Patents by Inventor Kent Roberts
Kent Roberts 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: 20250033679Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jeffrey R. Allen, Michael E. Ramolt, Brent A. Russell, Kent Robert Shue
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Patent number: 12116028Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2022Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Ryan Allen, Michael Ramolt, Brent Russell, Kent Robert Shue
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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: 20230083828Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Ryan Allen, Michael Ramolt, Brent Russell, Kent Robert Shue
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Patent number: 11511779Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Ryan Allen, Michael Ramolt, Brent Russell, Kent Robert Shue
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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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Publication number: 20220032975Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Ryan Allen, Michael Ramolt, Brent Russell, Kent Robert Shue
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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: 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: 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
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Patent number: 9597919Abstract: A clipboard that holds trading cards in a protected, secure position and that allows them to be signed while in the clipboard. The clipboard has recessed regions into which trading cards may be placed. Cards are held in place by retaining tabs along the bottom edge, and by a clip that contacts the top edge of the cards; thus the majority of the cards' areas are exposed for autographs. The edges of the recessed regions are offset from the corners with corner relief regions to prevent damage to the corners of the cards. Finger holes through the back of the recessed regions allow a user to push the cards gently out of the recessed area for removal. The clipboard may have a top hole for attachment of a lanyard that may be used to carry the clipboard or to lower it to a person for an autograph or signature.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Inventors: Allen Lee Ruggles, Michael Kent Roberts
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Publication number: 20090191991Abstract: A broadhead point for arrows having a penetrating tip and a trailing cutting portion with a plurality of projecting cutting edges and a deflector shoulder that directs air through which the penetrating tip passes rearwardly and outwardly to the outermost edges of the cutting blades, and to create an area of reduced air pressure in advance of the fixed cutting blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Brent Roberts, Kent Roberts
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Patent number: D814566Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Inventors: Allen Lee Ruggles, Michael Kent Roberts