Abstract: A railway switching machine includes a housing, a first point detector bar slidably coupled to the housing and structured to be directly coupled to a first switch point, and a second point detector bar slidably coupled to the housing and structured to be directly coupled to a second switch point.

Abstract: A detection and indication system for use in a railway switch machine which utilizes one or more roller members which physically interact with a point detector bar coupled to one or more switch points to provide an indication of a point failure upon movement of the point detector bar a predetermined distance from an initial position. The system includes a mounting structure structured to be coupled to a housing of the switch machine and a first sensing device coupled to the mounting structure. The first sensing device is positioned and structured to detect movement of the point detector bar a second predetermined distance from the initial position, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

Abstract: A detection and indication system for use in a railway switch machine which utilizes one or more roller members which physically interact with a point detector bar coupled to one or more switch points to provide an indication of a point failure upon movement of the point detector bar a predetermined distance from an initial position. The system includes a mounting structure structured to be coupled to a housing of the switch machine and a first sensing device coupled to the mounting structure. The first sensing device is positioned and structured to detect movement of the point detector bar a second predetermined distance from the initial position, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method of adjusting one or more of braking parameters used in a braking function to control braking of a train includes determining an adjustment factor based on a joint stopping distance probability distribution, the joint stopping distance probability distribution representing the composite effect on stopping distance of a plurality of predetermined train characteristic parameters, each of the predetermined train characteristic parameters being variable, and applying the adjustment factor to each of the one or more of braking parameters. Also, a method of adjusting braking parameters that includes determining an adjustment factor based on a nominal value, a worst case limit value and a best case limit value of each of a plurality of predetermined train characteristic parameters, each of the predetermined train characteristic parameters being variable, and applying the adjustment factor to each of the one or more of braking parameters.

Abstract: A method of controlling braking of a train that includes obtaining in an on-board computer of the train a brake propagation delay time (Td), a brake build-up time (T) and a maximum brake rate (?max) for the train, and controlling braking of the train in the on-board computer by generating one or more braking signals for the train using Td, T and ?max. Also, a methods of determining for a train a profile velocity to a target position of a selected target, selecting a most restrictive target from among a plurality of targets for a train, and determining a plurality of braking parameters for a train having a train consist, wherein the parameters include a brake propagation delay time (Td), a brake build-up time (T) and a maximum brake rate (?max).

Abstract: A sequential monitoring system is for an interlocking logic system and a track circuit system including a plurality of track circuits. The sequential monitoring system includes an interface between the interlocking logic system and the track circuit system; and a processor structured to monitor a state of each of the track circuits, validate a sequence of state changes of the track circuits, and interrupt and correct invalid track circuit state indications between the track circuit system and the interlocking logic system. The interface normally passes inputs from the track circuit system to outputs to the interlocking logic system. When an out of sequence event occurs, the processor applies a quarantine to a minimum of three of the track circuits in a quarantined area, thereby inhibiting use of an unoccupied track circuit in the quarantined area.

Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a switch point to a point detector box having a point detector bar includes a first portion structured to be slidably coupled to the point detector bar and a second portion structured to be slidably coupled to the switch point.

Abstract: A detection and indication system for use in a railway switch machine which utilizes one or more roller members which physically interact with a point detector bar coupled to one or more switch points to provide an indication of a point failure upon movement of the point detector bar a predetermined distance from an initial position. The system includes a mounting structure structured to be coupled to a housing of the switch machine and a first sensing device coupled to the mounting structure. The first sensing device is positioned and structured to detect movement of the point detector bar a second predetermined distance from the initial position, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method of controlling braking of a train that includes obtaining in an on-board computer of the train a brake propagation delay time (Td), a brake build-up time (T) and a maximum brake rate (?max) for the train, and controlling braking of the train in the on-board computer by generating one or more braking signals for the train using Td, T and ?max. Also, a methods of determining for a train a profile velocity to a target position of a selected target, selecting a most restrictive target from among a plurality of targets for a train, and determining a plurality of braking parameters for a train having a train consist, wherein the parameters include a brake propagation delay time (Td), a brake build-up time (T) and a maximum brake rate (?max).

Abstract: An electronic amplifier includes a configurable integrated circuit device structured to synthesize at least a first signal and a second signal, scale the first signal to create a scaled first signal and scale the second signal to create a scaled second signal, create a discrete time composite signal which comprises a summation of at least the scaled first signal and the scaled second signal, create a discrete time pulse width modulated signal based on the discrete time composite signal, and generate a number of control signals based on the discrete time pulse width modulated signal. The electronic amplifier also includes a power switching stage receiving the number of control signals from the configurable integrated circuit device, wherein the number of control signals are configured to control the power switching stage, and a low pass filter coupled to an output of the power switching stage.

Abstract: A programmable logic apparatus includes a shared memory having a first port, a second port and a third port; a first vital processor interfaced to the first port of the shared memory; and a non-vital communications processor separated from the first vital processor in the programmable logic apparatus and interfaced to the second port of the shared memory. The third port of the shared memory is an external port structured to interface an external second vital processor.

