The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2016

Filed:

Apr. 24, 2014
Applicant:

Alstom Transport Technologies, Saint-Ouen, FR;

Inventors:

Jeffrey Michael Fries, Lee's Summit, MO (US);

Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Lee's Summit, MO (US);

Richard Lee Lawson, Melbourne Beach, FL (US);

Aric Albert Weingartner, Lee's Summit, MO (US);

Curtis Doyle Mechling, Fleming Island, FL (US);

Aaron Richard Mitti, Atlanta, GA (US);

Martin Paget, St. Johns, FL (US);

William David Shields, Blue Springs, MO (US);

Assignee:

General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B61L 29/28 (2006.01); B61L 29/30 (2006.01); G01R 31/34 (2006.01); G01R 31/02 (2006.01); G01R 31/28 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B61L 29/286 (2013.01); B61L 29/30 (2013.01); G01R 31/02 (2013.01); G01R 31/021 (2013.01); G01R 31/025 (2013.01); G01R 31/2829 (2013.01); G01R 31/343 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.


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