Patent Application
20190251863
The present invention relates generally to instructional training devices and more particularly to a board and pieces representative of railroad operations and the like.
In the field of training and instruction with specific regard to railroad operations, standard methods of educating personnel includes providing operations manuals to employees with corresponding classroom lectures. Such known methods may also involve home study along with testing by written or computer-administered examinations.
In the general field of railway simulation, there are known inventions including U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,283 which is a railway train control simulator and method granted to Mosier and U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,015 which is a board game apparatus and method of playing granted to Sumrall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,283 to Mosier discloses a method and apparatus for simulating operation and control of a railway train having at least one locomotive in a locomotive set and a plurality of articulated cars. A simulator control station including a train speed control throttle and a train braking controller provides signals related to the degree of operation of the throttle and braking controller. Information relating to car consist, track profile and simulated train location for a predetermined section of track are provided together with data related to the simulated locomotive tractive effort and train braking. Coupling forces between each car throughout the extent of the train are calculated from the data and displayed at the simulator control station to enable a simulator control station operator to control the throttle and braking controller in response to the displayed coupling forces and thereby simulate operation and control of the train. Brake pressure distribution along the length of the train is also displayed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,015 to Sumrall discloses a board game based on a railroad theme is provided wherein the players each assemble the necessary components of a complete railroad train, under rules simulating conditions normally existing in the marshalling yard of a conventional railroad system. The gameboard has a playing surface depicting the trackage, switches and other elements of a marshalling yard. A plurality of playing pieces represent the players and have a changeable status or rank. Other pieces are included which represent messages sent from the yard dispatcher to the players during play of the game and train components. The tokens are moved about the trackage according to values established by casting dice, by the use of a spinner, or other chance device for establishing values at random. The goal of each player is to acquire a locomotive, and thereafter to collect all of the other rolling stock needed to make up a complete train, before any of the other players. However, each player begins the game with the rank of “fireman”, and before being entitled to operate a locomotive and to collect any of the rolling stock, must first achieve promotion to the rank of “engineer”. The rank of “engineer” is denoted by a small playing piece in the shape of a hat which is placed onto the head of the “fireman”.
In the general field of utility distribution systems, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,241 is a display board and modules therefor granted to Blaeser et al. and which discloses a display board for illustrating an electrical power distribution system or the like comprises a matrix of rectangular modules magnetically attached to a steel support board. The modules may comprise die cut steel base plates backed by sheets of magnetic rubber. Relatively permanent background graphics are silk screened upon the front faces of the modules. Foreground graphics representing features which are subject to change may be overprinted upon the background graphics in an ink which may be removed without disturbing the background graphics.
In the general field of traffic law and regulation instruction, U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,623 is a driver education board game granted to Kanelos, Sr. and which discloses a board game teaching traffic laws and regulations provides a peripheral playing path about the perimeter of a rectangular board and further inwardly located paths. The inwardly located paths are provided for the purpose of various examinations or tests to be undertaken by each player during the course of the game. The first player to successfully complete the written examination, eye examination, and road test portions of the game is declared the winner. However, other questions and requirements must be satisfactorily responded to during the portion of play which takes place along the peripheral playing path of the game board.
In the general field of industrial safety rule instruction, U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,658 is a safety board game granted to Talmage et al. and is a board game apparatus for teaching industrial safety rules and procedures includes a game board, playing pieces, question cards and a score card. The game board includes a representation of various component parts of an industrial organization, and a path connecting the component parts. During the course of the game, the playing pieces are moved along the path and the players answer questions from the question cards relating to various safety topics for the workplaces within the organization. The first player to answer questions successfully to each of the safety topics and return to the start position wins the game.
The present invention overcomes one or more deficiencies of the prior art.
The present invention provides an interactive training apparatus and related kit for instructional training of individuals in railroad operations. It should be understood that while railroad operations are the implementation discussed herein, the present invention may have utility within other settings such as, but not limited to, freight trucking operations training or the like.
The present invention generally includes a table model board and associated pieces used for the purpose of instruction, demonstration, and testing of regulations and operating rules pertaining to railroad operations. With the invention, individual users of the invention are able to demonstrate their understanding of given regulations and operating rules as well as demonstrating their questions to an instructor.
In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides an interactive training apparatus for rail systems, the apparatus including: a table board having a front surface and a back surface, each the surface depicting rail system lines; a plurality of user pieces having an outer color, the outer color coordinated with a corresponding group of rail system elements; and a plurality of labels, each label corresponding to a rail system signal.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention further provides a kit for interactive training within rail systems, the kit including: a table board having a front surface and a back surface, each the surface depicting rail system lines, the table board capable of being erasably written upon; a plurality of user pieces having an outer color, the outer color coordinated with a corresponding group of rail system elements, the user pieces capable of being customized; and a plurality of labels, each label corresponding to a rail system signal, the labels capable of adhering to the user pieces.
These and other aspects will become apparent from the following drawings and detailed descriptions of exemplary embodiments.
The following detailed description provides examples of presently contemplated modes of implementing embodiments of the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention will be best defined by the claims.
