Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Device, System, and Method for Monitoring a Distance between Rail Cars during Coupling

Abstract:

Described are a device, system, and method for monitoring a distance between a first rail car and a second rail car during coupling. The device includes a fastener configured to affix the device to the first rail car and a distance sensor configured to detect the distance between the first rail car and the second rail car in a direction away from an end of the first rail car and toward an end of the second rail car. The device also includes a power source and a data connector to communicatively connect the device to a remote processor. The device further includes a local processor programmed or configured to repeatedly receive distance data from the distance sensor of the distance between the first rail car and the second rail car and communicate the distance data to the remote processor.