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US 2019/0300029 A1Published application
Speed proving method and apparatus
AssigneeRail Control Systems Australia Pty Ltd
InventorNeil Popplewell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of improving the reliability and accuracy of level crossing warning systems. The invention is comprised of an axle counter based system that detects the presence and calculates the speed of a train approaching a level crossing and adjusts the activation time for any warning system using a pre-defined period.
Claims3
A method for activating the warning system at a level crossing comprising:
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by passing over a first axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from a second axle counting wheel sensor;
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by a second axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from the first axle counting wheel sensor and the level crossing;
- calculating the speed of the train by determining the time taken for each axle to travel between the two axle counting wheel sensors;
- and
- activating the level crossing warning system at a predetermined time based upon the calculated speed of the train.
2 more elements
A method for activating the warning system at a level crossing comprising:
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by passing over a first axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from a second axle counting wheel sensor;
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by a second axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from the first axle counting wheel sensor and the level crossing;
- calculating the speed of the train by determining the time taken for each axle to travel between the two axle counting wheel sensors;
- activating the level crossing warning system at a predetermined time based upon the calculated speed of the train;
- and
- detecting the presence of the departing from the level crossing wherein each axle of the train is detected by a third axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a location on the far side of the level crossing such that level crossing may be deactivated.
3 more elements
A method for activating the warning system at a level crossing comprising:
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by passing over a first axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from a second axle counting wheel sensor;
- detecting the presence of an approaching train wherein each axle of the train is detected by a second axle counting wheel sensor positioned at a known distance from the first axle counting wheel sensor and the level crossing;
- determining the type of approaching train and determining the maximum acceleration of said train type;
- calculating the speed of the train by determining the time taken for each axle to travel between the two axle counting wheel sensors;
- activating the level crossing warning system at a predetermined time based upon the calculated speed and maximum acceleration of the train.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.