Railroad Crossing
OwnerJerome J. Ghigliottiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A railroad crossing includes a turn in a road as the road approaches the railroad, the turn forcing an approaching vehicle to slow down. A impact attenuation zone extends from the turn in the direction of traffic flow so that vehicles failing to make the turn enter a vehicle impact attenuation zone are brought to a stop before coming into the area of danger through which railroad trains traverse.
Claims18
A railroad crossing comprising:
- a road that extends across a railway, the road including a first road portion extending in a first direction;
- a change in road direction at one end of the first road portion;
- and
- a vehicle impact attenuation zone extending along the first direction from the first portion of the road, the vehicle impact attenuation zone containing one or more railroad ties or portions of railroad ties, arranged at a similar level to the first road portion, the vehicle impact attenuation zone located between the road and the railway or crossing.
A method of modifying a railroad crossing between a road that extends in a first direction and a railway that extends in a second direction comprising:
- replacing a portion of the road with a vehicle impact attenuation zone, the vehicle impact attenuation zone extending along the first direction, the vehicle impact attenuation zone including one or more railroad ties or portions of railroad ties;
- and
- adding a diverted road portion that extends around the vehicle impact attenuation zone, the diverted road portion extending across the railway, the diverted road meeting the road at an angle of greater than thirty degrees.
A vehicle impact attenuation zone at a road approach to a railroad crossing comprising:
- a plurality of unsecured railroad ties or portions thereof arranged in an area that extends from the road, along a direction of vehicle travel of the road, the area extending from a location where the direction of vehicle travel changes, such that a vehicle failing to change its direction of travel at the location enters the area and continues over the plurality of unsecured railroad ties or portions thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.