Road-Transported Rail Scale Calibration Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rail scale calibration vehicles are rail-based, making it difficult and expensive to provide timely and accurate calibration services, especially for remote rail scale locations due to scheduling delays, route availability, and bureaucratic hurdles.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled calibration vehicle with a container for holding weights, transported via roadways using tractor-trailers, which can be coupled with a crane to efficiently load and unload weights onto the rail track for calibration, ensuring compliance with NIST Handbook 44 and AAR Scale Handbook standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional rail-based calibration vehicles are used, then calibration can be performed at rail scale locations, but scheduling delays and route availability issues prevent timely calibration service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces road-based transportation (trucks) as an intermediary means to transport calibration equipment to rail scale locations. This intermediary approach bypasses the rail system's scheduling and route constraints, allowing direct access to remote locations and enabling timely calibration service without being bound by rail operational limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration system is segmented into transportable equipment modules that can be moved via road-based vehicles. By dividing the calibration apparatus into separable components that fit on trucks, the system gains flexibility in deployment and can reach locations quickly without requiring full rail-based vehicle availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rail-based calibration vehicles are used, then calibration services can be provided at multiple locations, but the cost and complexity of rail-based transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration equipment is designed to be universally transportable via standard road-based vehicles rather than requiring specialized rail-based transport. This multi-functional approach allows the same equipment to be moved using common trucks and trailers, reducing the complexity of dedicated rail infrastructure while maintaining the ability to serve multiple calibration locations.
3Reliability
If conventional rail-based calibration vehicles are used, then periodic calibration can be scheduled, but urgent calibration requests cannot be fulfilled timely
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, pre-scheduled rail-based calibration to a dynamic road-based transport model. Trucks can be dispatched immediately in response to urgent calibration needs, adjusting their routes and timing flexibly. This dynamic approach maintains calibration accuracy through proper equipment while dramatically improving response speed to urgent requests.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for calibrating a rail scale is described. The apparatus is attached to a first trailer and a second trailer and the move from a first site to a rail scale site over highways and roads. The apparatus includes a calibration vehicle, bins of weights, and a crane. The crane positions the calibration vehicle, that is self-propelled, on rails and loads weights on the calibration vehicle. The combined weight of the calibration vehicle and weights has qualifying values that ensures a scale is in compliance rail scale calibration standards.