Signal alignment monitoring system and method of assembling the same
First Claim
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1. A signal alignment monitoring system comprising:
- a signal assembly comprising at least one signal lamp; and
an alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to said signal assembly, said alignment monitoring apparatus comprising a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by said source to facilitate determining an alignment of said signal assembly;
wherein said signal assembly comprises a first signal lamp and a second signal lamp mounted adjacent said first signal lamp, said source coupled to said first signal lamp, said detector coupled to said second signal lamp, such that said source and said detector are oriented toward one another.
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Abstract
A signal alignment monitoring system is provided. The system includes a signal assembly including at least one signal lamp. The system also includes an alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to the signal assembly. The alignment monitoring apparatus includes a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by the source to facilitate determining an alignment of the signal assembly.
12 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A signal alignment monitoring system comprising:
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a signal assembly comprising at least one signal lamp; and an alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to said signal assembly, said alignment monitoring apparatus comprising a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by said source to facilitate determining an alignment of said signal assembly; wherein said signal assembly comprises a first signal lamp and a second signal lamp mounted adjacent said first signal lamp, said source coupled to said first signal lamp, said detector coupled to said second signal lamp, such that said source and said detector are oriented toward one another.
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2. A signal alignment monitoring system comprising:
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a signal assembly comprising at least one signal lamp; an alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to said signal assembly, said alignment monitoring apparatus comprising a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by said source to facilitate determining an alignment of said signal assembly; and a reflective surface for reflecting toward said detector electromagnetic energy emitted by said source; wherein said signal assembly comprises a first signal lamp and a second signal lamp, said alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to said first signal lamp, said reflective surface coupled to said second signal lamp. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A signal alignment monitoring system comprising:
- a signal assembly comprising two signal lamp;
an alignment monitoring apparatus coupled to said signal assembly, said alignment monitoring apparatus comprising a source mounted on a first lamp for emitting electromagnetic energy; and
a detector mounted on a second lamp for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by said source to facilitate determining an alignment of said signal assembly; and
further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to said alignment monitoring apparatus, wherein said control unit is configured to receive a signal from said alignment monitoring apparatus that is indicative of at least one of electromagnetic energy emitted by said source and electromagnetic energy sensed by said detector, said control unit configured to generate data indicative of an orientation of at least one of said first signal lamp and said second signal lamp using the signal received from said alignment monitoring apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- a signal assembly comprising two signal lamp;
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9. A warning device for a highway-rail grade crossing, said device comprising:
- a signal assembly comprising a support structure, a first signal lamp, and a second signal lamp, said support structure including a mast, wherein the first and second signal lamps are attached to the mast for elevation of the first and second signal lamps above a ground level proximate a railroad crossing; and
an alignment apparatus coupled to the signal assembly, said alignment apparatus comprising a source for casting electromagnetic energy on the first signal lamp and/or on the second signal lamp and a detector for sensing the electromagnetic energy cast on said first signal-lamp and/or second signal lamp, said source and said detector coupled to first and/or second signal lamp and being oriented so that the electromagnetic energy;
cast on the first signal lamp and/or on the second signal lamp and detected by the detector is indicative of an alignment or orientation of the signal assembly; and
a control unit communicatively coupled to the alignment apparatus, wherein said control wait is configured to receive a signal from the alignment apparatus relating to the electromagnetic energy cast by the source and/or detected by the detector, said control unit being configured to generate data indicative of the alignment or orientation of the first signal lamp and/or the second signal lamp using the signal received from the alignment apparatus.
- a signal assembly comprising a support structure, a first signal lamp, and a second signal lamp, said support structure including a mast, wherein the first and second signal lamps are attached to the mast for elevation of the first and second signal lamps above a ground level proximate a railroad crossing; and
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10. A method of assembling a signal alignment monitoring system, said method comprising:
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providing a signal assembly including at least one signal lamp; and coupling an alignment monitoring apparatus to the signal assembly, the alignment monitoring apparatus including a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by the source to facilitate determining an alignment of the signal assembly; wherein providing a signal assembly comprises providing a first signal lamp and a second signal lamp and wherein coupling an alignment monitoring apparatus to the signal assembly comprises; coupling the source to the first signal lamp; and coupling the detector to the second signal lamp such that the source and the detector are configured to be oriented toward one another when the first signal lamp is mounted adjacent the second signal lamp.
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11. A method of assembling a signal alignment monitoring system, said method comprising:
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providing a signal assembly including at least one signal lamp; coupling an alignment monitoring apparatus to the signal assembly, the alignment monitoring apparatus including a source for emitting electromagnetic energy and a detector for sensing electromagnetic energy; and providing a reflective surface for reflecting toward the detector electromagnetic energy emitted by the source; wherein providing a signal assembly including at least one signal lamp comprises providing a first signal lamp and a second signal lamp and wherein coupling an alignment monitoring apparatus to the signal assembly comprises coupling the alignment monitoring apparatus to the first signal lamp, said method further comprising; coupling the reflective surface to the second signal lamp such that the alignment monitoring apparatus and the reflective surface are configured to be oriented toward one another when the first signal lamp is mounted adjacent the second signal lamp. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of assembling a signal alignment monitoring system, said method comprising:
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providing a signal assembly including two signal lamps;
coupling an alignment monitoring apparatus to the signal assembly, the alignment monitoring apparatus including a source for emitting electromagnetic energy mounted on a first lamp and a detector mounted on a second lamp for sensing electromagnetic energy emitted by the source to facilitate determining, an alignment of the signal assembly;providing a control unit; and communicatively coupling the control unit to the alignment monitoring apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a signal from the alignment monitoring apparatus that is indicative of at least one of electromagnetic energy emitted by the source and electromagnetic energy sensed by the detector, the control unit configured to generate data indicative of an orientation of at least one of the first signal lamp and the second signal lamp using the signal received from the alignment monitoring apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification