Union Switch & Signal, Inc.

Siemens Mobility Gmbh

Siemens Industry, Inc.

Leonard M Wydotis

Raymond C Franke

Kevin M McQuistian

Robert P Bozio

Richard C Bohme

Zhenzhong Long

Daniel H Brushwood

Barden J Wing

Carrie Williamson

Fred E Woodlief

Marvin R Wohlhueter

Jose Tondi Resta

An automated counterbalance system includes a crossing gate mechanism with an electric motor, a sensing device and a motor control unit, a crossing gate with a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm.

Automated counterbalance system and method for determining counterbalance and adjusting counterweights of a crossing gate

A railroad communication system () includes a wayside control device () in communication with one or more railroad crossing warning device(s) () located at a railroad grade crossing (), wherein the one or more railroad crossing warning device(s) () are activated in response to a signal of the wayside control device (). An autonomous motor vehicle () approaches the railroad grade crossing (), wherein the wayside control device () is configured to communicate information in response to an activation of the one or more railroad crossing warning device(s) (), and wherein the autonomous motor vehicle () is configured to receive the information.

System and method for providing railroad grade crossing status information to autonomous vehicles

A disconnect/test terminal block may include a body including a front side and a back side including a protruding part. The block may include at least one circuit element disposed in the body. The block may include at least one case wire terminal disposed on the front side of the body and coupled to the at least one internal circuit. The block may include at least one field cable terminal disposed on the protruding part and coupled to the at least one internal circuit.

Feed thru disconnect/test terminal block

Aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to a current monitoring and alarm system for a railroad crossing gate. The system is capable of determining that the gate is functioning properly or not. In addition, the system can issue an alarm or provide some other indicator when the gate is not functioning properly or is being subjected to excessive loading.

Railroad crossing gate monitoring and alarm system

An adjustable mount for a light signal assembly may comprise a fixture and a mounting track. The fixture may be configured to be attached to the light signal assembly. The mounting track may be configured to allow the fixture to be adjustably positioned in a direction substantially parallel to a length of a cantilever or bridge and mounted to the mounting track.

Adjustable railway wayside signal structure

A level crossing panel may comprise a frame, a lighting module coupled to the frame, and a connection support coupled to the frame and electrically connected to the lighting module. The connection support may comprise an interface configured to be removably coupled to a connector of a mast and an electrical contact configured to transmit power from the connector of the mast to the lighting module.

Level crossing light panel

A switch machine electronic controller includes a point detecting circuit having Namur sensors for detecting an indication rod target in first and second point positions, and a lock detecting circuit having Namur sensors for detecting a lock box target in first and second lock positions. A microprocessor processes the signals to provide Normal and Reverse outputs. The Normal output is enabled when the first point and lock detection signals have values within a predetermined ON value range, and the second point and lock detection signals have values within a predetermined OFF value range. The reverse output is enabled when the second point and lock detection signals have values within the ON value range, and the first point and lock detection signals have values within the OFF value range. Both outputs are disabled when any of the signals has a value that corresponds to a shorted, open or indeterminate value range.

Controller for switch machine

An improved point detector sleeve includes a tube portion and an adjustment portion that are integrally formed with one another as a monolithic member, whereby the point detector sleeve is substantially free of joints between the tube portion and the adjustment portion. The tube portion includes a beveled surface formed thereon, and the adjustment portion includes an internally threaded region formed thereon. In accordance with one method of manufacturing the improved point detector sleeve, a first end of a cylindrical pipe formed with a cylindrical cavity is cut with a rotary cutting tool to form a substantially cylindrical inner surface. The rotary cutting tool advantageously closely follows the cavity to form the cylindrical inner surface without the rotary cutting tool radially &ldquo;walking&rdquo; away from a central longitudinal axis of the pipe. In another embodiment, the pipe receives therein an insert having an externally threaded region and an internally threaded surface.

