초록 ▼

A system and method which can detect the presence of a vehicle within the protected area of a four gate railroad crossing, determine its location and direction it is moving in, and open an appropriate exit gate to allow the vehicle to escape prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing. The syste

A system and method which can detect the presence of a vehicle within the protected area of a four gate railroad crossing, determine its location and direction it is moving in, and open an appropriate exit gate to allow the vehicle to escape prior to the arrival of a train at the crossing. The system has a series of magnetometer sensors suitably placed in the crossing to detect the presence of a vehicle. The sensors are connected to a controller which analyzes readings from the sensors. Upon the approach of a train, the controller, based on analysis of readings from the sensor, determines if a vehicle has become entrapped and determines which exit gate must be opened or should remain open to allow the entrapped vehicle to escape. The system also has self test capabilities as well as the ability to continuously update, when no vehicles are present, a baseline reading of the ambient magnetic condition of the crossing area, which baseline the controller uses in analyzing data from the sensors.

대표청구항 ▼

[We claim:] [1.]receiving a signal that a train is approaching the crossing;commencing sampling of readings from sensors located at the crossing;analyzing the readings from the sensors to determine if and when the crossing is clear so that exit gates to the crossing can be lowered;generating an all

[We claim:] [1.]receiving a signal that a train is approaching the crossing;commencing sampling of readings from sensors located at the crossing;analyzing the readings from the sensors to determine if and when the crossing is clear so that exit gates to the crossing can be lowered;generating an all clear signal when it is determined that the crossing is free of any vehicular traffic; andlowering into place crossing exit gates.