414 results about "Level crossing" patented technology

Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products useful for the gathering and use of data relating to structural loading and other operational use of transit and other vehicles, and their systems. Systems according to the invention can, for example, comprise one or more data acquisition devices such as strain gauges, accelerometers, or other sensors; data processors; memories; and communications systems. Such systems, methods, and programming are useful in a wide variety of ways, including, for example, monitoring the structural status and use of vehicles and their systems, including fatigue other operational analyses; gathering and applying data useful in the maintenance of such vehicles and the routes they travel; monitoring the use / abuse of such vehicles by operators and other individuals; reporting traffic events or anomalies; and routing transit and other vehicles around such events or anomalies. Rainflow, level-crossing and other peak-counting or event-counting algorithms are applied to advantage, such that required data storage is greatly reduced, and life-long monitoring is feasible.

The present invention is directed to a train detection system for detecting the velocity, presence, and direction of a railroad car which may be utilized in existing railroad crossing installations. The train detection system is suitable for self-testing of its components and if an anomaly has been detected, the train detection system is capable of placing the system in a fail-safe state. The train detection system of the present invention is also capable of constant communication between the sensor of said system and the implementing device of the train detection system via a wireless link.

A railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed that utilize impulse radio technology to effectively warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity. In one embodiment, the railroad collision avoidance system includes a transmitting impulse radio unit coupled to a locomotive and a receiving impulse radio unit coupled to a vehicle. The transmitting impulse radio unit operates to transmit an impulse radio signal towards the vehicle when the locomotive is a predetermined distance from a railroad crossing. Upon receiving the impulse radio signal, the receiving impulse radio unit makes sure the person operating the vehicle is informed about the potentially dangerous situation. Several embodiments of the railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed all of which operate to warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity.

In a vehicle emergency evacuation device which stops a running vehicle automatically or keeps a stop state of a stopped vehicle in a driver's emergency, a stop keeping process is executed to keep the stop state without conducting an intention confirmation process of the execution start of an emergency evacuation process when the emergency evacuation process is required, e.g. when an abnormality or a deterioration in the driver's condition arises or when the driver requests the emergency evacuation process, under a condition that the vehicle has stopped before a signal, a road crossing or a railroad crossing, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle. Moreover, there are provided a structure in which the stop site of the vehicle in the execution of automatic vehicle stop control is determined depending upon whether the running road is a driveway, a highway, or a normal road; and a structure that judges whether or not to permit an override to the emergency evacuation process after the execution start of the emergency evacuation process based on a passenger's motion.

A heavy duty ground retractable automobile barrier for a railroad crossing. Concrete bunkers are placed at each side of a roadway. An upstanding concrete-filled steel pipe fixed in each bunker has a sleeve for rotational and axial movement. Shock absorbers are mounted on each sleeve. A net extends across the road and is attached to the opposite ends of the shock absorbers. Collision of an automobile with the net creates tensile forces in the net. The shock absorbers expand while rotating about the pipe's axis in response to tensile forces from the net that meet or exceed a minimum threshold. Forces from the net pass through the axis of the steel pipe. The net is stored in a pit transverse the roadway parallel to the railroad tracks and is raised and lowered as appropriate. The net includes a cable that extends across the road in a wave pattern, having peaks, valleys and midpoints, wherein tangents of the wave midpoints are at least 90 degrees from tangents of the peaks and valleys.

The invention discloses an intelligent video monitor of railway crossing, which includes a video sensor that is arranged on the railway crossing and is capable of covering the traffic condition of the entire crossing as well as a monitoring computer that is used for monitoring the condition of the entire crossing and is capable of dynamic image understanding; wherein, the monitoring computer includes a video image collecting module, a displaying unit, an image pretreatment module, a railway crossing customizing module, a dynamic image understanding module used for analyzing the safety condition of the crossing, a video information saving module, a crossing wireless receiving and transmitting module and an issuing module of crossing safety information; wherein, the issuing module of crossing safety information is connected with a crossing displaying unit and an alarming sound playing unit; and the monitoring computer is connected with the wireless receiving and transmitting device. The invention has a high intelligence level and is capable of automatically judging various dangerous conditions or failures of the crossing through the image understanding technique and is also capable of mutual communication between the train driver and safety condition of the crossing as well as between the passengers and vehicles passing through the crossing and the train running condition through the wireless communication technique.

