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US 9,272,721 B2Granted
User configurable horizontal brake feature for railroad crossing gates
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorRichard C. Bohme
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user configurable horizontal brake feature for a railroad crossing gate. The braking feature will maintain lowered crossing gate arms in the horizontal position when a train is approaching and until it is the proper time to raise the gate arms (e.g., after the passing of the approaching train).
Claims14
A method of controlling a crossing gate comprising:
- determining if a first crossing gate arm is in a substantially horizontal position;
- and
- locking the first crossing gate arm in the substantially horizontal position by activating a braking mechanism when it is determined that the first crossing gate arm is in the substantially horizontal position, the braking mechanism preventing the first crossing gate arm from being raised while the braking mechanism is activated,
- wherein the step of determining if the first crossing gate arm is in the substantially horizontal position comprises:
- monitoring an output of a sensor connected to the first crossing gate arm;
- and
- determining if a value of the sensor output is indicative of the first crossing gate arm being in the substantially horizontal position,
- wherein the crossing gate further comprises a second crossing gate arm and said step of locking the first crossing gate arm in the substantially horizontal position simultaneously locks the second crossing gate arm in the substantially horizontal position.
5 more elements
A railroad crossing gate comprising:
- a first crossing gate arm connected to a first crossing gate support arm;
- and
- a gate mechanism connected to the first crossing gate support arm and for raising and lowering the first crossing gate support arm and the first crossing gate arm, said gate mechanism comprising a braking mechanism connected to the first crossing gate support arm and
- a controller, said controller adapted to:
- determine if the first crossing gate arm is in a substantially horizontal position, and
- lock the first crossing gate arm in the substantially horizontal position by activating the braking mechanism when it is determined that the first crossing gate arm is in the substantially horizontal position, the braking mechanism preventing the first crossing gate arm from being raised while the braking mechanism is activated,
- wherein said gate mechanism comprises a horizontal position detector connected between a shaft used to raise and lower the first crossing gate support arm and the controller, the controller being adapted to determine if the first crossing gate arm is in the substantially horizontal position by:
- monitoring an output of the horizontal position detector;
- and
- determining if a value of the horizontal position detector output is indicative of the first crossing gate arm being in the substantially horizontal position,
- wherein the railroad crossing gate further comprises a second crossing gate arm supported by a second crossing gate support arm, the second crossing gate support arm being connected to the gate mechanism, wherein the controller is adapted to lock the first crossing gate arm and the second crossing gate arm simultaneously.
8 more elements
A control system for a crossing gate, said system comprising:
- a horizontal position detector adapted to output a first value when a first crossing gate arm is in a horizontal position and a second value if the first crossing gate arm is not in the horizontal position;
- a holding mechanism being activated to hold a first crossing gate support arm connected to the first crossing gate arm in a locked position upon receipt of a control signal, the holding mechanism preventing the first crossing gate arm from being raised while the holding mechanism is activated;
- and
- a controller adapted to monitor the output of the horizontal position detector and to send the control signal to the holding mechanism when the output has the first value,
- wherein the holding mechanism is activated to hold a second crossing gate arm connected to a second crossing gate arm in the locked position upon receipt of a control signal, wherein the controller is adapted to lock the first crossing gate arm and the second crossing gate arm simultaneously.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.