Ronald R Capan

US Patent:

56223390, Apr 22, 1997

Filed:

Feb 21, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/391134

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B61L 1500

US Classification:

246194

Abstract:

Cab signalling apparatus for use on-board a vehicle which is propelled on tracks having a cab signal transmitted through rails. One or more plate mounted antenna is positioned above a rail to induce therein a signal representative of the cab signal current in the rail. A cab signal coil is mounted on at least one of the plates having an orientation generally perpendicular to the rail to receive a cab signal. A second noise coil is mounted on at least one of the plates to sense EMI representative of the undesired EMI induced in the cab signal coil. The preferred embodiments are that the plates have a generally rectangular profile and in some embodiments the plates will have a square profile. The respective noise and cab signal coils are angularly displaced from each other. In some embodiments a single core is used having both noise and cab signal coils mounted thereon, while other embodiments use multiple plates.

US Patent:

55014160, Mar 26, 1996

Filed:

Jul 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/275991

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B61L 100

US Classification:

246 63R

Abstract:

A cab signaling apparatus for use on board a railway vehicle which is propelled on rail tracks by an electric drive motor. The invention utilizes a cab signal transmitted to the vehicle through a track circuit in the rails. On board receiving of the cab signal is done by a receiving coil, which may be mounted in front of the lead axle, as a current transformer around the lead axle, or at another location where the cab signal current is relatively strong. The cab signal that is sensed has a cab signal component and an interference component. On board the vehicle a sampled signal is taken which has the characteristic of the electromagnetic interference subjected to the cab signal receiver coil. The sampled signal is then subtracted from the sensed cab signal such that the sampled interference signal cancels the interference component of the cab signal. Embodiments include placing the sampling device as an inductive coil behind the lead axle and in other embodiments in front of the lead axle above the cab signal sensing coil.

US Patent:

52220109, Jun 22, 1993

Filed:

Jan 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/824010

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

H02H 904

US Classification:

361 56

Abstract:

A railway track circuit surge suppression system for the protection of wayside equipment from transitory energy surges appearing in the rails. The system has a primary surge suppression stage typically near the rails and a secondary surge suppression stage typically near the equipment to be protected. The secondary stage comprises an apparatus having a pair of inductors arranged serially with the respective track line wires to oppose the flow of surging current. Thus, the much of the energy dissipates at the primary stage. Remaining energy is dissipated by a voltage clamp behind the inductors.

US Patent:

55014178, Mar 26, 1996

Filed:

Feb 21, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/393115

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B61L 100

US Classification:

246 63R

Abstract:

A cab signaling apparatus for use on board a railway vehicle which is propelled on rail tracks by an electric drive motor. The invention utilizes a cab signal transmitted to the vehicle through a track circuit in the rails. On board receiving of the cab signal is done by a receiving coil, which may be mounted in front of the lead axle, as a current transformer around the lead axle, or at another location where the cab signal current is relatively strong. The cab signal that is sensed has a cab signal component and an interference component. On board the vehicle a sampled signal is taken which has the characteristic of the electromagnetic interference subjected to the cab signal receiver coil. The sampled signal is then subtracted from the sensed cab signal such that the sampled interference signal cancels the interference component of the cab signal. Embodiments include placing the sampling device as an inductive coil behind the lead axle and in other embodiments in front of the lead axle above the cab signal sensing coil.

US Patent:

60879505, Jul 11, 2000

Filed:

Sep 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/388415

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G08B 2100

US Classification:

340665

Abstract:

A motion detector for detecting movement of a rail based vehicle and the direction of that movement is provided. The motion detector can be integral with or attachable to an end-of-train unit and can include a single axis accelerometer mounted at an angle from the rails for detecting acceleration in both the lateral and vertical directions. A systems controller, which can include an analyzer, can be provided to receive and analyze output from the accelerometer to determine a motion state and a direction. A power controller can be provided for supplying power to the accelerometer on an intermittent basis to conserve power. A calibration unit can be provided to both initially calibrate and to subsequently recalibrate the accelerometer after a stopped motion state is detected. Additionally, an input/output port and an output driver for conditioning the signal for output to the end-of-train unit can be provided.

US Patent:

57916020, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Jan 10, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/781489

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B61L 100

US Classification:

246 63R

Abstract:

Cab signalling apparatus for use on-board a vehicle which is propelled on tracks having a cab signal transmitted through rails. One or more plate mounted antenna is positioned above a rail to induce therein a signal representative of the cab signal current in the rail. A cab signal coil is mounted on at least one of the plates having an orientation generally perpendicular to the rail to receive a cab signal. A second noise coil is mounted on at least one of the plates to sense EMI representative of the undesired EMI induced in the cab signal coil. The preferred embodiments are that the plates have a generally rectangular profile and in some embodiments the plates will have a square profile. The respective noise and cab signal coils are angularly displaced from each other. In some embodiments a single core is used having both noise and cab signal coils mounted thereon, while other embodiments use multiple plates.

US Patent:

55359680, Jul 16, 1996

Filed:

Jul 27, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/919863

Inventors:

Chinnarao Mokkapati - Export PA
Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B61L 2700

US Classification:

246 3

Abstract:

A vital railway signal link for passing DC signals between a first terminal location and a second terminal location. A transmitter at the first terminal location receives a DC input signal and responsively produces a light signal modulated at a preselected frequency. The light signal is conducted through an optical fiber to the second terminal location. There, a receiver detects the light signal and produces a DC output signal. The receiver contains discriminator circuitry preferably including a bandpass filter to prevent light signals other than those modulated at the preselected frequency from giving an output signal.

US Patent:

60087315, Dec 28, 1999

Filed:

Jul 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/902816

Inventors:

Ronald R. Capan - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Union Switch & Signal, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G08B 2100

US Classification:

340665

Abstract:

A motion detector for detecting movement of a rail based vehicle and the direction of that movement is provided. The motion detector can be integral with or attachable to an end-of-train unit and can include a single axis accelerometer mounted at an angle from the rails for detecting acceleration in both the lateral and vertical directions. A systems controller, which can include an analyzer, can be provided to receive and analyze output from the accelerometer to determine a motion state and a direction. A power controller can be provided for supplying power to the accelerometer on an intermittent basis to conserve power. A calibration unit can be provided to both initially calibrate and to subsequently recalibrate the accelerometer after a stopped motion state is detected. Additionally, an input/output port and an output driver for conditioning the signal for output to the end-of-train unit can be provided.