Railroad crossing traffic warning system apparatus and method therefore

Abstract

A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist approaching a railroad crossing to the presence of an oncoming train. The system comprises a series of magnetometer sensor probes buried in the right-of way adjacent to a railroad track at predetermined distances from the railroad crossing. These sensors provide a signal to a controller unit when the presence of a train is sensed. The controller unit first determines the speed at which the oncoming train is traveling and the time it will take for the train to reach the crossing and then activates an improved warning apparatus at a predetermined amount of time before the train reaches the crossing. The improved warning apparatus comprises an X-shaped railroad crossing warning sign or "crossbuck" having a plurality of light emitting diodes ("LED") or the like mounted on the across the center thereof, a plurality of strobe lights, and a train direction indicator comprising a plurality of lamps which are lighted sequentially to indicate the direction in which the oncoming train is traveling. The system may be powered by a rechargeable battery which may be recharged by a solar panel array allowing the system to be utilized at crossings located in rural areas where a source of AC electrical power is not readily available.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.