Automated Warning Time Inspection at Railroad Grade Crossings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for automating the testing of warning times at railroad grade crossings, as required by FRA regulation 234.259, are labor-intensive due to the lack of cost-effective devices capable of determining train direction.
Innovation Solution
An automated warning time inspection system utilizing a Direction Detecting Camera (DDC) in conjunction with a crossing event recorder to collect and process data, reducing labor costs by determining train direction and route through motion detection zones and island circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual testing methods are used to test warning times at railroad grade crossings, then testing can be performed, but labor hours are excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service testing where the automated warning time inspection system performs the testing function without requiring manual intervention from railroad maintainers. The event recorder automatically collects data from track circuits, crossing warning systems, and motion detecting cameras, processes the data to determine warning times, and generates test results without human involvement in the actual testing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual testing system with an automated electronic system. Instead of maintainers manually observing and recording warning times, the system uses electronic sensors (track circuits, motion detecting cameras) and automated data processing to perform the same function, thereby eliminating manual labor and reducing time loss.
2Extent of automation
If automated testing systems are implemented, then labor costs are reduced, but device complexity increases due to lack of cost-effective direction detection capability
Solution Approach 1:
The motion detecting camera serves multiple functions: it detects train presence, determines train direction, and provides data for warning time calculations. By making this single device multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate complex direction detection devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high automation extent.
Solution Approach 2:
The event recorder acts as an intermediary that consolidates data from multiple sources (track circuits, crossing warning systems, motion detecting cameras) and processes this data to determine warning times and generate test results. This centralizes the complexity in a single processing unit rather than distributing it across multiple specialized devices, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If direction detection capability is added to automated systems, then train direction can be determined, but cost increases due to lack of cost-effective devices
Solution Approach 1:
The motion detecting camera is designed to perform both train presence detection and train direction determination functions. By making this single device multi-functional, the system achieves cost-effective direction detection without requiring separate expensive specialized devices, thereby maintaining measurement precision while controlling system cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly reduces labor hours required for testing by automating the collection and analysis of data, enabling efficient determination of warning times across multiple tracks and directions, while being cost-effective and adaptable for various railroad configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a camera to detect a first motion detection indication in a motion detection zone of the camera if there is any motion
Implementation Method 2
a track circuit disposed adjacent a railroad crossing to detect presence of a train on a train track such that the track circuit is configured to activate when the train enters the track circuit
Implementation Method 3
an island circuit to detect a presence of the train as the train enters an island
Data Source
AI summary
An automated warning time inspection system (5) and method to test a warning time (45) at a railroad grade crossing (25) on each route for a train (30). The automated warning time inspection system (5) comprises a track circuit (12) configured to activate when a train (30) enters the track circuit (12), an event recorder (17) configured to record a first log time (35(1)) for activation of a crossing warning system (15), a camera (20) to detect a first motion detection indication (40(1)) in a motion detection zone (10) of the camera (20) if there is any motion and an island circuit (22) to detect a presence of the train (30) as the train (30) enters an island (42). The event recorder (17) to record a third log time (35(3)) for switch position indications when present. The event recorder (17) to record a fourth log time (35(4)) for activation of the island circuit (22). The camera (20) to detect a second motion detection indication (40(2)) in the motion detection zone (10) of the camera (20) after the activation of the island circuit (22) if there is any motion. The event recorder (17) to calculate and record a warning time (45) as a difference between the first log time (35(1) and the third log time (35(3)) and based on a motion detection before or after the activation of the island circuit (22) and whether the warning time (45) was more than or equal to a threshold time (50) and whether the train (30) was travelling more than or equal to a threshold speed (52) a passing or a failing of the warning time (45) inspection is logged into the event recorder (17) in a given route (55) of the train (30) travelling on the train track (7).