US3571569A - Car identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

A car identification system in which spaced sources of energy carried by the car are read by detecting heads disposed on the railway bed or roadway over which the car passes. One form produces rod, indication of both direction of movement and the speed of the car.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Eric W. Leaver 4 Royalcrest Ave.; George R. Mounce, l8 Bridle Path, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada [21] Appl. No. 230,568

[22] Filed Oct. 15, 1962 [45] Patented Mar. 23, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 670820, July 9, 1957, now abandoned.

[54] CAR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM 18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

'[52] U.S.Cl 235/61.ll [51] Int. Cl. G06k 7/00 [50] Field of Search 246/1 2, 3,

4, 5;104/26,122,l23,124;235/6l.12, 61.115, 61.1 I

47tf 336 476 0 W476 Primary Examiner-Daryl W. Cook Attorney-Shenier & OConnor ABSTRACT: A car identification system in which spaced sources of energy carried by the car are read by detecting heads disposed on the railway bed or roadway over which the car passes. One form produces rod, indication of both direction of movement and the speed of the car.

CAR IDENTEFICATION SYSTEM This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 670,820 filed Jul. 9, 1957 and now abandoned.

Our invention relates to a car identification system and more particularly to an improved car identification system which is simple and reliable and which gives unambiguous results.

Many attempts have been made in the prior art to provide systems for automatically identifying moving vehicles to give an indication of the identification at a location remote from a checkpoint over which the cars pass. A system of this type is eminently suited for use to identify railway cars, but may be used to identify any other moving vehicles. The systems of the prior art have not come into actual use for a number of reasons. These systems employ equipment which requires frequent checking and replacement. The car-carried equipment of these systems deteriorates under the shocks incident to normal use of the railway car, or the like, on which it is mounted. As a result, the equipment has a relatively short life. Systems of the prior art have proved unsatisfactory for the further reason that ambiguous results are likely to be produced by these systems. The systems of the prior art afford no indication of the direction in which a car is moving and are not capable of indicating car speed. The information produced by systems of the prior art generally is not in a form, such for example as a binary digital representation, in which it may be used to control operations. If a very large number of cars are to be identified by systems of the prior art, the equipment required is so extensive, complex and expensive as to make the system impractical.

We have invented a car identification system for identifying a large number of moving vehicles such as railway cars or the like. Our system is extremely reliable since the car-carried equipment requires very little maintenance and withstands without damage the shocks incident to normal use of the railway car. We arrange our system so that there is little likelihood of an ambiguous result being produced. Our system operates in either direction of movement of the railway car. Our system affords an indication both of the direction of movement and of the speed of a car. Our system may be arranged to produce an indication in the form of a binary digital representation which may be fed directly into a computer or the like. Where a large number of railway cars are to be identified, our system requires very little equipment. We employ a simple and inexpensive arrangement to accomplish the identification of a large number of cars.

One object of our invention is to provide a car identification system for identifying a large number of moving vehicles to produce an indication of the identification at a location remote from a checkpoint over which the cars pass.

Another object of our invention is to provide a car identification system which is reliable.

A further object of our invention is to provide a car identification system in which the car-carried equipment requires little maintenance and has a long life.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a car identification system which produces unambiguous results.

A further object of our invention is to provide a car identification system adapted to produce an indication of both the speed and the direction of movement of a vehicle.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a car identification system which operates in either direction of movement of the car.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a car identification system adapted to produce an indication in binary coded form.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of an identification system for moving vehicles such as railway cars, or the like, in which spaced sources of energy such as radioactive sources, magnetic sources, light sources, or the like, carried by the cars are read by detecting heads responsive to the particular energy disposed on the railway bed or roadway over which the cars pass. We so locate a number of sources on the car and so space the detector heads that only predetermined ones of the sources are simultaneously energized when a car passes over the checkpoint. By using various combinations of detector and source locations we are able to distinguish each one of a large number of cars. We provide our system with an indicating or recording device and with means for keying this device to produce an indication of the energized sources only when the car is positioned over the checkpoint at which the identification is to be made. The sources and detectors of our system are so arranged that ambiguous indications are extremely unlikely.

Our system may be arranged to provide an indication both of the direction of movement and of the speed of a car. Another form of our invention is adapted to give an identification indication in binary digital form. In a further form of our identification system sources at respective locations on the car are sequentially read to produce the indication, rather than being simultaneously read when the indicating or recording device is keyed. While we prefer to use radioactive sources and radiation detectors, it is to be understood that other means, such as magnetic means and magnetic detectors, may be employed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference characters are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one form of our car identification system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a form of our car identification system which is adapted to give an indication both of the speed and of the direction of movement of a car.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another form of our car identification system which is adapted to produce a printed record of the identification indication.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further form of our car identification system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a still further form of our invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detector, amplifier, and discriminator circuits of our car identification system.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the gating circuit actuating keyer of the form of our car identification system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of one of the printer actuating circuits of the form of our invention shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a plan view with parts shown schematically of an alternate form of our car identification system.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation with parts shown in section of the form of our car identification system shown in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, in its simplest form our car identification system includes a pair of respective radioactive sources 10 and 12 mounted on the bottom of a first railway car 14 to be identified. Car 14 moves along a track or roadway to in which we dispose a plurality of respective detector heads 18, 20 and 22. Heads 18 and 22 are separated by distance a equal to the distance between the sources 10 and I2 on the bottom of car 14. The heads 18 and 20 are separated by a distance b, equal to the distance between a pair of heads 24 and 26 carried by a second car 28 to be identified.

When car 14 arrives at a location at which the respective sources 10 and 12 are disposed over the respective heads 18 and 22, these heads are energized to produce electrical signals which are fed to respective amplifier and discriminator circuits 3t) and 32 by channels 34 and 36. Respective channels 38 and 40 impress the output signals of circuits 30 and 32 on respective relay circuits 42 and 44. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, circuit 42, when energized, operates a linkage 46 to move respective switch contact arms 48 and 50 to engage contacts 52 and 54. Similarly, circuit 44, when energized, operates a linkage 56 to move a contact arm 5% into engagernent with a contact as. We connect arms 43 and 50 to one terminal 62 of a suitable source of electrical potential by a conductor as. A conductor 66 connects arm 58 to the contact 54 associated with arm 56). We connect an indicator, such as a lamp 6% or the like, between the contact 6@ associated with arm and a conductor 7i) connected to the other terminal '72 of the source of electrical potential. From the foregoing it will be seen that with the sources Ml and 12 disposed over the detectors lb and 22, circuits 42 and 4d are both energized to close their associated switch arms. When this is done, the circuit of lamp as is complete through switch arm 50 and I through switch arm 53 to indicate that car lli is passing over the check point at which the detectors are located.

