Train derailer placement warning device
AssigneeGreen Timber Energy
InventorJohn McCarthy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A derail placement warning system for a railway derailer that automatically generates an alert to inform railway personnel (or others) of the placement of the derailer on a rail of the railway such that the derailer will derail rail traffic over the derailer. The warning system has an electronic circuit with an electric power source, an electronic switch and an electronic alert, and is configured for the switch to automatically activate and turn ON the alert when the derailing component of the derailer is positioned atop a railway rail. The alert comprises one or more of an audible component, a tactile sensation, an olfactory component, a visible light emission, and an electronic transmission.
Claims29
An automated warning system for the placement of a railway derailer on a rail of a railway, the derailer comprising an underside that engages at least in part the railway rail when the derailer is positioned on the railway rail, the derailer comprising a derail component that derails railway traffic passing at least in part over the derailer, the derail component defining an engagement surface on said derailer where railway traffic engages at least in part the derailer to derail the railway traffic, the derail component defining a safe zone on said derailer where railway traffic does not engage the derailer, the warning system comprising an electronic circuit having an electric power source, an electronic switch and an electronic alert;
- said switch having an ON state in which the electric power source activates the alert to generate a warning signal and an OFF state in which the electric power source does not activate the alert;
- the switch being positioned on or along the underside of the derailer such that the switch assumes the ON state when the derailer is positioned at least in part on the railway rail, one of said electronic switch, said electric power source and said electronic alert being separated from the engagement surface.
An auto-alert portable derailer for a railway rail, the portable derailer automatically warning of the placement of the portable derailer on the railway rail, the portable derailer comprising:
- a. a fastener adapted to releasably engage the derailer with the railway rail;
- b. an upperside generally facing upward when the derailer is positioned on the railway rail;
- c. an underside generally facing away from the upperside;
- d. a derail component extending from the upperside of the derailer, the derail component having a derail surface, the derail component derailing railway wheels passing at least in part over the derail surface when the derailer is positioned on the railway rail;
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- e. an electronic circuit having an electric power source, an electronic switch and an electronic alert;
- said switch having an ON state in which the electric power source activates the alert to generate a warning signal and an OFF state in which the electric power source does not activate the alert;
- the switch being disposed on or along the underside of the derailer such that the switch assumes the ON state when the derailer engages the railway rail, one or more of said electric power source, said electronic switch and said electronic alert being separated from the derail surface.
An auto-alert permanent derailer for a railway rail, the permanent derailer automatically warning of the derailer's engagement with the railway rail, the permanent derailer comprising:
- a. a body adapted for placement adjacent the railway rail;
- b. a derail component operatively associated with the body, the derail component being selectively movable between a first position in which the derail component at least in part engages the railway rail and a second position in which the derail component does not engage the railway rail when the body is positioned adjacent the railway rail, the derail component derailing railway traffic that passes over the derail component when the derail component is in the first position, the derail component having an underside generally facing the railway rail when the derail component is in the first position;
- and
- c. an electronic circuit having an electric power source, an electronic switch and an electronic alert;
- said switch having an ON state in which the electric power source activates the alert to generate a warning signal and an OFF state in which the electric power source does not activate the alert;
- the switch being disposed on or along the underside of the derailer such that the switch assumes the ON state when the derail component is in the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.