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US 6,195,020 B1Granted
Vehicle presence detection system
Assignee3461513 Canada Inc.
InventorsRonald E. Brodeur, Sr., Clifford J. Bader, Charles S. DeRenzi, Eugene Mullin
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Assignee3461513 Canada Inc.
InventorsRonald E. Brodeur, Sr., Clifford J. Bader, Charles S. DeRenzi, Eugene Mullin
Estimating the term…
A system and method which can detect the presence of a vehicle within the protected area of a four gate railroad crossing, determine its location and direction it is moving in, and open an appropriate exit gate to allow the vehicle to escape prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing. The system has a series of magnetometer sensors suitably placed in the crossing to detect the presence of a vehicle. The sensors are connected to a controller which analyzes readings from the sensors. Upon the approach of a train, the controller, based on analysis of readings from the sensor, determines if a vehicle has become entrapped and determines which exit gate must be opened or should remain open to allow the entrapped vehicle to escape. The system also has self test capabilities as well as the ability to continuously update, when no vehicles are present, a baseline reading of the ambient magnetic condition of the crossing area, which baseline the controller uses in analyzing data from the sensors.
A method of detecting the presence of a vehicle in a protected area of a four gate railroad crossing and providing for the vehicles timely escape from the protected area of the crossing prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing, said method comprising the steps of:
The method of step 3 comprising the additional step of monitoring the movement of the at least one vehicle through the protected area of the crossing.
A system for determining if a protected area of a four gate railroad grade crossing is clear of vehicles and providing for the safe escape of any vehicles which maybe become entrapped from the protected area prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing, said system comprising:
A method for detecting the presence of a vehicle in a protected area of a railroad crossing and providing for the vehicles timely escape from the protected area of the crossing prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing, said method comprising the steps of:
The apparatus of 8 wherein the strategically placed sensors comprises the sensors being placed so that they cover the entire protected area of the crossing and allow the controller analyzer to determine the location of a vehicle within the protected area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.