When a second car, such as car 2%, arrives at the checkpoint so that its sources 24 and 2d are disposed over detectors l8 and 262), circuit 42 will be energized to'close arms 48 and 5t) on contacts 52 and 54. At this time no source is located over detector 22, with the result that arm 58 is out of engagement with contact 6b and the circuit of lamp 68 is not complete. With car 2% located at the checkpoint, detector 2% produces an output signal which is fed by a channel '74 to an amplifier and discriminator circuit 76. The channel 78 conducts the output signal of circuit 76 to a relay circuit 8ft. When energized, circuit fit!) operates a linkage 32 to move a contact arm 84 into engagement with a contact 556. We connect an indicating device, such as a signal lamp as, between contact 86 and the conductor iii. With car 28 disposed over the checkpoint to energize both detectors l8 and 21), both the circuits 42 and $43 will be energized to close their associated switch arms to complete the circuit of indicator 88 through arms 48 and 24.

it is to be noted that in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 there is little possibility of any ambiguity occurring as a car comes into and leaves the checkpoint. While sources it) and 22 will energize all the detectors sequentially as they move into the checkpoint from the right, as viewed in the FIG, no indicator circuit will be complete until they are located at a position where the detectors l8 and 22 are simultaneously energized. Similarly, the sources on car 28 will sequentially energize the detectors as the car passes through the checkpoint, but only one indication will be produced when both detectors is and 2d are simultaneously energized. it is to be noted that no indicator circuit is complete when sources and 22 are simultaneously energized. I

The sources lit), 12, 2 2, and 26 used in our system may be formed of any suitable radioactive material which emits gamma, beta, or alpha radiation. For example, we may use a suitable radioactive nuclide of cobalt,tungsten, or the like. The detecting element of our system may be of any appropriate type known to the art such, for example, as a Geiger counter or a scintillation counter.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the detector crystal 90 may be thallium-activated sodium iodide, which, when subjected to ionizing radiation, emits light. The light emitted by the crystal 95) under the influence of ionizing radiation produces electrical signals in a photomultiplier tube 92. A plurality of voltagedividing resistors 94 connected in series between a plate supply voltage conductor 96 and ground provide the proper respective potentials for the multiplier electrodes 98 of tube 92. A resistor 110i) connects the terminal of plate W2 of tube 92 to the conductor 96. A conductor MM connects the cathode N6 of tube 92 to ground. A resistor MP3 connected to one terminal l W of a source of positive potential provides the proper potential for supply conductor 96. A filter, including capacitors i112 and i114 and a resistor lilo, smooths the voltage applied to supply conductor 96. A Corona discharge tube M8 connected between resistor MP8 and ground regulates the voltage applied to supply conductor As has been explained hereinabove, when radiation impinges on crystal Bil, the crystal emits light which causes tube 92 to produce an output signal. A coupling capacitor 12f) applies the output signal from tube 92 to the control grid 122 of a pentode amplifier 1124. A grid leak resistor i126 connects grid 122 to a ground conductor 12%. Respective resistors 1l3 and i132 connect the plate i134 of tube 124 to a plate supply potential conductor E36 and the cathode 338 of tube i243 to conductor 12%;. We connect a resistor lldtl and a capacitor 142 in series between conductors 136 and i128 and connect the screen grid M4 of tube 124 to the common terminal of re sistor 1140 and capacitor 142. We connect the suppressor grid M6 of tube 1124 to the cathode 133.

A coupling capacitor 148 couples the output signal of tube 1124 to the control grid 158 of a pentode amplifier tube having a plate ten connected to conductor H36 by a resistor 162 and a cathode 164 connected to ground conductor E28 by a parallel circuit including a resistor 166 and a capacitor 168. A grid leak resistor i) connects grid l58to ground conductor 128. We connect the screen grid 152 of this pentode amplifier to conductor 136 and connect the suppressor grid 1154 to cathode B64. A series circuit, including a resistor 1170 and a capacitor 172, connects the plate 116%) to the cathode 1138. A capacitor 1174', couples the output of the amplifier tube including plate lot) to the control grid 176 of a cathode follower triode having a plate i723 and a cathode 1% connected to ground by a cathode follower resistor 182. A resistor 1184 connects conductor 136 to the terminal i186 of a suitable source of electrical potential. A capacitor 188 connected between conductor H36 and ground smooths the plate supply voltage. A resistor 11% connects terminal 126 to plate 178. A capacitor 192 connected between plate 178 and ground decouples plate 178 from the plate supply to prevent the pulsating current drawn by the tube from affecting the supply voltage. A capacitor i9 3 couples the output signal appearing across cathode follower resistor 1182 to a voltage-dividing resistor l96 having a brush 1% connected to the control grid 20b of an amplifier tube indicated generally by the reference character 202. Since tube 202 is connected in the usual manner, its connections will not be described in detail. A capacitor 2% couples the output of tube 202 to a second amplifier tube indicated generally by the reference character 206. The output of tube 2% is coupled by a capacitor 2% to a video amplifier tube indicated generally by the reference character 210, the output of which is applied by a capacitor 212 to a triode indicated generally by the reference character 2M. This triode 2114 functions as a discriminator which eliminates much of the noise generated in the photomultiplier. We apply the output of triode 214 to a second twin triode tube indicated generally by the reference character 2116 by a capacitor 21%. The first half of tube 2% is connected as a Kipp or single shot multivibrator, while the second half acts as a discriminator to eliminate noise from the signal.

A resistor 22h applies the output signal of twin triode 216 to a twin triode amplifier tube indicated generally by the reference character 222. We connect a plate resistor 224 and a meter 226 in series between the plate 228 of the first section of tube 222 and the terminal 231) of a source of positive potential and connect a resistor 232 and a capacitor 23% in series with each other across the series-connected resistor 224 and meter 226. We connect the grid 24% of the second section of tube 222 to the common terminal of a pair of voltage-dividing resistors 236 and 233, connected between plate 228 and ground. A relay winding 2A2 is connected between the plate 244 of the second section of tube 222 and a second terminal 246 connected to a source of positive potential. A resistor 248 connects the common terminal of resistor 224i and meter 226 to one terminal of a capacitor 250 in parallel with winding 242.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that when the crystal W is subjected to ionizing radiation, photomultiplier tube 92 produces an output signal which is amplified through the system just described to cause a current to flow through winding 242. This current produces a magnetic flux which acts on an armature 252 which may, for example, close arms 48 and 50 shown in FIG. 1. This actuation of the armature may also close a normally open switch 254 to complete the circuit of an indicating device such as a lamp 256 to indicate that one of the detectors is energized. it is to be understood that an arrangement such as is shown in FIG. 6-is associated with each of the linkages 46, 82 and 56 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternate form of our car identification system is adapted to provide an indication both of the direction of movement and of the speed of a car such as a railway car 258 carrying a pair of sources 260 and 262 located at spaced positions on the bottom of the car. At one predetermined location along the bed of the track 264 on which the car 258 rides, we dispose a pair of spaced detector heads 266 and 268. We provide the detectors 266 and 268 with respective amplifier and discriminator circuits 270 and 272 adapted to energize respective relay windings 274 and 276. We connect the normally open switches 278 and 28 0 associated with relay windings 274 and 276 in series between one terminal 232 of a source of electrical energy and one input channel 284 of a gating circuit actuator circuit 286. We connect the other terminal 283 of the source including terminal 232 to ground. When car 258 is positioned on track 264 with both sources 260 and 262 located over their respective detectors 266 and 268, both windings 274 and 276 are energized to close switches 278 and 280 to provide an input signal to channel 284. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, this input signal operates actuator 286 to produce an output signal on its output channel 290.

We dispose a second pair of spaced detector heads 292 and 294 in the bed of track 264 at a predetermined distance from sources 266 and 268. Detectors 292 and 294 have respective amplifier and discriminator circuits 296 and 298 adapted to energize relay windings 200 and 302 to close normally open switches 304 and 306 connected in series between an output terminal 308 of a source of potential and a second input channel 310 of actuator 286. With car 258 located on track 264 with the sources 260 and 262 over detectors 292 and 294, both windings 300 and 302 are energized to close switches 3G4 and 306 to provide an input signal to channel 310.

As will be explained in detail hereinafter, the first signal applied to actuator 236 from either channel 284 or 310 causes the actuator to produce an output signal which is applied to a gating circuit 312. The next signal applied to actuator 286 from either channel 310 or 284 cuts off the output signal from the actuator to render the gating circuit nonconductive. A channel 314 connects a pulsing circuit 316 to an input terminal of gating circuit 312. The circuit 316 may be of any type known to the art which is adapted to produce a predetermined number of output pulses per unit of time. We apply the output from gating circuit 312 to a counter 318 by means of a channel 320. The gating circuit 312 is of a type known to the art which transmits pulses from channel 314 to channel 320 as long as, and only as long as, channel 290 carries a signal. It will be seen that if car 253 first energizes heads 266 and 268 and then travels from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, to activate heads 292 and 294, the gating circuit will be actuated to pass a number of pulses proportional to the time of passage of the car 253 from the location of detectors 266 and 268 to the location of sources 292 and 294. Thus, this arrangement shown in FIG. 2 provides a measure of the speed of car 258. As will be explained, this arrangement operates irrespective of the direction of movement of the car and also affords an indication of the direction of movement.

