Method, System and Apparatus for Monitoring in a Vehicle Horn System

• US 20080291034A1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wabtec Corporation (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabtec Corporation (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Kernwein, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US11/874,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

A system for monitoring in a horn system of a vehicle having at least one activatable mechanism for causing a horn to sound. The system includes at least one monitoring device in communication with the at least one activatable mechanism, at least one component of the horn system or any combination thereof. The at least one monitoring device measures the presence or absence of at least one measurable characteristic in the horn system, and transmits a signal based upon the results of the measurement. A method for monitoring in a horn system of a vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring in a horn system of a vehicle having at least one activatable mechanism for causing a horn to sound, the system comprising:

at least one monitoring device in communication with the at least one activatable mechanism, at least one component of the horn system or any combination thereof,

wherein the at least one monitoring device is configured to;

measure the presence or absence of at least one measurable characteristic in the horn system; and

transmit a signal based upon the results of the measurement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurable characteristic is current, air flow, pressure, sound, physical, electrical, aural or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an on-board computer in communication with the horn system and configured to control at least one component of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the activatable mechanism is activated automatically via a horn drive switch in communication with the on-board computer.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a horn monitoring component in communication with the on-board computer and configured to receive and process the signal transmitted from the monitoring device.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a display mechanism in communication with the on-board computer, the horn system, the horn monitoring component or any combination thereof, wherein the display mechanism is configured to present data based upon the signal transmitted from the monitoring device, the processed signal, an indication of the measured characteristic or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the activatable mechanism is a valve, a pneumatically-driven horn valve, an electronically-controlled horn valve or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the activatable mechanism is activated manually by an operator through actuation of a button positioned within the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is a current sensor configured to sense the presence or absence of current flowing to the activatable mechanism.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein, prior to measurement of the characteristic, at least one component in direct or indirect communication with the activatable mechanism is activated.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the component is a switch in a horn activation circuit, the switch moveable from an open position, which prevents the flow of current to the activatable mechanism, to a closed position, which permits the flow of current to the activatable mechanism.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the component is a pushbutton, which can be activated to initiate the flow of current to the activatable mechanism.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is a flow meter configured to sense the presence or absence of air flowing to the activatable mechanism.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is a pressure sensor configured to sense the presence or absence of pressure in a conduit in fluid communication with the activatable mechanism.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the activatable mechanism is activated and the at least one monitoring device measures the at least one measurable characteristic, and the activatable mechanism is deactivated prior to the horn sounding.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the activation and deactivation of the activatable mechanism is automated.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is a sound sensor configured to sense sound waves emanating from the horn.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sound sensor is a microphone configured to provide feedback indicating that sound is actually emanating from the horn upon activation of the activatable mechanism.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is a sensor capable of measuring, recording and/or recognizing a sequence of discrete, spaced sounds emanating from the horn.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm mechanism configured to provide an aural and/or visual alert to be provided to an operator based upon the signal transmitted by the monitoring device.

21. A method for monitoring in a horn system of a vehicle having at least one activatable mechanism for causing a horn to sound, the method comprising:

measuring the presence or absence of at least one measurable characteristic in the horn system; and

transmitting a signal based upon the results of the measurement.

22. A system for monitoring in a horn system of a vehicle having an on-board computer configured to transmit a signal to at least one activatable valve for causing a horn to sound, the system comprising:

at least one monitoring device in communication with the on-board computer, the at least one activatable valve, at least one component of the horn system or any combination thereof,

wherein the at least one monitoring device is configured to;

measure the presence or absence of at least one measurable characteristic in the horn system; and

transmit a signal based upon the results of the measurement.