Patents by Inventor William LeFebvre
William LeFebvre 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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Patent number: 12623650Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward a target to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy
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Patent number: 12545302Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward targets that designated as one or more brake assembly components or locations on the components to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2023Date of Patent: February 10, 2026Assignee: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Ryan Green, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Ryan Brook
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Publication number: 20240190411Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: June 13, 2024Applicant: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Zasada, Zachary Ryan Brook
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Publication number: 20240075969Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward targets that designated as one or more brake assembly components or locations on the components to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Ryan Green, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Ryan Brook
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Patent number: 11858488Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Zasada, Zachary Ryan Brook
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Publication number: 20210276527Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward a target to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy
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Publication number: 20210278309Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Pennsy Digital Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Zasada, Zachary Ryan Brook
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Patent number: 10850755Abstract: Railyard management system for managing, assembling, disassembling and validating train consists and monitoring railcars in the railyard. The system provides for the collection of data and the movement of data from lower processing levels to higher processing levels, where an inference engine draws inferences regarding the current state of railcars and train consists within the railyard. The inferences are assigned confidence levels based on the methods and available data used to draw the inferences. The system can be used to track the location and orientation of railcars in the railyard and to validate order and orientation of assets in a train consist.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William Lefebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin, Thomas P. Fuhs
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Patent number: 10710619Abstract: A rail yard management system that takes advantage of infrastructure installed in rail yards and on railcars to allow the management of the railcars within a rail yard. The invention is also applicable to yard management for vehicles other than railcars.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin, Edward J. Mansfield
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Patent number: 10259477Abstract: A rail yard management system and method that takes advantage of infrastructure installed in rail yards and on train consists to allow the management of the assembly, disassembly and validation of train consists in the rail yard. A train management system and method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Amsted Rail CompanyInventors: William LeFebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin, Edward J. Mansfield
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Patent number: 10137915Abstract: A system for monitoring railcar and tram consist operational parameters and detecting anomalies in the operation and condition thereof using sensors to feed data to a distributive complex event processing engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Andrew Martin, Francis James Cooper, Rachel W. Adamec
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Publication number: 20180319414Abstract: Railyard management system for managing, assembling, disassembling and validating train consists and monitoring railcars in the railyard. The system provides for the collection of data and the movement of data from lower processing levels to higher processing levels, where an inference engine draws inferences regarding the current state of railcars and train consists within the railyard. The inferences are assigned confidence levels based on the methods and available data used to draw the inferences. The system can be used to track the location and orientation of railcars in the railyard and to validate order and orientation of assets in a train consist.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: William Lefebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin, Thomas P. Fuhs
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Patent number: 9663124Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Publication number: 20170021847Abstract: A rail yard management system and method that takes advantage of infrastructure installed in rail yards and on train consists to allow the management of the assembly, disassembly and validation of train consists in the rail yard. A train management system and method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2014Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin
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Publication number: 20160325767Abstract: A system for monitoring railcar and tram consist operational parameters and detecting anomalies in the operation and condition thereof using sensors to feed data to a distributive complex event processing engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2014Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Andrew Martin, Francis James COOPER, Rachel W. ADAMEC
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Publication number: 20160272228Abstract: A rail yard management system that takes advantage of infrastructure installed in rail yards and on railcars to allow the management of the railcars within a rail yard. The invention is also applicable to yard management for vehicles other than railcars.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Matthew Bonnes, Darren Dragish, Andrew Martin
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Publication number: 20150083869Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michel J. McCann
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Patent number: 8823537Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Publication number: 20140111356Abstract: A railcar sensing system is provided that in particular provides a system for sensing the orientation of a hatch of a railway tank car. The railcar sensing system includes an accelerometer for sensing the orientation of the hatch, a position sensing device for detecting the global position of the railcar, and a processing unit. The accelerometer sends a first signal to the processing unit when the orientation of the hatch changes more than a predetermined angle. The processing unit also senses whether the railway tank car is outside one of the preselected safe zones. If the railway tank car is located outside one of the preselected safe zones, and the accelerometer senses that the hatch orientation has been changed more than a predetermined angle, an alert signal is sent to a receiver indicative of such event.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Andrew Martin, Matt Bonnes
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Publication number: 20130092800Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann