Automated railroad crossing gate management system

• US 20020185571A1
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Railroad Controls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Railroad Controls, LLC
• Inventors: Bryant, Jackie D., Ablett, Matthew W.
• Application Number:
  US10/136,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/125
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/08 Operation of gates; Combined operation of gates and signals
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/30 Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A gate system for an intersection of a railroad track and roadway has detectors to monitor the intersection and crossing relays to monitor the railroad track. A controller connected to the detectors and the crossing relays operates the gates to prevent the gates from trapping a vehicle on the tracks.

Claims

1. A gate system for an intersection of a railroad track and roadway, the roadway having two lanes of opposing vehicular traffic, the opposing vehicular traffic generally having a first direction and a second direction, comprising:

a first entrance gate located proximate a first lane of the roadway, the first entrance gate operable between an open and closed position to control vehicular travel across the railroad track from the first direction;

a first exit gate located proximate the first lane of the roadway, the first exit gate operable between an open and closed position to control vehicular travel across the railroad track from the second direction;

a second entrance gate located proximate a second lane of the roadway, the second entrance gate operable between an open and closed position to control vehicular travel across the railroad track from the second direction;

a second exit gate located proximate the second lane of the roadway, the second exit gate operable to control vehicular travel across the railroad track from the first direction;

one or more detectors to detect a vehicle proximate to the intersection;

one or more crossing relays to detect a train proximate the intersection; and

a controller connected to the one or more detectors and the one or more crossing relays to operate the gates.

2. The gate system of claim 1, wherein the one or more detectors are inductive loops.

3. The gate system of claim 1, further comprising first and second entrance detectors respectively located proximate the entrances of the first and second lanes, first and second exit detectors respectively located proximate the exits of the first and second lanes.

4. The gate system of claim 1, wherein the railroad track is two railroad tracks having an island, the island generally defined as the area of the first and second lanes between the two railroad tracks.

5. The gate system of claim 4, further comprising first and second island detectors respectively located proximate the first and second lanes in the island.

6. The gate system of claim 1, wherein the controller operates the exit gates to allow a vehicle to exit the intersection when the one or more detectors detect a vehicle.

7. The gate system of claim 1, wherein the one or more detectors self-check for failure.

8. The gate system of claim 1, wherein a failure of the exit gates is a failure in the open position.

9. The gate system of claim 1, wherein a failure of the entrance gates is a failure in the closed position.

10. The gate system of claim 1, wherein a timer controls the operation of the gates.

11. A method for controlling gates at an intersection of a railroad track and roadway, comprising the steps of:

detecting a train proximate the intersection;

monitoring the status of one or more detectors proximate the intersection to determine presence of a vehicle proximate the intersection; and

operating one or more exit gates if a vehicle is detected proximate the intersection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the status of a first and second entrance detector, the first and second entrance detectors respectively proximate a first entrance and a second entrance of the intersection, to determine the presence of a vehicle proximate the entrances;

closing the entrance gates if no vehicle is detected at the entrances; and

temporarily disabling the entrance detectors.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the status of a first and second exit detector, the first and second exit detectors respectively proximate a first exit and a second exit of the intersection, to determine the presence of a vehicle proximate the exits; and

closing the exit gates if no vehicle is detected at the exits.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the status of a first and second island detector, the first and second island detectors respectively proximate a first lane and a second lane of the intersection, generally between the entrances and exits of the intersection, to determine the presence of a vehicle between the entrances and exits of the intersection; and

closing the exit gates if no vehicle is detected proximate the island.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of temporarily disabling the exit detectors.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of temporarily disabling the island detectors.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more detectors are inductive loops.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the inductive loops self-check for failures.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gates are operated by a timer if a failure is detected.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more exit gates are opened upon failure.