U.S. patent application number 10/774967 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-23 for remote monitoring of rail line wayside equipment.
Invention is credited to Brown, Augustus Henry, Colucci, Anthony F., Mollet, Samuel R..
Application Number | 20040182970 10/774967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26869207 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040182970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mollet, Samuel R. ; et
al. |
September 23, 2004 |
Remote monitoring of rail line wayside equipment
Abstract
A system (130) for monitoring rail line wayside equipment (132).
The system includes circuitry (147) for generating information
regarding an operating status of the wayside equipment. The
information is communicated to a plurality of user locations, such
as via a first communications link (164) that transmits the
information to a passing locomotive (145) and a second
communications link (166) that transmits the information to
locations remote from the wayside equipment. The second
communications link may utilize an existing locomotive diagnostic
communications pathway to a data center, from where information is
uploaded to the Internet (150).
Inventors: |
Mollet, Samuel R.; (Grain
Valley, MO) ; Colucci, Anthony F.; (Overland Park,
KS) ; Brown, Augustus Henry; (Kearney, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEUSSE BROWNLEE WOLTER MORA & MAIRE, P. A.
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2500
ORLANDO
FL
32801
US
|
Family ID: |
26869207 |
Appl. No.: |
10/774967 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10774967 |
Feb 9, 2004 |
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10173491 |
Jun 17, 2002 |
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6688561 |
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60344000 |
Dec 27, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
246/473R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61L 29/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
246/473.00R |
International
Class: |
B61L 005/12 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: circuitry generating information
indicative of an operating status of rail line wayside equipment; a
first communications link for communicating the information from a
wayside equipment location to a railroad locomotive; and a second
communications link for communicating the information from the
railroad locomotive to a location remote from the wayside equipment
location.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a database for
receiving and storing the information at the remote location; and a
data processor associated with the database for processing the
information.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a solar power
source for providing energy to the circuitry at the wayside
location.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communications link
comprises a wireless communication device also used to communicate
locomotive operating status information.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a database
receiving information from the wireless communication device for
receiving and storing the information; and a data processor
associated with the database for processing the information.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a
sensor detecting an output of a human-observable annuciator.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a hot
box detector.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a
dragging equipment detector.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a
high/wide load detector.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises an
equipment identification detector.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communications link
and second communications link comprise two-way communication
devices for communicating between the remote location and the
wayside location.
12. An apparatus comprising: a sensor generating a signal
responsive to an operating status of equipment located at a
railroad track wayside location, with the equipment operating in
response to passage of a railroad locomotive adjacent to the
equipment; circuitry responsive to the signal for generating
information representing the operating status of the equipment; a
communications link for communicating the information to a database
remote from the wayside location via the railroad locomotive; and a
data processor associated with the database for processing the
information.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising testing circuitry
for applying a test signal to the equipment to generate a desired
operating status.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the testing circuitry is
responsive to a polling signal generated from a location remote
from the wayside location.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the data processor further
comprises a report generator for generating a report responsive to
the information.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a notification
routine operable by the data processor for providing a notification
when the information satisfies a predetermined criterion.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the equipment located at the
wayside location comprises one of the group of crossing warning
equipment, wayside rail lubricator equipment, signal equipment, hot
box detector equipment and switch machine equipment.
18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises one of
the group of a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a light sensor, a
mercury switch, a ground fault sensor, and an accelerometer.
19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor is disposed on a
railroad locomotive operating on the railroad track.
20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication link
comprises a first communications link communicating the information
from the wayside location to a vehicle operating on the rail line
and a second communications link communicating the information from
the vehicle to the database.
21. An apparatus comprising: circuitry for activating an
annunciator at a railroad grade crossing location in response to
the approach of a railroad train; a sensor for generating a signal
responsive to the operation of the annunciator; circuitry
responsive to the signal for generating information representing an
operating status of the annunciator; a first communications link
for communicating the information from the grade crossing location
to the train; a second communications link for communicating the
information from the train to a location remote from the grade
crossing location; a database for receiving and storing the
information; and a data processor associated with the database for
processing the information.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first communications
link and second communications link comprise two-way communication
devices for communicating between the remote location and the grade
crossing location.