A method and apparatus for adaptively controlling the power level of transmissions from a remote station by determining the velocity of the remote station. A general classification of the velocity of the remote station can be used to selectively implement a closed loop power control scheme. Power level parameters are used to determine velocity. In accordance with a classification of stationary, low speed, or high speed, the closed loop power control is selectively operated. Velocity can be determined by either the base station or the remote station through various methods. One method is the use of power control bits and / or average power to determine level crossings and excursion times.

Disclosed is a velocity estimator using a level crossing rate. The velocity estimator comprises a power calculator for calculating power values of a signal received from a mobile terminal; a mean power calculator for calculating mean power values for M power values according to a predetermined down-sampling factor M; an interpolator for interpolating the mean power values according to a predetermined interpolation ratio L; a root mean square calculator for calculating a root mean square value using an output of the interpolator; a level crossing counter for counting a level crossing frequency representing how many times the output of the interpolator crosses a level crossing threshold determined according to the root mean square value, for a predetermined time period; and a velocity calculator for calculating a velocity estimation value of the mobile terminal using the level crossing frequency.

A railroad remote monitoring and detection system employing cameras, that may or may not be remotely positionable and repositionable, and other motion and presence detection devices such as millimeter wave radar and / or passive infrared and or ultrasound detectors. The use of multiple sensor devices reduces the occurrence of false alarms. The system employs software and logic to detect predetermined alarm conditions and then send a signal to a local or central command center and trains on the route. The system includes wireless receivers onboard the train that scan for monitor information one or more monitor stations in advance of the trains progress to give the train engineer / driver advanced warning of hazardous conditions on the trains route. Alarms to the central control center can be monitored to determine a recurrence of potentially hazardous conditions at a particular site so that steps can be taken to avoid such conditions in the future.

A method of operating a railway crossing including the steps of receiving a signal from a locomotive; and activating crossing warning devices and / or downroad warning and in-vehicle alert devices.

An improved self-propelled mobile track vehicle (MTV) capable of traveling by road at normal highway speeds and traveling by rail after conversion at a narrow railroad crossing by producing a device for rotating the vehicle 90 degrees. The vehicle is powered by a diesel engine driving through a power shift transmission to the roadway and railway axles. A significant advantage over other types of road / rail vehicles is that 100 percent of the vehicle's weight is carried on the rail wheels, which are powered and braked, thereby allowing higher and safer rail speeds. One way to convert the vehicle from roadway travel to railway travel is to maneuver it into a position parallel to the track at a road crossing. The rail axles are then extended and road axles retracted. In addition, a turntable mounted at the vehicle's center of gravity also allows the vehicle to convert at a narrow road crossing. While at railway / roadway crossing the unit raises and rotates 90 to align with the desired roadway or railway. The vehicle can assist in starting a train by extending the powered road axle so that the inner rubber tires contact the rail and the high traction of rubber on rail assists in increasing starting traction of the vehicle thus allowing the vehicle to assist in starting a train.

A fluid operated torque tool tightens a nut through a spring washer on a plate on a railroad crossing, and has a housing, two coaxial drives applying equal turning forces in opposite directions around an axis, with one of the two coaxial drives located around the other of the two coaxial drives, a first socket attached to the one coaxial drive and configured to fit on the rectangular plate, and a second socket attached to the other coaxial drive inside the first socket and configured to fit on the nut, with the washer being not engaged by the sockets, so as to tighten the nut and to tighten up the spring washer onto the plate while the first socket and the housing stand still.

