Patents by Inventor Steven Mark Renfrow

Steven Mark Renfrow 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).

  • System and method for detecting broken rail and occupied track from a railway vehicle
    Patent number: 9162691
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Lee Polivka, Jerome J. Malone, Jr., Brian Eric Smith, Steven Mark Renfrow
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BROKEN RAIL AND OCCUPIED TRACK FROM A RAILWAY VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130284859
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Lee Polivka, Jerome J. Malone, Jr., Brian Eric Smith, Steven Mark Renfrow