The present invention is embodied in a table board that includes a layout imprinted on its surface.
The table board is provided with a surface able to be written upon and erased in a manner such as, but not limited to, dry erase markers. In this way, the table board may be used by an instructor or student with a dry erase pen to show various railroad scenarios while still being erasable and therefore reusable.
The present invention also includes a set of associated user pieces. The user pieces may be in any desired shape or form. However, a generalized rectangular boxlike shape is preferred. The pieces may be color coded to indicate types of general categories of elements typically found within the rail system. Such categories may include railyard elements, train elements, passenger elements, street elements, or any distinct category of element known within the rail system. For example, user pieces indicating train elements may be provided in the color red while user pieces indicative of street elements may be provided in the color blue. It should be understood that any such color scheme for the various categories of train system elements may vary without straying from the intended scope of the present invention.
Because the user pieces are a generalized shape with a color for general categories of rail system elements, the user pieces themselves therefore are further modifiable via custom labels. Such custom labels are provided in the form of stickers.
The present invention may be used in a classroom setting whereby an instructor would select from the custom labels to create user pieces appropriate for demonstration of a rail system operation scenario. The customized user pieces may then be placed upon the table board in an appropriate manner to act out or otherwise demonstrate the given scenario. Additionally, an erasable marker may be used to modify the table board surface so as to indicate things such as, but not limited to, direction of movement along a track, flow of pedestrian traffic at a station, or the like. As well, the marker may be used to modify the rail lines to further vary the possible scenarios of rail system operation. Similarly, a student may use the same user pieces and erasable marker in conjunction with the table board to demonstrate their knowledge of a particular scenario.
The present invention is therefore a mechanism by which a user may demonstrate or otherwise physically illustrate a rail system scenario. The invention itself may be provided together as a usable system including the table board and customized user pieces. Alternatively, the invention may be provided as a kit as shown collectively in
Each kit may include a starter pack of sheets with a minimum number of labels with which to customize the user pieces. Additional sheets of various configurations may be provided subsequent to initially obtaining a kit. In this manner, a basic kit may be provided with additional customization with purchase of additional sheets. The additional sheets may include, for example, sheets related solely to passenger train service in a public rail service setting or, alternatively, solely related to freight train service in an industrial shipping yard setting. It should therefore be readily understood that many other variations may be possible without straying from the intended scope of the present invention.
The present invention is useful for both entry level and seasoned railroad employees. The invention may be used for measuring learning goals in accordance with railroad regulations which mandates organized lesson plans with measurable goals and quantifiable results. Secondary uses may include accident reconstruction or rules violations reenactment as well as demonstrating questions relating to railroad rules and regulations.
The present invention provides a mechanism by which training of railroad personnel may adhere to the statutory requirement set forth in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at Part 243 (49 CFR Part 243). Those regulations ensure that any person employed by a railroad or a contractor of a railroad as a “safety-related railroad employee” is trained and qualified to comply with any relevant Federal railroad safety laws. The present invention may be used for dispatcher training as well.
A safety-related railroad employee may include: employees covered by the hours of service laws; employees performing work as an operating employee (including supervisors), even if not covered by the hours of service laws, all engineering/maintenance-of-way (MOW) including bridge workers who inspect, install, repair, or maintain track, roadbed, signal and communication systems, mechanical personnel who inspect, install, or repair any locomotive, passenger car, freight car, or MOW vehicle; any person who, as a primary duty, directly instructs, mentors, inspects, or tests others engaged in a safety-related task (including first line supervisors of operating employees); supervisors who determine that an on-track roadway maintenance machine or hi-rail vehicle may be used without repair of a noncomplying condition; and persons who perform oversight roles rather than doing the work themselves.
In conjunction with 49 CFR Part 243, the Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) provides a set of operating rules for railroads in North America referred, appropriately, as the NORAC Rules. The NORAC rulebook is used by full and associate member railroads, located mostly in the Northeast United States. The NORAC Rules are intended to enhance railroad safety. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety. These rules govern operation on main lines, defined as those with some form of block control system. The 11th edition of the NORAC Operating Rules went into effect on Feb. 1, 2018 as published by the Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee, a copy of which is publicly available and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The following description illustrates examples of ways in which the present invention may be utilized.
Using the present invention, an individual student learning railroad safety is able to demonstrate application of the NORAC operating rules as well as being able to illustrate any questions they may have pertaining to the rules and rail operation. By using the present invention, the student is also able to translate their declarative knowledge to procedural knowledge in a measurable way achieving level five of Bloom's Taxonomy as required by 49 CFR part 243 whereby the student at this level tries to build abstract knowledge. References to NORAC Rules are used for the following explanations. However, it should be readily understood that the scenarios used may pertain to all operating rule books.
NORAC Operating Rule 137, in relevant part, states:
137. Assisting An Attended Disabled Train
a. Opposing Movements in Rule 261 Territory
e. Flag Protection Against Assisting Train
f. Assisting Train in Close Proximity or Operated by Engineer of Disabled Train
With reference to
More specifically, NORAC Operating Rule 138, in relevant part, states:
138. Highway Crossing Warning
Notify the Dispatcher immediately if you discover automatic highway crossing warning devices that are not functioning properly.
