Anti-collision device and system for use with a rail car

• US 10,272,932 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Railserve, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Railserve, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roberts, John, Benjamin, Timothy J., Bartek, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T
• Application Number:
  US15/133,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B61H 13/00 Actuating rail vehicle brakes actuators directly acting on a brake head B61H1/003; self-applying brakes B61H11/02; wear-compensating mechanisms B61H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/041 Obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/34 for indicating the distance between vehicles or trains by the transmission of signals therebetween
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9328 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements

Abstract

An anti-collision system for railcars and locomotives a distance ranging and worker coupling protection system utilizing remote-sensing radar techniques for use with a locomotive and railcar. The anti-collision system may include an object detector device attached to a railcar or a locomotive that detects objects in a path of the railcar and the locomotive and a train display device electrically connected to the object detector device. The anti-collision system may also include an emergency action device which enables a crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to a locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized. The object detector device may include a remote sensor, a radio, and a microprocessor programmed to include data-logging to record and log all data from the anti-collision system.

Claims

1. An anti-collision system for use with a railcar, the system comprising:

an object detector device attached to a railcar or a locomotive that detects objects in a path of the railcar and the locomotive, the object detector device including a remote sensor, a radio, and a microprocessor programmed to include data-logging to record and log all data from the anti-collision system;

a reflector attached to a top of a derail, wherein the object detector device detects if the derail is in an open position or a closed position by sensing the reflector; and

a train display device electrically connected to the object detector device, the train display device including a screen and a horn, wherein the screen displays one or more of a plurality of separation distances between the railcar and the locomotive, locations of objects, and a speed of the railcar or the locomotive, and wherein the horn is activated when the object detector device detects objects in the path of the railcar and the locomotive;

wherein the radio transmits train information between the object detector device and the train display device, wherein the remote sensor includes an object-detection system to determine one or more of the following;

a range, an altitude, a direction, or a speed of objects.

2. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the object detector device includes various magnets to magnetically attach the object detector device to the locomotive or the railcar.

3. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the object detector device includes a mechanical coupling system to attach the object detector device to the locomotive or the railcar.

4. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the train information includes speed, direction, distance, and a type of object.

5. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the remote sensor includes radar that uses radio waves and transmits pulses of radio waves or microwaves that bounce off any object in the path.

6. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the remote sensor measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing a reflected light from the laser.

7. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the object detector device provides a distinction between objects in sideswipe avoidance, tangent track situations, derails, and couplings.

8. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the train display device includes multiple connections to include a power connector and a data connection.

9. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the horn begins beeping at a first distance defined as a separation distance between the railcar or the locomotive and an object and then the horn speeds up beeping until a solid tone at a second distance smaller than the first distance.

10. The anti-collision system of claim 1, wherein the train display device further includes a horn silence button that silences the horn when it is pressed.

11. The anti-collision system of claim 1, further including an automatic stop that automatically stops the locomotive if the anti-collision system detects an imminent danger and proper action is not taken manually.

12. An anti-collision system for use with a railcar or a locomotive, the system comprising:

an object detector device attached to a railcar or a locomotive that detects objects in a path of the railcar and the locomotive, the object detector device including a remote sensor, a radio, and a microprocessor programmed to include data-logging to record and log all data from the anti-collision system;

a reflector attached to a top of a derail, wherein the object detector device detects if the derail is in an open position or a closed position by sensing the reflector;

a train display device electrically connected to the object detector device, the train display device including a screen and a horn, wherein the screen displays one or more of a plurality of separation distances between the railcar and the locomotive, locations of objects, and a speed of the railcar or the locomotive, and wherein the horn is activated when the object detector device detects objects in the path of the railcar and the locomotive; and

an emergency action device which enables a crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to a locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized, the emergency action device including a transmitter with an emergency stop button and a locomotive transceiver located within a cabin of the locomotive, wherein the locomotive transceiver receives a signal sent from the transmitter and further sends an emergency stop signal to a set of brakes on the locomotive to stop;

wherein the radio transmits train information between the object detector device and the train display device, wherein the remote sensor includes an object-detection system to determine one or more of the following;

a range, an altitude, a direction, or a speed of objects.

13. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the emergency stop signal is sent to a relay valve causing air to be released from a brake pipe, thereby immediately applying the set of brakes and bringing the train to an immediate stop.

14. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is attached to a reflective safety vest.

15. The anti-collision system of claim 13, wherein the emergency action device is reset only when the crew member pushes the emergency stop button which sends a reset signal closing the relay valve and releasing the set of brakes, indicating that the hazard has been resolved.

16. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the object detector device includes various magnets to magnetically attach the object detector device to the locomotive or the railcar.

17. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the object detector device includes a mechanical coupling system to attach the object detector device to the locomotive or the railcar.

18. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the train information includes speed, direction, distance, and a type of object.

19. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the remote sensor includes radar that uses radio waves and transmits pulses of radio waves or microwaves that bounce off any object in the path.

20. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the remote sensor measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing a reflected light from the laser.

21. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the object detector device provides a distinction between objects in sideswipe avoidance, tangent track situations, derails, and couplings.

22. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the train display device includes multiple connections to include a power connector and a data connection.

23. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the horn begins beeping at a first distance defined as a separation distance between the railcar or the locomotive and an object and then the horn speeds up beeping until a solid tone at a second distance smaller than the first distance.

24. The anti-collision system of claim 12, wherein the train display device further includes a horn silence button that silences the horn when it is pressed.

25. The anti-collision system of claim 12, further including an automatic stop that automatically stops the locomotive if the anti-collision system detects an imminent danger and proper action is not taken manually.