Referring now to FIG. 7, we have shown one form of the gating circuit actuator 286 in which the respective channels 284 and 316 are adapted to energize respective relay windings 1A and 1B. Winding 1A when energized actuates a normally open switch 1A1 and a normally closed switch 1A2, each of which switches has one terminal connected to a conductor 322 connected to a terminal 324 of a source of positive potential. Relay winding 1B when energized actuates a normally open switch 181 and a normally closed switch 182, each of which switches has one contact connected to conductor 322. Our actuator includes a relay winding 2A adapted when energized to close normally open switches 2A1, 2A3, 2A5, 2A6 and 2A7 and to open normally closed switches 2A2 and 2A4. A relay winding 2B is adapted when energized to close normally open switches 2B1, 2B3, 2B5, 2B6 and 287, and to open normally closed switches 282 and 234. We connect switch 1A1 and normally closed switch 2B2 in series between conductor 322 and one terminal of winding 2A, the other terminal of which is connected to ground.'We connect switch 1A2, switch 284 and switch 2A6 in series between conductor 322 and a conductor 326 leading to one terminal of a relay winding C, the other terminal of which is connected to ground. We connect switch RBI in series with switch 2A2 between conductor 322 and one terminal of winding 28, the other terminal of which is connected to ground. We connect switch 182 in series with normally closed switch 2A4 and normally open switch 2136 between conductor 322 and conductor 326.

Switches 2A7 and 287 are connected in parallel with each other between a conductor 328 connected to conductor 322 and a conductor 330. We connect switch 2A3 and a normally open switch Cl associated with winding C between switch IE1 and one terminal of a relay winding D, the other terminal of which is connected to ground. We connect switch 283 between switch 1A1 and switch C1. The switch 2A5 is connected in series with a switch D2 associated with winding D between switch 182 and one terminal of a relay winding E, the other terminal of which is connected to ground. Switch 2B5 is connected between switch 1A2 and switch D2.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that if car 258 moves from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, to energize channel 284, first relay winding 1A is energized to close switch 1A1 and to open switch 1A2. Closing of switch 1A1 completes the circuit of winding 2A from conductor 322 through switch 1A1 through switch 232 and through winding 2A to ground. Upon its energization winding 2A actuates its associated switches. Closing of switch 2A1 completes a holding circuit for winding 2A through a normally closed switch El associated with winding E. Closing of switch 2A7 completes a circuit from conductor 322 through conductor 328, through switch 2A7, through conductor 330, through normally closed switch D3 to the output channel 290 to provide a signal for actuating the gating circuit to permit it to pass pulses from circuit 316 to the counter 318.

When, in the course of its movement, car 258 leaves the location of detectors 266 and 268, the input signal to winding 1A disappears to permit switch 1A1 to open and to permit switch 1A2 to close. Closing of switch 1A2 completes a circuit for energizing winding C from conductor 322, through switch 1A2, through switch 284, through the now closed switch 2A6 through conductor 326 and through winding C to ground. Energization of winding C closes switch Cl which at this time cannot complete the circuit of winding D since switch 1B1 is open. At the same time, winding C closes switch C2 to complete its own holding circuit through switch E3.

The circuit remains in the condition described above until car 258 arrives at a location where its sources 260 and 262 are disposed over detectors 292 and 294. At this time channel 310 carries an output signal for energizing winding 18 to close switch 1B1 and to open switch 1B2. When switch 181 closes, it completes a circuit from conductor 322 through switch 2A3 through switch Cl and through winding D to energize this winding. Energization of winding D closes switch D1 to complete the holding circuit for winding D through switch E4. At the same time, winding D closes switch D2 which, at the moment, cannot complete the circuit of winding E since switch 1B2 is open. Energization of winding D also opens switch D3 to remove the signal from conductor 290 to cut off the gating circuit output. When car 258 leaves the location of heads 292 and 294, switch 1B2 closes to complete the circuit of winding E from conductor 322 through switch 132 through switch 2A5 through switch D2 and through the winding E. Energization of winding E opens contacts El, E2, E3 and E4 to break the winding holding circuits to reset the actuator for the next operation. It will be appreciated that the energization of winding 1B will not complete the circuit of winding 28 in this order of operation since switch 2A2 is open until the car leaves the location of sources 292 and 294.

The operation of the actuator 286 when car 258 moves from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 2, can readily be determined in the manner described hereinabove. In this case the circuit again will operate to afiord an indication of the speed at which the car is moving. We connect respective indicating devices such as signal lamps 332 and 334 in parallel with windings 2A and 2B. If lamp 352 lights, it indicates that the car is moving from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2. If lamp 334 lights, it indicates that the car is moving from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 2. It will be seen that the form of our invention shown in FIG. 2 provides an indication of both the speed and the direction of movement of a car being identified.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in a form of our invention adapted to identify a large number of cars, we provide the bottom of the car, indicated schematically by the reference character 336, with a first plurality of source locations 338a, 338b, 338s and 338d, and a second plurality of source locations 340a, 340b, 340s and 34011. We arrange the locations 338 and 346 in a line along the length of the car on one side of the cars centerline. The group of locations 338, the sources of which are to provide one digit of the car identification number, are spaced from the go group of locations 348, the sources of which are to give the second digit of the identification number. For purposes of convenience, in the drawings we have shaded the locations in which sources are disposed. It will be appreciated that with two sources and four locations at which a source or the sources may be disposed, there are 10 possible arrangements of a source or sources in the various locations. This can readily be seen from the following table in which the arrangement of sources in the locations 338a, 338b, 338C and 338d are shown.

TABLE I X l t. X 2 X 3 X X 4 X X 5 X X 6 X X 7 X X 8 X X 9 In the table we have shown the digits from zero to nine which are to be indicated for the respective arrangements of the sources. We arrange a plurality of respective detector heads 342a, 342b, 342e, 342d, along one side of the centerline of the track or the like (not shown) over which the car 336 passes. As will be explained hereinafter, the detectors 342 are adapted to register with the respective locations 338 to be energized by sources disposed at the locations. We arrange a second plurality of detectors 344a, 344b, 344a and 344d in a line with the group of detectors 342 but spaced from these detectors to register with the respective locations 340 to be energized by any sources disposed at these locations.

We connect a respective amplifier and discriminator circuit 346 and a respective relay circuit 347 in series between each of the detectors 342 and an output channel 348, 350, 352, or 354. Similarly, we connect a respective amplifier and discriminator circuit 346 and a respective relay circuit 347 in series between each of the detectors 344 and an output channel 356, 358, 360 and 362.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that with the detectors 342 underlying the locations 338, any of the output channels 348, 350, 352 and 354 corresponding to detectors disposed over locations in which sources are disposed carry output signals. Similarly, an output channel 356, 358, 360, or 362 corresponding to a detector 344 lying under a location 340 in which a source is disposed carries an output signal. We apply the signals of channels 348, 350, 352 and 354 to a printer actuating circuit 364 having 10 respective output channels 366 to 375. We apply the signals of channels 356,

358, 366 and 362 to a printer actuating circuit 376 similar in all respects to the circuit 364. We connect the output channels of both circuit 364 and 376 to a printing device 378 of any type known to the art. The arrangement of printer 378 is such that with any of the output channels 366 to 375 energized, the printer 378 prints a digit from zero to nine corresponding to the energized channel to produce one digit of a two-digit, car identification number. Similarly, when any one of the output channels of circuit 376 is energized the printer prints one digit from zero to nine to give the second digit of the two-digit, identification number.

Each of our circuits 364 and 376 is arranged to energize one of its output channels for each of the respective source arrangements shown in table I above. Referring now to FIG. 8, we have shown one of the circuits 364 and 376 which may, for example, be circuit 364. The circuit 364 includes a plurality of ON- OFF logic components 378, 380, 382 and 384. As is known in the art, an input signal applied to the ON input terminal of a circuit, such as the circuit 378, causes this circuit to produce an output signal which sustains itself until an input signal is applied to the OFF input terminal of the circuit. We connect the channels 348, 350, 352 and 354 to the ON input terminals of the respective logic component circuits 378, 380, 382 and 384. We connect the output terminals of the respective circuits 378, 380, 382, and 384 to respective output channels 366 to 369. We connect the output terminals of a plurality of respective three-input OR circuits 386, 388, 390 and 392 to the OFF input terminals of the respective circuits 378, 380, 382 and 384. Respective conductors 394, 396, 398 and 400 connect the respective channels 348, 350, 352 and 354 to one input terminal of each of the OR circuits 386, 388, 390 and 392 except the OR circuit corresponding to the ON-OFF circuit to which the channel is connected. As a result of this arrangement, where only one signal is on the channels 348, 350, 352 and 354, one and only one of the ON-OFF circuits will produce an output signal. At the same time, if more than one of the channels carry a signal, none of the ON-OFF circuits produces an output signal.

The circuit 364 includes a plurality of respective two-input AND circuit components 402, 404, 406, 408, 4110 and 412, the input terminals of which are connected to the conductors 394, 396, 398 and 400 in accordance with table I respectively to produce output signals on the channels 370 to 375 for the various arrangements of two sources in the four locations as shown in table I. For example, AND circuit 464 produces an output signal when both channels 352 and 348 carry output signals. This occurs when sources are disposed at locations 338a and 338s shown in FIG. 3. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that one and only one of the channels 366 to 375 carries an output signal for any of the respective arrangements of sources shown in table I. The circuit 376 functions in the same manner as does the circuit 364. As a result, with the detectors 342 and the detectors 344 disposed under the respective locations 338 and 340, printer 378 prints a two-digit number which identifies the car carrying the sources.

In order to prevent ambiguous operation of the system shown in FIG. 3, we dispose a source 414 along the centerline of car 336 between the groups of locations 338 and 340. A detector 416 adapted to register with source 4114 as car 336 passes over the checkpoint produces an output signal which is fed by an amplifier circuit 418, a relay circuit 420 and a delay circuit 422 to the printer 378. This signal keys the printer 378 on to permit the signals on the output channels of circuit 364 and 376 to operate the printer to print the identification number.

It is desirable that the system shown in FIG. 3 be adapted to give its indication irrespective of the heading of the car as it approaches the checkpoint. We dispose respective groups of detectors 424 and 426 at locations in the railway bed or the like to register with the groups of locations 340 and 338 when the car approaches the detectors on a heading opposite to that on which it approaches when detectors 342 and 344 register with the locations. It will be appreciated that the centrally located source 4l4 will register with detector 416 with this direction of approach, as well as with the opposite direction of approach. In order to give the same indication irrespective of the direction of approach of the car we interconnect detectors 426 with detectors 342 by respective conductors 428, 430, 432 and 434 and respective conductors 436, 438, 440 and 442 interconnect detectors 424 with detectors 344.

While we have shown only two groups of locations in the arrangement of FIGQ3, it will readily be appreciated that we may provide any number of groups of locations within the limits of the physical dimensions of the car to give an identification number including more than two digits,

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate form of our identification system, which is adapted to read the car-carried sources in either direction of movement of the car and which is keyed on when the car is properly located to prevent ambiguous readings, includes a pair of respective rows of source locations 444 and 446. The row or line of locations 444 is disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis of the car 336, while the row of locations 446 is disposed at one side of the line of locations 444 with the locations-of the respective lines alongside each other in pairs. In this arrangement four sources disposed in the locations 444 and 446 are required, with one source in a location of each pair of locations 444 and 446. It will be appreciated that the four sources may be arranged in locations 446 in various combinations to provide 16 difierent combinations, including that arrangement in which no locations 446 have sources. We dispose a row or line of detectors 448 in the bed or the like over which the car 336 passes to register with the locations 446 for one heading of the car. We dispose a second row or line of detectors 450 in the bed to register with the row or line of locations 446 for the other heading of the car. The detectors 452 of a third row disposed substantially centrally of the railway bed or the like are adapted to register with the locations 444 in either heading of car 336. We connect a respective series circuit including an amplifier and discriminator circuit 454 and a relay circuit 456 between each of the detectors 448 and a respective output terminal 458, 460, 462, or 464. We connect a respective amplifier and discriminator circuit 466 between each of the detectors 450 and a relay circuit 456. It will be seen that for one heading of the car 336 the sources disposed in the locations 446 will energize certain ones of the detectors 448 to cause predetermined ones of the terminals 458, 460, 462 and 464 to carry output signals. With the car 336 headed in the other direction the sources in locations 446 are read by detectors 450 again to energize predetermined ones of the terminals 458, 460, 462 and 464. To prevent ambiguous indications it is desirable that the indicating device (not shown), which may be a digital computer or a printer actuator or the like, should be keyed to operate only when all four locations 446 are aligned with the detectors of a row of detectors 448 or 456. We connect each of the input channels of the respective relay circuits 456 to one input terminal of a number of respective twoinput OR circuits 468. We connect each of a number of amplifier and discriminator circuits 470 between a detector 452 and the other input terminal of one of the OR circuits 468. We connect the output channels of the OR circuits 468 to a four-input AND or coincidence circuit 472 which produces an output signal when and only when all four OR circuits 468 produce output signals. A channel 474 conducts the output signal of circuit 472 to the indicating or computing device to which output terminals 458, 466, 462 and 464 are connected to key this device to operate. The respective locations 444 are aligned with the respective locations 446. We dispose sources in various combinations in the locations 446 to afford 16 different representations. For example, the sources may be arranged to give an indication in the natural binary code of a car identification number from zero to 15. ln order to provide the necessary keying signal we dispose sources in the locations 444 corresponding to those locations 446 in which sources are not disposed. In this manner one of each of the pairs of aligned locations 444 and 446 can ries a source at all times. Thus one input channel of each of the circuits 468 has an input signal when a car is properly located to align its locations with the detectors. When and only when all sources register with the detectors will coincidence circuit 472 produce an output signal, since this is the only time at which four input signals are applied to the circuit. In this manner ambiguous indications are prevented in the circuit shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 5, we have shown a further form of our system in which the source locations 476 of a first line of locations and the source locations 476 of a second line of source locations form series of locations which are sequentially read as the car 336 or the like passes over a row of detectors 480, 462 and 484 disposed in the bed or the like over which the car passes. The line of source locations 478 is disposed at one side of the car bottom centerline, while the line of source locations 476 is disposed substantially centrally of the car. Detector 460 scans the locations 478 and car 336 headed in one direction and the detector 464 scans these locations with the car headed in the other direction. Detector 482 scans the line of locations 476 in either direction of heading of car 336.

