Railroad grade crossing assembly

• US 7,533,494 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• 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:
  US10/623,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 49/49, 491/24, 49/25, 493/58
• 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 including a programmable controller. In a preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly includes at least one camera for the purpose of visually monitoring the crossing assembly and/or the area around the assembly. In another preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly includes a communication link for remotely monitoring and/or controlling the assembly.

Claims

1. A railroad grade crossing assembly for blocking 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 blocking access across the railroad crossing; and

telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means for automatically closing and opening the railroad crossing in response to a signal, said telescopic arm means being movably incorporated within said gate means and being selectively operable according to said signal to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to block access across said crossing and retracts according to said signal each time said crossing assembly is to permit access across said crossing; and

programmable electronic means responsive to at least one of

selective gate operating parameters, and

selective electrical signals,

and provides in response thereto at least one output signal in response thereto to said gate means to programmably control at least one of

a first gate position motion initiation in response to a second gate position,

a gate position duration,

a communication of diagnostic data,

a communication of video data,

an initiation of a failure condition, and

the reception of electronic controller programming data.

2. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a wireless link that is coupled to said programmable electronic means and is operable to receive programming instructions for implementation by said programmable electronic means.

3. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said programmable electronic means comprises a programmable logic controller coupled to one or more relays.

4. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for electronically monitoring at least one of usage and status of the assembly.

5. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising a wireless link that is coupled to said means for electronically monitoring and is operable to receive data from said means for electronically monitoring.

6. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising a wireless link that is coupled to said means for electronically monitoring and is operable to transmit data generated by said means for electronically monitoring to a remote monitoring station.

7. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising one or more cameras for visually monitoring at least one of the assembly and the area around assembly.

8. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said gate means and said telescopic arm means includes lights that incorporate a bulletproof material.

9. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said gate means and said telescopic arm means includes lights and a bulletproof covering for protecting said lights.

10. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electric motor for extending and retracting said telescopic arm means, and wherein said programmable electronic means is operable to control said motor.

11. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said motor is coupled to said telescopic arm means through a clutch that is released upon failure of said motor'"'"'s power supply.