Patents by Inventor Jerry Wade Specht
Jerry Wade Specht 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).
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Publication number: 20240001975Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Mitchell Wayne Beard, Kent Robert Shue
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Patent number: 11767041Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Mitchell Wayne Beard, Kent Robert Shue
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Publication number: 20230122108Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Kent Shue, Carlos Aguilera, Marcus Parrott, Jerry Wade Specht, Perry Peden, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230122092Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Kent Shue, Carlos Aguilera, Marcus Parrott, Jerry Wade Specht, Perry Peden, JR.
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Patent number: 11305796Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Kent Shue, Carlos Aguilera, Marcus Parrott, Jerry Wade Specht, Perry Peden, Jr.
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Publication number: 20220089203Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Mitchell Wayne Beard, Kent Robert Shue
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Patent number: 11230308Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Patent number: 11230307Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Patent number: 11104361Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Publication number: 20210253147Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Publication number: 20210253148Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Publication number: 20210086805Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Patent number: 10946878Abstract: A Wireless Slide Fence utilizing signal reflection technology to detect rockslides and can determine the size and location of fallen rocks/objects impeding travel along a train track is presented. The present disclosure solves the technological problem of determining rock size and location to validate rockslide/fall alarms to reduce false alarms, while minimizing repairs required by conventional systems through the use of obstacle detection units and vital logic controllers. The present disclosure improves the performance of the system by, generating validated alarms when fallen rocks/objects satisfy the size criteria and are located in an area hazardous to train operations. In one exemplary embodiment, a loitering time can be implemented to validate object detections to reduce false positives due to transient objects such as migrating animals.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Mitchell Beard, Paul Chiyang Shih, Paul Aaron Weidle, Jerry Wade Specht, Kent Robert Shue
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Patent number: 10894550Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard
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Publication number: 20180319413Abstract: A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Jerry Wade Specht, Ralph E. Young, Kent Robert Shue, Mitchell Wayne Beard