Modular railroad track simulator
AssigneeSiemens Mobility GmbH
InventorsMark Corbo, James Dobson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for simulating a railroad track. The system comprises one or more modular track simulation units that are smaller than conventional track simulators and are easy to use with and be connected to a device being tested (e.g., grade crossing predictor). Each track simulation unit may have one of a plurality of impedances associated with a corresponding railroad track length. The units are combinable such that the system can simulate multiple, different track lengths. Each unit has a plurality of test points that can be connected to the device under test and/or used to alter conditions of the simulated track.
Claims17
A modular railroad track simulation unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a first plug formed through one side wall of the housing and a second plug formed through a second sidewall of the housing;
- a plurality of test points formed through a top of the housing, a first test point being electrically connected to the first plug and a second test point being electrically connected to the second plug;
- and
- at least one device within the housing having an inductance and being electrically connected between the first and second test points at locations within the housing,
- wherein the inductance defines a railroad track length being simulated by the unit, and
- wherein the test points are adapted to receive a plug connected to a device whose operation is being tested based on the track length being simulated by the unit.
A modular railroad track simulation unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a first plug formed through one side wall of the housing and a second plug formed through a second sidewall of the housing;
- a plurality of test points formed through a top of the housing;
- and
- a plurality of inductors located within the housing,
- wherein a first test point is electrically connected between the first plug and a first inductor, the second test point is electrically connected between the first inductor and a second inductor, and the third test point is electrically connected between the second inductor and the second plug,
- wherein a combined inductance of the first and second inductors defines a railroad track length being simulated by the unit, and
- wherein the test points are adapted to receive a plug connected to a device whose operation is being tested based on the track length being simulated by the unit.
A modular railroad track simulation system comprising:
- a plurality of railroad track simulation modules, each module comprising:
- a housing;
- a first plug formed through one side wall of the housing and a second plug formed through a second sidewall of the housing;
- a plurality of test points formed through a top of the housing, a first test point being electrically connected to the first plug and a second test point being electrically connected to the second plug;
- and
- at least one device within the housing having an inductance and being electrically connected between the first and second test points at locations within the housing,
- wherein a second plug of a first module of the plurality of modules is connectable to a first plug from a second module of the plurality of modules, and the system simulates a railroad track length based on a combined inductance of the plurality of railroad track simulation modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.