23. A method of monitoring the operation of railroad wayside
equipment, the method comprising: sensing a condition of equipment
located at a railroad track wayside location; generating
information responsive to the condition indicative of an operating
status of the equipment; transmitting the information to a
locomotive operating on the railroad track; and transmitting the
information from the locomotive to a location remote from the
wayside location.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating a polling
signal from a location remote from the wayside location to cause
the sensing, generating and transmitting steps to occur.
25. The method of claim 23, further comprising: locating a sensor
at the wayside location for generating a signal responsive to the
condition; processing the signal at the wayside location to
generate the information; and transmitting the information to a
database located remote from the wayside location.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising manipulating
information in the database to populate a report.
27. The method of claim 25, further comprising automatically
issuing an alert when the information is indicative of a failure of
the equipment.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising populating a failure
database when the information is indicative of a failure of the
equipment.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising automatically
populating a report from the failure database.
30. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting the
information from the locomotive to a location remote from the
wayside location via a communication link also used for
transmitting information regarding an operating status of the
locomotive to a data center.
31. A method comprising: sensing the operation of an annuciator for
railroad grade crossing equipment at a grade crossing location in
response to a railroad locomotive passing the grade crossing
location; generating information responsive to the sensed operation
and indicative of an operating status of the annuciator;
transmitting the information from the grade crossing location to
the railroad locomotive; and transmitting the information from the
railroad locomotive to a location remote from the grade crossing
location.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/173,491 filed on Jun. 17, 2002, now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,688,561 issued on Feb. 10, 2004, which in turn claimed
benefit of the Dec. 27, 2001, filing date of U.S. provisional
patent application No. 60/344,000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of rail
transportation, and more particularly to monitoring and reporting
of the status of rail line wayside equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Railroad systems include wayside equipment such as switches,
signals, and vehicle detectors including hot wheel detectors (hot
box detectors), dragging equipment detectors, high/wide load
detectors, vehicle identification systems, etc. Such equipment must
necessarily be located throughout the railroad system, and is thus
geographically dispersed and often located at places that are
difficult to access. Systems are currently in use for communicating
operational and status information relating to the condition of the
train or the track to control centers through various types of
modems. For example, position indicators are provided on switches
and a signal responsive to the position of a switch is generated at
the switch and communicated to a control center for that section of
track, typically via a land-based telephone line.
[0004] Grade crossings where streets and railroad tracks intersect
are notorious for collisions between roadway and rail vehicles.
Various types of warning systems are used to alert pedestrians and
roadway vehicle operators to the presence of an oncoming train.
Passive warning systems include signs and markings on the roadway
that indicate the location of the crossing. Active warning systems
include the audible signal from a locomotive horn and various types
of wayside warning devices. Grade crossing warning devices are
activated by an approaching train and may include visual and
audible alarms as well as physical barriers. A typical crossing in
an urban area may include signs painted onto the roadway and/or
erected at the crossing and a fully automatic gate with lights and
bells for blocking all lanes of roadway traffic.