A blocked rail crossing detection and notification system is described. The system includes a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable for facilitating communications between the processing device and at least one external device, and at least one vehicle detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing. The at least one vehicle detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable to provide signals to the processing device indicative of the presence or non-presence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks. The processing device is further programmed to communicate the presence or non-presence of a vehicle along with supporting correlative visual data within the defined area to the at least one external device via the communications interface.

A system and method for collecting and delivering operational data relating to railroad grade crossing equipment and wayside equipment is described. The method comprises collecting operational data relating to railroad crossing equipment and wayside equipment in a data server, receiving the operational data from the data server with a data delivery device when the data server is in proximity to the data delivery device, and transmitting the operational data from the data delivery device to an external communication system.

A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing including a gate assembly connectable to a stanchion and light assembly. This gate assembly is movable between a generally upright position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across the railroad crossing. The gate assembly further includes a telescopic arm assembly for completely closing vehicle access to the railroad crossing. In another embodiment of the invention, the railroad grade crossing assembly includes a gate movable between a generally horizontal retracted position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally extended horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, the gate includes a telescopic arm for completely closing the railroad crossing, a first and second stanchions. The railroad grade crossing assembly also includes a battery to power the gate and a solar panel to recharge the battery. A low battery indicator may also be includes to indicate that said battery has a low voltage. A listening device is provided to detect the sound of an oncoming train and activate the gate, and a sensor is provided to sense when a train has passed and thereby cause the gate to retract.

An apparatus that prevents motorists from crossing railroad tracks, when the warning gates are down during approaching of a train consists, of a plurality of tire-piercing cogs which are retracted from the ground when the railroad crossing gate is closed. The cogs are arranged across the entire width of the automobile road in order to prevent a motorist from going around the closed gate through the oncoming traffic lane. The piercing cogs are interlocked with a warning visual and / or sound signal which is activated if the vehicle went onto the railroad tracks and stuck on the rails after smashing the closed road gate arm. The cog drive mechanism is located below the ground level, and when the gate is open for normal traffic through the railroad crossing, the cogs are turned into position in which their back surfaces are arranged in flush with the ground level for smooth passage of the vehicles. The power station of the cog drive mechanism is located in a small pit between the lanes of the opposite-direction traffic.

A highway / railroad crossing detection and warning system which uses sets of Doppler radar transmitters and receivers to detect the approach of a train coming from either direction toward a highway crossing. The Doppler radar sets are located an extended distance from the crossing with each set detecting movement toward and away from its location. Presence detectors are located at the crossing and sense moving or stationary trains. All detector devices transmit signals to warning equipment to provide aural and visual indications to approaching motorists or work crews.

The invention discloses a beneath-soil through-tunnel superlarge diameter pipe curtain construction method. The method comprises the following construction steps of: preparation, measurement and positioning, guide hole drilling, process correction, reaming and pipe drawing, hole cleaning and pipe curtain grouting. In the method, the guide hole is constructed in a soil layer first, and a steel tube in superlarge diameter is drawn in the guide hole in a mode of reaming and drawing the tube at the same time, so that the disturbance on the soil layer in construction is effectively avoided; and a wedge-shaped drill bit provided with a guide plate is used for the process correction in the construction of the guide hole, so that the drilling precision and the hole forming quality are highly guaranteed. In the construction, the sedimentation of the soil mass on the middle-upper part meets the safety requirements of the existing line. After excavation, the steel pipes are nearly flat and straight, no phenomenon of level-crossing and interchanging occurs and the construction method of the invention creates conditions for water resistance and lining construction of the tunnel.

The present invention relates to a warning system for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing. The railroad crossing includes a railroad along which a train can travel, and a road crossing the railroad and along which the vehicle can travel. The warning system includes an identification system for identifying at least one identity characteristic (e.g. number plate, vehicle type, etc.) relating to the vehicle. A train detection system detects at least one train characteristic (e.g. presence, position, speed) relating to the train approaching the railroad crossing along the railroad. A vehicle detection system detects at least one vehicle characteristic (e.g. presence, position, speed) relating to the vehicle approaching the railroad crossing along the road. The warning system further includes a display system for displaying the warning message to the vehicle responsive to detecting both the train and vehicle characteristics.

