The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2002
Thomas L. Jones, Asheville, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
A system for preventing trains from derailing and colliding with hazards on railways is disclosed. According to the invention, the system includes a safety vehicle (i.e., “trolley”) that travels along a railway a head of a train. The train and trolley each include GPS receivers which constantly provide GPS location information to a computer in the train. The computer calculates the distance between the trolley and the train, speed at which the train is traveling, and the distance required for the train to stop. The computer transmits acceleration and deceleration commands to the trolley and/or train to maintain a safe distance between the trolley and the train. If the trolley derails, stops or slows down due to a hazard on the railway or another problem, the computer generates commands to slow down or stop the train, as necessary, to prevent the train from derailing or colliding with the trolley or a hazard on the railway.