[0005] Grade crossing warning systems are subject to normal
equipment reliability concerns. The proper operation of such
equipment is important to the safe and reliable operation of the
railroad. In order to reduce the probability of equipment failures,
routine maintenance and inspections are performed on grade crossing
warning equipment. An inspector will visit the site of each
crossing periodically to inspect the equipment and to confirm its
proper operation. Unexpected failures may occur in spite of such
efforts, and such failures may remain undetected for a period of
time.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,044 describes a system for communication
between a train and grade crossing protection equipment to ensure
that the protection equipment receives a signal that the train is
approaching. This system will automatically apply the brakes of the
train in the event that communication between the train and the
grade crossing equipment is not confirmed. However, even if the
crossing equipment does receive a train-approaching signal, there
may be a failure that prevents the warning equipment from providing
a proper alert to the roadway users. Such failure may remain
undetected until the date of the next periodic inspection.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,322 describes an automated crossing
warning system that eliminates the need for the sounding of the
locomotive horn. This system provides a horn warning to roadway
vehicle operators from horns located at the crossing and
specifically oriented toward the roadway, thereby reducing the
disturbance to local residents. A horn detector is provided to
operate a strobe light visible from the approaching train when the
horn is operating above a predetermined decibel level. In the event
that the strobe light is not flashing, the engineer of the
locomotive will sound the locomotive horn to provide a warning of
the approaching train. However, this system does not provide a
mechanism for the reporting of such failures. In this system, the
train operators will continue to operate their respective
locomotive horns until the failure is repaired during the next
periodic inspection.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,283 describes a system and method for
communicating operational status of train and track detecting
wayside equipment to a locomotive cab for display to the operator
of the locomotive. This system is directed to the reduction of
radio congestion in the VHF radio system used to communicate
synthesized voice messages between the wayside equipment and the
locomotive, thereby improving the reliability of communication of
the information to the locomotive operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention when read with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a railroad grade crossing
signal post including a moveable gate, lights and a bell with
associated sensors and wayside equipment box.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a grade crossing warning
system including remote readiness monitoring.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an integrated
electronic bell sensor system as may be used in the grade crossing
warning system of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the circuitry included in the
integrated electronic bell sensor system of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of a communications system
utilized to communicate information regarding rail line wayside
equipment.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates the steps of a process utilizing the
system of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A railroad grade crossing signal post 10 is shown in FIG. 1
as including a sign 12 having the familiar cruciform shape, a swing
gate 14 with attached lamps/reflectors 16, warning lights 18 and
alarm bell 20. The position of the gate 14 and the operational
status of the lamps/reflectors 16, warning lights 18 and alarm bell
20 are controlled in response to the proximity of a rail vehicle to
the grade crossing 22. As is known in the art, the gate 14 is moved
to a horizontal position and the lamps 16, warning lights 18 and
bell 20 are all activated to block road vehicle traffic and to warn
pedestrians and road vehicle operators of an approaching train. A
wayside equipment box 24 may be used to house the power and control
components necessary for the operation of the various components of
the signal post 10. Associated equipment may be located along the
track 22 in either direction for sensing the approach of a train
and for initiating a warning configuration of the signal post
10.
[0017] A plurality of sensors is provided for detecting the proper
operation of the various components of the signal post 10. A
position sensor 26 is attached to the swing gate 14 for detecting
when the gate 14 is in its upright and lowered positions. Position
sensor 26 may take the form of a mercury level switch, one or more
limit switches, an ultrasonic or infrared sensor, a potentiometer,
or any other type of device useful for determining the position of
the gate 14. A photo sensor 28 is located proximate warning light
18 for detecting when light 18 is emitting a predetermined pattern
of light energy. A sound detector 30 is located proximate bell 20
for detecting when bell 20 is emitting a predetermined pattern of
sound energy. Each of these sensors may be connected to associated
power supplies, converters, amplifiers, etc. located in equipment
box 24 via respective cables 32.
[0018] The components illustrated in FIG. 1 form part of a grade
crossing equipment monitoring system 40, which is further
illustrated in the functional diagram of FIG. 2. A grade crossing
annunciator 42 may be any of those known in the art, such as swing
gate 14, lamp/reflector 16, warning light 18 or alarm bell 20. An
operational circuit 44 for delivering a warning of an approaching
rail vehicle controls the annunciator 42. A train proximity sensor
56 is located along a rail line to sense the approach of a rail
vehicle to a grade crossing location. Upon receipt of a train
proximity signal 58 from train proximity sensor 56, the operational
circuit 44 provides an alarm signal 60 to annunciator 42.