We connect a respective series circuit including an amplifier anddiscriminator circuit 486 and a pulse-shaping circuit 488, such as an Eccles-Jordan" circuit, between each of the detectors 480, 482 and 464 and a respective input tenninal of a coupling network 490. From the foregoing it will be seen that each time a location 476 or 478 carrying a source passes over a detector 480, 482, or 484 an input pulse is applied to the coupling network 490. We apply the output signal of the coupling network to a counter 492 adapted to energize a first output channel 494 in response to a first input signal to counter 492 and to energize a second output channel 496 in response to a second input pulse to counter 492. We apply the signal on channel 494 to a respective input terminal of each of a pair of gating circuits 498 and 506. We apply the signal on channel 496 to one input terminal of each of a pair of respective gating circuits 502 and 504.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, one and only one of each pair of aligned locations 476 and 478 carries a source. As the car 336 passes over the detectors either one of the outside detectors 480 and 484 or the center detector 482 will be energized. In either event, an input pulse is applied to the counter 492 to cause channel 494 to apply an output signal to the gating circuits 498 and'Stlll. Respective conductors 506 and 508 connect the output channels of the outboard circuits 488 to a coupling network 510, the output channel of which is connected by a delay circuit 512 to input terminals of gating circuits 498 and 504. A delay circuit 514 connects the output channel of the center circuit 488 to input terminals of gating circuits 566 and 502. Respective conductors 516 and 518 connect the output terminals of circuits 498 and 500 to respective input terminals of a multivibrator or flip-flop circuit 520 having an output terminal 522. Respective conductors 524 and 526 conduct the respective output signals from circuits 502 and 564 to the input terminals of a second flip-flop circuit 528 having an output terminal 536.

As has been explained hereinabove, the first input signal applied to the coupling network 490 actuates counter 492 to energize output channel 494 to render gating circuits 498 and 560 conductive. If this first signal comes from a source located in the outboard line of locations .478 coupler 5110 applies this signal to the delay network 512 the output signal of which is impressed on gating circuits 496 and 504. Since the gating circuit 498 is conductive, it passes this signal through conductor 516 to cause flip-flop circuit 520 to assume a condition corresponding to an input signal applied to conductor 516. In this condition, output terminal 522 carries a signal indicating that the first source passing under the scanning detectors is located in the outboard row. As the second source passes over the detectors, a signal is fed to coupling network 490 which actuates counter 492 to produce an output signal on channel 496 to render gating circuits 562 and 564 conductive. If this second signal is located in an outboard row of locations 478, delay circuit ll2 applies the signal to the now conductive gating circuit 5&4 to actuate flip-flop circuit 528 through conductor 526 to cause the circuit to assume a condition corresponding to a source being located in the outboard row. If, on the other hand, as shown in H6. 5, the second source is located in the centerline of locations 476, delay circuit 51 4 applies a signal to gating circuit 5612 to actuate the flip-flop circuit $28 through conductor 524 to cause the circuit to assume a condition corresponding to a source being located in the centerline of locations. in this manner two cars can readily be identified. It will be understood, of course, that by adding more source locations and sources and by using additional flip-flop circuits, a large number of cars may be identified. A timing circuit Sill actuated by flip-flop circuit resets counter 492 after a predetermined time has elapsed to permit the system to function for the next identification.

in operation of the form of our invention shown in FlG. l, a first car such as the car 2 .4 carrying a pair of sources ill and 12 spaced by a distance a passes over the check location to energize the respective detectors l3 and 22 to cause switch arms 5% and 53 to engage the contacts 54 and so to complete the circuit of the indicator 6%. At this time switch arm $4 is open so that the circuit of indicator 8% is not complete. As a second car such as car 28 having spaced sources 24 and 26 passes over the check location, detectors 118 and 2(3) are energized to close switch arms 43 and $34 on contacts 52 and 86 to complete the circuit of indicator 33. At this time switch arm 53 is open and the circuit of indicator 68 is not complete. It will be seen that with this arrangement no indicator is lighted until the car being identified is properly located at the check location. Thus there can be no ambiguous indications. Further, this system operates irrespective of the heading of the car.

In operation of the system shown in FIGS. 2 and '7, a car such as the car 258 moving from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, carries sources 26b and 262 which energize heads 266 and 268 to produce a signal on channel 284 to energize winding 1A. linergization of this winding completes a circuit to energize output channel 290 to cause gating circuit3ll2 to pass pulses from timing circuit 316 to the counter 318. When the car 258 arrives'at the second point at which detectors 292 and 294 are located, these detectors are energized to produce a signal on channel dill to energize winding 1B. When this occurs, the signal on channel 29 1) disappears and the gating circuit 3H2 no longer passes pulses to counter Sill. At the same time the circuit shown inFIG. 7 is reset. The number of counts indicated by the counter 318 indicates the speed of the vehicle such as car 258 in moving from the location at which detectors ass and 268 are located to the location of detectors 292 and 294. As has been explained hereinabove, this system operates irrespective of the direction of movement of the car and also indicates this direction by means of the signal lamps 332 and 334.

in operation of the form of our system shown in FIG. 3, when a car such as the car 336 arrives at the check location, the locations 338 are aligned with the detectors 342 to energize one or two of the detectors 342 in accordance with the disposition of sources in the locations 338. This disposition will be in accordance with table l above to energize one of the output channels are to 375 to cause printer 37% to print the first digit of a two-digit number. In a similar manner, sources disposed in locations 340 energize predetermined ones of the detectors 344 to cause an output channel of circuit 376 to be energized to cause printer 378 to print the second digit of the car identification number. Detector 416, which is energized by the source 414 located along the centerline of the car, is energized to actuate printer 378 to permit it to operate and to prevent ambiguous indications in this form of our system. As has been explained hereinabove, this system operates irrespective of the heading of the car such as car 3336 being identified.

in operation of the form of our system including the alternate keying system shown in FIG. 4, sources disposed in locations 44o energize detectors 448 to cause output signals on the terminals 45%, 460, 462 and 464 corresponding to the locations 446 carrying sources. Sources disposed in locations 444 energize the detectors 452. With the car properly located at the checkpoint four respective detectors of the detectors 448 and 452 carry output signals to produce four input signals for the coincidence circuits 472 to cause this circuit to produce a keying signal on the output channel 4'74. This arrangement thus prevents ambiguous indications as the car enters and leaves the checkpoint. Also as has been explained hereinabove, the system shown in FIG. 4 operates for either heading of car 336 by use of the two outboard lines of sources 443 and 454i.

In operation of the system shown in FIG. 5, the first source scanned by the detectors 48), ass and 434 produces an output signal which actuates counter 492 to energize channel 4% to render gating circuits 4% and 5M conductive. if this first signal comes from a source disposed in an outboard location, it is applied to gating circuits 4% and 5% to pass through circuit 498 to cause circuit 520 to assume a condition corresponding to location of a source in an outboard location. If this first source is located in the centerline of locations 476, it is applied to gating circuits 5% and 52 to pass through circuit 5% to cause circuit 52d to assume a condition corresponding to the disposition of the source in a center location. As the second source is scanned, the second output channel 4% is energized to render gating circuits 5ll 2 and 5% conductive. If the second signal results from a source disposed in an outboard location, it passes through circuit 5 ll4 to cause circuit 528 to assume a condition corresponding to location of a source outboard. If the second signal results from a source disposed in a center location it passes through circuit 502 to cause circuit 52% to assume a condition corresponding to location of a source in the centerline of locations. As is the case with the other forms of our invention, this system operates irrespective of the heading of the car.

It is to be understood that the various systems shown hereinabove may be used in different combinations to indicate the speed and direction of movement of a car as well as to identify the car. Further, while our system has been described with particular reference to railway cars, it is to be understood that it may be applied to any type of moving vehicle. As has been explained hereinabove, while we prefer to use radioactive sources and radiation detectors, we may, if desired, use other means such, for example, as magnetic field producing means, and magnetic detectors while retaining the advantages of our systems described hereinabove. It is to be understood further that sources could be located on .the last car of a train of cars to energize detectors arranged in a predetermined manner to generate a routing signal.

Referring now to F IGS. 9 and M an alternate form of our invention includes trackside radiation apparatus, indicated generally by the reference character 500, and a radiation detecting system indicated generally by the reference character 502. Preferably we dispose the apparatus 500 along the way 56% between the rails, one rail 506 of which is shown in the FIGS. so that a single source can direct radiation in both directions from the centerline of the way in a manner to be described. We dispose detecting apparatus such as the apparatus 502 shown in the FIG. at the outside of each rail so that our system can operate in the manner described above for both headings of a car travelling along the way.

