber driving wheel are arranged on the mobile cabin chassis, the front rubber steering wheels are guide wheels, and the rubber driving wheel is used for driving the whole mobile cabin. The invention has the remarkable effects of improving the traffic capacity and the comfort of personal travel and realizing intelligent traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTG Technology Inc
    Inventor: Naiqun Tao
  • Patent number: 11318845
    Abstract: A system for wireless power transfer of on-road vehicles is provided herein. The system includes a plurality of base stations; a power transmission line located beneath a surface of a road having a plurality of segments, each segment having at least one pair of coils and at least one capacitor electrically connected via a switch to the coils in the segment; and at least one vehicle having at least one power receiving segment having at least two coils, connected to at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one vehicle further includes a communication transmitter configured to transmit a power requesting signal, wherein the coils of the power transmitting segment are configured to receive the power requesting signal; and wherein each of the base stations is further configured to feed a plurality of the power transmitting segments with current at a resonance frequency, responsive to the power requesting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Electric Road Ltd.
    Inventor: Hanan Rumbak
  • Patent number: 11305796
    Abstract: A railroad infrastructure communication network is presented. The network can include a plurality of infrastructure nodes distributed proximate a railroad track, such as near railroad equipment and/or assets. Infrastructure nodes can be configured to receive data from equipment sensor and/or assets and transmit such data via the network. Infrastructure nodes can further generate alert and/or alert packets based on such received data. Infrastructure nodes can self-define in a network infrastructure depending on configured connection types, and can for example, serve as repeater nodes (to promulgate a transmission to additional infrastructure nodes) and/or collector nodes (to collect data for a centralized server node). A server node can be configured to receive data and/or packet from infrastructure nodes and generate requests for additional systems, personnel, etc. to address such requests. The network can limit the data transmission size and leverage distributed processing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Kent Shue, Carlos Aguilera, Marcus Parrott, Jerry Wade Specht, Perry Peden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11305794
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an interlocking protection device for turnout switching. The interlocking protection device for turnout switching comprises a receiving module, a confirmation module, a processing module, and a centralized control interlocking module, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive a turnout switching instruction; the confirmation module is configured to receive a confirmation instruction; the processing module is configured to determine a target turnout position according to the turnout switching instruction and output a driving confirmation signal according to the confirmation instruction; and the centralized control interlocking module comprises a confirmation unit and a position switch unit. Under a centralized control mode, the confirmation unit carries out separate turnout locking according to the target turnout position and carries out locking confirmation according to the driving confirmation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yue Fang, Hongtao Wang, Jianbo Wu, Yun Chen, Peng He, Xianhua Liu
  • Patent number: 11305795
    Abstract: A method for assessing contamination of a rail, in particular for a railway vehicle, comprises the steps of imposing a first sliding value lower than a first threshold between the wheels of a first controlled axle and the rail, the first controlled axle being the head axle of the railway vehicle, imposing a second sliding value greater than a second threshold between the wheels of a second controlled axle and the rail, the second axle following the first axle and the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, and determining the trend of an adhesion curve between the wheels belonging to a plurality of controlled axles and the rail, based on a first adhesion value between the wheels of the first axle and the rail, and a second adhesion value between the wheels of the second axle and the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Frea, Luc Imbert
  • Patent number: 11305791
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a rail transport system. The rail transport system includes: a rail, where the rail is provided with an escape passage; and a rail vehicle, where the rail vehicle includes a vehicle body and a plurality of bogies, the plurality of bogies respectively movably straddles the rail, and the vehicle body is connected to the plurality of bogies and pulled by the plurality of bogies to travel along the rail; and the vehicle body includes a plurality of compartments hinged sequentially along a length direction of the rail. The rail transport system according to this embodiment of the present disclosure has advantages such as facilitation of evacuation of passengers in an emergency, low costs, small occupied space, small rail weight bearing, high stability, and large passenger capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Ren, Hao Zeng, Junjie Liu, Fanghong Peng, Xingcan Huang