Annunciator 42 functions to emit a predetermined output 62, such as
sound emitted from a bell or light emitted from lamp 16 or tilting
movement of gate 14. A sensor 46 is used to detect the output 62 of
annunciator 42 and to provide a sensor signal 48 responsive to the
operation of the annunciator 42. A signal processor 50 such as an
amplifier, filter, converter, etc. may be used to place sensor
signal 48 in a form suitable for input to a controller 52.
[0019] Controller 52 may be of any type known in the art for
implementing the operations described below. Controller 52 may be
located at the grade crossing location 22, such as within a wayside
equipment box 24 proximate the grade crossing signal post 10.
Controller 52 may include solid-state equipment, relays,
microprocessors, software, hardware, firmware, etc. or combinations
thereof. Controller 52 includes logic for evaluating sensor signal
48 to determine if annunciator 42 is performing properly. For
example, if annunciator 42 is a bell, the sensor 46 may be a
microphone placed proximate the bell or a solid-state accelerometer
attached to the bell housing or other structure mechanically
connected to the bell and vibrating therewith. The signal 48
provided by such a sensor 46 may be processed and recorded by
controller 52 to develop information 70 regarding the operating
status of annunciator 42. That information 70 may take the form of
a simple go/no-go decision wherein proper and improper performances
are differentiated. Alternatively, more robust information 70 may
be developed depending upon the type of annunciator 42 being
monitored and the sophistication of the sensor 46 and logic
performed by controller 52. For example, a history of performance
data may be recorded with future performance being predicted on the
basis of the data trend. For audio performance data, the
information 70 may include volume, frequency, and pattern of sound
verses time. For visual performance data, the information 70 may
include wavelength, intensity and pattern of light verses time. If
the annunciator 42 is a level sensor 26 for a swing gate 14, the
information 70 may include angle at stop positions and speed of
angle change during movement verses time. One may appreciate that
the information 70 to be developed would preferably be directly
responsive to known failure modes and performance characteristics
of the particular type of annunciator 42 being monitored.
[0020] Information 70 regarding the performance of annunciator 42
may be developed each time annunciator 42 is energized by
operational circuit 44 and/or it may be developed periodically in
accordance with a schedule. The schedule of monitoring may, itself,
be made responsive to the information 70 in the event that
indications of sensor degradation are detected. A special test
circuit 72 may be provided to operate the annunciator 42 in a test
mode, such as to exercise annunciator 42 in a manner or on a
schedule that is not possible with operational circuit 44. To
detect possible intermittent failures, data may recorded each time
that the annunciator 42 operates, and the schedule of this data may
be compared to the schedule of trains passing the grade crossing.
An intermittent failure may be identified by an occasional
difference between these two schedules. The test circuit 72 may be
responsive to the information 48 developed during a previous
operation of annunciator 42. For example, should the information 48
be interpreted by controller 52 as indicating the likelihood of a
developing problem, the test circuit 72 may be instructed to
perform a special test indicative of that developing problem. In
one embodiment, a single indication of a malfunctioning annunciator
bell may be detected by sensor 46. In order to determine if that
single indication was simply spurious information or if it was
truly indicative of a real problem with the bell, the test circuit
may be instructed by logic resident in controller 52 to produce a
rapid series of short bell rings. If the sensor 46 detects proper
performance of the bell during each of these rings, the single
indication may be deemed to be a spurious indication. Such
information may be recorded in memory 53 or other database for
future reference in the event of other occurrences of seemingly
spurious malfunctions.
[0021] Information 70 may be recorded and stored locally in a
memory 53 for use by an inspector making periodic visits to the
site of the crossing. Advantageously, the information 70 may be
communicated to a location remote from the railroad crossing by a
communications link 74. The term remote location is used herein to
mean a location outside the immediate area of the grade crossing;
for example a railway control center located one or many miles from
the grade crossing. The remote location may alternatively be a
service center having responsibility for inspecting and maintaining
the grade crossing warning systems at a plurality of crossings. The
remote location to which the information 70 is communicated will be
located at a distance from the grade crossing that is greater than
that of the approaching train.
