System and method for mobile subvehicular access and treatment of ground surfaces about occupied rail tracks
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01M-007/00
E01C-019/20
A01C-015/00
A01C-017/00
B05C-005/02
B05C-011/10
B05D-001/02
E01B-027/10
B05B-013/00
E01H-008/10
출원번호
US-0336384
(2016-10-27)
등록번호
US-9781914
(2017-10-10)
발명자
/ 주소
Mercier, Craig
출원인 / 주소
Mercier, Craig
대리인 / 주소
Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
A system and method are provided for subvehicularly accessed treatment of ground surfaces about a rail track occupied by a rail vehicle. A mobile treatment unit having a propulsion mechanism for subvehicular passage between the rails occupied by the rail vehicle includes a dispensing portion for exp
A system and method are provided for subvehicularly accessed treatment of ground surfaces about a rail track occupied by a rail vehicle. A mobile treatment unit having a propulsion mechanism for subvehicular passage between the rails occupied by the rail vehicle includes a dispensing portion for expelling a treatment material therefrom onto regions of the ground surface about the rails. The mobile treatment unit is maneuverable between the rails and maintains height clearance for unobstructed passage beneath the occupying rail vehicle. At least one sensor unit is coupled to the mobile treatment unit, which acquires environmental feedback data about the mobile treatment unit. A control unit is operably linked to the mobile treatment and sensor units, and receives the environmental feedback data. The control unit controls actuation of the mobile treatment unit responsive to the environmental feedback and/or a maneuver control command.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for subvehicularly accessed treatment of ground surfaces about a rail track occupied by a rail vehicle, comprising: establishing a mobile treatment unit having a propulsion mechanism and including at least one sensor unit coupled thereto to capture environmental feedback data about said
1. A method for subvehicularly accessed treatment of ground surfaces about a rail track occupied by a rail vehicle, comprising: establishing a mobile treatment unit having a propulsion mechanism and including at least one sensor unit coupled thereto to capture environmental feedback data about said mobile treatment unit;positioning said mobile treatment unit between the rails occupied by the rail vehicle for subvehicular passage therealong;actuating said mobile treatment unit to dispense a treatment material therefrom onto regions of the ground surface about the rails while maneuvering said mobile treatment unit between the rails;maintaining a height clearance for unobstructed passage of said mobile treatment unit beneath the occupying rail vehicle; and,controlling said mobile treatment unit through a communications link maintained therewith, said mobile treatment unit being controlled thereby responsive to at least one of said environmental feedback and a maneuver control command input. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a control unit is operably coupled to a controller established in said mobile treatment unit by a wireless communication link. 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a storage compartment is established in said mobile treatment unit for holding the treatment material to be expelled from said dispensing portion to treat the ground surface about the rails. 4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein a power driven actuator assembly is disposed in said storage compartment for automatically conveying the treatment material to said dispensing portion therefrom. 5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said power driven actuator assembly is established to include: an auger device at least partially extending upward from a floor portion of said storage compartment; and,a chute disposed about at least a portion of said auger device;wherein said auger is angularly displaced to convey the treatment material from said floor portion through said chute for elevated release from said storage compartment. 6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said maneuver control command is manually entered into said control unit for directing actuation of said mobile treatment unit responsive thereto. 7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said maneuver control command is programmably entered into said control unit for directing actuation of said mobile treatment unit responsive thereto. 8. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said dispensing portion is power driven to generate a rotary spreading action at an aft end of said mobile treatment unit for projecting the treatment material received from said storage compartment onto the ground surfaces about the rails. 9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said mobile treatment unit includes a hopper and lift mechanism actuated to adjustably elevate an aft portion of said hopper for selectively adjusting a dispensing point for the treatment material in height and angular orientation. 10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said mobile treatment unit is established on a self-propelled vehicle platform supported by at least a pair of wheel sets coupled thereto, disposing in each said wheel set a plurality of wheel members arranged in line, said pair of wheel sets being bilaterally disposed at opposing lateral sides of said vehicle platform. 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said wheel sets is enveloped by a continuous tread to be driven thereby through an endless loop thereabout. 12. A method for subvehicularly accessed treatment of ground surfaces about a rail track occupied by a rail vehicle, comprising: establishing a mobile treatment unit on a self-propelled vehicle platform supported by at least a pair of wheel sets coupled thereto, disposing in each said wheel set a plurality of wheel members arranged in line, said pair of wheel sets being bilaterally disposed at opposing lateral sides of said vehicle platform, actuating at least one sensor unit coupled to said vehicle platform to capture environmental feedback data about said mobile treatment unit;positioning said mobile treatment unit between the rails occupied by the rail vehicle for subvehicular passage therealong;actuating said mobile treatment unit to dispense a treatment material therefrom onto regions of the ground surface about the rails while maneuvering said mobile treatment unit between the rails;maintaining a height clearance for unobstructed passage of said mobile treatment unit beneath the occupying rail vehicle; and,controlling said mobile treatment unit through a wireless communications link maintained therewith, said mobile treatment unit being controlled thereby responsive to at least one of said environmental feedback and a maneuver control command input. 13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a power driven actuator assembly is disposed in a storage compartment for automatically conveying the treatment material to said dispensing portion therefrom. 14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said power driven actuator assembly is established to include: an auger device at least partially extending upward from a floor portion of said storage compartment; and,a chute disposed about at least a portion of said auger device;wherein said auger is angularly displaced to convey the treatment material from said floor portion through said chute for elevated release from said storage compartment. 15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said mobile treatment unit is maneuvered through a rail system having at least one ladder track configured portion for treatment of ground surfaces thereabout. 16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said wheel sets is enveloped by a continuous tread to be driven thereby through an endless loop thereabout. 17. A method for treatment of a ground surface about a rail track having a pair of substantially parallel rails, with a rail vehicle occupying the rail track remaining in situ thereon, comprising: establishing in a mobile treatment unit configured to maintain sufficient clearance along a full length of the occupying rail vehicle for unobstructed passage therebeneath: a storage compartment defining a space for holding a treatment material, said storage compartment being selectively power driven for regulating the passage of the treatment material therethrough;a dispensing portion coupled to said storage compartment for expelling the treatment material passed thereto from said storage compartment, said dispensing portion being selectively actuated for rotary spreading of the treatment material from said storage compartment onto regions of the ground surface adjacent the rails; and,at least one sensor unit coupled to said mobile treatment unit, said sensor unit being actuated to acquire environmental feedback data relative to said mobile treatment unit;propelling said mobile treatment unit for subvehicular passage between the rails underneath the rail vehicle;establishing a control unit operably coupled to said mobile treatment unit by a wireless communications link, said control unit receiving the environmental feedback data acquired by said sensor unit; and,actuating said control unit to selectively maneuver said mobile treatment unit in between the rails and selectively actuate dispensing of the treatment material therefrom responsive to at least one of said environmental feedback and a maneuver control command. 18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said mobile treatment unit is established on a self-propelled vehicle platform supported by at least a pair of wheel sets bilaterally disposed at opposing lateral sides of said vehicle platform, said mobile treatment unit being maneuvered through a rail system having at least one ladder track configured portion for treatment of ground surfaces thereabout. 19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein each of said wheel sets is enveloped by a continuous tread to be driven thereby through an endless loop thereabout. 20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said mobile treatment unit includes a lift mechanism actuated to adjustably elevate an aft portion of said storage compartment for selectively adjusting a dispensing point for the treatment material in height and angular orientation.
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