Patent ID: 6422058
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A test apparatus for determining the effects of rail car humping on a cargo specimen stored in a rail car comprising: a test cart which simulates a rail car for propelling a cargo specimen toward an impact structure which simulates one or more other rail cars, said test cart having a bounded space for enclosing said cargo specimen and a first member of a rail car coupling extending forwardly from said test cart; a means connected to said test cart for accelerating said test cart toward a fixed energy absorbing impact structure; a fixed energy absorbing impact structure for rapidly decelerating said test cart during a frontal impact of said test cart with said impact structure, said impact structure having a second complementary coupling member extending rearwardly from said impact structure to engage said first coupling member of said test cart; a means for propelling said test cart toward said impact structure; a means in said impact structure for rapidly decelerating said test cart during an engagement of said coupling members; a programmable computer operatively connected to said means for accelerating and said means for decelerating said test cart; and computer software for processing a set of input variables for controlling said acceleration and said deceleration of said test cart.