Apparatus for bi-directional downstream adjacent crossing signaling
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorRandy M. O'Dell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A first crossing predictor uses signals from a pair to spaced apart receivers, which may be located on opposite sides of a transmitter, to determine on which side of a crossing an approaching train is located. If the first predictor upstream with respect to the approaching train, the first predictor transmits signals to instruct a downstream adjacent predictor to activate its warning device at a constant warning time (referred to as DAXing).
Claims16
A crossing predictor comprising:
- a control unit;
- a transmitter connected to the control unit and operable to transmit an alternating current signal having a first frequency through a pair of track rails, the track rails being connected to each other by at least one shunt operable to pass the alternating current signal across the pair of rails, the transmitter being connected to each of the track rails at a first position;
- a first receiver connected to the control unit and operable to detect an alternating current signal across the pair of track rails, the first receiver being connected to the track rails at a second position on each of the track rails;
- and
- a second receiver connected to the control unit and operable to detect an alternating current signal across the pair of track rails, the second receiver being connected to the track rails at a third position on each of the track rails, the second position being spaced apart from the third position;
- wherein the control unit is configured to detect a train and determine on which side of the first position the train is located by comparing signals received by the second receiver to signals received by the first receiver.
The crossing predictor of claim 5, wherein the constant warning time signal is transmitted wirelessly.
The crossing predictor of claim 5, wherein the constant warning time signal is transmitted via a wired connection.
A method for operating a crossing predictor comprising:
- a control unit;
- transmitting, by a transmitter connected to each of the track rails at a first position, an alternating current signal having a first frequency through a pair of track rails, the track rails being connected to each other by at least one shunt operable to pass the alternating current signal across the pair of rails;
- receiving, by a first receiver connected to the track rails at a second position on each of the track rails, the alternating current signal across the pair of track rails;
- receiving, by a second receiver connected to the track rails at a third position on each of the track rails, the alternating current signal across the pair of track rails, the second position being spaced apart from the third position;
- and
- detecting, by a control unit connected to the first receiver and the second receiver, a train and determining on which side of the first position the train is located by comparing signals received by the second receiver to signals received by the first receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.