Railroad grade crossing assembly

• US 20050060936A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe-Crossings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/49
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/04 Gates for level crossings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/06 by swinging into open position about a vertical or horizontal axis parallel to the road direction, i.e. swinging gates

Abstract

An articulate railroad grade crossing assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly has an adjustable reach so that it can be adjusted to completely or partially close roadways of various sizes. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly includes one or more sensors for detecting the presence of people and/or objects in the crossing area so that the assembly can automatically respond to such presence.

Claims

1. A railroad grade crossing assembly for inhibiting access to a railroad crossing area, comprising:

gate means connectable to a stanchion and movable between a generally upright position to permit access across the railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for inhibiting access across the railroad crossing; and

one or more sensors operable to detect the presence of a foreign body in said crossing area.

2. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include a sonic sensor.

3. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include a radar sensor.

4. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include an infrared sensor.

5. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include at least two sensor types from the group consisting of sonic type sensors, radar type sensors and infrared type sensors.

6. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a multiple of sensors and the signals from said sensors are combined for detection purposes.

7. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means and being operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to inhibit access across said crossing and to retract each time said crossing assembly is not to inhibit access across said crossing.

8. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein when said one or more sensors detects the presence of a foreign body in said crossing area, said telescopic arm means is prohibited from extending from said gate means.

9. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is completely blocked.

10. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is only partially blocked.

11. A railroad grade crossing assembly for inhibiting access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means connectable to a stanchion and movable between a generally upright position to permit access across the railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for inhibiting access across the railroad crossing; and

telescopic arm means movably incorporated within said gate means and being operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to inhibit access across said crossing and to retract each time said crossing assembly is not to inhibit access across said crossing.

12. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising one or more sensors operable to detect the presence of a foreign body in the proximity of said crossing.

13. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more sensors include a sonic sensor.

14. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more sensors include a radar sensor.

15. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more sensors include an infrared sensor.

16. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more sensors include at least two sensor types from the group consisting of sonic type sensors, radar type sensors and infrared type sensors.

17. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said assembly includes a multiple of sensors and the signals from said sensors are combined for detection purposes.

18. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein when said one or more sensors detects the presence of a foreign body in the proximity of said crossing, said telescopic arm means is prohibited from extending from said gate means.

19. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is completely blocked.

20. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is only partially blocked.