Wayside communications safety system

#The present invention relates generally to a wayside communications safety system for communication with and between other safety stations located at a plurality of fixed sites with, central stations, or intermediate receiving stations within a railroad environment and, more particularly, to such systems providing one-way and two-way communications services and summoning of emergency services.

#There are many occasions when the need for reliable communications along railroad by-ways is necessary for both routine maintenance and emergency services. Radios are commonly used by maintenance workers, however, radio communications are not always effective in environments where the limited range of radio signals is greatly affected, for example, within railway tunnels. Similarly, the use of radios by emergency services personnel, for example fire and medical, are problematic both in communications among such personnel at the scene of an emergency and with a remote command post. Additionally, the ability to deliver emergency voice communications to passengers stranded along a by-way, for example in a tunnel or on a bridge, has been extremely difficult absent an accessible public address system.

#Many rail systems are powered by electricity, with trains connecting to a high voltage source of electricity either by overhead linkage and/or by means of a third rail. Dangerous and life threatening situations arise when passenger and railway personnel are exposed to these high voltage sources. Restoration of high voltage power must be performed manually at the scene. Rapid disconnection of third rail electrical power, for example, has typically been accomplished using manually controlled dual-lever pull stations located at intervals along a rail line. Open access of the dual-lever pull stations may also be subject to misuse by pranksters and corruption by vandals.

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a communication safety station according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the front access panel open;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the communication safety station of FIG. 1, with the front access panel closed;

#FIG. 2A is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, with the front access panel open;

#The operation of the multi-function wayside communications safety station 10 of the present invention is described in connection with the environment in which the safety station is used and how it is utilized during normal operation.

#Referring to FIG. 1, when an emergency occurs along a railway wayside, the affected user will locate the nearest communications safety station 10. The user will depress the help button 14 which will cause the safety station to automatically dial a preprogrammed number to an operator at an emergency center. When such a call is placed, information about the location of the safety station is automatically available to the operator, and the user and the operator can communicate through the speaker 25 and microphone 24.

#If the user is an emergency services provider, for example a fire fighter, and is equipped with a sound-powered communications jack, the user can plug the sound-powered jack into a mating jack 21 or 22 and communicate through the safety station to a similar user at another nearby safety station.