[0022] Communications link 74 may take any form known in the art,
such as a wireless, landline, and/or fiber optic communications
device having a transmitter and a remote receiver. Communications
link 74 may include and make use of access to the Internet 76 or
other global information network. A remote central system
controller 78, such as a computerized data processor operated by a
railroad or rail crossing service provider, may receive the
information 70 from the communications link 74. Information 70 may
be received by the system controller 78 regarding a plurality of
annunciators 42 at a plurality of crossings within a railroad
network. The readiness of grade crossing warning equipment
throughout the network may thus be easily and automatically
monitored at a central location. Data regarding the make, model,
location, installation date, service history, etc. of each
annunciator 42 throughout the network may be maintained in a
database 84 accessible by the system controller 78. The database 84
may also be updated to include performance information 70 from
individual annunciators.
[0023] The storage of information 70 in database 84 would permit a
trending analysis to be performed on the response of annunciator
42. For example, a change in the time between the delivery of a
test signal 54 and the operation of annunciator 42 may be
indicative of a developing problem. Early recognition of a change
in the system characteristics may permit problems to be fixed
before they result in a condition wherein the annunciator 42 fails
to respond in a safe manner.
[0024] Communications link 74 may include communication equipment
located on a passing train 69, so that the information 70 is
conveyed from the grade crossing location 22 to the train 69 and
then forwarded to a remote location by a transmitter located in the
train. The communication to system controller 78 may be routed via
the train 69 through a communications transmitter/receiver existing
on the train 69 for other purposes. Alternatively, communications
link 74 may communicate with up-rail equipment 68 such as a wayside
signaling device so that appropriate warnings may be provided to
trains 69 on the rail line regarding a malfunction of annunciator
42. Oncoming trains 69 may be signaled to stop or to proceed at a
slow speed when an annunciator 42 is not working properly.
[0025] Malfunctions of the annunciator 42 may trigger a service
request 80 that is forwarded to a maintenance center 82. The
maintenance center 82 may be a stationary facility or a mobile
repair center or combination thereof for providing equipment and
personnel necessary for performing maintenance activities on the
grade crossing warning equipment. Maintenance center 82 may also
include a database for storing information related to such
maintenance activities and data processing equipment for receiving
information through the communications link 74 and for taking
appropriate action to effect any appropriate maintenance activity
related to the service request 80. The system controller 78 may
generate the service request 80, or it may be generated as a result
of cooperation between the system controller 78 and the maintenance
center 82, or it may be generated by the maintenance center 82
alone. The service request 80 is responsive to annunciator-specific
information from the database 84 as well as the
malfunction-specific information 70. Personnel at the maintenance
center 82 may then adequately prepare to accomplish the necessary
repair, including the implementation of any equipment upgrades that
may be necessary to bring annunciator 42 to current standards. The
communication path between the maintenance center 82 and the
wayside controller 52 may further be used to interrogate the
wayside controller 52 and/or to deliver software of other forms of
electronic data and information to the grade crossing equipment. In
this manner, software located at a plurality of grade crossings
throughout the railroad network may be conveniently upgraded from a
central location. Video, audio and graphics links may also be
established from the maintenance center 82 to the grade crossing
location via this grade crossing equipment monitoring system 40 in
order to assist the repairperson in making the necessary repairs
and upgrades. An Internet or other multi-media communications link
may be especially useful for this application to facilitate
convenient access to the information by a plurality of interested
parties and to facilitate two-way communication.
[0026] An operations center 86 may also receive notification of a
malfunctioning annunciator 42. The operations center 86 may be the
rail traffic control center for the railroad or other location
having equipment and personnel necessary for controlling the
operation of trains of a railroad. Upon learning of a
malfunctioning annunciator 42, it may be appropriate to divert or
slow traffic on certain portions of the rail system. The two-way
communication provided by this grade crossing equipment monitoring
system 40 may be used to augment the normal traffic control
channels available to the railroad for responding to the
notification of a failure of a grade crossing annunciator 42.
