Patent Application
20240194047
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to railroad crossing gates and crossing gate mechanisms, more particularly, to a crossing gate mechanism with an integrated maintenance status alarm in combination with a cover or door detection scheme.
A railway crossing, also referred to as level crossing or grade crossing, is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path. To ensure safety of railway crossings, crossing control systems including signal control equipment are installed at railway crossings. Railroad signal control equipment includes for example a constant warning time device, also referred to as a grade crossing predictor (GCP) in the U.S. or a level crossing predictor in the.K., which is an electronic device that is connected to rails of a railroad track and is configured to detect the presence of an approaching train and determine its speed and distance from a crossing, i.e., a location at which the tracks cross a road, sidewalk or other surface used by moving objects. The constant warning time device will use this information to generate a constant warning time signal for a crossing warning device.
A crossing warning device is a device that warns of the approach of a train at a crossing, examples of which include crossing gate arms, crossing lights (such as the red flashing lights often found at highway grade crossings in conjunction with the crossing gate arms), and/or crossing bells or other audio alarm devices. Constant warning time devices are typically configured to activate the crossing warning device(s) at a fixed time, also referred to as warning time (WT), which can be for example 30 seconds, prior to the approaching train arriving at the crossing.
Railroad crossing gates utilize electrical and mechanical components to ensure that the crossing gates perform their intended functions correctly. For example, gate arms are lowered using a motor located in a crossing gate mechanism, herein also referred to as gate control mechanism. A crossing gate mechanism may be described as gate control box housing multiple electric and electronic components for operating and controlling the signal control equipment and warning devices, such as the crossing gates. Typically, the gate control box includes a housing with a cover or door, so that the control box may be opened for maintenance or other services.
Briefly described, aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to railroad crossing gates and, more particularly to a crossing gate mechanism with an integrated status alarm circuit in combination with a cover or door detection functionality.
A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a crossing gate mechanism comprising an enclosure housing multiple electric and electronic components including a control unit configured to operate the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, a cover for opening and closing the enclosure, wherein the cover is moveable between a closed position and an open position, an operating mode switch, wherein a first position of the operating mode switch is associated with a normal operating mode and a second position of the operating mode switch is associated with a maintenance mode, and a status alarm circuit, wherein the status alarm circuit is configured to issue an alarm when the operating mode switch is in the second position associated with the maintenance mode and the cover is in or moved into the closed position.
A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for generating a status alarm of a crossing gate mechanism, the method comprising generating and issuing a status alarm when an operating mode switch is in a position associated with a maintenance mode of the crossing gate mechanism, and when a cover of the crossing gate mechanism is in a closed position.
A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a crossing gate system comprising one or more crossing gate arm(s), and a crossing gate mechanism as described herein.
To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and features of the present disclosure, they are explained hereinafter with reference to implementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they are described in the context of a crossing gate mechanism utilized in connection with railroad crossing gate applications.
The components and materials described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components and materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure.
The example railroad crossing gate 100 also includes a pole 110 and signal lights 120. The gate control mechanism 200 is attached to the pole 110 and is used to raise and lower the roadway and pedestrian gates 130, 140. The illustrated railroad crossing gate 100 is often referred to as a combined crossing gate. When a train approaches the crossing, the railroad crossing gate 100 may provide a visual warning using the signal lights 120. The gate control mechanism 200 will lower the roadway gate 130 and the pedestrian gate 140 to respectively restrict traffic and pedestrians from crossing the track until the train has passed.
As shown in
Typically, the gates 130, 140 are lowered from the vertical position using an electric motor contained within the gate control mechanism 200. The electric motor drives gearing connected to shafts (not shown) connected to the roadway gate support arm 134 and pedestrian gate support arm 144. The support arms 134, 144 are usually driven part of the way down by the motor (e.g., somewhere between 70 and 45 degrees) and then gravity and momentum are allowed to bring the arms 132, 142 and the support arms 134, 144 to the horizontal position. In another example, the support arms 134, 144 are driven all the way down to the horizontal position by the electric motor of the gate control mechanism 200.
The crossing gate mechanism 200 comprises an enclosure 210 housing multiple electric and electronic components, such as for example gearing 212, electric motor 214 driving the gearing 212, electric brake 226 and control unit 216. The control unit 216 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 218 with the necessary electronics for operating and controlling the gate mechanism 200 and associated crossing gate equipment, such as crossing gate arm(s), see for example
The enclosure 210 can be opened and closed via door or cover 220, for maintenance, repair, or other services. The cover 220 is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein
Further, the crossing gate mechanism 200 comprises a cover detection feature or function that provides feedback with respect to the cover 220, specifically when the cover 220 is in the closed position. One of the multiple components positioned in the enclosure 210 is at least one sensing device 230, and the cover 220 comprises a detectable device 240. The detectable device 240 is arranged in the cover 220 such that, when the cover 220 is moved into the closed position, the detectable device 240 comes in proximity to the at least one sensing device 230, which is then activated and configured to indicate that the cover 220 is in the closed position.
