A Christmas stocking having illumination means associated therewith for signalling the arrival of Santa Claus.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7359770 | Control system for operating long vehicles The present invention is directed to a system and method for optimizing the dynamics and energy usage of long vehicles such as freight trains by determining their operating conditions and calculating an optimal sequence of power and braking control actions. The sequ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7343314 | System and method for scheduling and train control A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing t... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7255525 | Online, safe service technique for automated libraries A safety system for online servicing of a media library is provided, wherein the library comprises a plurality of media storage cells and at least one media picker robot that moves along the media storage cells, and wherein the library is contained within an enclosu... | 08/14/2007 |
| RE39758 | Remote control system for a locomotive A locomotive control system comprising a remote transmitter issuing RF binary coded commands and a slave controller mounted on the locomotive that decodes the transmission and operates in dependence thereof various actuators to carry into effect the commands of the ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7177732 | Automatic coupling of locomotive to railcars An automatic coupling system (10) for a locomotive (11). The automatic coupling system includes a means for detecting a coupling contact and for controlling locomotive systems such as throttle and brakes in response to such contact. The means for detec... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7143017 | Remote control locomotive simulator A remote control locomotive simulator including a display and a first input device similar to a remote control locomotive controller to be operated by the operator to provide train signals. A computer drives the display to move a train relative to a track in respons... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7092801 | Train control system and method of controlling a train or trains A train control system includes positioning systems at the end of the train and at the front of the train, allowing the conductor or engineer to unambiguously determine that no cars of the train have become detached. The positioning system at the end of the train is... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7027901 | Transmitter and receiver device for train detection A transmitter and receiver device used together with a control device provided on ground, which performs detection of a train, performs transmission and reception of a train detecting signal, and collates data added to a received train detection signal with predeter... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7021588 | System and method for managing two or more locomotives of a consist The system and method for controlling a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The method comprises receiving a control command and determining a power operating mode of the first locomotive and a power operating mode of th... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7021589 | Control system for optimizing the operation of two or more locomotives of a consist A system for controlling, a response to an operator, a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The system comprises an operator control, a first controller, a second controller, and a communication link. Alternatively, the s... | 04/04/2006 |
| RE39011 | Remote control system for a locomotive A locomotive control system comprising a remote transmitter issuing RF binary-coded commands and a slave controller mounted on the locomotive that decodes the transmission and operates in dependence thereof various actuators to carry into effect the commands of the ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6996461 | Method and system for ensuring that a train does not pass an improperly configured device A train control system includes a positioning system and consults a database to determine when the train is approaching a configurable device such as a switch or grade crossing gate. The system continuously interrogates the device to determine its status as the trai... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6954690 | Vehicle movement stabilizing device A vehicle movement stabilizing device is provided which in effectively functioning braking, acceleration and turning movement during travel of the vehicle by activating the frictional force adding device, reliably controls the start and end of the operation of the f... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6931995 | Train maintenance automating system An automation system for train maintenance that performs operations related to train maintenance without human intervention is provided. The automation system for train maintenance comprises a refuse reservoir (10), a sewage tank (20), a water tank ( | 08/23/2005 |
| 6928855 | Zero speed indicating devices and processes for testing same The subject invention is directed to methods, processes and decisions on test outcomes for testing for faulty, therefor dangerous, performance of zero speed indicators that are used to control the opening of barriers guarding moving machine components. The indicator... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6631873 | Protection device to prevent train incursions into a forbidden area A protection device for a train is disclosed. The protection device works in conjunction with a remote controlled braking system on the train. The remote controlled braking system includes a transmitter in the locomotive of the train and a receiver locate... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6629709 | Wheel/rail adhesion enhancement If the wheel/rail adhesion for a railway vehicle is insufficient then the wheels may slip when braking. If slipping is detected, a control system may reduce the brake pressure to permit a controlled level of slip and so to optimize the braking force for t... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6484085 | Entering and exiting ECP mode for an integrated ECP/EAB system A method of transitioning between the pneumatic and electric modes of an integrated pneumatic/electro-pneumatic train brake system which includes a brake control having a common operator brake controller. Initially, the control applies the brakes in respo... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6353780 | Grade speed control and method for railway freight vehicle A grade speed control system and method for a railway freight vehicle can include a microprocessor receiving input from, for example, the dynamic and independent brakes on the locomotive, and the brakes on each rail car. The microprocessor can store value... | 03/05/2002 |
| 6332107 | Efficient high density train operations The present invention provides methods for preventing low train voltages and managing interference, thereby improving the efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort associated with commuter trains. An algorithm implementing neural network technology i... | 12/18/2001 |