  • Patent number: 11293145
    Abstract: An installation device for tension clamps for attaching a rail to a railroad tie or another rail substructure, a method for attaching at least two tension clamps in their installation position by such an installation device, and a system made of an installation device with a drive device connected to it are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SCHWIHAG AG
    Inventors: Roland Buda, Daniel Walter, Thomas Dahmann, Markus Weigele
  • Patent number: 11285816
    Abstract: A current collector for a multi-pole contact line system has a lower arm that is pivotally mounted on a base and at least two upper arms that are pivotally mounted on an end of the lower arm opposite the base. The current collector also has at least two contact assemblies that are arranged on the respective upper arms and are associated with separate different poles of a contact line. The current collector further has a central compensating rocker arranged on the base and at least two connecting rods, the first end of each of which is pivotally connected to the central compensating rocker and the second end of each of which is pivotally connected to one of the at least two upper arms. An electrified transport system uses such a current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Francke
  • Patent number: 11286970
    Abstract: A corner connection is provided between support elements of a cableway cabin. The corner connection has a support element (1), designed as an elongated strut having a hollow end (2), and an angled connecting element (3) having a connecting piece (4). The connecting piece (4) is insertable into the hollow end (2) of the support element (1) in a form-fitting manner. An inner shape of the hollow end (2) and an outer shape of the connecting piece (4) have an angular design. At least two oppositely situated surfaces of the hollow end (2) and the connecting piece (4) are provided in a form-fitting manner in such a way that a gap (14, 14?) remains between the inner surface (10, 10?) of the hollow end (2) and the outer surface (9, 9?) of the connecting piece (4), wherein an adhesive material is provided in the gap (14, 14?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROPETRANS AG
    Inventor: Christoph Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11279259
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rail supporting assembly for supporting a contact rail of a railway system that includes a base, a rail support head positioned relative to the base, and a support member comprising a dielectric phenolic material coupled to and positioned between the rail support head and the base to thereby support and insulate the contact rail. The support member includes a fracture area to facilitate fracturing of a sidewall of the support member when a fracturing force, such as a electrical arc event, is applied to the support member. The support member preferably is coated with a varnish to prevent absorption of water by the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Precision Rail and Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Mazur
  • Patent number: 11279382
    Abstract: A transport carriage for transporting workpieces, the transport carriage being movable on a mounting rail in a transport direction. The transport carriage has a transport carriage chassis which supports at least one drive roller that can roll on a drive running surface of the mounting rail and can be driven by a drive motor, the drive motor being carried along with the transport carriage chassis. The transport carriage additionally includes at least one securing device for at least one workpiece. The transport carriage carries along an autonomous power supply device which can supply the drive motor with power. A system is additionally provided for transporting workpieces, having a rail system which has at least one mounting rail and includes at least one such transport carriage which can be moved on the mounting rail in a transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PENTANOVA CS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Riegraf, Joerg Robbin
  • Patent number: 11283247
    Abstract: A carrier mechanism for walking on a line includes a carrier platform constituted by a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate and a longitudinal movable plate, a walking apparatus, a clamping apparatus, a driving apparatus, and a self-balance control apparatus configured to adjust a posture of the carrier mechanism. The longitudinal movable plate is slidably arranged on the second mounting plate fixedly connected to the first mounting plate in parallel. The walking apparatus includes at least two sets of walking wheels arranged along a walking direction. The clamping apparatus is slidably arranged on the lower side of the longitudinal movable plate. The driving apparatus includes a first driving apparatus configured to drive the walking wheels to roll, and a second driving apparatus configured to drive the longitudinal movable plate to move. The clamping apparatus is driven by the longitudinal movable plate to clamp or release a to-be-inspected target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF AUTOMATION, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Guodong Yang, Xiaoyu Long, Weiqing Zhao, En Li, Zize Liang, Fengshui Jing, Han Wang, Hao Wang, Zishu Gao, Yunong Tian, Yuansong Sun, Sixi Lu, Guangyao Xu
