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. 26, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 17, 2004
Stanley M. Herzog, St. Joseph, MO (US);
Ivan E. Bounds, Lake Havasu City, AZ (US);
Ron Schmitz, Clarksdale, MO (US);
Randy Pogglemiller, Easton, MO (US);
Stephen Bedingfield, Savannah, MO (US);
Dan Laughlin, Platte City, MO (US);
Pat Harris, Lenexa, KS (US);
Tony Shirk, Clarksdale, MO (US);
Stanley M. Herzog, St. Joseph, MO (US);
Ivan E. Bounds, Lake Havasu City, AZ (US);
Ron Schmitz, Clarksdale, MO (US);
Randy Pogglemiller, Easton, MO (US);
Stephen Bedingfield, Savannah, MO (US);
Dan Laughlin, Platte City, MO (US);
Pat Harris, Lenexa, KS (US);
Tony Shirk, Clarksdale, MO (US);
Herzog Contracting Corporation, St. Joseph, MO (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates 'on the fly' surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.