Rail line sensing and safety system
First Claim
1. A sensing device for a rail line comprising:
- a first sensor detecting a vehicle traveling on the rail line, the first sensor comprising a first coil of wire to inductively couple to a part of the vehicle, the first sensor operable to signal a first detection event;
a second sensor detecting the vehicle traveling on the rail line, the second sensor located a fixed distance away from the first sensor, the second sensor comprising a second coil of wire to inductively couple to a part of the vehicle, the second sensor operable to signal a second detection event;
electrical circuitry accepting signals from the first and second sensors, the electrical circuitry configured to generate;
for the first sensor, a first coupling signal and a first output pulse signal, andfor the second sensor, a second coupling signal and a second output pulse signal; and
electrical connections electrically connecting the first sensor, the second sensor, and the electrical circuitry;
wherein the first coupling signal has a magnitude based on the amount of inductive coupling between the first coil of wire and the vehicle,wherein the first output pulse signal is triggered when the amount of inductive coupling between the first coil of wire and the vehicle is at or exceeds a first predetermined level,wherein the second coupling signal has a magnitude based on the amount of inductive coupling between the second coil of wire and the vehicle, andwherein the second output pulse signal is triggered when the amount of inductive coupling between the second coil of wire and the vehicle is at or exceeds a second predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rail line sensing and safety system adapted to reliably sense the presence, and optionally the direction and speed, of vehicles traveling on a rail line, and when a vehicle is sensed, to indicate whether a safety device, such as crossing gates, lights, bells, etc., should be activated. The system comprises at least one detection module typically mounted on a rail, at least one remote module typically located near a detection module, and at least one control module typically located near a safety device. In operation, a detection module senses a vehicle traveling on a rail line and sends signals to a remote module. The remote module then processes signals received from the detection module and transmits signals to the control module. The control module then directs, either directly or indirectly as a backup or supplement to an existing sensing and safety system, whether a safety device should be activated.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A sensing device for a rail line comprising:
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a first sensor detecting a vehicle traveling on the rail line, the first sensor comprising a first coil of wire to inductively couple to a part of the vehicle, the first sensor operable to signal a first detection event; a second sensor detecting the vehicle traveling on the rail line, the second sensor located a fixed distance away from the first sensor, the second sensor comprising a second coil of wire to inductively couple to a part of the vehicle, the second sensor operable to signal a second detection event; electrical circuitry accepting signals from the first and second sensors, the electrical circuitry configured to generate; for the first sensor, a first coupling signal and a first output pulse signal, and for the second sensor, a second coupling signal and a second output pulse signal; and electrical connections electrically connecting the first sensor, the second sensor, and the electrical circuitry; wherein the first coupling signal has a magnitude based on the amount of inductive coupling between the first coil of wire and the vehicle, wherein the first output pulse signal is triggered when the amount of inductive coupling between the first coil of wire and the vehicle is at or exceeds a first predetermined level, wherein the second coupling signal has a magnitude based on the amount of inductive coupling between the second coil of wire and the vehicle, and wherein the second output pulse signal is triggered when the amount of inductive coupling between the second coil of wire and the vehicle is at or exceeds a second predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A rail line sensing and safety system comprising:
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at least one sensing device comprising; a first sensor capable of detecting a vehicle traveling on the rail line and signaling a first detection event; a second sensor capable of detecting the vehicle traveling on the rail line and signaling a second detection event, wherein the second sensor is located a fixed distance away from the first sensor; electrical circuitry that accepts signals from the two sensors; and electrical connections that electrically connect the two sensors and the electrical circuitry, wherein each sensing device outputs one or more signals that indicate at least one of the presence, direction and speed of a vehicle traveling on the rail line; at least one remote module that accepts signals outputted by at least one of the sensing devices, wherein the remote module processes signals and transmits one or more signals, wherein the remote module is located near the sensing device from which it accepts signals; a control module that accepts signals outputted by at least one of the remote modules, wherein the control module performs operations based on signals and outputs one or more signals; one or more solar panels electrically connected to at least one of the sensing device, the remote module, and the control module; and one or more battery packs electrically connected to at least one of the sensing device, the remote module and the control module wherein the signals outputted by the control module indicate whether one or more safety devices should be activated, the safety devices being lights, gates, bells, visual, audio or physical warnings, and combinations thereof, wherein the control module and the safety devices are located near an intersection of a rail line and a road, a second rail line, or other path of travel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification