Gate crossing arm collision detection system and method
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorsBarton DeJarnatt, Travis Pless
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A detection and warning system is provided for a railroad crossing. The system comprises a sensor configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate to detect a presence of a vehicle or other object that is obstructing the railroad crossing. The system further comprises a communication interface coupled to the sensor. In response to a detection of the vehicle or the other object, the communication interface to relay a warning signal indicative of a possible collision on the railroad crossing with the vehicle or the other object.
Claims14
A detection and warning system for a railroad crossing, the system comprising:
- a sensor configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate to detect a presence of a vehicle or other object that is obstructing the railroad crossing, the sensor including a sensing strip;
- a sensing circuit coupled to the sensing strip to detect an event of contact being made between the vehicle or the object and the sensing strip of the sensor;
- and
- a communication interface coupled to the sensor,
- wherein in response to a detection of the vehicle or the other object, the communication interface relays to a locomotive approaching the railroad crossing a warning signal indicative of a possible collision on the railroad crossing with the vehicle or the other object,
- wherein the communication interface to relay the warning signal to a control interface of a locomotive engine, and
- wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is broadcast to all oncoming trains in case of a transmit condition when a collision or a circuit compromise is detected and no command is broadcast in case of a do not transmit condition when no collision is detected or the sensing circuit is functioning properly.
A method of detecting a vehicle or other object in a railroad crossing and providing a warning, the method comprising:
- detecting a presence of the vehicle or the other object in the railroad crossing with a sensor configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate;
- and
- relaying a warning signal using a communication interface coupled to the sensor in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle or the other object, the warning signal indicative of a possible collision on the railroad crossing with the vehicle or the other object;
- and
- wirelessly relaying the warning signal to a wireless control interface of a locomotive engine, wherein the warning signal defines an advance notice of the possible collision to a locomotive engine operator;
- and
- using a sensing circuit that is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is sent to all oncoming trains, wherein the sensing circuit is coupled to a sensing strip to detect an event of contact being made between the vehicle or the object and the sensing strip of the sensor.
A detection and warning system for a railroad crossing, the system comprising:
- an edge touch sensor coupled to a sensing strip and a sensing circuit;
- wherein the sensing strip is configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate, and
- wherein the sensing strip is coupled to the sensing circuit to detect an event of contact being made between a vehicle or other object and the sensing strip of the edge touch sensor;
- and
- a wireless communication interface coupled to the edge touch sensor,
- wherein in response to a detection of the event of contact, the wireless communication interface wirelessly relays to a wireless control interface of a locomotive engine of a train approaching the railroad crossing a warning to a locomotive engineer to stop the train before the crossing, and
- wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is broadcast to all oncoming trains in case of a transmit condition when a collision or a circuit compromise is detected and no command is broadcast in case of a do not transmit condition when no collision is detected or the sensing circuit is functioning properly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.