Bnsf Railway Company

Mitchell Wayne Beard

Kent Robert Shue

Jerry Wade Specht

Ralph E Young

Michael E Ramolt

Scott D Sapp

Paul Aaron Weidle

Paul Chiyang Shih

A system and method for providing a virtual approach signal restriction upgrade between physical signaling components is presented. In one embodiment, in a CTC type of operation, the use of a virtual signal with signal type functionality to split a block into two or more sections can allow a train currently governed by an approach indication to accelerate on a clear indication if the advance signal indication upgrades. The addition of audio frequency type circuits with the advance signal indication can allow a train to upgrade from a restricting indication to an approach or clear indication, while protecting open HT switches, broken rail, hazards, and follow up moves. The present invention provides a system for allowing trains to upgrade from a 'restricting' indication to an “approach” or “clear and accelerate” indication with an upgraded PTC track line for the segment.

System and method for virtual approach signal restriction upgrade

A system and method for providing a virtual approach signal restriction upgrade between physical signaling components is presented. In one embodiment, in a CTC type of operation, the use of a virtual signal with signal type functionality to split a block into two or more sections can allow a train currently governed by an approach indication to accelerate on a clear indication if the advance signal indication upgrades. The addition of audio frequency type circuits with the advance signal indication can allow a train to upgrade from a restricting indication to an approach or clear indication, while protecting open HT switches, broken rail, hazards, and follow up moves. The present invention provides a system for allowing trains to upgrade from a 'restricting' indication to an 'approach' or 'clear and accelerate' indication with an upgraded PTC track line for the segment.

A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

Railroad virtual track block system

An impact detection tower is disclosed that can facilitate a reliable method of avalanche detection, related to the maintenance and monitoring a railway system. The avalanche detection system can include a plurality of impact detection towers comprising sensors in operable communication with a gateway configured to utilize data transmitted from the sensors to determine if an avalanche has occurred. The gateway can be in operable connection with a human-machine interface to facilitate monitoring of the system by a railroad engineer.

Avalanche slide detection system and method

A Wireless Slide Fence utilizing signal reflection technology to detect rockslides and can determine the size and location of fallen rocks/objects impeding travel along a train track is presented. The present disclosure solves the technological problem of determining rock size and location to validate rockslide/fall alarms to reduce false alarms, while minimizing repairs required by conventional systems through the use of obstacle detection units and vital logic controllers. The present disclosure improves the performance of the system by, generating validated alarms when fallen rocks/objects satisfy the size criteria and are located in an area hazardous to train operations. In one exemplary embodiment, a loitering time can be implemented to validate object detections to reduce false positives due to transient objects such as migrating animals.

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Shawnee, KS, United States of America

Mitchell Wayne Beard