Point detector sleeve for railroad switch machine and associated method

A motor control apparatus for a railway switch machine includes a power source for a voltage; a selector for providing the voltage to a reversible motor of the switch machine in a normal state, and for providing a reverse polarity of the voltage to the reversible motor in a reverse state; a first transistor for switching reverse current flowing through the reversible motor; a first diode electrically connected in parallel with the first transistor for conducting normal current for the reversible motor; a second transistor for switching normal current flowing through the reversible motor; a second diode electrically connected in parallel with the second transistor for conducting reverse current for the reversible motor; and a circuit for controlling the first and second transistors based upon the position or operating mode of the railway switch machine.

Motor control apparatus for a railway switch machine

A point detection system is provided for use in a typical switch machine with a typical indication system, wherein a point detector bar is slidably captivated within a point detector sleeve, and wherein a target that is integrally engaged with the point detector bar is sensed by at least one sensing device, thereby to detect movement of the point detector bar. The point detector sleeve is supported by a track side bearing affixed to a track side wall of the switch machine, and by a field side bearing affixed to an opposing wall of the switch machine. The point detector bar extends outside the switch machine from only the track side bearing, thereby eliminating the bearings and the pinch point between the hand throw lever and the two piece point detector bar that otherwise extended from the related art switch machine. The sensing device may be mounted upon a slide mechanism to adjust the sensing device relative to the target. Use of the sensing device eliminates the need for cams to monitor in order to detect movement of the point detector bar, as well as eliminates moving parts between the cams and the mechanical linkages. Further, at least one other sensing device detects a normal and reverse locked position of a lock bar assembly and lock box of the switch machine.

Captivity point detection system with single switch position target

A railroad switch machine gear box having a low vertical profile is provided, wherein a compound gear rotatably mounted within a housing along a first vertical axis cooperatively engages an adjacent main crank gear. The main crank gear is rotatably mounted within the housing about a main crank shaft that extends vertically within the gear box housing along a second vertical axis that is different than the first vertical axis. A bevel gear fixedly mounted to a hand throw shaft rotatably mounted within the housing along a first horizontal axis cooperatively engages the compound gear, thereby to rotate the compound gear when the hand throw shaft is rotated, typically with a hand throw lever affixed to the hand throw shaft external to the housing. The hand throw shaft may be rotatable about an eccentric shaft that is independently mounted and rotatable with the housing along the first horizontal axis. A motor/manual mode selector lever may be affixed to the eccentric shaft external to the gear box housing, thereby to rotate the eccentric shaft in a manner known in the art. Typically, rotation of the mode selector lever in a first direction selects a manual mode of gear box operation; rotation in the opposite direction selects a power mode of operation. A clutch yoke may be slidably mounted about a clutch cup assembly and the main crank shaft, and may be pivotable at a first end along a pivot pin positioned along a pivot axis that is parallel to the first horizontal axis, thereby to provide the advantage of simplifying movement of the hand throw lever and the mode selector lever from one side of the gear box to the other. The pivoting action of the eccentric shaft may be detected by a proximity sensor that senses a target associated with the second end of the clutch yoke.

Low profile switch machine gear box

An apparatus is provided for moving a movable switch point a selected distance as a result of the throw of a switch machine. The apparatus includes an operating rod connected to and movable by the switch machine and a switch point adjuster mounted directly to the switch point and movable by the operating rod. The switch point adjuster has an elongated housing with a bore provided therethrough, in which the operating rod is disposed through the housing bore. The switch point adjuster also has first and second adjusting nuts that are adjustably secured to the operating rod on opposed sides of the housing, preferably by mated threading. The operating rod is movable bidirectionally through the housing until one of the adjusting nuts contacts the housing. In this way, lost motion of the switch machine may be compensated for. The adjusting nuts preferably have a head portion and a body portion, in which the head portion has a width greater than the width of the body portion. Thus, the head portions of the adjusting nuts are contactable with respective opposed ends of the housing. Alternatively, or in addition, the housing may have an interior ledge provided within the housing bore, and leading edges of the adjusting nuts which are disposable within the housing may contact the interior ledge.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, SC, United States of America

Leonard M Wydotis