[0027] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an integrated
electronic bell sensor system 90 as may be used in one embodiment
of the grade crossing equipment monitoring system 40. The
integrated bell sensor system 90 includes components that perform
all or a portion of the functions described with respect to
annunciator 42, operational circuit 44, test circuit 72, sensor 46
and signal processor 50. The bell sensor system 90 includes a sound
producing device such as a bell or speaker horn 92 such as
CSI/Speco model number SPC-8, bell sound emulation circuitry 94 for
operating speaker horn 92, a printed circuit board 96 for
supporting circuitry 94, and a mounting arrangement 98 for
supporting the system 90 on a support structure such as a grade
crossing signal post 10. The term bell is used herein to include
both traditional mechanical bells and electronic horns that can
produce a bell sound. Sensor 46 is a solid-state accelerometer 99
such as Analog Devices part number ADLX105 mounted directly to
printed circuit board 96 such as by any known surface mounting
process. Circuit board 96 is, in turn, mounted directly to a
mounting bracket 100 with fasteners such as screws 102. Speaker
horn 92 is also mounted directly to mounting bracket 100 with a
fastener such as bolt 104, so that mechanical vibrations created by
the operation of speaker horn 92 are transmitted to accelerometer
98. One skilled in the art may appreciate that accelerometer 99 may
be mounted at other locations relative to speaker horn 92, but that
the use of a solid-state accelerometer 99 mounted directed to the
circuit board 96 used for the bell operation circuitry provides an
efficient package for field implementation. The mechanical
vibration of accelerometer 98 will generate or modulate an
electronic signal that may be further processed by circuitry 94 to
produce sensor signal 48. As described above, sensor signal 48 may
be analyzed to determine if speaker horn 92 is producing a bell
sound properly.
[0028] In order to isolate accelerometer 99 from mechanical
vibrations produced by sources other than horn 92, mounting bracket
100 may be connected to its support structure through a compliant
mounting arrangement 98 that includes a plurality of foam strip
silicon rubber isolators 106. The rubber isolators 106 are affixed
to each side of a pair of metal blocks 108 that are, in turn,
solidly connected to the support structure. The mounting bracket
100 is adapted to receive blocks 108 and isolators 106 in
respective cavities 109 formed on opposed ends of bracket 100. The
support structure (not shown in FIG. 3) may include a housing that
is mounted on signal post 10. The isolators 106 serve to
mechanically isolate the bell 92 and accelerometer 99 from the
support structure at frequencies equal to or greater than the
center frequency of the sound produced by horn 92. The isolators
106 also serve to mechanically isolate the horn 92 and
accelerometer 99 from mechanical variations of the support
structure due to manufacturing tolerances and/or variations in
operating temperature.
[0029] The functions of circuitry 94 may be more fully appreciated
by reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4. Circuitry 94 includes
an audio amplifier 110 for powering speaker horn 92. Audio
amplifier is responsive to an input signal received from a
digital-to-analog converter 112. D/A converter 112 receives
instructions from a microcontroller integrated circuit 114 such as
Microchip model number PIC16F73 containing logic for both the bell
and bell sensor functions. Accelerometer 99 is also connected to
integrated circuit 114 through signal processor 50 including a
filter/amplifier circuit 116 and an AM demodulator/rectifier
circuit 118. An interface device 120 connects the circuitry 94 to
remote devices such as a recorder, microprocessor, communications
device, etc. Other types of wayside equipment may be monitored in
the manner described herein. Switches, signaling equipment and/or
vehicle detection equipment may be provided with appropriate
sensors, signal processing, and communication equipment for remote
monitoring and reporting.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a communication system 130 used in
conjunction with rail line wayside equipment 132 which may be not
only crossing warning equipment such as that described above, but
in the alternative may be a hot box detector, hot wheel detector,
high/wide load detector, an automatic equipment identification
system, switch machine equipment, or any other suitable equipment
located adjacent the track and used to monitor the status of the
track, environment or rail vehicles. FIG. 6 illustrates steps in a
process 134 that may utilize the communications system 130 of FIG.
