CA2521978A1 - Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2521978A1
CA2521978A1 CA 2521978 CA2521978A CA2521978A1 CA 2521978 A1 CA2521978 A1 CA 2521978A1 CA 2521978 CA2521978 CA 2521978 CA 2521978 A CA2521978 A CA 2521978A CA 2521978 A1 CA2521978 A1 CA 2521978A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
location
drop
detection module
drop location
coordinates
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA 2521978
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French (fr)
Other versions
CA2521978C (en
Inventor
Trevor Crozier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brandt Road Rail Corp
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Brandt Road Rail Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA002482709A external-priority patent/CA2482709A1/en
Application filed by Brandt Road Rail Corp filed Critical Brandt Road Rail Corp
Priority to CA2521978A priority Critical patent/CA2521978C/en
Publication of CA2521978A1 publication Critical patent/CA2521978A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2521978C publication Critical patent/CA2521978C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B27/00—Placing, renewing, working, cleaning, or taking-up the ballast, with or without concurrent work on the track; Devices therefor; Packing sleepers
    • E01B27/02—Placing the ballast; Making ballastway; Redistributing ballasting material; Machines or devices therefor; Levelling means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B29/00—Laying, rebuilding, or taking-up tracks; Tools or machines therefor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B29/00—Laying, rebuilding, or taking-up tracks; Tools or machines therefor
    • E01B29/06—Transporting, laying, removing or renewing sleepers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B35/00—Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)

Abstract

A method of distributing railroad ties or other materials in variable quantities at randomly spaced intervals. GPS coordinates are recorded for individual use locations where ties or materials are required. From the coordinates of these use locations, drop locations are selected at which materials can be conveniently dropped for subsequent use or installation. Capture of the use location coordinates is done by separate equipment from the distribution equipment, so that the data capture and distribution crews can work at their own efficiencies. The apparatus can be built into new railroad equipment or the like, or can also be manufactured in such a fashion as it can be retrofit.
Computer software for the optimization and location of the drop locations is also disclosed.

Claims (55)

