Patents by Inventor Donald E. Stark

Donald E. Stark 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: 4117529
    Abstract: Two sensor coils are positioned one adjacent each separate gage rail at the track relay end of a dual gage track section in which train detection current flows in the two gage, i.e., other than common, rails in parallel and returns through the common rail to the energy source. The signal induced in each sensor coil by this track circuit current is applied to a separate receiver broadly tuned to the track circuit frequency. The amplified receiver outputs are applied to a comparator unit which generates an output signal only when the inputs from the receivers are substantially equal as a result of equal other rail currents. The comparator output holds energized a broken rail detector relay which releases to indicate a broken rail condition in the other rails when the sensor coil signals differ by a predetermined amount. If possibility of a shunt fault between the other rails exists, the detector arrangement is supplemented by an audio frequency (AF) circuit in the loop formed by the two other rails in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Stark, Anthony G. Ehrlich, Bruno Guillaumin
  • Patent number: 3986691
    Abstract: A frequency selective filter is connected between the track transformer and phase selective unit at the receiving end of a coded phase selective track circuit to reject interfering signals of propulsion current frequency. The series L-C filter comprises a capacitor and a two-winding reactor coil with a resistor permanently connected in series between the two windings. Each winding is tapped to allow a selection of the filter inductance to match track circuit impedance, including impedance bonds and ballast resistance. Taps for short track circuits include the second winding and the resistor to improve signal to noise ratio. Energy for short interlocking track circuits is of a higher frequency, and a special tap on the first winding is selected to enable filter tuning at this other frequency for train detection since basic frequency is still used during code off-time for cab signal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Anthony G. Ehrlich, Crawford E. Staples, Donald E. Stark
  • Patent number: D249954
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Simmons Gun Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Stark