Failsafe rail mounted shunt device
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorsPeter Michael Bartek, Michael Stephen Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to shunt devices for providing multi-fold protection for track workers. For example, a failsafe shunt device may have a pair of end components magnetically couple to two running rails and a central unit connected to the pair of end components via electrical wires. The failsafe shunt device may communicate with an operations control center (OCC) to indicate a presence of the shunt device. Related methods of using disclosed shunt devices and associated systems are also described.
Claims20
A shunt device for railroad use comprising:
- a pair of end components configured to magnetically couple to two running rails;
- and
- a central unit connected to the pair of end components via electrical wires,
- wherein the central unit is configured to communicate with an operations control center (OCC) to indicate a presence of the shunt device.
A method of using a shunt device for positive train control (PTC)-compatible rail communications, the method comprising:
- magnetically coupling the shunt device to two rails of a railroad;
- transmitting signals, from the shunt device to an operations control center (OCC), that indicate a presence of the shunt device.
A positive train control (PTC)-compatible failsafe shunt device deployed on a railroad, the shunt device comprising:
- first and second end components configured to electrically connect to first and second rails of the railroad, respectively;
- first and second electrical wires connected to the first and second end components, respectively;
- and
- a central unit connected to the first and second end components via the first and second electrical wires,
- wherein the shunt device is configured to communicate, directly or indirectly, with a control center to indicate a presence of the shunt device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.