Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a grade crossing warning system employs a track occupancy circuit or other device to detect the presence of a train in the approach to a grade crossing and an indirect indication of a maximum authorized speed of the train in order to determine an amount of time to delay activation of the grade crossing warning system after the train has been detected. The indirect indication is preferably encoded onto a signal associated with the track occupancy circuit, preferably using a frequency shift technique. The indirect indication may be supplied by a wayside signal device.

Abstract: An identification tag reader reads identification tags on vehicles of a train consist. Identification tag identifiers are used to retrieve weights and lengths of the vehicles, and the weight and length information is used by an onboard train control system either to verify weight and length information already stored in the system or input the information initially, in either case for use in controlling the train such as in the calculation of braking curves. In another embodiment, an identification tag reader is paired with a sensor capable of detecting a condition on a train vehicle requiring maintenance, and the condition and an identification tag identifier are transmitted to maintenance personnel. The identification tag is preferably an AEI tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding binary frequency shift key signals in which an exclusive-OR of the sign of a real waveform with a sign of the imaginary waveform at a time shortly after the real (or, alternatively, the imaginary) waveform crosses zero is used to determine a bit represented by the signal. In some embodiments, particularly those in which the bit period is about one-half of the carrier signal frequency, both the real and imaginary waveforms are monitored to detect the zero crossing in order to account for the situation in which data transitions prevent zero-crossings on one of the waveforms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a grade crossing warning system employs a track occupancy circuit or other device to detect the presence of a train in the approach to a grade crossing and an indirect indication of a maximum authorized speed of the train in order to determine an amount of time to delay activation of the grade crossing warning system after the train has been detected. The indirect indication is preferably encoded onto a signal associated with the track occupancy circuit, preferably using a frequency shift technique. The indirect indication may be supplied by a wayside signal device.

Abstract: A terminal board is part of a terminal board assembly for terminating and testing of railroad wires. The board includes a first terminal block with a front post and a back post installed on a plane, along with a plurality of terminal blocks with front posts. A control test link, with an insulating material lining one of three holes, is installed on the front posts of terminal blocks. A test nut, connectable to the front post of the first terminal block, has a face with a depression formed therein to contact the test link when installed on the front post of the first terminal block over the insulating material. First wiring is attached on the plane's front, and second wiring is terminated on the plane's back. A surge protection component and the control test link are pre-installed on the front of the plane, providing for easy removal.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate drive mechanism has an adjustable gate arm support in the form of a split hub mounted on the external portion of a drive shaft. A fixed section of the split hub is keyed to the drive shaft and has threaded bolt holes therein. A moveable section of the split hub mounts a gate arm connector and has arcuate slots cut on the same bolt circle as the fixed section's bolt holes. Cap screws extend through the arcuate slots and into the bolt holes. The horizontal position of the gate arm connector can be adjusted due to the loose fit afforded by the arcuate slots on the cap screws. When the gate arm connector is located in the desired horizontal position, the cap screws are tightened to lock the split hub sections together.

Abstract: A lock bar for controlling the position of a railroad warning gate includes an elongated body portion extending between a first end and a second end, a clutch mechanism disposed in the elongated body, the clutch mechanism permitting rotational movement in one direction but restricting rotational movement in the opposite direction and a hub disposed in the clutch mechanism for engaging a portion of a motor drive mechanism for a railroad warning gate such that the gate is permitted to move in one direction but is restricted from movement in the opposite direction. Indicia are preferably disposed on the opposing edges to indicate the position that the warning gate will be retained in. An oblong aperture defined through the lock bar receives a pin to hold the lock bar in engagement with the motor drive mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and a communication system for providing relatively constant warning time at a rail grade crossing for trains with prediction of the approach of a train from a remote controller via rail-based communications to a crossing controller. A first communication signal is generated when a prediction occurs and a second communication signal is generated for slower moving trains, with the second signal temporarily overriding the first signal to provide relatively constant warning time at the crossing. Cancellation timers with timing intervals are used to resolve situations where the train does not enter the approach or where the train leaves by way of a switch or backs out. Directional logic is used to determine the direction of movement of the train and, in conjunction with cancellation timers, causes the warning devices to be activated when the timers expire.

Abstract: An electronic controller for a highway-railroad grade crossing warning system is coupled to an approach circuit and to an island circuit and activates a warning device when a train is present in either of the approach or the island circuits. The controller has a display with touch-sensitive fields for selectively taking the approach circuit or island circuit out of service. Additional touch-sensitive fields on the display may be used for selecting the amount of time that the approach or island circuits remain out of service and for confirming that the maintainer wishes to take the these circuits out of service. Service is automatically restored upon expiration of the selected amount of time.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring condition of a railways installation such as a points machine. The system includes a plurality of sensors (S1, S2, S3-SN) associated with elements of the installation for monitoring parameters indicative of operating capability of the installation. The system includes means (12, 23) for processing the monitored parameters to determine whether the parameters are changing relative to reference values and to determine whether the changes are indicative of an increased risk of malfunction in the installation. The processing means may include a digital computer programmed with condition monitoring and fault detection software. A method of monitoring condition of a railways installation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of programming or designing application logic for a highway-rail grade crossing warning system including the steps of providing a set of templates, each template of the set of templates defining a track circuit application for a grade crossing with different characteristics, selecting a template from the set that best corresponds to the track circuit application at the grade crossing, defining a set of default programming parameters for each template to program the controller, and inputting additional parameters into the controller to define other characteristics of the track circuit application. A visual representation of each template may be provided. This invention is also directed to the set of templates for programming the controller.

