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Apparatus and method for improving the safety of railroad systems

Patent 5986547 Issued on November 16, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject March 3, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

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Inventors

Application

No. 811128 filed on 03/03/1997

US Classes:

340/500, CONDITION RESPONSIVE INDICATING SYSTEM246/121, Electric246/122R, TRAIN-POSITION INDICATION246/125, ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC HIGHWAY SIGNALS, MINE DOORS, AND GATES246/167R, CAB SIGNAL OR TRAIN CONTROL340/825.49, Location indication340/933, VEHICLE DETECTORS701/19, Railway vehicle701/205, Determination of along-track or cross-track deviations701/207Employing position determining equipment

Examiners

Primary: Crosland, Donnie L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

  • 0 406 877 A2 EP. 07/13/1990
  • 0 595 685 A1 EP. 10/13/1993
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  • 2 703 200 A1 FR. 03/13/1993
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  • 1693602 A1 SU. 11/13/1991
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  • WO 91/09375 WO. 06/13/1991
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  • WO 95/18432 WO. 07/13/1995

International Classes

G08B 023/00
B61L 001/02

Abstract

An apparatus and method for improving the safety of railroad systems of the present invention includes a system for navigating a railroad vehicle over railroad tracks. An attitude sensor is used to dynamically sense the attitude of the railroad vehicle as it travels over a set of railroad tracks. By sensing the attitude of the railroad vehicle, a determination of the condition of the railroad tracks can be made. The apparatus also sensed the position of the railroad vehicle in real time to correlate the sensed attitude with a precise position along the railroad tracks. The navigation system is capable of determining a highly accurate position of the vehicle in real time. The position of the vehicle is also used to navigate the railroad vehicle.

Other References

  • P. Daum et al., Aided Intertial Land Navigation System (ILANA) with a Minimum Set of Inertial Sensors, Position Location and Navigation Symposium (PLANS), Las Vegas, Apr. 11-15, 1994, Apr. 11, 1994, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, pp. 284-291, XP000489353 (see p. 284, right hand column)
  • Ash et al., "GPS/Inertial Mapping (GIM) System for Real Time Mapping of Roadways Using WADGPS", 1995, pp. 1825-1828, ION Fall Meeting, Palm Springs, C
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