Railway dark territory switch automation
OwnerDavid J. Ruskauff, Donald Coy Beamoninventors
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for a railroad switch for use in un-signalized (dark) territory utilizing multiple audio messages for control and communication purposes to operate the railroad switch and relay its position to incoming trains. The messages are triggered by a programmable logic controller in conjunction with a dual tone multiple frequency signals.
Claims3
In a vital railroad switching system for dark territory, a method of wirelessly controlling a railroad switch in a track system that includes tracks in a dark territory, comprising:
- providing audio boards including a plurality of audio messages, wherein each audio message is maintained on a discrete one of the audio boards, and each said board is equipped with at least a trigger and an audio output;
- receiving a wireless dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signal indicating a desired railroad switch position;
- validating the wireless signal;
- initiating the control of the switch;
- checking a relay to determine a relay status, the relay coupled to the railroad switch, the railroad switch not having a switch signal system that is associated with a central dispatch system;
- checking a logic controller to determine a correspondence condition;
- reporting the correspondence condition;
- and
- reporting a status of the railroad switch in a dark territory.
In a vital railroad switching system for dark territory, a system for wirelessly controlling a railroad switch in a track system that includes tracks in a dark territory, comprising:
- audio boards including a plurality of audio messages, wherein each audio message is maintained on a discrete one of the audio boards, and each said audio board is equipped with at least a trigger and an audio output;
- a programmable logic controller (PLC) for triggering each said audio message, and the PLC being coupled to the trigger of each said audio board;
- wherein the system is configured to receive
- a wireless dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signal,
- and the signal received by the system indicating a desired railroad switch position;
- the system is further configured to validate the wireless signal;
- to initiate the control of the switch;
- to check a relay to determine a relay status coupled to the railroad switch;
- to check a logic controller to determine a correspondence condition;
- to report the correspondence condition;
- and
- to report a status of the railroad switch in the dark territory;
- and
- wherein the railroad switch does not have a switch signal that is associated with a central dispatch system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.