A highway / railroad crossing detection and warning system which uses sets of Doppler radar transmitters and receivers to detect the approach of a train coming from either direction toward a highway crossing. The Doppler radar sets are located an extended distance from the crossing with each set detecting movement toward and away from its location. Presence detectors are located at the crossing and sense moving or stationary trains. All detector devices transmit signals to warning equipment to provide aural and visual indications to approaching motorists or work crews.

The invention discloses a city level crossing vehicle signal indication system based on vehicle-road cooperation. The vehicle signal indication system comprises a wireless signal emission module installed on a traffic signal lamp and a wireless signal receiving module installed in a vehicle. When the vehicle drives to a crossroad from the driving direction of the traffic signal lamp and when the vehicle enters a specific scope, the wireless signal receiving module receives real-time information of the traffic signal lamp and displays the information; and when the vehicle drives away from the crossroad from the crossroad, a vehicular-mounted receiving device shields the real-time information of the traffic signal lamp. Compared to the prior art, the indication lamp can display the information of the traffic signal lamp at a display end in the vehicle in real time when the vehicle drives to the traffic signal lamp so that a driver can know the state of the traffic signal lamp at any circumstances and carry out correct driving operation.

An autonomous vehicle collision / crossing warning system provides for simple, inexpensive and decentralized installation, operation and maintenance of a reliable vehicle collision / crossing warning system. The autonomous warning system preferably utilizes a single frequency TDM radio communication network with GPS clock synchronization, time slot arbitration and connectionless UDP protocol to broadcast messages among vehicles and components in the warning system. Adaptive localized mapping of components of interest within the warning system eliminates the need for centralized databases or coordination and control systems and enables new vehicles and warning systems to be easily added to the system in a decentralized manner. Preferably, stationary warning systems are deployed as multiple self-powered units each equipped to receive broadcast messages and to communicate with the other units by a low power RF channel in a redundant Master-Slave configuration. The communication schemes are preferably arranged for low duty cycle operation to decrease power consumption.

An insulation system for an embedded track construction for a transit railway having spaced parallel railway rails includes a rail boot for substantially enclosing each of the rails along its length, rail clips extending on each side of each of the rails for securing the rails to supporting ties, and fillers extending on each side of each of the rails, frictionally engaging and removably mounting the rails to an associated one of said rail clips. The fillers cooperate to provide a coplanar roadway with said rails.

In order to stop a moving vehicle without injury to occupants, a vehicle barrier is provided having a pair of platforms disposed on opposite sides of a roadway, and a capture net extending across the roadway between the platforms. Each platform has a rotatably mounted spool attached to a different end of the net, and a dual acting extension-compression shock absorber pivotally mounted to the spool, such that when the force or energy of an impacting vehicle on the net is applied to the shock absorbers, via rotation of the spools. Rotation of spools operate the shock absorbers in compression, and if needed, in extension. In railroad crossing application, two of the vehicle barriers are provided on either side of the railroad tracks to prevent vehicles from crossing the railroad tracks.

A railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed that utilize impulse radio technology to effectively warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity. In one embodiment, the railroad collision avoidance system includes a transmitting impulse radio unit coupled to a locomotive and a receiving impulse radio unit coupled to a vehicle. The transmitting impulse radio unit operates to transmit an impulse radio signal towards the vehicle when the locomotive is a predetermined distance from a railroad crossing. Upon receiving the impulse radio signal, the receiving impulse radio unit makes sure the person operating the vehicle is informed about the potentially dangerous situation. Several embodiments of the railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed all of which operate to warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity.

A method includes receiving an absolute time associated with movement of a vehicle system, modifying the absolute time into a relative time, and controlling one or more warning devices using the relative time. A system includes a crossing module configured to receive an absolute time associated with movement of a vehicle system. The crossing module is configured to modify the absolute time into a relative time and to control one or more warning devices using the relative time.