5. The operation of the wayside equipment 132 is sensed at step 136
in response to either an actuation event 138, such as a train
passing the equipment 132, or in response to a local test
initiation 140 or a remote test initiation 142. The sensor 144 used
in this step may be permanently located at the wayside location or
may alternatively be a portable device delivered to the wayside
location by a service technician for testing purposes or carried
on-board a rail vehicle such as a locomotive 145 passing the
wayside location. Circuitry 147 receiving a signal from the sensor
is used to generate information representing an operating status of
the wayside equipment 132. In the embodiment described in FIG. 2,
such circuitry may include signal processor 50 and controller 52.
For an embodiment of a sensor 144 on-board a locomotive, such
circuitry may be integrated into the locomotive on-board remote
monitoring and diagnostic equipment. An output is provided at step
146 indicative of whether or not the wayside equipment is operating
normally. If not, corrective actions may be initiated at step 148.
These steps may include activities that take place remote from the
location of the wayside equipment 132.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment wherein the information
regarding the operating status of the wayside equipment is
communicated to a location remote from the wayside location. In
FIG. 5, such communication is depicted as being done via a global
information network such as the Internet 150. Alternatively, the
locomotive may communicate directly with the remote location, such
as a remote data center, which then in turn distributes information
to other destinations via a suitable communications link, such as
the Internet 50. Once the information is made accessible, such as
via the Internet, it may be accessed at any of several remote
locations simultaneously, such as at a rail vehicle service center
152, local authorities such as police or fire offices 154, a
wayside equipment maintainer 156, a data center 158, the Federal
Railroad Administration 160, or the railroad offices 162. The
information may be conveyed via a wireless communications system: a
first communications link 164 for communicating the information
from the wayside location to the rail vehicle 145, and a second
communications link 166 for communicating the information from the
rail vehicle 145 to a location remote from the wayside location.
The first communications link 164 may be a low-power local wireless
system or other communication systems for communicating between the
wayside equipment and passing trains 145. One such system is the
assignee's Eletro-Code track signaling equipment 151 in which a DC
pulse signal is sent from the wayside equipment via the rails 143
to an induction coil pick-up receiver 149 on-board the locomotive
145. The communication system may be powered along with the wayside
equipment 132 by a solar power source 167. Such an embodiment may
be particularly advantageous for wayside equipment that is located
in a rural location that is not near other development having
land-based telephone lines. The second communications link 166 may
include a suitable wireless link, such as a satellite phone or cell
phone, to a network connection 168 where the information is then
made accessible on Internet or other communications network. Each
of these links may be provided with two-way communication so that
information (data and/or voice) may also be transferred from the
remote location to the wayside location. The second communications
link 166 may utilize an existing information pathway that is used
to convey locomotive operating diagnostic information. In one
embodiment, an existing communication pathway used to convey
locomotive operating data from the locomotive 145 to the data
center 158 is further utilized to convey the wayside equipment
status information. Distribution from the data center 158 to other
locations is then accomplished by connecting the data center 158 to
a global or private communications system such as the Internet 150.
In this manner, a database containing information regarding the
wayside equipment 132 may be updated at step 170. Such a database
may be a computerized database maintained at data center 158,
through which on-line data access is provided via the Internet 150
at step 172.
[0032] System 130 provides on-line data access and the
interconnection of a variety of user locations. These capabilities
facilitate report generation at step 174. A data processor at the
data center 158 or other location having access to the database may
include a report generator 176 for generating a report responsive
to the information. For example, it is possible to automatically
populate a required report, such as the Federal Railroad
Administration Form No. 6180-83 that is required when the
information is indicative of a failure of wayside crossing warning
equipment. The data processor may further execute a notification
routine for providing a notification when the information satisfies
a predetermined criterion. Such reports may be made available via
the communications system 130 to federal, state and/or local
governments and/or to commercial parties as desired.
[0033] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such
embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous
variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill
in the art without departing from the invention herein.
Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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