The Dispatcher must:
1. Notify all trains that will operate over the affected crossing. This notification must include the type of malfunction and the details of any on-ground
personnel that are known to be at the crossing, by item number listed below.
AND
2. Ensure notification is provided to the local law enforcement agency or railroad police.
When the Dispatcher is notified that rust or other foreign matter may prevent effective shunting, trains must be instructed to comply with Item 1 below unless flagger or a railroad police officer is providing warning at the crossing.
The appropriate engine whistle or horn signal must be sounded at locations where automatic highway crossing warning devices are not functioning properly, including crossings where a whistle sign indicating “W/R” is displayed, and in areas otherwise designated as Quiet Zones.
138-S4. HIGHWAY CROSSING WARNING DEVICE MALFUNCTIONS
In the application of Rule 138, part “c”, the first five paragraphs (entire portion above table), are revised as follows:
Notify the Dispatcher immediately if you discover automatic highway crossing warning devices that are not functioning properly.
Once notified of malfunctioning automatic highway crossing warning devices, the
Dispatcher must:
1. Issue Form D Line 12 to all trains that will operate over the affected crossing, indicating the name and milepost of the crossing as identified in the applicable special instruction.
AND
2. Ensure that notification is provided to the local law enforcement agency or railroad police.
Unless otherwise instructed on Form D Line 13, crews must comply with the “Requirements” listed in Item 1 of Rule 138 part “c”: Stop, make certain that a crew member provides on-ground warning at the crossing, then proceed not exceeding 15 MPH until the leading end operates through the crossing.
When the Dispatcher is notified that rust or other foreign matter may prevent effective shunting, trains must be instructed to comply with the “Requirements” listed in Item 1 of Rule 138 part “c”, unless flagger or a railroad police officer is providing warning at the crossing.
The appropriate engine whistle or horn signal must be sounded at locations where automatic highway crossing warning devices are not functioning properly, including crossings where a whistle sign indicating “W/R” is displayed, and in areas otherwise designated as Quiet Zones
In this scenario as illustrated by way of
More specifically, NORAC Operating Rule 121, in relevant part, states:
121. Intervening Tracks at Station
When a passenger train is receiving or discharging passengers across an intervening track, trains and track cars must not pass between that train and the station platform.
A passenger train routed to a track that will result in a station stop for receiving or discharging passengers across a main track or controlled siding intervening between that train and the station platform must stop as soon as it is known it is so routed. Before proceeding, the Engineer or Conductor must obtain assurance from the Dispatcher or Operator that protection on the track adjacent to the station platform has been provided. Two exceptions to the stop requirement are:
1. When verbal or written assurance of protection has been previously provided.
2. When the track adjacent to the station platform is out of service.
The Dispatcher or Operator must not give a train assurance of protection until it has been determined that:
Signals governing entrance to the track must be placed in stop position and blocking devices must be applied.
Specific stations are designated in the Timetable as those where scheduled trains normally receive and discharge passengers across a track between the train and the station platform. Protection against other trains is not required when trains make scheduled stops at these stations.
Trains operating on tracks across which passengers are normally received and discharged must approach such stations prepared to stop, until the Engineer has determined that no passenger train is occupying the station by:
1. Visual observation.
or
2. Verbal confirmation from the Dispatcher.
If a passenger train is occupying the station, the approaching train must not occupy the station unless permission is received from the crew of the train occupying the station and measures have been taken to ensure the safety of its passengers.
When a passenger train is approaching, the station platform area must not be occupied by either:
At stations where tracks intervene between a station platform and a track on which passenger trains normally receive or discharge passengers, trains other than passenger trains must not block access to the platform.
More specifically, NORAC Operating Rules 406 and 401, in relevant part, state:
406. ABS Failure: Non-signaled DCS Substitution
a. Form D Line 6 or Bulletin Order
When an ABS failure occurs, non-signaled DCS rules may be substituted by Bulletin Order or Form D line 6.
All trains and Operators affected must receive a copy of the Form D line 6 or Bulletin Order. Before the Dispatcher issues the Form D line 6 or before the Bulletin Order becomes effective, the Dispatcher must ensure that:
Interlocking or CP signals governing entrance to or within the affected track may be displayed to authorize movements that have received Form D line 2 authority. Signal indication will govern movement within interlocking limits or CP only. These signals must be immediately restored to Stop position and blocking devices reapplied once the head end of the authorized movement has passed the signal.
ABS and CSS rules do not apply when non-signaled DCS rules are substituted for
ABS.
NORAC Rule 401(a) has been revised to comply with the Federal requirements in 49 CFR Part 236.0 reducing the maximum authorized speeds.
Passenger trains must not exceed 59 MPH and freight trains must not exceed 49 MPH, unless otherwise restricted
In addition to the examples shown in
The foregoing description of certain embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