1. A method of distribution of materials along a railroad, said method comprising:
a. With respect to a section of railroad track, identifying at least one use location in proximity to the railroad track at which a quantity of materials is required to be used;
b. Using at least one drop location detection module capable of communicating with a central location database and capable of determining the location of the drop location detection module in relation to the railroad track, determining and capturing the coordinates of each use location in relation to the railroad track;
c. Recording each set of use location coordinates to the central location database;
d. Using a location selection software component, and based upon the use location coordinates stored within the central database as well as a profile of rules relating to the optimized distribution of the materials in question:
i. selecting at least one drop location at which materials can be placed in proximity to the railroad track, wherein each drop location corresponds to at least one use location from the central database in relation to the railroad track in question and wherein each use location from the central database in relation to the railroad track in question corresponds to a drop location;
ii. determining the coordinates in relation to the railroad track for each drop location, being drop location coordinates, iii. determining the appropriate quantity of materials to be placed at each drop location, being the drop location quantity, wherein the drop location quantity for a particular drop location denotes a sufficient quantity of material to meet the requirements at each use location to which the drop location in question corresponds;
e. using materials distribution equipment equipped with a drop location detection module capable of communicating with the central location database, and capable of determining the location of the drop location detection module in relation to the railroad track:
i. while moving the materials distribution equipment along the railroad track, monitoring the location of the drop location detection module in relation to the railroad track and comparing the location of the drop location detection module to the drop location coordinates in respect of drop locations along the railroad track selected by the location selection software component;
ii. when it is determined that the drop location detection module has reached a drop location, causing the placement of the drop location quantity of materials at the drop location.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are stored in the central location database.
3. The method of Claim 2 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon and the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the device on which the central location database is resident.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the central location database is resident on the drop location detection module, and the drop location detection module is capable of communicating with the drop location detection module to access data from the central location database.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the central location database is resident on the drop location detection module, and the drop location detection module is capable of communicating with the drop location detection module to access data from the central location database.
6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the central location database is resident on a central computer, and wherein both the drop location detection modules and drop location detection modules are capable of communicating with the central computer for the purpose of communicating with the central location database.
7. The method of Claim 2 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon and drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the drop location detection module in advance of storage to the central location database.
8. The method of Claim 2 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon and drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the drop location detection module, and wherein the use location coordinates which are necessary for these calculations are downloaded or accessible to said drop location detection module.
9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the drop locations are selected and the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are computed in real time as the materials distribution equipment moves down the railroad track.
10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the number of drop locations is less than the number of use locations and wherein at least one drop location corresponds to more than one use location, being a multiple drop location, resulting in the placement of materials for use at more than one use location at each such multiple drop location.
11. The method of Claim 1 wherein the number of drop locations is the same as the number of use locations.
12. The method of Claim 1 wherein a single drop location is determined and sited in relation to multiple use locations.
13. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location detection module is equipped with a GPS receiver, and wherein the use location coordinates of a particular use location are captured by capturing the GPS position of the device at the use location.
14. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by a drop location detection module equipped with a GPS
receiver, and wherein said drop location detection module contains a GPS
receiver which can identify said drop locations based upon said drop location coordinates.
15. The method of Claim 1 wherein use location coordinates are determined as measurements from a fixed point along the railroad, and wherein the drop location detection module is capable of measuring along the railroad from said fixed point and capturing said measurement in respect of a use location once identified.
16. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by measuring along the railroad from a fixed point, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of measuring along the railroad from a fixed point and can identify said drop locations on this basis.
17. The method of Claim 1 wherein use location coordinates are determined by counting ties from a fixed point along the railroad, and wherein the drop location detection module is capable of counting ties along the railroad from said fixed point and capturing said count in respect of a use location once identified.
18. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by counting ties along the railroad from a fixed point, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of counting ties along the railroad from a fixed point and can identify said drop locations on this basis.
19. The method of Claim 1 wherein more than one type of materials is to be distributed, and wherein the drop location detection module allows the operator thereof to specify quantities or types of such materials to be placed at each such use location, said quantities or types of materials to be placed being stored in the central location database along with the use location coordinates.
20. The method of Claim 19 wherein a drop location is selected to correspond to each quantity of each material required at each use location, and wherein the drop locations for each different material may vary.
21. The method of Claim 1 wherein the materials being distributed are replacement ties.
22. The method of Claim 21 wherein the materials distribution equipment includes a picker arm for removal of such replacement ties from a transport railcar for placement at use locations.
23. The method of Claim 22 further comprising a load cell on the picker arm capable of measuring the number of ties removed from the railcars at one time.
24. The method of Claim 1 wherein the materials being distributed are ballast.
25. The method of Claim 1 further comprising measuring materials as they are placed at a drop location.
26. The method of Claim 1 wherein the materials are distributed automatically upon reaching a drop location.
27. The method of Claim 1 wherein materials are distributed manually upon the arrival of the materials distribution equipment at a drop location.
28. The method of Claim 27 further comprising notifying the operator of the materials distribution equipment when the drop location detection module has determined that the materials distribution equipment has reached a drop location.
29. The method of Claim 28 further comprising notifying the operator of the materials distribution equipment of the drop location quantity in respect of a drop location as it is reached.
30. The method of Claim 27 wherein the drop location detection module further comprises a slave display on the power unit of the distribution equipment, to advise the operator of the power unit when the distribution equipment is in position at a drop location in addition to advising the operator of the distribution equipment.
31. The method of Claim 1 wherein the drop location coordinates of a drop location can be captured by the drop location detection module rather than calculated by the location selection software component.
32. The method of Claim 24 wherein the distribution equipment automatically dispenses the predetermined drop location quantity of materials at each drop location.
33. The method of Claim 1 wherein the dispensing of the predetermined drop location quantity of materials at each drop location is accomplished by notifying the operator of the distribution equipment of the drop location and the drop location quantity, and wherein the operator of the distribution equipment can then effect the dispensing of the drop location quantity of materials.
34. The method of Claim 1 wherein upon determining proximity to a drop location, the drop location detection module will notify the operator of the distribution equipment.
35. A system for use in the adaptive distribution of variable quantities of materials along a railroad track, said system comprising:

a. A central location database capable of storing the coordinates in relation to the railroad track of use locations at which materials are required for use;

b. At least one drop location detection module which is able to determine its coordinates in relation to the railroad track and capture said coordinates as use location coordinates corresponding to a use location, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of communicating with the central location database for the purpose of storing use location coordinates therein;

c. A location selection software component which will select drop locations in proximity to the railroad track at which materials are to placed and will determine the coordinates of such drop locations in relation to the railroad track, being drop location coordinates, along with determining the quantity of materials to be placed at each drop location, being drop location quantities;

d. At least one piece of materials distribution equipment equipped with a drop location detection module capable of communicating with the central location database to access location coordinates stored thereon as well as being capable of determining its own position in relation to the railroad track;

Wherein in operation of the system, use location coordinates of use locations in relation to the railroad track will be captured to the central location database by the at least one drop location detection module;

And wherein the location selection software component will select drop locations and generate the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities corresponding thereto based upon use location coordinates and a profile of rules pertaining to the optimal distribution of the materials in question;

