Ensco, Inc.

Adian Engineering Corporation

Other

Jeffrey Alan Bloom

Gary A Carr

Anthony Kwan Kim

David G Ford

Antonio Aquino

Georg J Seyrlehner

Christian Diaz

Cameron D Stuart

Tarek Sameh Shalaby

Chad Schneider

Jacobus McKenzie

G&uuml;nther W Oberlechner

Jacinda Leah Clemenzi

Corey Adam Merdler

Jennifer Steets

Ta-Lun Yang

A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Systems and methods for analyzing a rail

A deployable gage restraint measurement system includes a measurement axle assembly, a cross member, first and second support frames, first and second load cylinders, first and second swing arms, and an anti-rotation arm. The first and the second support frames are each pivotally coupled to the cross member. The first load cylinder is pivotally coupled to the first support frame and the second load cylinder is pivotally coupled to the second support frame. The first swing arm is pivotally coupled to (i) the first load cylinder about a first axis of the first swing arm, (ii) the first support frame about a second axis of the first swing arm, and (iii) the measurement axle assembly about a third axis of the first swing arm. The anti-rotational arm is pivotally coupled to (i) the first support frame and (ii) the measurement axle assembly.

Rail vehicle based deployable gage restraint measurement system

A railroad track inspection system and method for facilitating inspection of a rail component while traveling on the railroad track. The railroad track inspection system includes an optical path protection device for a protective window for optical sensors of an optical inspection system when it becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, mud, grease, and other contaminants that block or obscure an optical path of the sensors. The optical path protection device eliminates the need for a human operator to perform the periodic cleaning of the protective window by using a clear film with an automated advancement mechanism for providing clean film, as needed, for keeping the optical path of the optical sensors unobstructed and clear.

Optical path protection device and method for a railroad track inspection system

A split axle assembly for obtaining gage measurements of a track including a first wheel with a first split axle, a second wheel with a second split axle, a first bearing for rotatably receiving the first split axle, and a second bearing for rotatably receiving the second split axle, the first bearing and the second bearing being positioned inboard between the first wheel and the second wheel. In one embodiment, a sliding barrel device is provided. In another embodiment, the first bearing is received in a first bearing body and the second bearing is received in a second bearing body so that they are axially movable relative to one another. At least one linear guide is provided to allow axial movement of the first bearing body and the second bearing body relative to one another.

Inner bearing split axle assembly

A mount apparatus for mounting a measurement device on a rail car above a track surface of a railroad track including a securement member adapted to be secured to the unsprung component of the rail car, a pivot arm pivotably connected to the securement member, the pivot arm including a lever arm extending therefrom, and a swing arm connecting the lever arm of the pivot arm to the sprung component of the rail car. The swing arm rotates the pivot arm so that a distal end of the pivot arm is maintained at a substantially fixed height distance above the track surface.

Mount apparatus for mounting a measurement device on a rail car

A railroad test vehicle extending in a longitudinal direction comprises a measurement axle comprising two flanged wheels rotatable about a measuring axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and adapted to run on two track rails. A cross member extends transversely to the longitudinal direction, is vertically spaced from an underside of the vehicle and is affixed thereto. The connection between the measurement axle and the cross member comprises two trunnions transversely spaced from each other and mounted on the cross member, each trunnion defining a clearance with the cross member sufficient to enable the trunnion to be freely tilted to either side of the vehicle about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a support frame mounted on each trunnion for pivoting freely about an axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and two pairs of linkages, the pairs being transversely spaced from each other by the same distance as the transversely spaced trunnions. Each pair comprises an upper swing arm and a lower swing arm spaced from the upper swing arm in a vertical direction. A joint connects each swing arm to the measurement axle, and a hinge connects each swing arm either to a respective one of the support frames. At least one pressure cylinder having a vertically extending cylinder axis exerts a contact force pressing the measurement axle against the rails.

Railroad test vehicle comprising a railroad measurement axle suspension

A method and apparatus for measuring the geometry of a rail for a railroad track which includes mounting first and second cameras in back to back relationship to create a single camera axis passing through the camera lenses and to define a coordinate system with an origin centered between the cameras on the camera axis. First and second targets are placed on the rail to be measured and spaced an equal distance from the origin between first and second cameras respectively. The first and second cameras record the position of the first and second targets and provide position signals from which the mid-chord value of a chord extending between the first and second targets is computed.

Method and apparatus for track geometry measurement

A breakaway base and upper-separation joint for use with highway luminaire supports. The breakaway base, circular in cross section, has a lower-base section with a first rim, an upper-base section with a second rim, a split-ring retainer, and a perimeter band. The split-ring retainer captures the first rim of the lower-base section and the second rim of the upper-base section. The perimeter band encircles the split-ring retainer. In response to a vehicle impact with the upper-base section, the perimeter band fractures, causing disjunction of the split-ring retainer and allowing the upper-base section to separate from the lower-base section. Alternatively, the breakaway base is radial-spoked when viewed from above and has a first plurality of rims on the lower-base section, a second plurality of rims on the upper-base section, a plurality of retainer segments to engage and capture the first and second plurality of rims, and a plurality of fasteners to secure the retainer segments against the rims. In response to a vehicle impact with the upper-base section, the fasteners fracture, freeing the retainer segments and allowing the upper-base section to separate from the lower-base section. The upper-separation joint has an upper pole section, a lower pole section with a duct, fastening means for connecting the upper pole section to the lower pole section, plugging means for securing the fastening means, and separation means connected at a first end to the plugging means and at a second end, through the duct, to the lower-base section. Upon separation of the breakaway base due to vehicle impact, the separation means removes the plugging means, disengaging the fastening means and separating the upper pole section from the lower pole section.

Breakaway base and upper-separation joint

A highway self-restoring channelizing device that is placed along the traveled way to guide motorists through temporary construction zones. The self-restoring channelizing device comprises a foam rubber body encased in a reinforced rubber outer casing that is attached to a rigid base. The base is in turn adhered or anchored to highway pavement. The self-restoring channelizing device has a shape that when viewed in elevation from the side has a wide base sloping upward to a narrow almost vertical upper portion. When viewed from the direction of traffic the self-restoring channelizing device has a tall rectangular shape. The self-restoring channelizing device will not displace and immediately restores to its original shape when impacted or run-over by a vehicle. The self-restoring channelizing device is quickly adhered to pavement and can be removed using a scraper type tool.

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Jeffrey Alan Bloom