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Method and system for controlling railroad surfacingRelated Patent Categories: Geometrical Instruments, Straight-line Light Ray Type, Alignment Device, Railway TrackMethod and system for controlling railroad surfacing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060032063, Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/602,078, filed on Aug. 16, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to railroad placement and surfacing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for controlling such railroad surfacing. The control system of the present invention can be used in conjunction with existing surfacing systems. [0003] When constructing a railroad, after properly grading the underlying land, a bed of gravel or ballast is formed from anywhere between one and three feet thick. The railroad ties are embedded in the ballast and the rails attached thereto. In the case of wooden railroad ties, the rails are nailed to the ties with spikes. In the case of concrete ties, clips connect the rails and the ties. [0004] The rails and ties must then be set at a predetermined height and alignment. The rails must be a certain height above the ballast and stay within pre-set tolerances with respect to alignment. [0005] A machine, often called a ballast tamper, is used to lift the rails and ties and vibrate the gravel ballast such that the ties can be set at the proper depth and the rails aligned. Survey points or stations established during the design of the rail track are used to determine what the position and depth of the rail and railroad ties should be. [0006] Over time, the railroad must be maintained as the gravel and ballast sink into the ground. Such sinking is not constant through the length of the railroad. Accordingly, the tamper machine must be utilized to periodically lift and realign the rail and railroad ties and either vibrate the existing gravel into place, or vibrate new gravel into place to properly set the ties and rails. [0007] In the past, a buggy having infrared projectors was moved to no more than 100 feet away from the tamper machine on what was considered "good track" and projected infrared beams to sensors positioned on the machine. A shadowboard on the machine cooperatively worked with the infrared projector and sensor to determine proper alignment between the projector and sensor, and thus proper alignment and position of the rails and tracks. This is commonly referred to as a shadowboard system. [0008] However, the current method of "tamper" or surfacing the rails and railroad ties using the existing shadowboard system leaves much to be desired. First, the buggy must be placed no more than 100 feet in front of the machine. Thus, every 100 feet the buggy must be repositioned. According to the survey station reference point or marker data, at least one individual moves a surface or vertical projector, as well as a horizontal or line projector, to the proper position. This may require manually moving the projectors to the desired point. In some cases, the projectors are positioned at the end of a tube or rod which can be moved horizontally or vertically using hydraulics or motors or the like. An operator at the tamper machine must move the shadowboards and/or sensors until the proper alignment is achieved, wherein the shadowboards block the infrared beam from the projectors. At least two or three individuals are required to operate the existing shadowboard system. The existing shadowboard system is also very difficult to use when the rail has vertical or horizontal curves or dips. In fact, it can take an average of three passes of the tamper machine to set the rails within the required tolerances. This is particularly the case when there are dips in the rails as the infrared projectors shoot their signals over the sensors. As the buggies with the projectors are typically between 50 and 100 feet in front of the tamper machine, there is a built-in error in the correction to the rails. For example, in the case when the buggy and projectors are positioned approximately 100 feet from the tamper machine, and assuming there is approximately a 15 feet spacing between the shadowboards and the sensors, there is an approximately 7:1 error correction ratio. Thus, if the projector is within a seven inch depth of track of the tamper machine, the tamper machine will create a one-inch depth from the desired height. Thus, the tamper machine must pass and lift the rails at least two or three times before the rails are of the sufficient height that the projectors can communicate with the infrared receivers on the tamper machine before the shadowboards come into alignment and indicate that the rail is set at the proper tolerance level. Once the tamper machine has lifted and aligned the rails to the desired position, typically after multiple passes, the buggy must be positioned uptrack of the tamper machine and the projectors manually positioned, as described above. [0009] As such, only approximately 800 feet per day can be surfaced using the existing shadowboard system and tamper machines. Moreover, the existing shadowboard systems are not extremely accurate and thus make the surfacing or tampering of commuter rail lines, which have much tighter tolerances, very time consuming and costly. [0010] Accordingly, there is a need for enhancing the existing railroad surfacing systems such that greater accuracy is achieved, the number of passes by the ballast tamper machine is reduced, and the feet per day of surfacing is greatly improved. What is also required is a system which is capable of guiding the ballast tampering machine to create vertical and horizontal curves. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention resides in a railroad rail surfacing control system, which can be used in combination with existing shadowboard systems. The system and method of the present invention improves resurfacing accuracy and efficiency such that the rails can be set within the necessary tolerances in automatic fashion in as few as a single pass. Thus, many more feet per day can be surfaced than using existing technology. Moreover, the method and system of the present invention allows vertical and horizontal curves to be automatically resurfaced. [0012] Generally, the method for controlling the railroad surfacing in accordance with the present invention includes imputing desired railroad rail position values into a controller. Railroad rail position correction values are determined by comparing the desired railroad rail position values with actual railroad rail position values. The railroad rail is moved to the determined correction value position using a railroad tamper machine, which is operably associated with the controller. [0013] In one embodiment, the inputting step includes the step of inputting a table of desired railroad rail position values for a predetermined length of railroad track into the controller. The position of the tamper machine with respect to the length of the railroad track is determined. A reference signal may be obtained from a transmitting device associated with a known marker in relation to the position of the tamper machine on the railroad track, which corresponds to a desired railroad position value. The tamper machine then automatically corrects the rail position using the table of desired railroad rail position values and reference signal. [0014] In another embodiment, the reference signal from a transmitting device is used. A reference signal receiver is in communication with the controller, and the controller moves a shadowboard system projector a distance corresponding to the railroad rail correction value. The shadowboard system projector is disposed uptrack of a shadowboard and sensor of the tamper machine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the reference signal receiver and shadowboard system projector are mounted on a buggy coupled to a front of the tamper machine. [0015] In one embodiment, the reference signal is transmitted by at least one laser device positioned uptrack of the tamper machine. The laser device is disposed relative to a known survey marker. The laser device transmits a surface laser reference signal and a line reference signal to provide desired vertical and horizontal railroad rail position values. Typically, a first laser transmits a surface laser reference signal, while another laser transmits a line laser reference signal. Laser receivers associated with line and surface projectors receive the respective laser signals. The controller interprets the signal and moves the line or surface projectors a correction distance. [0016] In another embodiment, the reference signal is transmitted by a GPS transreceiver positioned relative to a known survey marker. The GPS transreceiver is adapted to receive GPS signals from satellites, and transmits a reference signal to a reference signal receiver associated with the line or surface projector. The reference signal receiver comprises a GPS antenna receiver in communication with the controller for moving the projector, as needed. [0017] An interface unit is preferably disposed within the tamper machine cab. The interface unit includes a display for displaying values corresponding to a desired railroad rail position and actual railroad rail position. The interface unit is adapted to permit the tamper machine operator to manually make railroad rail position corrections and deviate from the desired railroad rail position as necessary. [0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrate, by way of example, the principals of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: [0020] FIG. 1 is diagrammatic view of a laser-based control system for railroad surfacing embodying the present invention; Continue reading about Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing... Full patent description for Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Steering column module for a motor vehicle Next Patent Application: Orientation data generation method, orientation sensor unit and portable electronic equipment Industry Class: Geometrical instruments ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing patent info. 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