  • Patent number: 11279383
    Abstract: A sleeper train carriage and a sleeper train, a compartment (100) and an aisle (101) is provided within the sleeper train carriage, and a partition wall is provided between the compartment (100) and the aisle (101). The partition wall includes a compartment-side partition wall (1) and an aisle-side partition wall (2). The aisle-side partition wall (2) includes a fixed plate (21) and a movable plate (22) which are arranged in a vertical direction, the movable plate (22) is located above the fixed plate (21), an upper end of the movable plate (22) is fixedly connected to one end of a top plate of the aisle (3), the other end of the top plate of the aisle (3) is detachably connected to the side wall (4) of the train body, and a lower end of the movable plate (22) is hinged to the train body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: CRRC TANGSHAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiayan Li, Lei Zhang, Guoyan Gao, Liwei Shen, Baolin Yu, Chenhui Liu
  • Patent number: 11276597
    Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle includes a fall prevention mechanism including a first rotary member, a fall prevention member, and a second rotary member. The first rotary member includes a base end portion supported so as to be rotatable about a first rotation shaft extending along direction Y. The fall prevention member is provided in a tip end portion of the first rotary member and is movable to a space below a cassette. The second rotary member includes a base end portion supported so as to be rotatable about a second rotation shaft extending along direction Z, and a tip end portion to which the first rotary member is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11268247
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate installation and adjustment of railway components are disclosed. Aligning of a railway anchor manipulator and a railway fastener installer with respect to a railway tie may be caused. The railway anchor manipulator may be slidably coupled with a frame assembly of a railway workhead, and may include anchor tools. The railway fastener installer may be slidably coupled with the main shaft structure, may include a hammer assembly, and may be operable to install railway fasteners through holes of a railway tie plate. The railway fastener installer may be caused to install the railway fasteners. The railway anchor manipulator may be lowered to a deployed position, and railway anchors may be adjusted with the anchor tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MOW Equipment Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: William Michael Hamilton, Ryan Jay Koci, Justin Wynne Tomac
  • Patent number: 11267492
    Abstract: A railcar diaphragm includes a car side assembly configured to be coupled to an end wall of a railcar, a wear side assembly configured to engage the wear side assembly of another railcar diaphragm or an other railcar when the other railcar is coupled to the railcar, a bellows assembly disposed between the car side assembly and the wear side assembly to provide a pathway and at least one elastomer suspension unit assembly including an elastomer suspension unit, a bearing assembly and an arm having a first end coupled to the elastomer suspension unit and a second end coupled to the bearing assembly. The elastomer suspension unit assembly is coupled to the car side or wear side assembly via the bearing assembly. The arm is biased towards an initial position by the elastomer suspension unit as a distance between the car side assembly and the wear side assembly changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HUBNER Manufacturing Corp
    Inventors: Barbara Jo Wood, Thomas Merrill Turko, Jacob Adam Reece
  • Patent number: 11268246
    Abstract: A tuned mass damper for damping airborne vibrations at one or more rail frequencies from a rail generated by movement of wheels over the rail. The tuned mass damper includes one or more damper elements including a damper element material, and a body element including a body material. The damper elements are at least partially embedded in the body element. The body element has inner and lower exterior surfaces formed to fit within first and second pockets on opposite first and second sides of the rail defined by a web portion and a foot. The damper element material and the body material are selected and formed so that the tuned mass damper vibrates in response to movement of the wheels over the rail at one or more damper frequencies that at least partially interferes with the rail frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Polycorp Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Theodore Ellis, Marco Leone
  • Patent number: 11260693
    Abstract: A system and method herein relate to vehicle control by adjusting a torque distribution of the vehicle. The system includes a first motor configured to provide a torque to a first wheel, and a delivery system configured to controllably apply a traction control compound to a route on which the first wheel is configured to travel. The system also includes a controller circuit having one or more processors. The controller circuit is configured to control the delivery system to apply the traction control compound to the route based on a monitored temperature of the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo Cezar de Faria Pessoa, Marc Flammia, Geraldo Alwin Griese, Cesar Domingos, Anu KJ