In an embodiment, the combination of the at least one sensing device 230 and detectable device 240 operate based on a magnetic field principle. The at least one sensing device 230 detects presence of a magnetic field. The at least one sensing device 230 comprises one or more sensor(s), for example Hall sensor(s), specifically a Hall sensor array. The detectable device 240 comprises a magnetized area with a magnetic field detectable by the at least one sensing device 230, such as the Hall sensor array. The at least one sensing device 230 may be arranged on the PCB 218. However, it should be noted that the at least one sensing device 230, for example Hall sensor array, may not be arranged on the PCB 218, but in another location within the enclosure 210 of the crossing gate mechanism 200. The detectable device 240, herein also referred to as magnetized device 240, can be configured as a bolt or pin, for example a magnetized bolt or pin. In an embodiment, the magnetized device 240 comprises a magnetized area in a head of the bolt or pin.
In other embodiments, the at least one sensing device 230 and detectable device 240 may not operate based on the magnetic field principle, but on different principles or modes. For example, the two devices 230, 240 may function together based on electrical or mechanical principles. The detectable device 240 provides a certain output or characteristic which is detectable or measurable by the at least one sensing device 230.
As described earlier with reference to
Further, the crossing gate mechanism 200 comprises the at least one sensing device 230, arranged on the PCB 218. A detectable device 240, see
With reference to
In an example, to perform maintenance of the crossing gate and associated equipment, personnel will open the gate mechanism 200 and put the crossing gate into maintenance mode 264, by flipping the switch 260 into the second position. Prior to operating the switch 260, the gate arm is held in vertical position by the electric brake 226. After the switch 260 is put into maintenance mode 264, gate control is disabled (not able to lower the gate by the crossing controller), the electric brake 226 is released, and the electric motor 214 is now holding the gate arm in the vertical position. The maintenance mode 264 enables the gate mechanism 200 to be driven down if the gate arm must be reinstalled and other various activities.
Currently, there is no functionality that indicates or prevents that the operating mode switch 260 is left in the maintenance mode 264 and the gate mechanism 200 is closed, via cover/door 220, when in fact maintenance has been completed and the gate mechanism 200 should operate in normal mode 262. If the operating mode switch 260 is left in maintenance mode 264 (i.e. in the wrong mode) the crossing gate would not operate correctly, in particular when needed due to an approaching train.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a crossing gate mechanism, such as for example crossing gate mechanism 200 as illustrated in
The crossing gate mechanism comprises a status alarm circuit 300, wherein the status alarm circuit 300 is configured to issue an alarm or alert when the operating mode switch 260 is in the second position associated with the maintenance mode 264 and the cover 220 is in the closed position. The status alarm circuit 300, herein shortly referred to as alarm circuit 300, is coupled to door or cover sensor circuit 320, herein shortly referred to as sensor circuit 320. Specifically, the sensor circuit 320 is arranged in parallel and provides input to the alarm circuit 300. In an embodiment, the alarm circuit 300 as well as the sensing circuit 320 are arranged on the PCB 218 of the gate mechanism.
In an example, the sensor circuit 320 includes the sensing device 230, for example a Hall sensor or Hall sensor array, and electronic element 322 that transmits electrical signals from the sensing circuit 320, specifically the sensing device 230, to the alarm circuit 300. The electronic element 322 can be for example an optocoupler/photocoupler. When the cover 220 is in a closed position, the magnetized device 240 is near the sensing device 230, e.g. Hall sensor array, and a signal 328 is triggered that indicates that the cover 220 is closed. The signal 328 is transmitted to the alarm circuit 300. For example, transistor 330 of the alarm circuit 300 is activated when the signal 328 is present.
The alarm circuit 300 includes the operating mode switch 260 which can be switched between normal model 262 and maintenance mode 262. The alarm circuit 300 comprises multiple inputs and an output. A first input is based on the signal 328 from the sensing circuit 320 when the cover of the gate mechanism is in the closed position. A second input is based on signal 266 when the operating mode switch 260 is in the maintenance mode 264.
In an example, the output is adapted as an audio device 270, wherein, based on receiving the first input (signal 328) and the second input (signal 266), the audio device 270 is configured to issue the alarm. The audio device 270 can be for example a magnetic transducer or a piezoelectric device, emitting a sound. For example, device 270 can be piezoelectric buzzer. In order words, the alarm indicates to the personnel that something is wrong, i.e. the switch 260 was left in the wrong position, when the cover 220 was just brought into the closed position. If the switch 260 is in the correct position, i.e. normal operating mode 262, and the cover 220 is closed, the alarm circuit 300 is configured such that the alarm would not be triggered and not make a sound. It should be noted that the output, e.g. audio device 270, can be configured differently and not as audio output, but for example as a visual output or other type of output that is able to generate an alert or alarm to the personnel.
In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a method for generating a status alarm of a crossing gate mechanism is provided. The method may be implement utilizing a gate mechanism 200 and alarm circuit 300 with sensing 320 as described herein, for example with reference to
