Abstract: A railroad traffic control system that links each locomotive to a control center for communicating data and control signals. Using on-board computers, GPS and two-way communication hardware, rolling stock continuously communicate position, vital sign data, and other information for recording in a data base and for integration in a comprehensive computerized control system. The data base includes train schedules for real time display on train monitors. The current position of each train is compared to its planned schedule online to provide immediate information to the dispatcher to determine whether a corrective action is necessary. When a train's deviation from its planned schedule exceeds a predetermined parameter, the system automatically calculates alternative schedules for all trains in the system according to preselected operational constraints as necessary to minimize the effect of the deviation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 2002
Date of Patent:
September 28, 2004
Assignee:
Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Marco Antonio Villarreal Antelo, Luiz Steinberg, Tak Tong Chan
Abstract: A film cleaning apparatus for cleaning the photographic film prior to printing includes special guides which permit the film cleaning apparatus to be used with both first-run production and tabbed reprint production. The film cleaning apparatus is of the type having a pair of support members in opposed relationship which define a nip which is disposed transverse to the path of the photographic film. Two lengths of soft, lint-free wiping cloth extend through the nip with the opposed surfaces of the cloth at the nip defining a part of the path. The guide includes first and second generally parallel guide plates having opposing surfaces defining an opening which is part of the path. The opening defined by the guide plates has an inlet end and an outlet end, and the plates are in fixed position with respect to the film cleaning apparatus with the outlet end of the opening proximate the nip.