초록 ▼

An articulate railroad grade crossing assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly has an adjustable reach so that it can be adjusted to completely or partially close roadways of various sizes. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly includes one or more sensors for detecting the

An articulate railroad grade crossing assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly has an adjustable reach so that it can be adjusted to completely or partially close roadways of various sizes. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly includes one or more sensors for detecting the presence of people and/or objects in the crossing area so that the assembly can automatically respond to such presence.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A railroad grade crossing assembly for inhibiting access to a railroad crossing area, comprising: gate means connectable to a stanchion and movable between a generally upright position to permit access across the railroad crossing and generally horizontal position for inhibit

What is claimed is: 1. A railroad grade crossing assembly for inhibiting access to a railroad crossing area, comprising: gate means connectable to a stanchion and movable between a generally upright position to permit access across the railroad crossing and generally horizontal position for inhibiting access across the railroad crossing, further comprising telescopic arm means incorporated into said gate means and being operable to selectively extend and retract from said gate means crossing assembly in response to a control signal; one or more sensors operable to detect the presence of a foreign body in said crossing area and providing a corresponding sensor signal comprising at least one of a leveling switch signal, a railroad crossing system signal, a bump switch signal, a listening device signal, a 45�� gate angle detection signal, a time delay before gate extension retry signal, an extension attempt counter signal, an electrical failure detect signal, a sonic object detector signal, an IR object detect signal, and a radar object detect signal; and a programmable controller including a selectively programmable logic, providing said control signal in selective response to said one or more sensor signal according to said programmable logic to cause said telescopic arm to selectively extend and retract. 2. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more sensors include a sonic sensor. 3. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include a radar sensor. 4. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include an infrared sensor. 5. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors include at least two sensor types from the group consisting of sonic type sensors, radar type sensors and infrared type sensors. 6. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a multiple of sensors and the corresponding sensor signal from each of said sensors are combined for detection purposes according to a programmed logic of said controller. 7. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein when said one or more said sensors detects the presence of a foreign body in said crossing area, said telescopic arm means is prohibited from extending from said gate means. 8. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is completely blocked. 9. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is only partially blocked. 10. A railroad grade crossing assembly for inhibiting 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 inhibiting access across the railroad crossing according to a gate control signal; telescopic arm means movably incorporated within said gate means and being operable to extend from said gate means each time said crossing assembly is to inhibit access across said crossing and to retract each time said crossing assembly is not to inhibit access across said crossing according to an arm control signal; and a programmable controller providing said gate control signal and said arm control signal in response to one or more object detection sensor signal and a selectively programmable logic to cause said telescopic arm to selectively extend and retract, said programmable controller further including remote communication means which provides a communication path between said programmable logic and a system separated from said programmable controller. 11. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising one or more sensors operable to detect the presence of a foreign body in the proximity of said crossing. 12. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein one or more sensors include a sonic sensor. 13. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said one or more sensors include an infrared sensor. 14. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said one or more sensors include at least two sensors from the group consisting of sonic type sensors, radar type sensors and infrared type sensors. 15. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said one or more sensors include at least two sensors types from the group consisting of sonic type sensors, radar types sensors and infrared type sensors. 16. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said assembly includes a multiple of sensors and the signals from said sensors are combined for detection purposes. 17. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein when said one or more sensors detects the presence of a foreign body in the proximity of said crossing, said telescopic arm means is prohibited from extending from said gate means. 18. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is completely blocked. 19. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said telescopic arm means is operable to extend such that access across said crossing is only partially blocked. 20. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said remote communication means comprises a wireless link. 21. A railroad grade crossing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said remote communication means comprises a hardwired communication link.