System, method and apparatus for lading measurement in a rail car

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12553759-B2
Application number	US-202418581128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2024
Priority date	Oct 3, 2016
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A rail vehicle includes a truck having wheels for engaging a railroad track, a bolster supported by the truck, and a tank supported by the bolster for storing a lading. A measurement system measures the level of the lading within the tank and includes gauges and a controller. The gauges are disposed at selected points on the bolster for sensing at least one of lateral and longitudinal localized displacement experienced by the bolster during motion of the rail vehicle. The controller calculates the level of the lading within the tank and compensates for changes in the level of the lading during motion of the rail vehicle in response to signals generated by the gauges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of automatic control of refuel equipment, comprising:
determining that an interlock is actuated; actuating, via a controller, a pump relay for a first setpoint pump speed for maximum fuel flow rate; actuating, via the controller, the pump relay to change the pump speed to a second setpoint pump speed for an approach flow rate when the first setpoint is reached, wherein a strain gauge is used to determine when the first setpoint is reached; and halting pump operation when the second setpoint is reached, wherein the strain gauge is used to determine when the second setpoint is reached.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pump speed is set by relay or signal to a variable frequency drive (VFD).

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pump speeds are specific to a particular vessel design.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming a fuel level.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the interlock.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that refueling is complete.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls electrical relays based on a measured value.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller filters information based on a configuration of the controller.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second setpoints are specific to a particular vehicle design.

10 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising confirming a fuel level.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the interlock and breaking connections.

Assignees

• Bnsf Railway Co

Inventors

• Krueger Darrell Robert
• Wills Corey D

Classifications

• G01N27/9053

  Compensating for probe to workpiece spacing · CPC title

• G01N3/08

  by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M17/10

  Suspensions, axles or wheels · CPC title

• G01G19/047

  using electrical weight-sensitive devices · CPC title

• G01F25/20

  of apparatus for measuring liquid level · CPC title