| 6219595 | Method of minimizing undesirable brake release A method of and a system for minimizing undesirable brake release in the brake system of a train having a pneumatic brake on each car connected to a brake pipe which is controlled by a brake pipe controller. The method includes determining the status of t... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6173849 | Termination of power and communications trainline of electro-pneumatic brakes A leading end termination connector on each locomotive and an EP line termination circuit in the leading end termination connector. The leading end connector of a locomotive not connected to an adjacent locomotive is connected to the leading end terminati... | 01/16/2001 |
| 6108596 | Process and device for the control and/or regulation of wagon body tilt systems A process and a device for the control and/or regulation of a wagon body tilt system (1) for a railed vehicle, e.g., a train. Limit values with respect to comfort are taken into consideration for this purpose. In an equivalent way, these limit values pres... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6067485 | Method of controlling 20 pipe pressure An improved method is used to control the pressure in the IAR pipe of a train. The train is typically equipped with an independent brake handle, a control reservoir, an IAR control portion and a computer for controlling the IAR control portion generally a... | 05/23/2000 |
| 6035250 | Locomotive brake control unit with dynamic brake interlock A locomotive brake control unit includes a manifold having a brake cylinder module for controlling pressure at the brake cylinder port in response to at least train braking signals and first and second ports on the control unit for receiving electropneuma... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6012681 | Automatic identification of EP brake equipped railcars An automatic identification system having a storage device mounted on the car, which includes the car identification data. A reading device is connected to a local communication node which communicates with the locomotive in a network. The local communica... | 01/11/2000 |
| 6002978 | Hoslter control of a computer train brake system The present hostler control of a computer control train brake system combines the computer control of the train and locomotive brake system with a manual control during a hostler mode to provide soft and safe operation of the vehicle. Interlocks provide e... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5995881 | Integrated cab signal rail navigation system The cab signal and rail navigation systems of a railway locomotive are combined to form a single integrated system capable of acting as an automatic train protection system. The train travels along a railway route equipped with a wayside signaling system ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5967465 | Automatic identification of EP brake equipped railcars An automatic identification system having a storage device mounted on the car, which includes the car identification data. A reading device is connected to a local communication node which communicates with the locomotive in a network. The local communica... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5950967 | Enhanced distributed power A train throttle and brake control apparatus is provided for use in a train having a master locomotive and one or more slave locomotives remotely located in the train. In a first embodiment, the apparatus includes a train force calculator which approximat... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5936517 | System to minimize the distance between trains Each train detects its location, velocity, and the time it will spend to pass the next bifurcation, joint, and intersection, respectively, and sends the information periodically to the trains that are or will be behind the train. The controller of each bi... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5901650 | Dynamic buffer for conveyor modules A method of operating an automotive production line including the steps of advancing a plurality of self-propelled carriages along a conveyor of the production line. The carriages are continuously advanced at a fixed operational speed and a fixed operatio... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5803411 | Method and apparatus for initializing an automated train control system A vehicle initialization system for a control system that includes a vehicle, such as a train that is to be initialized, a vehicle track, a first reader, an onboard computer and a tachometer. The vehicle is adapted to coact with the track. At least two sp... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5758848 | Automatic switching system for track-bound freight cars An automatic switching system integrated into freight cars includes a microcomputer for controlling the automatic system and regulating the shunting speed, a rotary pulse generator for determining the shunting distance and freight car speed, distance sens... | 06/02/1998 |
| 5740029 | Software algorithm providing dynamic configuration of dead band control criteria within a micro based real time process control environment The invention provides a real time process control system for control of machinery. The system has a master control module and a slave control module which receives control signals from the master control module. Both control modules send control signals ... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5734989 | Environmentally controlled locomotive computer and display To reduce the environmental affects on a locomotive control system, optical couplers connect the brake control handle and propulsion control handle to the computer and connect electromagnetic control valves to the computer.... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5681015 | Radio-based electro-pneumatic control communications system A radio-based, Electro-Pneumatic (EP) rail car braking system supports both End-of-Train (EOT) and Distributed Power Control (DPC) communication systems. The EP rail car braking system operates within existing frequency allocations and meets operational r... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5673876 | Automatic electric trainline safety interlock A method and apparatus for preventing energization or powering of an electric trainline until a test signal transmitted through the train is verified by the locomotive.... | 10/07/1997 |
| 5642869 | Apparatus for detecting the distance between two objects An optical scanner transmits a light beam from the forward end of a moving track vehicle with the beam inclined toward the direction of movement toward another vehicle on the track. A highly reflective retroreflector tape is secured to the rear end of the... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5638276 | Microprocessor based system and method for regulating a railroad car brake pipe pressure A microprocessor based brake pipe pressure control system for one or more cars of a railroad train wherein the local exhaust of each car brake pipe pressure, under control of an electro-pneumatic valve, is individually regulated such that the gradient of ... | 06/10/1997 |