Abstract: A system for remotely calibrating or troubleshooting a highway-rail grade crossing using a communication device. A controller detects the approach and presence of a train on the rail, a communication link is coupled to the controller, a computer readable medium has a calibration or troubleshooting segment that is processed by the controller, the communication device communicates with the controller and the communication device sends signals to prompt the controller to selectively process the segment to enable the desired setup, calibration or troubleshooting functions. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A railroad vital signal output module provides a predetermined output signal in response to a certain module input only under conditions that insure vitality of the output signal. The module includes a master microcontroller and a plurality of slave microcontrollers. The master microcontroller generates a periodic clock signal and a plurality of pseudo-random numbers in a predetermined sequence. Each slave microcontroller generates a plurality of pseudo-random numbers in the same predetermined sequence as the master microcontroller. The numbers from the master microcontroller are compared with the numbers in the slave microcontroller if the clock signal is received at a slave master controller in a predetermined window of time and if there is identity between said pseudo-random numbers, the module provides a predetermined output signal which is assured to be vital.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate electrical control system for moving a crossing gate in up and down directions also provides for raising the gate counterweights in a failure mode. The control system includes an electric motor having a plurality of electromagnet poles and an armature rotating inside of the poles, with armature movement controlling gate movement. There is a motor and snub relay having contacts connected to the armature and the motor poles. A terminal board has movable contacts which are connected to the motor and snub relay and to a relay coil for moving the contacts of the snub relay. A source of power is connected to the terminal board. The movable terminal board contacts control the application of power to the motor and snub relay coil and the motor and snub relay contacts for operating the motor to cause up and down gate movement. There is a maintenance relay having a coil connected through a normally open switch to the source of power.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate electrical control system for moving a crossing gate in up and down directions and providing snubbing protection to gate movement in failure modes includes an electrical motor having two diametrically positioned permanent magnet poles and two series connected electromagnet poles. There is an armature which rotates inside of the poles. There is a motor and snub relay which has contacts connected to the armature and the series connected electromagnet poles. A terminal board has movable contacts which are connected to the motor and snub relay and to a relay coil for moving the contacts of the motor and snub relay. A source of power is connected to the terminal board, with the movable terminal board contacts controlling the application of power to the motor snub relay coil and the relay contacts for causing up and down movement and for providing snubbing of armature movement during up and down gate movement and gate failure modes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling railroad train movement over a layout of railroad track that is defined geographically using a linear network of geographic control objects which includes signals, switches and track blocks. Each signal has signal control hardware and software logic, which logic includes an address, representation of signal condition, and the ability to initiate a change in signal condition. Each switch has switch control hardware and software logic, which logic includes an address, representation of switch condition, and the ability to initiate a change in switch condition. Each track block has hardware and software logic, which logic includes an address and a representation of track block occupancy condition. The method is specifically directed to establishing communication between each signal logic, switch logic, and track logic, and only its next adjacent logic neighbors regardless of whether it be signal logic, switch logic, or track logic.

Abstract: A railroad vital relay control circuit has a first input for receiving a reference alternating current signal of a selected frequency and a second input for receiving a track alternating current signal having the selected frequency of the reference signal and a predetermined phase and magnitude relationship therewith. A magnetic core provides a logical AND function and has two input arms and an intermediate output arm. There is a winding on each of the input arms and a winding on the output arm. There are frequency tuned voltage limiting circuit elements connecting the first input and a first one of the magnetic core input windings and the second input and the second input winding of the magnetic core. The magnetic core has an output winding on the intermediate arm which is connected to a vital relay. The input windings on the magnetic core are connected to produce flux in the same direction in the output arm.

Abstract: A temperature compensated, regulated power supply and battery charger for supplying power to railroad warning lights and crossing gates utilizes a ferroresonant transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a resonant circuit in magnetic circuit therewith. Voltage regulation is accomplished at essentially no load conditions by the use of a temperature sensing element and a shunt regulator connected in circuit with the output terminals of the secondary winding. The shunt regulator varies the output voltage at the output terminals in response to temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element during essentially no load conditions.

Abstract: A multi-frequency shunt is provided for use between the rails of a railroad track to define the approach distance for a railroad crossing using a constant warning time or motion detection device. The shunt includes a housing with a PC board having rail terminals thereon being mounted in the housing. There are connections from the rail terminals of the PC board, extending outwardly through the housing, to the rails. The PC board includes a plurality of inductive and capacitive elements mounted thereon and connected to header terminals which are mounted on a header board. There are straps for interconnecting the header terminals with the interconnections between the header terminals determining which inductive and capacitive elements are connected between the rails and thus determining the nominal frequency of the shunt.

Abstract: A crossing lights controller for effecting operation of the crossing lights during normal train operating conditions and during a controller failure mode includes a train sensing input, a lights control circuit, a solid state logic and monitor circuit, an independent source of both AC and DC power, and a fail-safe relay. The train sensing input provides one signal condition when the approach of a train is sensed and another signal condition when no train is sensed. The lights control circuit has power supplied thereto to operate the lights in a flashing condition when the train sensing input indicates the approach of a train. The solid state logic and monitor circuit is connected to the input circuit and the lights control circuit and applies and removes power to the lights control circuit in accordance with signals at the input.