Railroad grade crossing motorist warning system

• US 4,942,395 A
• Filed: 08/24/1987
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferrari, John S., Sommers, Dale C.
• Original Assignee: Ferrari, John S., Sommers, Dale C.
• Inventors: Ferrari, John S., Sommers, Dale C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/088,579
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340/22, 340/47, 340/49, 340/907, 340/905, 340/903, 340/902, 340/928, 49/25, 49/49, 246/125-127, 246/187 A, 246/473.1-473.3, 246/292-296, 246/270 R, 246/272, 246/DIG. 1, 455/53, 455/54, 455/73, 455/89, 455/90, 455/88
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/246 Signals or brake- or lighting devices mounted on the road vehicle and controlled from the vehicle or train

Abstract

A three-piece, compact wireless railroad grade crossing motorist warning device comprising: a locomotive mounted transceiver which simultaneously communicates (upon close proximity) with a similar transceiver mounted at railroad grade crossing, and motor vehicles equipped with sympathetic receivers. Upon signal receipt verification, the grade crossing transceiver emits a coded radio signal to local motoring public sympathetic receivers. Upon signal reception, an audio/visual alert is presented to the motor vehicle operator, alerting the motor vehicle operator to the locomotive-occupied railroad crossing. Additionally, a contact verification display is displayed to the operator of the locomotive, upon activation of the grade site transceiver.

Claims

1. A system for warning motorists of the approach of a locomotive and train into a highway/rail crossing, comprising:

a locomotive mounted, MHZ radio frequency transceiver "beacon," contructed to provide a constant, directional, outgoing radio signal, and which transceiver is provided with signaling means to inform a locomotive operator that the outgoing radio signal has been received; and

an intermittently active, railroad crossing "crossbuck" pole-mounted, encased and weatherproofed, MHZ radio frequency transceiver unit, powered and hardwired in conjunction with existing railroad crossing electrical circuitry, said transceiver activates and emits a omnidirectional, low power, coded shortwave radio signal emanated from aforesaid locomotive-mounted transceiver when in near proximity to one another; and

an encased, miniaturized, motor vehicular-mounted, radio frequency compatible, radio frequency sympathetic, radio frequency discriminatory microprocessor receiver unit, provided with multiple visual/audio marked displays upon an integral faceplate;

said receiver being powered by the vehicle'"'"'s battery and said receiver sympathetically collects and discriminates signals emanating from said railroad crossing crossbuck pole mounted transceiver unit, to provide visual warning display and audio motorist alert to a "live railroad crossing" in near proximity.

2. A system for warning motorists of the approach of a locomotive and train into a highway/rail crossing, comprising:

an electrical radio frequency transceiver "beacon" constructed to provide a constant, directional, outgoing radio signal, said transceiver being mounted upon said locomotive, and said transceiver being provided with signaling means, to inform a locomotive operator that the outgoing radio signal has been received; and

an intermittently active, railroad/highway crossing "crossbuck" pole-mounted, encased and weatherproof MHZ radio frequency transceiver unit, electrically powered by batteries and photovoltaic cells mounted upon the transceiver casing, and said crossbuck mounted transceiver emits an omnidirectional radio signal in a prescribed frequency, only upon a receipt of said outgoing radio signal provided by said locomotive-mounted "beacon" transceiver when in near proximity to one another; and

an encased, miniaturized, motor vehicular-mounted, radio frequency compatible, radio frequency sympathetic, radio frequency discriminatory microprocessor receiver unit, provided with multiple visual/audio marked displays upon an integral faceplate;

said receiver is battery powered, and has photovoltaic solar battery trickle charging panels integrated upon the receiver casing, and said receiver sympathetically collects and discriminates signals emanating from said crossbar mounted transceiver unit, to provide visual warning display and audio motorist alert to a "live railroad crossing" in near proximity.