Smart Cam System for Highway Gate Position Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current highway grade crossing gate mechanisms have limited resolution in determining the rotational position of the gate arm, which is insufficient for advanced analytics and requires more cams than can reasonably fit within the mechanism enclosure.
Innovation Solution
A highway grade crossing gate mechanism incorporating a smart cam system with an internal sensing device and a controller to measure and calculate the torque of the main shaft, allowing for real-time angular position and current data collection to accurately determine the gate arm's position and torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cam and contacts arrangements are used to control gate mechanism features, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision of the gate arm rotational position is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical cam and contacts system with an electronic sensor-based system. A sensor detects the rotational position of the cam shaft and sends digital signals to a controller, which then controls the gate arm positioning and related features. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete cams while achieving high measurement precision through electronic sensing and digital processing.
2Measurement precision
If more cams are added to increase rotational position resolution, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and enclosure space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cam and contacts system with an electronic sensor-based system. A sensor detects the rotational position of the cam shaft and sends digital signals to a controller, which then controls the gate arm positioning and related features. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete cams while achieving high measurement precision through electronic sensing and digital processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of position detection from mechanical discrete contacts to electronic continuous sensing. The sensor provides high-resolution digital feedback about the cam shaft rotation, allowing precise control of gate arm position without requiring multiple physical cams. This parameter change enables high measurement precision within the existing enclosure volume.
3Productivity
If traditional discrete signal arrangements are used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the productivity for advanced analytics is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical cam and contacts system with an electronic sensor-based system. A sensor detects the rotational position of the cam shaft and sends digital signals to a controller, which then controls the gate arm positioning and related features. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete cams while achieving high measurement precision through electronic sensing and digital processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback system where a sensor continuously monitors the rotational position of the cam shaft and provides real-time digital feedback to a controller. This feedback enables advanced analytics by providing detailed position data that can be processed to optimize gate operation, predict maintenance needs, and improve overall system efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A highway grade crossing gate mechanism having a smart cam system capable of measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time is provided. The gate mechanism includes a DC motor, a cam system, and a controller. The DC motor is coupled to a main shaft for driving a gate arm between a vertical position and a vertical position. The cam system includes manually adjustable cams coupled to the main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation in order to set operational features of a crossing gate. An internal sensing device is disposed internal to the cam system measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time. A controller controls the motor and receives and stores the parameter. The parameter may be transmitted to an external network giving accurate feedback of the state of the gate mechanism in real time.