Patents by Inventor Don K. Johnson

Don K. Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6443538
    Abstract: A method to facilitate reducing delays in braking applications in a train using a system. The system includes at least one computer for executing brake control functions of the train and a brake pipe that extends along a length of the train for supplying air for brake operations. The train includes a lead locomotive, at least one remote locomotive, and at least one railcar. The method includes sensing a change in airflow in the brake pipe, determining whether the change in air flow is desired, sensing brake pipe pressure, and filtering undesired fluctuations in brake pipe pressure during brake applications based on the determination of whether a change in airflow is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: GE Harris Railway Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Smith, Jr., Milt Deno, Don K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020089232
    Abstract: A method to facilitate reducing delays in braking applications in a train using a system. The system includes at least one computer for executing brake control functions of the train and a brake pipe that extends along a length of the train for supplying air for brake operations. The train includes a lead locomotive, at least one remote locomotive, and at least one railcar. The method includes sensing a change in airflow in the brake pipe, determining whether the change in air flow is desired, sensing brake pipe pressure, and filtering undesired fluctuations in brake pipe pressure during brake applications based on the determination of whether a change in airflow is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Eugene A. Smith, Milt Deno, Don K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6375275
    Abstract: A brake pipe overcharge detection scheme determines when an overcharge situation occurs followed by an interruption of the brake pipe slow pressure reduction process of the brake system assimilation. When the slow pressure reduction process is interrupted, the rail cars may be left in an overcharged state (i.e., the car braking system is charged to a pressure greater than the normal brake pipe pressure). When the brake pipe pressure is set to its normal brake-release value, the pressure of the car braking systems will be greater than the brake pipe pressure. The car braking system will interpret this positive pressure differential as a request to set the car brakes, and will therefore partially apply the car brakes. As a result, additional drag forces will be encountered by the locomotive as it moves the train, which may result in train separations, and overheating of the car brake shoes and wheels may result in cracked wheels and derailments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: GE-Harris Railway Electronics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Smith, Jr., Milton C. Deno, Don K. Johnson, Dale H. Delaruelle, Carl Hines