Automated counterbalance system and method for determining counterbalance and adjusting counterweights of a crossing gate
AssigneeSiemens Mobility GmbH
InventorLeonard Wydotis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated counterbalance system includes a crossing gate mechanism with an electric motor, a sensing device and a motor control unit, a crossing gate with a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm.
Claims16
An automated counterbalance system comprising:
- a crossing gate mechanism comprising an electric motor with at least one sensing device and a motor control unit,
- a crossing gate comprising a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism,
- wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and
- wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm,
- wherein the counterbalance of the crossing gate arm is determined by a motor rotation rate as a function of time, the motor rotation rate as a function of time providing whether the crossing gate arm is descending within or at a predefined period, and
- wherein the motor control unit is configured to determine and output a signal in response to the crossing gate arm descending above or below the predefined period.
A method of determining counterbalance and/or adjusting counterweights of a crossing gate, the method comprising:
- monitoring an electrical characteristic of an electric motor within a crossing gate mechanism of a crossing gate,
- moving a crossing gate arm by the crossing gate mechanism,
- determining a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm,
- wherein the counterbalance of the crossing gate arm is determined by a motor rotation rate as a function of time, the motor rotation rate as a function of time providing whether the crossing gate arm is descending within or at a predefined period, and
- determining and outputting, by a motor control unit, a signal in response to the crossing gate arm descending above or below the predefined period.
A non-transitory computer readable medium, storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising:
- monitoring an electrical characteristic of an electric motor within a crossing gate mechanism of a crossing gate while a crossing gate arm is moved by the crossing gate mechanism, and
- determining a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor during movement of the crossing gate arm,
- wherein the counterbalance of the crossing gate arm is determined by a motor rotation rate as a function of time, the motor rotation rate as a function of time providing whether the crossing gate arm is descending within or at a predefined period, and
- determining and outputting a signal in response to the crossing gate arm descending above or below the predefined period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.