Train collision system
OwnerPaul A. Butlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A train collision system helps reduce the severity of impact between a train and a land vehicle or pedestrian. The system uses a flatbed rail car that is coupled to the front of a train. Several deformable barrels, each at least partially filled with an inert material, are attached to the top surface of the rail car, the barrels each decelerating an object that strikes them. A pair of diagonally downwardly disposed arms extend out from the front of the rail car and are used to either deflect the object out of the trains path or to scoop the object onto the rail car wherein the object is decelerated by the barrels. A net member subsystem captures relatively small objects and nets them before the object strikes the barrels.
Claims26
A train collision system comprising:
- a flatbed rail car having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end separated by a medial portion;
- a plurality of first barrels each having a first height and each attached to the top surface at the medial portion;
- a first inert material at least partially filling each of the plurality of first barrels;
- a second barrel attached to the top surface and disposed between the plurality of first barrels and the second end, the second barrel having a second height that is greater than the first height;
- and
- a second inert material at least partially filling the second barrel.
A train collision system comprising:
- a flatbed rail car having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end separated by a medial portion;
- a plurality of first barrels each having a first height and each attached to the top surface at the medial portion;
- and
- a first inert material at least partially filling each of the first plurality of first barrels;
- a first arm attached to the first end and extending outwardly therefrom, the first arm having a first portion that is disposed diagonally downwardly relative to the top surface;
- and
- a second arm attached to the first end and extending outwardly therefrom in generally coextensive fashion to the first arm, the second arm having a second portion that is disposed diagonally downwardly relative to the top surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.