Patents by Inventor Brian Harp
Brian Harp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11945484Abstract: To locate a shunt, the shunt includes an RF transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an identifier of the shunt such as the configured shunt frequency. The shunt may include switches or memory locations that may be configured by an installer to correspond to the configured shunt frequency. Other embodiments employ switches or sensors influenced by jumpers installed in the shunt to configure the frequency of the shunt. A portable device receives a transmission including the identifier and displays it along with an indication of the received signal strength of the transmission, and maintenance personnel move the portable device along the track to locate the highest received signal strength, which indicates the location of the shunt. The shunt may also include a test circuit that may be configurable to generate a test frequency, determine a parameter indicative of shunt performance, and output a signal based on the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SIEMENS MOBILITY, INC.Inventor: Brian Harp
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Patent number: 11866076Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to railway track circuits, in particular track circuits with continued distance monitoring and broken rail protection.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Holger Schmidt, Brian Harp, Brian Joseph Hogan, A. Nathan Edds
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Publication number: 20240003522Abstract: A remote controlled light adjustment device includes a horizontal adjustment arm, a vertical adjustment arm, a mounting base comprising multiple anchor points for coupling the horizontal adjustment arm and the vertical adjustment arm to the mounting base, and a remote control, wherein the mounting base, the horizontal adjustment arm and the vertical adjustment arm are configured to be mounted to a light device, and wherein the horizontal adjustment arm and the vertical adjustment arm are configured to move the light device based upon signals transmitted by the remote control and received by the mounting base.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Brian Harp, Bret Walker
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Patent number: 11713066Abstract: A railroad crossing control system (100) includes a constant warning time device (40) with a control unit (50) configured to produce multiple signals, and a wheel sensing system (120) comprising at least one sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), wherein the wheel sensing system (120) detects a presence of railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) such that the at least one sensor (122) detects wheels of the railroad vehicle using electromagnetic fields, wherein the wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of the railroad vehicle to the constant warning time device (40), and wherein the constant warning time device (40) produces a constant warning time signal for controlling a railroad crossing warning device in response to receiving the speed values of the wheel sensing system (120).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt
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Patent number: 11459006Abstract: A modular lamp system (200) for a railroad crossing warning device includes a crossing lamp (210) and a crossing lamp base (220) controllable by a wayside control device (40), and a module (230) comprising an electronic circuit (250), wherein the crossing lamp base (220) is configured to provide power to the crossing lamp (210) and the module (230), and wherein, when the crossing lamp (210), the crossing lamp base (220) and the module (230) are assembled and in operation, the crossing lamp (210) performs a first action and the module (230) performs a second action, which is different from the first action.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Richard Alan McGavock, Jr., Brian Harp
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Patent number: 11430318Abstract: There is described systems and methods for managing an electrical surge of railway signaling equipment. A breaker includes a mechanical reset button that shifts positions in response to detecting the electrical surge exceeding a threshold amperage. An opto-isolator deenergizes in response to the position shift of the mechanical reset button. The event recorder transmits an alarm signal to a remote office system in response to the deenergizing of the opto-isolator.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Richard Alan McGavock, Jr., Brian Harp, John Sanders
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Patent number: 11420659Abstract: A traffic control system (100) includes a railroad crossing control system (10) with a constant warning time device (40), a wheel sensing system (120) with a sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), and a communication network (140) interfacing with the railroad crossing control system (10) and the wheel sensing system (120) and adapted to transmit data. The wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of a rail vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20), wherein the speed values are transmitted to the railroad crossing control system (10) via the communication network (140) for producing a preemption signal for the traffic signal control system (110). Further, a method for providing a preemption signal for a traffic signal control system (110) is described.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt
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Publication number: 20210237785Abstract: A modular lamp system (200) for a railroad crossing warning device includes a crossing lamp (210) and a crossing lamp base (220) controllable by a wayside control device (40), and a module (230) comprising an electronic circuit (250), wherein the crossing lamp base (220) is configured to provide power to the crossing lamp (210) and the module (230), and wherein, when the crossing lamp (210), the crossing lamp base (220) and the module (230) are assembled and in operation, the crossing lamp (210) performs a first action and the module (230) performs a second action, which is different from the first action.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2018Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Richard Alan McGAVOCK, JR., Brian HARP
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Patent number: 11021180Abstract: A railway road crossing warning system (10) including a railway road crossing control unit (18) that may be selectively set to a primary or a secondary mode of operation is provided. In the primary mode of operation, the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to a primary activation signal (21) received from a primary activation-signal source (22), such as a positive train control (PTC) system. In the event the primary activation signal from the primary activation-signal source is not available, railway road crossing control unit (18) is set to the secondary mode of operation, where the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to one or more signals (25) received from a secondary activation-signal source (26) including a railway-vehicle sensing system (28) electrically-decoupled from a railroad track (12).Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt, Stefan Fritschi, Jay Yocum
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Publication number: 20210139059Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to railway track circuits, in particular track circuits with continued distance monitoring and broken rail protection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Holger Schmidt, Brian Harp, Brian Joseph Hogan, A. Nathan Edds, JR.
