Railroad grade crossing assembly

• US 6,618,993 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safe-Crossings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/811,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 49/33, 49/26, 49/28, 49/49, 246/125, 246/261, 246/272
• US Class Current: 49/49
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/04 Gates for level crossings
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/22 electrically
• 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

A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing including a gate assembly connectable to a stanchion and light assembly. This gate assembly is movable between a generally upright position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across the railroad crossing. The gate assembly further includes a telescopic arm assembly for completely closing vehicle access to the railroad crossing. In another embodiment of the invention, the railroad grade crossing assembly includes a gate movable between a generally horizontal retracted position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally extended horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, the gate includes a telescopic arm for completely closing the railroad crossing, a first and second stanchions. The railroad grade crossing assembly also includes a battery to power the gate and a solar panel to recharge the battery. A low battery indicator may also be includes to indicate that said battery has a low voltage. A listening device is provided to detect the sound of an oncoming train and activate the gate, and a sensor is provided to sense when a train has passed and thereby cause the gate to retract.

Claims

1. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means connectable to a stanchion and light assembly and movable between a generally upright position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing; and

telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means for automatically completely closing the railroad crossing when said gate means is in said generally horizontal position;

whereby said telescopic arm means is movably incorporated within said gate means and is operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to block vehicle access across said crossing and retracts each time said crossing assembly is to permit vehicle access across said crossing.

2. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, wherein said gate means further includes a gravity actuated support leg.

3. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, wherein upon a first pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, said gate means falls from its said generally upright position to a generally horizontal position and said support leg falls by gravity into a generally vertical position supporting said telescopic arm means.

4. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 3, wherein upon a second pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, a second arm means of said gate means extends outwardly from said gate means to completely close the railroad crossing.

5. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, further comprising actuating means for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means for completely closing and opening the railroad crossing to vehicle access.

6. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 5, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for turning a threaded rod which is mated with fastening means attached to an end of said telescopic arm means so as to extend and retract said telescopic arm means depending upon the rotation of said motor means.

7. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 5, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for applying a turning force to a pulley which exerts a force in a cable in order to extend said telescopic arm means.

8. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for reversing extension of said telescopic arm means when said telescopic arm means encounters an obstruction during extension.

9. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, wherein said telescopic arm means includes lights visible to a car when said telescopic arm means is extended.

10. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical current is supplied to said telescopic arm means through a plurality of conducting rods positioned in said gate means and a plurality of conducting wheel arrangements which contact said rods.

11. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 1, wherein said gate means includes waterproof covering means at an end thereof to keep rain, snow, and ice away from said gate means when said gate means is in its generally upright position.

12. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means movable between a generally upright position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, said gate means having telescopic arm means for completely closing the railroad crossing, and a gravity actuated support leg, said telescopic arm means being extendable and retractable from said gate means wherein upon a first pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at a railroad crossing, said gate means falls from its said generally upright position to a generally horizontal position and said support leg falls by gravity into a generally vertical position supporting said telescopic arm means, and wherein upon a second pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, said telescopic arm means extends outwardly from said gate means to completely close the railroad crossing.

13. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, wherein said gate means is connectable to a railroad crossing stanchion and light assembly.

14. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, further comprising actuating means for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means for completely closing and opening the railroad crossing to vehicle access.

15. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for turning a threaded rod which is mated with fastening means attached to an end of said telescopic arm means so as to extend and retract said telescopic arm means depending upon the rotation of said motor means.

16. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for applying a turning force to a pulley which exerts force in a cable in order to extend said telescopic arm means.

17. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, further comprising means for reversing extension of said telescopic arm means when said telescopic arm means encounters an obstruction during extension.

18. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, wherein said telescopic arm means includes lights visible to a car when said telescopic arm means is extended.

19. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, wherein electrical current is supplied to said telescopic arm means through a plurality of conducting rods positioned in said gate means and a plurality of conducting wheel arrangements which contact said rods.

20. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 12, wherein said gate means includes waterproof covering means at an end thereof to keep rain, snow, and ice away from said gate means when said gate means is in its generally upright position.

21. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means connectable to a stanchion and light assembly;

automatic telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means for completely closing the railroad crossing; and

a gravity actuated support leg for supporting said telescopic arm means;

whereby said telescopic arm means is movably incorporated within said gate means and is operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to block vehicle access across said crossing and retracts each time said crossing assembly is to permit vehicle access across said crossing.

22. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, wherein said gate means is movable between a generally upright position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across the railroad crossing.

23. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, wherein upon a first pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, said gate means falls from its said generally upright position to a generally horizontal position and said support leg falls by gravity into a generally vertical position supporting said telescopic arm means.

24. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 23, wherein upon a second pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, said telescopic arm means extends outwardly from said gate means to completely close the railroad crossing.

25. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, further comprising actuating means for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means for completely closing and opening the railroad crossing to vehicle access.

26. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 25, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for applying a turning force to a pulley which exerts force in a cable in order to extend said telescopic arm means.

27. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, further comprising means for reversing extension of said telescopic arm means when said telescopic arm means encounters an obstruction during extension.

28. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, wherein said telescopic arm means includes lights visible to a car when said telescopic arm means is extended.

29. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 21, wherein electrical current is supplied to said telescopic arm means through a plurality of conducting rods positioned in said gate means and a plurality of conducting wheel arrangements which contact said rods.

30. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means connected to a stanchion and light assembly and movable between a generally retracted position to permit vehicle access across a railroad crossing and a generally extended position for blocking vehicle access across the railroad crossing using an automatic telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means for completely closing the railroad crossing when said gate means is in said generally horizontal position;

whereby said telescopic arm means is movably incorporated within said gate means and is operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to block vehicle access across said railroad crossing and retracts each time said crossing assembly is to permit vehicle access across said railroad crossing.

31. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 30, wherein said gate means further includes a second stanchion.

32. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 30, further comprising actuating means for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means for completely closing and opening the railroad crossing to vehicle access.

33. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 32, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for turning a threaded rod which is mated with fastening means attached to an end of said telescopic arm means so as to extend and retract said telescopic arm means depending upon the rotation of said motor means.

34. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 32, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for applying a turning force to a pulley which exerts force in a cable in order to extend said telescopic arm means.

35. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 30, further comprising means for reversing extension of said telescopic arm means when said telescopic arm means encounters an obstruction during extension.

36. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means movable between a generally horizontal retracted position to permit vehicle access across the railroad crossing and a generally extended horizontal position for blocking vehicle access across the railroad crossing, said gate means having telescopic arm means for completely closing the railroad crossing, and a first and second stanchions, said telescopic arm means being extendable and retractable from said gate means wherein upon a pre-set interval prior to a train arriving at the railroad crossing, said gate means extends from its said generally retracted position to a generally extended position extending from said first stanchion to said second stanchion, to completely close the railroad crossing.

37. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, wherein said gate means is connectable to an existing railroad crossing stanchion and light assembly.

38. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, further comprising actuating means for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means for completely closing and opening the railroad crossing to vehicle access.

39. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 38, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for turning a threaded rod which is mated with fastening means attached to an end of said telescopic arm means so as to extend and retract said telescopic arm means depending upon the rotation of said motor means.

40. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 38, wherein said actuating means includes motor means for applying a turning force to a pulley which exerts force in a cable in order to extend said telescopic arm means.

41. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, further comprising means for reversing extension of said telescopic arm means when said telescopic arm means encounters an obstruction during extension.

42. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, and further comprising a battery to power said gate means and a solar panel to recharge said battery.

43. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 42, wherein said battery is placed underground.

44. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 42, and further comprising a low battery indicator to indicate that said battery has a low voltage.

45. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, and further comprising a listening device to detect the sound of an oncoming train and activate the gate means.

46. The railroad grade crossing assembly of claim 36, and further comprising a sensor to sense when a train has passed and thereby cause said gate means to retract.

47. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking vehicle access across a railroad crossing, comprising:

gate means connectable to a stanchion and light assembly;

automatic telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means for completely closing the railroad crossing; and

a second stanchion for supporting said telescopic arm means;

whereby said telescopic arm means is movably incorporated within said gate means and is operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to block vehicle access across said railroad crossing and retracts each time said crossing assembly is to permit vehicle access across said railroad crossing.