Abstract: A sequential monitoring system is for an interlocking logic system and a track circuit system including a plurality of track circuits. The sequential monitoring system includes an interface between the interlocking logic system and the track circuit system; and a processor structured to monitor a state of each of the track circuits, validate a sequence of state changes of the track circuits, and interrupt and correct invalid track circuit state indications between the track circuit system and the interlocking logic system. The interface normally passes inputs from the track circuit system to outputs to the interlocking logic system. When an out of sequence event occurs, the processor applies a quarantine to a minimum of three of the track circuits in a quarantined area, thereby inhibiting use of an unoccupied track circuit in the quarantined area.

Abstract: A railroad monitoring apparatus includes first and second diverse vital processing units, first and second current sensors configured to measure the current being provided to one or more signaling elements of an item of wayside signaling equipment, and means for measuring voltage levels being supplied to each of the signaling elements. The first processing unit receives a first current measurement from the first current sensor and the measured voltage levels, and the second vital processing unit receives a second current measurement from the second current sensor and the measured voltage levels. The vital processing units are each programmed to determine based on one or more of the first current measurement, the second current measurement and the measured voltage levels: (i) the state of the item of railroad wayside signaling equipment, (ii) failures within the item of railroad wayside signaling equipment, and (iii) failures within the monitoring apparatus itself.

Abstract: A light assembly includes a lighting module having a number of LEDs and a reflector assembly disposed on the lighting module. The reflector assembly includes a number of individual reflector portions, each reflector portion being of generally concave shape and structured to selectively direct light emitted from a respective one of the number of LEDs. A lens member is disposed over the reflector assembly and a membrane is disposed between the reflector member and the lens.

Abstract: A system for serially transmitting vital data includes first and second processors to determine first and second data, a serial communication apparatus to input third data and output serial data based upon the third data, and a memory having first and second ports accessible by the first and second processors, a first memory writable by the first processor and readable by the second processor, and a second memory writable by the second processor and readable by the first processor. The first and second processors store the first and second data in the first and second memories, cooperatively agree that the first data corresponds to the second data, and responsively cause the apparatus to employ: one of the first and second data as the third data, or parts of the first and second data as the third data, and output the serial data based upon the third data.

Abstract: A method of testing a target electronic device implemented in a configurable integrated circuit device includes receiving a baseline design for the target electronic device in a hardware description language, establishing a fault model for the particular configurable integrated circuit device, synthesizing the fault model in the hardware description language, embedding the synthesized fault model into the baseline design to create a modified baseline design in the hardware description language which enables one or more targeted signals to be selectively corrupted, creating a fault model enabled target device on the particular configurable integrated circuit device using the modified baseline design, performing a number of fault injection experiments on the fault model enabled target device, wherein each fault injection experiment includes causing at least one of the one or more targeted signals to be corrupted within the fault model enabled target device.

Abstract: A switch machine that includes a first relay having first normally open contacts and first normally closed contacts provided in the normal motor connection path and a second relay having second normally open contacts and second normally closed contacts provided in the reverse motor connection path. The normally open and closed contacts of each relay are associated in pairs and the first relays are structured such that each normally closed contact and the corresponding normally open contact cannot be simultaneously closed. Also, a method of protecting a motor of a switch machine that includes integrating a current being drawn by the motor and opening a motor circuit that includes the motor if the integrated current exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier includes a configurable integrated circuit device structured to synthesize at least a first signal and a second signal, scale the first signal to create a scaled first signal and scale the second signal to create a scaled second signal, create a discrete time composite signal which comprises a summation of at least the scaled first signal and the scaled second signal, create a discrete time pulse width modulated signal based on the discrete time composite signal, and generate a number of control signals based on the discrete time pulse width modulated signal. The electronic amplifier also includes a power switching stage receiving the number of control signals from the configurable integrated circuit device, wherein the number of control signals are configured to control the power switching stage, and a low pass filter coupled to an output of the power switching stage.

Abstract: A system vitally determines a position of a train. The system includes a plurality of diverse sensors, such as tachometers and accelerometers, structured to repetitively sense at least change in position and acceleration of the train, a global positioning system sensor, which is diverse from each of the diverse sensors, structured to repetitively sense position of the train, and a track map including a plurality of track segments which may be occupied by the train. A processor cooperates with the diverse sensors, the global positioning system sensor and the track map. The processor includes a routine structured to provide measurement uncertainty for each of the diverse sensors and the global positioning system sensor. The routine cross-checks measurements for the diverse sensors, and cross-checks the global positioning system sensor against the track map. The routine provides the vitally determined position of the train and the uncertainty of the vitally determined position.

Abstract: An output apparatus includes a first source of a first signal having a first state or a different second state; a second source of a second signal having a first state or a different second state; and a circuit structured to output a vital output including a first state when the first state of the first signal corresponds to the first state of the second signal and, otherwise, including a different second state. At least one of the first signal and the second signal is a static signal. The other one of the first signal having the first state and the second signal having the first state is a dynamic signal. When at least one of the first signal has the different second state of the first signal and the second signal has the different second state of the second signal, the vital output includes the different second state.