And wherein the drop location detection module on the materials distribution equipment will access the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities in respect of the railroad track and monitor or compare the location of the drop location detection module in relation to the railroad track against the drop location coordinates as the materials distribution equipment is moved along the railroad track, and upon determining that a drop location has been reached the materials distribution equipment will place the required drop location quantity of materials at that drop location.
36. The system of Claim 35 further comprising a central computer in which the central location database is resident, said central computer being capable of communicating with the at least one drop location detection module as well as with the at least one drop location detection module.
37. The system of Claim 35 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon the central computer.
38. The system of Claim 35 wherein the central location database is resident upon the at least one drop location detection module, and the at least one drop location detection module is capable of communicating with the drop location detection module to access location coordinates and data stored within the central location database.
39. The system of Claim 38 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon the drop location detection module and drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the drop location detection module in advance of storage to the central location database.
40. The system of Claim 35 wherein the central location database is resident upon the at least one drop location detection module, and the at least one drop location detection module is capable of communicating with the drop location detection module to store use location coordinates and data to the central location database.
41. The system of Claim 40 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon the drop location detection module and drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the drop location detection module, and wherein the use location coordinates which are necessary for these calculations are downloaded or accessible to said drop location detection module.
42. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are stored in the central location database.
43. The system of Claim 35 wherein the location selection software component is resident upon and the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are calculated by the device on which the central location database is resident.
44. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop locations are selected and the drop location coordinates and drop location quantities are computed in real-time as the materials distribution equipment moves down the railroad track.
45. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location detection module is equipped with a GPS receiver, and wherein the use location coordinates of a particular use location are the GPS position of the device at the use location.
46. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by a drop location detection module equipped with a GPS
receiver, and wherein said drop location detection module contains a GPS
receiver which can identify said drop locations based upon said drop location coordinates.
47. The system of Claim 35 wherein use location coordinates are determined as measurements from a fixed point along the railroad, and wherein the drop location detection module is capable of measuring along the railroad from said fixed point and capturing said measurement in respect of a use location once identified.
48. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by measuring along the railroad from a fixed point, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of measuring along the railroad from a fixed point and can identify said drop locations on this basis.
49. The system of Claim 35 wherein use location coordinates are determined by counting ties from a fixed point along the railroad, and wherein the drop location detection module is capable of counting ties along the railroad from said fixed point and capturing said count in respect of a use location once identified.
50. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location coordinates which are determined in respect of the drop locations are coordinates which are identifiable by counting ties along the railroad from a fixed point, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of counting ties along the railroad from a fixed point and can identify said drop locations on this basis.
51. The system of Claim 35 wherein more than one type of materials is to be distributed, and wherein the drop location detection module allows the operator thereof to specify quantities or types of such materials to be placed at each such use location, said quantities or types of materials to be placed being stored in the central location database along with the use location coordinates.
52. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location detection module will notify the operator of the materials distribution equipment when it has determined that the materials distribution equipment has reached a drop location.
53. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location detection module on at least one piece of materials distribution equipment further comprises a slave display on the power unit of the distribution equipment, to advise the operator of the power unit when the distribution equipment is in position at a drop location in addition to advising the operator of the distribution equipment.
54. The system of Claim 35 wherein the drop location detection module is capable of capturing the drop location coordinates of a drop location based on an operator triggering same.
55. A drop location detection module for use in a method of adaptive distribution of variable quantities of materials along a railroad track, the drop location detection module comprising a device equipped to measure the location of the drop location detection module in relation to the railroad track, and having a memory capable of storing coordinates in relation to the railroad track for use locations for materials to be distributed upon triggering of such a coordinate capture by the operator thereof, said coordinates being use location coordinates, and wherein said drop location detection module is capable of storing use location coordinates to a central location database for subsequent use in the selection of optimal drop locations for materials to be placed.
CA2521978A 2004-09-28 2005-09-28 Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications Active CA2521978C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2521978A CA2521978C (en) 2004-09-28 2005-09-28 Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002482709A CA2482709A1 (en) 2004-09-28 2004-09-28 Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications
CA2,482,709 2004-09-28
CA2521978A CA2521978C (en) 2004-09-28 2005-09-28 Method and apparatus for adaptive distribution of materials in railway maintenance and other applications

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Publication Number Publication Date
CA2521978A1 true CA2521978A1 (en) 2006-03-28
CA2521978C CA2521978C (en) 2010-04-13

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10696113B2 (en) 2017-09-07 2020-06-30 Custom Truck & Equipment LLC Railcar-mover vehicle
US11396254B2 (en) 2017-09-07 2022-07-26 Custom Truck & Equipment LLC Railcar-mover vehicle

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107608323B (en) * 2017-09-25 2019-10-22 惠科股份有限公司 Method and system for carrying and ordering
CN110904744B (en) * 2019-11-22 2021-09-10 华东交通大学 Vibration absorption system for improving steel rail and method for improving vibration absorption performance

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10696113B2 (en) 2017-09-07 2020-06-30 Custom Truck & Equipment LLC Railcar-mover vehicle
US11396254B2 (en) 2017-09-07 2022-07-26 Custom Truck & Equipment LLC Railcar-mover vehicle

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Publication number Publication date
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