Electronically controlled grade crossing gate system and method

• US 20050284987A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Satya Rama Kishore, Kuna Venkat, Goray, Kunal Ravindra, Davenport, David Michael, Anbarasu, Ramasamy, Vijayan, Pradeep, Mogaveera, Raju, Kande, Mallikarjun Shivaraya, Kottisa, Vidyadhar
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/125
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/16 electrically

Abstract

An electronically controlled grade crossing gate system and method. The system includes a gate arm, a gate arm moving assembly, a position sensor assembly and a controller. The gate arm moving assembly is configured to move the gate arm and the position sensor assembly is configured to sense a position of the gate arm. The position sensor assembly is a non-contact position sensor assembly. The controller is coupled to the gate arm moving assembly and the position sensor assembly and it is configured to receive an incoming command related to the gate arm. The controller activates the gate arm moving assembly in response to the incoming command and communicates with the position sensor assembly to monitor the position of the gate arm.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled grade crossing gate system, comprising:

a gate arm;

a gate arm moving assembly configured to move said gate arm;

a position sensor assembly configured to sense a position of said gate arm;

wherein said position sensor assembly is a non-contact position sensor assembly; and

a controller coupled to said gate arm moving assembly and said position sensor assembly, wherein said controller is configured to receive an incoming command related to said gate arm, activate said gate arm moving assembly in response to said incoming command and communicate with said position sensor assembly to monitor said position of said gate arm.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said gate arm moving assembly comprises:

a gear assembly coupled to said gate arm;

a motor configured to drive said gear assembly; and

motor control electronics configured to control said motor.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said motor comprises a transverse flux machine.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a gate arm safety monitoring system coupled to said gate arm, wherein said gate arm safety monitoring system is configured to sense a predetermined safety attribute.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a stress detecting element coupled to said gate arm and configured to sense said predetermined safety attribute.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said stress detecting element comprises a strain gauge.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined safety attribute relates to at least one of breakage, bending and cracking in said gate arm.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said gate arm safety monitoring system further comprises a warning system, wherein said warning system is configured to issue an alert when said predetermined safety attribute is sensed.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said alert is issued to a remotely located control unit.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a gate arm intrusion detection system coupled to said gate arm and configured to detect an intrusion on said gate arm.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said gate arm intrusion detection system comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and a RF receiver.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said gate arm intrusion detection system further comprises a warning system configured to issue an alert if said intrusion is sensed.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said alert is issued to a remotely located control unit.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises a micro-controller configured to generate a signal to control a movement of said gate arm.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said signal is a pulse width modulated signal.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to gather and process field data in relation to operation of at least one of said gate arm, said gate arm moving assembly, said position sensor assembly and said micro-controller.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to communicate in a power-line communication mode.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to communicate in a wireless communication mode.

19. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a fail-safe electronics module coupled to said micro-controller, wherein said fail-safe electronics module is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said fail-safe electronics module further comprises a warning system configured to issue an alert when said failure occurs.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said alert is issued to a remotely located control unit.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said position sensor assembly comprises:

a gear position sensor configured to measure an angular displacement of a gear assembly;

a shaft position sensor configured to measure a rotation of a shaft of the gear assembly;

a shaft reference position sensor configured to measure a movement of the shaft in relation to a stationary reference; and

a tip position sensor coupled to a tip of said gate arm and configured to indicate a predetermined orientation mode of said gate arm.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said predetermined orientation mode comprises a vertical orientation mode and a horizontal orientation mode.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said gear position sensor comprises a gear tooth sensor.

25. The system according to claim 22, further comprising an encoder disk coupled to said gear assembly, wherein said encoder disk is configured to provide a measurement of said angular displacement of said gear assembly.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said encoder disk comprises continuous pattern cuts along a circumference of said disk.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said encoder disk comprises sector cuts at a predetermined angular interval along a circumference of said disk.

28. An electronic system for controlling a grade crossing gate, comprising:

a gate arm;

a gate arm moving assembly configured to move said gate arm;

a position sensor assembly configured to sense a position of said gate arm,

wherein said position sensor assembly is a non-contact position sensor assembly;

a controller, coupled to said gate arm moving assembly and said position sensor assembly, wherein said controller is configured to receive an incoming command related to said gate arm, activate said gate arm moving assembly in response to said incoming command and communicate with said position sensor assembly to monitor said position of said gate arm; and

a remotely located control unit configured to communicate with said controller to control and monitor the operation of said gate arm, said gate arm moving assembly, said position sensor assembly and/or said controller.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said remotely located control unit is configured to communicate in a power-line communication mode.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein said remotely located control unit is configured to communicate in a wireless communication mode.

31. A method for electronically controlling a grade crossing gate system having a gate arm, comprising:

sensing a position of said gate arm, wherein said sensing comprises non-contact sensing; and

controlling a movement of said gate arm in accordance with an incoming command related to said gate arm.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said controlling comprises:

sensing said incoming command;

generating a signal in response to said incoming command; and

using said signal to move said gate arm.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said signal is a pulse width modulated signal.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising sensing a predetermined safety attribute in relation to said gate arm.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein said predetermined safety attribute relates to at least one of breakage, bending and cracking in said gate arm.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising issuing an alert when said predetermined safety attribute is sensed.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein said alert is issued to a remotely located control unit.

38. The method according to claim 31, wherein said controlling further comprises operating in a fail-safe mode.

39. The method according to claim 31, further comprising detecting an intrusion on said gate arm.

40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising detecting said position of said gate arm if said intrusion is sensed.

41. The method according to claim 39, further comprising detecting strength of an electric current if said intrusion is sensed, wherein said electric current is used to move said gate arm.

42. The method according to claim 39, further comprising stopping said movement of said gate arm for a predetermined interval if said intrusion is sensed.

43. The method according to claim 39, further comprising issuing an alert if said intrusion is sensed.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein said alert is issued to a remotely located control unit.

45. The method according to claim 31, further comprising sensing speed and direction of movement of said gate arm.

46. The method according to claim 31, wherein said sensing further comprises:

sensing angular displacement of a gear assembly attached to said gate arm;

sensing a rotation of a shaft in the gear assembly;

sensing a movement of the shaft in relation to a stationery reference; and

sensing a predetermined orientation of a tip of said gate arm.

47. The method according to claim 31, wherein said controlling comprises controlling from a remote location.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein said controlling comprises communicating in a power-line communication mode.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein said controlling comprises communicating in a wireless communication mode.