The apparatus 500 includes a source housing sen formed from a suitable radiation absorbing material such as a block of lead contained within a steel jacket Still or the like. We provide the block 506 with a recess 51*!) in which we mount a lead source carrier 51 .2 carrying the source 514 of ionizing radiations. Shafts 51o rotatably supported in respective bearings 518 support the carrier M2 for movement from a first position at which ionizing radiations from the source can pass out through slits 52d in the. block 5% to a second position at which the source is housed so that no radiation emanates from the block 56%. A suitable handle 522 may be provided on a all;

shaft 516 to permit the source tobe moved between the two positions. It will readily be apparent from the drawingsthat the slits 520 are so shaped as to permit a thin segment of radiation to pass out of the block 506 toward the detecting apparatus 502.

The apparatus 502 includes a plurality of identification information detectors 524 so oriented as to receive radiation from the source 512. We provide a pair of detectors 526 at the ends of the line of detectors 524 to cause the system to readout only when the coding element to be described hereinafter is correctly registered with the source and with the detectors. We connect the outputs of all the information detectors 524 to a normally nonconductive gating circuit 528. It will readily be appreciated that with no car at the checkpoint all the detectors 524 are activated by radiation from the source. We con nect the outputs of the two end detectors 526 to a two-input AND circuit 530 which produces an output signal only in response to the absence of inputsignals at both its input terminals. Thus, when either of the two detectors 526 is receiving radiation no output signal appears at the output terminal of the AND circuit 530 and gating circuit 528 blocks the outputs of the information detectors 524.

The form of our invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 includes a car-carried coding bar 532 having a channel shape to define sides 534 and 536 provided with a plurality of pairs of notches 538. When the car-carried bar 532 is in position at the identifi cation sensing location or checkpoint a pair of corresponding notches 538 is aligned with the source 514 and with a detector 524 or 526 generally along a radius emanating from the center of the source and passing through a pair of notches and the de' tector. In order to code the bar 532 carried by a particular car with the identification number of that car we selectively dispose platelike radiation blocking slugs 540 in the pairs of slots 538 of the bar. In each case in order to sense when the car is precisely at the identification sensing location we place a plate 540 in each end pair of slots on the bar. We arrange our system so that radiation from the source impinges on the edge of the slug. Thus the entire width of material is in the path of radiation. Owing to this arrangement we are able to fit a large number of detectors in a relatively small space along the way.

Once a bar 532 has been properly coded in this manner we secure a cover plate 542 over the bar by any suitable means such as by welding. Rods 544 or the like secured to the plate 542 and to the underside of the car 546 suspend the coding bar 532 from the car at a height at which it will pass between the source apparatus 500 and the detector system 502 as the car moves into the check location. .It will readily be understood that the slugs or plates 540 are formed from a suitable radiation absorbing material such, for example, as lead.

We couple the outputs of the gating cir'cuit528 to respective flip-flop circuits 548 which occupy one state or the other, depending upon the presence or absence of a signal at their inputterminals. The gating circuits themselves may be coupled to a suitable printing apparatus or the like 550 to provide visible indication of the identity of the car.

In operation of the form of our invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 when no code bar 532 'is interposed between the source 514 and the detectors 524 and 526 all the detectors are energized. However, since both the input channels to the circuit 530 carry signals this circuit produces no output and the gating circuit 528 blocks the signals from the information detectors 524. Now as a car carrying a coding bar 532 moves into the check location, finally slugs 540 in the pairs of end slots 538 block radiation from the source 514 to the end detectors 526. Consequently the output signals of the two end detectors disappear and circuit 530 produces a signal which renders the gating circuit 528 conductive to pass the outputs from detectors 524 to the flip-flops 548.

As has been pointed out hereinabove we dispose slugs 540 in certain pairs of corresponding slots 538 so that the information detectors 524 produce outputs representingthe identity of the particular car carrying the bar. Forexample, in the specific example shown with the arrangement of slugs 540 the information detectors 524 from left to right in FIG. 9 produce output signals which can, for example, represent the binary number 01001101. These output signals pass to the flip-flops 548 and cause their conditions to be such that the apparatus 550 prints out the proper identification number.

It will readily be understood that the form of our invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be made to operate for either heading of the car merely by placing detecting apparatus 502 on the other side of the way. Our system has a distinct advantage of permitting a single source to be used in connection with a large number of detectors. Owing to the fact that the slugs 540 are oriented along radii a very large number of detectors can be provided in a short distance along the side of the way.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a car identification system which represents an improvement over identification systems of the prior art. Our system is arranged to prevent ambiguous indications as the vehicle moves into and out of the check location. Our system may be arranged to provide an indication both of the speed and of the direction of movement of a vehicle. Our system operates irrespective of the direction of movement of the vehicle. Our system is arranged to identify a large number of vehicles. Our system may be arranged to provide an indication in the form of a representation in the natural binary code.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

I claim:

1. A car identification system for identifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a first group of spaced source locations on said car, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical e ect, means mounting source means of said plurality in certain of the locations of said first group, a second group of spaced source locations on said car, means mounting other source means of said plurality in certain of the locations of said second group, a first group of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, the detecting means of said first group corresponding in number to the .number of locationsin said first group, means mounting the detecting means of said first group in spaced relationship on said way in positions to register with the locations of said first group, a'second group of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent'the detecting means, the detecting means of said second group corresponding in number to the number of locations in said second group, means mounting the detecting means of said second group in spaced relationship on said way to register with the locations of said second group as said car travels along said way, means responsive to registry of the respective detecting means of said first group with corresponding source means in said first group of locations for producing an indication of a first digit of a car identification number, means responsive to registry of the respective detecting means of said second group with corresponding source means in locations of said second group for producing an indication of a second digit of a car identification number and means for enabling said indication producing means when locations of the respective first and second groups register with the detecting means of the first and second groups.

2. A car identification system as in claim 1 in which said indication producing means comprises means responsive to the energization of detecting means of the first group corresponding to locations of the first group carrying source means for printing the first digit of the car identification number and means responsive to detecting means of the second group corresponding to locations of the second group carrying source means for printing the second digit of the car identification number.

3. A car identification system foridentifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a first line of spaced source locations on said car, a second line of spaced source locations on said car, said locations being arranged in pairs of aligned locations each pair of which includes a location of each of said lines, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in said locations in a predetermined pattern with one location of each of said pairs having a source means mounted thereat, a plurality of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said detecting means on said way to form a pair of spaced lines of spaced detecting means adapted to register with the locations of the respective first and second lines of locations as said car travels along said way, means responsive to the detecting means of said first line corresponding to locations of said first line at which source means are located for producing a coded indication of the identification of said car and means including detecting means of said first and second lines of detecting means for enabling said indicating means in response to source means disposed respectively in one location of each of said pairs of locations.

4. A car identification system as in claim 3 in which said first line of locations is displaced to one side of the centerline of said car and in which the second line of locations is disposed along the centerline of said car and in which the detecting means of said first line are displaced to one side of the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations of said first line for one heading of said car and including a third line of spaced detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, and means mounting the detecting means of said third line on the other of said car and said wayidisplaced from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations of said first line for the other heading of said car and means interconnecting the detectingmeans of said first line with the detecting means of said third line.

5. A car identification system for producing an indication of the direction of movement of a car traveling along-a way including in combination a pair of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said pair of source means on said car spaced by a predetermined distance, a first pair of detecting means each of which produces a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first pair of detecting means at a first check location along said way spaced by said predetermined distance, a second pair of detecting means each of which produces a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting the detecting means of said second pair at a second check location along said way spaced by said predetermined distance, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as said car travels along said way, first means responsive to said detecting means of said first pair for producing a first electrical signal as said source means register with the respective detecting means of said first pair, second means responsive to the detecting means of said second pair for producing a second electrical signal as said source means register with the detecting means of said second pair, and means responsive to said electrical signals for indicating the order in which said source means register with said pairs of detecting means to indicate the direction of movement of said car along said way.

6. A car identification system for producing an indication of the direction of movement of a car traveling along a way including in combination a source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means on said car, a first detecting means for producing a first electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means at a first check location along said way, a second detecting means for producing an electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means at a second check location along said way, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as said car travels along said way and means responsive to said electrical signals for indicating the order in which said source means register with said detecting means for indicating the direction of movement of said car along said way.

7. Apparatus for producing an indication of the speed of movement of a car traveling along a way including in combination a source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means on said car, a first detecting means for producing a first electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means at a first check location along said way, a second detecting means for producing an electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means at a second check location along said way, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as saidcar travels along said way, means for producing a predetermined number of electrical impulses per unit time, a counter for counting electrical impulses, a normally nonconductive gating circuit rendered conductive in response to a first electrical signal applied thereto and returned to its nonconducting state in response to a second electrical signal applied thereto, means connecting said gating circuit between said impulse producing means and said counter and means for applying said detecting meanselectrical signals to said gating circuit to cause said counter to count at number of impulses affording a measure of the speed of said car in either direction of movement of said car along said way.

8. A car identification system for identifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a plurality of spaced source locations disposed on said car along a line extending in the direction of said way displaced from the centerline of said car, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in said 10- cations in accordance with a predetermined code, a plurality of first detecting means corresponding in number to the number of said locations and each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means on said way along a line displaced in one direction from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations for one heading of said car along said way, a plurality of second detecting means corresponding in number to the number of said locations and each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence ofa source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means on said way disposed along a line displaced in the other direction from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations for the other heading of said car along said way, means responsive to said detecting means as said locations register with the detecting means of one of said pluralities of detecting means for producing an indication of locations in which source'means are disposed, means responsive to the arrival of said car at a point which the respective detecting means register with said locations for actuating said indicating means and means for interconnecting the first and second detecting means to cause said indicating means to produce a correct indication of car identity for either heading of said car on said way. l

9. in combination an object movable over a predetermined location, a plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined various ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means l located at said predetermined location, said distinct regions being located with respect to said energy detecting means such that all of said energy radiating means are presented to said detector means, said distinct regions beingarranged in two parallel rows, and wherein said energy detector means comprise two such means each arranged to sense said energy radiating means in a different one of said rows, said detector means producing pulses in response to said radiating means, said energy radiating means being disposed in complementary locations in said rows so as to produce only one pulse for each pair of distinct regions.

10. The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means for combining signal pulses produced by each of said energy detector means to produce a clock pulse train, a storage medium having distinct signal storage locations and means responsive to said clock pulse train to sequence signals indicative of presentation of radiating means to one of said energy detector means to said signal-storage locations of said storage medium.

11. The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means for decoding said pulses to produce an indication of the information represented by the arrangement of sources.

12. In combination an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaceddistinct regions arranged serially along said body, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said distinct regions are serially presented to said detector means, a register having a control input terminal and an information input terminal, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control input terminal of said register, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said energy radiating means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information input terminal of said register.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said means for developing said control signals comprises two rows of said distinct regions, a complementary arrangement of energy radiating means in said distinct regions of said rows,

one of said rows comprising said first plurality of said distinct regions, a second energy detector means for interrogating said other of said rows of distinct regions, means for producing control signals as each of said energy radiating means of said other row of said distinct regions is presented to said second energy detector means, and means for combining said control and said information signals.

14. In combination, an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said predetermined regions are serially presented to said detector means, an information storage means having distinct signal storage locations, said storage means including control signal responsive means for sequencing information signals to said signal storage locations, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control signal responsive means, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said energy radiating means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information storage means.

35. in combination, an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said distinct regions are serially presented to said detector means upon movement of said object, first code means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions for changing the quantity of radiant energy incident upon said detector means as each code means is presented to said detector means, an information storage means having signal storage locations, said storage means including control signal responsive means for controlling the application of information signals to said signal storage locations, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control signal responsive means, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said code means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information storage means.

16. A car identification system for producing an indication of the identity of a car moving along a way including in combination a first line of spaced locations on said car, a second line of spaced locations on said car, the locations of the respective lines being correspondingly spaced to form pairs of aligned locations, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in certain of said locations in accordance with a predetermined pattern, a pair of respective detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, mounting said detecting means on said way in laterally aligned relationship with reference to said lines of locations, in positions to permit the detecting means concomitantly to scan the pairs of locations of the lines of locations as said car travels along said way, the arrangement being such that only one location of each of said pairs carries a source means, bistable means adapted to be set to respective first and second states, means responsive to said detecting means for setting said bistable means to its first state in response to location of a source of one of said pairs in one of said lines and for setting said bistable means to its second state in response to location a source of said one pair in the other line.

17. Apparatus for producing an indication of the identity of a car travelling along a way including in combination, a source of ionizing radiation producing a radiation pattern covering a sector of a circle, a row of radiation detectors including end detectors, means mounting said detectors in spaced relationship in said radiation pattern at a check location along said way whereby said' detectors are normally energized, a code bar having a plurality of locations including end locations spaced along its length of distances corresponding to the spacing between said detectors, a plurality of radiation blocking elements, means mounting said elements in certain of said locations including said end locations in accordance with the identity of said car to cause said elements to block radiation from said source to said detectors in accordance with the identity of said car when the bar is disposed between the source and the detectors, indicating means responsive to said detectors, and means responsive to said end detectors for normally disabling said indicating means, said end locations carblocking elements has a longer dimension and in which said elements are mounted with their longer dimensions radially aligned with said source.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,571,569 Datd March 23, 1971 Inventor) Eric W. Leaver and George R. Mounce It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 16, line 66:

After "point" insert at Column 18, line 29:

Before "mounting" insert means Column 18, line 50:

After "length" change "of" to by Signed and sealed this 20th day of July 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

' R JR. WILLIAM E. SGI-IUYLER, EDWARD M FLETCHE Commissioner of Fate Attesting Officer

Claims (16)

1. A car identification system for identifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a first group of spaced source locations on said car, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting source means of said plurality in certain of the locations of said first group, a second group of spaced source locations on said car, means mounting other source means of said plurality in certain of the locations of said second group, a first group of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, the detecting means of said first group corresponding in number to the number of locations in said first group, means mounting the detecting means of said first group in spaced relationship on said way in positions to register with the locations of said first group, a second group of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, the detecting means of said second group corresponding in number to the number of locations in said second group, means mounting the detecting means of said second group in spaced relationship on said way to register with the locations of said second group as said car travels along said way, means responsive to registry of the respective detecting means of said first group with corresponding source means in said first group of locations for producing an indication of a first digit of a car identification number, means responsive to registry of the respective detecting means of said second group with corresponding source means in locations of said second group for producing an indication of a second digit of a car identification number and means for enabling said indication producing means when locations of the respective first and second groups register with the detecting means of the first and second groups.

2. A car identification system as in claim 1 in which said indication producing means comprises means responsive to the energization of detecting means of the first group corresponding to locations of the first group carrying source means for printing the first digit of the car identification number and means responsive to detecting means of the second group corresponding to locations of the second group carrying source means for printing the second digit of the car identification number.

3. A car identification system for identifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a first line of spaced source locations on said car, a second line of spaced source locations on said car, said locations being arranged in pairs of aligned locations each pair of which includes a location of each of said lines, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in said locations in a predetermined pattern with one location of each of said pairs having a source means mounted thereat, a plurality of detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said detecting means on said way to form a pair of spaced lines of spaced detecting means adapted to register with the locations of the respective first and second lines of locations as said car travels along said way, means responsive to the detecting means of said first line corresponding to locations of said first line at which source means are located for producing a coded indication of the identification of said car and means including detecting means of said first and second lines of detecting means for enabling said indicating means in response to source means disposed respectively in one location of each of said pairs of locations.

4. A car identification system as in claim 3 in which said first line of locations is displaced to one side of the centerline of said car and in which the second line of locations is disposed along the centerline of said car and in which the detecting means of said first line are displaced to one side of the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations of said first line for one heading of said car and including a third line of spaced detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, and means mounting the detecting means of said third line on the other of said car and said way displaced from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations of said first line for the other heading of said car and means interconnecting the detecting means of said first line with the detecting means of said third line.

5. A car identification system for producing an indication of the direction of movement of a car traveling along a way including in combination a pair of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said pair of source means on said car spaced by a predetermined distance, a first pair of detecting means each of which produces a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first pair of detecting means at a first check location along said way spaced by said predetermined distance, a second pair of detecting means each of which produces a signal in response to the presence of a source means Adjacent the detecting means, means mounting the detecting means of said second pair at a second check location along said way spaced by said predetermined distance, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as said car travels along said way, first means responsive to said detecting means of said first pair for producing a first electrical signal as said source means register with the respective detecting means of said first pair, second means responsive to the detecting means of said second pair for producing a second electrical signal as said source means register with the detecting means of said second pair, and means responsive to said electrical signals for indicating the order in which said source means register with said pairs of detecting means to indicate the direction of movement of said car along said way. 6. A car identification system for producing an indication of the direction of movement of a car traveling along a way including in combination a source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means on said car, a first detecting means for producing a first electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means at a first check location along said way, a second detecting means for producing an electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means at a second check location along said way, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as said car travels along said way and means responsive to said electrical signals for indicating the order in which said source means register with said detecting means for indicating the direction of movement of said car along said way.

7. Apparatus for producing an indication of the speed of movement of a car traveling along a way including in combination a source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means on said car, a first detecting means for producing a first electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means at a first check location along said way, a second detecting means for producing an electrical signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means at a second check location along said way, said detecting means mounting means positioning said detecting means to permit said source means to register with the detecting means as said car travels along said way, means for producing a predetermined number of electrical impulses per unit time, a counter for counting electrical impulses, a normally nonconductive gating circuit rendered conductive in response to a first electrical signal applied thereto and returned to its nonconducting state in response to a second electrical signal applied thereto, means connecting said gating circuit between said impulse producing means and said counter and means for applying said detecting means electrical signals to said gating circuit to cause said counter to count a number of impulses affording a measure of the speed of said car in either direction of movement of said car along said way.

8. A car identification system for identifying a car traveling along a way including in combination a plurality of spaced source locations disposed on said car along a line extending in the direction of said way displaced from the centerline of said car, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in said locations in accordance with a predetermined code, a plurality of first detecting means corresponding in number to the number of said locations and Each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said first detecting means on said way along a line displaced in one direction from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations for one heading of said car along said way, a plurality of second detecting means corresponding in number to the number of said locations and each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, means mounting said second detecting means on said way disposed along a line displaced in the other direction from the centerline of said way to register with the respective locations for the other heading of said car along said way, means responsive to said detecting means as said locations register with the detecting means of one of said pluralities of detecting means for producing an indication of locations in which source means are disposed, means responsive to the arrival of said car at a point which the respective detecting means register with said locations for actuating said indicating means and means for interconnecting the first and second detecting means to cause said indicating means to produce a correct indication of car identity for either heading of said car on said way. 9. In combination an object movable over a predetermined location, a plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined various ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means located at said predetermined location, said distinct regions being located with respect to said energy detecting means such that all of said energy radiating means are presented to said detector means, said distinct regions being arranged in two parallel rows, and wherein said energy detector means comprise two such means each arranged to sense said energy radiating means in a different one of said rows, said detector means producing pulses in response to said radiating means, said energy radiating means being disposed in complementary locations in said rows so as to produce only one pulse for each pair of distinct regions.

10. The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means for combining signal pulses produced by each of said energy detector means to produce a clock pulse train, a storage medium having distinct signal storage locations and means responsive to said clock pulse train to sequence signals indicative of presentation of radiating means to one of said energy detector means to said signal storage locations of said storage medium.

11. The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means for decoding said pulses to produce an indication of the information represented by the arrangement of sources.

12. In combination an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged serially along said body, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said distinct regions are serially presented to said detector means, a register having a control input terminal and an information input terminal, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control input terminal of said register, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said energy radiating means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information input terminal of said register.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said means for developing said control signals comprises two rows of said distinct regions, a complementary arrangement of energy radiating means in said distinct regions of said rows, one of said rows comprising said First plurality of said distinct regions, a second energy detector means for interrogating said other of said rows of distinct regions, means for producing control signals as each of said energy radiating means of said other row of said distinct regions is presented to said second energy detector means, and means for combining said control and said information signals.

14. In combination, an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy radiating means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said predetermined regions are serially presented to said detector means, an information storage means having distinct signal storage locations, said storage means including control signal responsive means for sequencing information signals to said signal storage locations, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control signal responsive means, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said energy radiating means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information storage means.

15. In combination, an object movable relative to a predetermined location, at least a first plurality of spaced distinct regions arranged along said object, energy detector means located at said predetermined location such that said distinct regions are serially presented to said detector means upon movement of said object, first code means disposed at predetermined ones of said distinct regions for changing the quantity of radiant energy incident upon said detector means as each code means is presented to said detector means, an information storage means having signal storage locations, said storage means including control signal responsive means for controlling the application of information signals to said signal storage locations, means for developing a control signal as each of said distinct regions appears at said predetermined location, circuit means for applying said control signals to said control signal responsive means, second circuit means for developing an information signal as each of said code means is presented to said energy detecting means, said second circuit means applying said information signals to said information storage means.

16. A car identification system for producing an indication of the identity of a car moving along a way including in combination a first line of spaced locations on said car, a second line of spaced locations on said car, the locations of the respective lines being correspondingly spaced to form pairs of aligned locations, a plurality of source means for producing a detectable physical effect, means mounting said source means in certain of said locations in accordance with a predetermined pattern, a pair of respective detecting means each adapted to produce a signal in response to the presence of a source means adjacent the detecting means, mounting said detecting means on said way in laterally aligned relationship with reference to said lines of locations, in positions to permit the detecting means concomitantly to scan the pairs of locations of the lines of locations as said car travels along said way, the arrangement being such that only one location of each of said pairs carries a source means, bistable means adapted to be set to respective first and second states, means responsive to said detecting means for setting said bistable means to its first state in response to location of a source of one of said pairs in one of said lines and for setting said bistable means to its second state in response to location a source of said one pair in the other line.

17. Apparatus for producing an indication of the identity of a car travElling along a way including in combination, a source of ionizing radiation producing a radiation pattern covering a sector of a circle, a row of radiation detectors including end detectors, means mounting said detectors in spaced relationship in said radiation pattern at a check location along said way whereby said detectors are normally energized, a code bar having a plurality of locations including end locations spaced along its length of distances corresponding to the spacing between said detectors, a plurality of radiation blocking elements, means mounting said elements in certain of said locations including said end locations in accordance with the identity of said car to cause said elements to block radiation from said source to said detectors in accordance with the identity of said car when the bar is disposed between the source and the detectors, indicating means responsive to said detectors, and means responsive to said end detectors for normally disabling said indicating means, said end locations carrying blocking elements registering with said end detectors upon the arrival of said car at said check location to render said disabling means inoperative.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17 in which each of said radiation blocking elements has a longer dimension and in which said elements are mounted with their longer dimensions radially aligned with said source.

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