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Publication number: 20210086810Abstract: To locate a shunt, the shunt includes an RF transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an identifier of the shunt such as the configured shunt frequency. The shunt may include switches or memory locations that may be configured by an installer to correspond to the configured shunt frequency. Other embodiments employ switches or sensors influenced by jumpers installed in the shunt to configure the frequency of the shunt. A portable device receives a transmission including the identifier and displays it along with an indication of the received signal strength of the transmission, and maintenance personnel move the portable device along the track to locate the highest received signal strength, which indicates the location of the shunt. The shunt may also include a test circuit that may be configurable to generate a test frequency, determine a parameter indicative of shunt performance, and output a signal based on the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2018Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventor: Brian Harp
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Publication number: 20210070330Abstract: A lamp system (200) includes a lamp assembly (210, 215) with a light source (212) coupled to a base (214), an electronic circuit (216) for operating the light source (212), and a switching device (218) for setting a flash rate of the light source (212). A lamp communication device (250) configured to transmit control signals to the lamp assembly (210). A communication network (260) interfaces with the lamp assembly (210) and the lamp communication device (250). The electronic circuit (216) is configured to operate the light source (212) in response to a control signal (262) transmitted by the lamp communication device (250) via the communication network (260), and in accordance with a set flash rate so that the light source (212) switches between an on state and an off state by default.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Richard Alan McGavock, JR., Brian Harp
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Patent number: 10780903Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the dynamic train-to-rail shunting performance of a train as it is moving along the rails of a railroad track. The systems and methods use portable equipment temporarily installed at a site where it is desired to test the shunting of one or more trains or the electrical equipment installed at the track. The systems and method use sensor plates and a high speed recording system to simultaneously capture measured train-to-rail shunting characteristics and the positioning of a train's axles and any rail conditions impacting the measurements. The captured information can be used to fine tune the train, the electrical equipment installed at the track and/or to design new devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.Inventor: Brian Harp
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Patent number: 10676116Abstract: A cover plate for a junction box may include a plate portion configured to cover an opening of the junction box. The cover plate may include a mast portion configured to couple with equipment configured to be mounted on a mast. The cover plate may include an offset portion coupling the mast portion with a front side of the plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: SIEMENS MOBILITY, INC.Inventor: Brian Harp
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Publication number: 20200047783Abstract: A traffic control system (100) includes a railroad crossing control system (10) with a constant warning time device (40), a wheel sensing system (120) with a sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), and a communication network (140) interfacing with the railroad crossing control system (10) and the wheel sensing system (120) and adapted to transmit data. The wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of a rail vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20), wherein the speed values are transmitted to the railroad crossing control system (10) via the communication network (140) for producing a preemption signal for the traffic signal control system (110). Further, a method for providing a preemption signal for a traffic signal control system (110) is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt
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Publication number: 20200017134Abstract: A railroad crossing control system (100) includes a constant warning time device (40) with a control unit (50) configured to produce multiple signals, and a wheel sensing system (120) comprising at least one sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), wherein the wheel sensing system (120) detects a presence of railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) such that the at least one sensor (122) detects wheels of the railroad vehicle using electromagnetic fields, wherein the wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of the railroad vehicle to the constant warning time device (40), and wherein the constant warning time device (40) produces a constant warning time signal for controlling a railroad crossing warning device in response to receiving the speed values of the wheel sensing system (120).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2017Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt
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Publication number: 20190308649Abstract: A railway road crossing warning system (10) including a railway road crossing control unit (18) that may be selectively set to a primary or a secondary mode of operation is provided. In the primary mode of operation, the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to a primary activation signal (21) received from a primary activation-signal source (22), such as a positive train control (PTC) system. In the event the primary activation signal from the primary activation-signal source is not available, railway road crossing control unit (18) is set to the secondary mode of operation, where the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to one or more signals (25) received from a secondary activation-signal source (26) including a railway-vehicle sensing system (28) electrically-decoupled from a railroad track (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Brian Harp, Holger Schmidt, Stefan Fritschi, Jay Yocum
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Publication number: 20190061795Abstract: A cover plate for a junction box may include a plate portion configured to cover an opening of the junction box. The cover plate may include a mast portion configured to couple with equipment configured to be mounted on a mast. The cover plate may include an offset portion coupling the mast portion with a front side of the plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventor: BRIAN HARP
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Publication number: 20180201284Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the dynamic train-to-rail shunting performance of a train as it is moving along the rails of a railroad track. The systems and methods use portable equipment temporarily installed at a site where it is desired to test the shunting of one or more trains or the electrical equipment installed at the track. The systems and method use sensor plates and a high speed recording system to simultaneously capture measured train-to-rail shunting characteristics and the positioning of a train's axles and any rail conditions impacting the measurements. The captured information can be used to fine tune the train, the electrical equipment installed at the track and/or to design new devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventor: Brian Harp
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Patent number: 9956972Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the dynamic train-to-rail shunting performance of a train as it is moving along the rails of a railroad track. The systems and methods use portable equipment temporarily installed at a site where it is desired to test the shunting of one or more trains or the electrical equipment installed at the track. The systems and method use sensor plates and a high speed recording system to simultaneously capture measured train-to-rail shunting characteristics and the positioning of a train's axles and any rail conditions impacting the measurements. The captured information can be used to fine tune the train, the electrical equipment installed at the track and/or to design new devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.Inventor: Brian Harp