RAILWAY CROSSING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

What is disclosed is a system and method of providing notice to traffic on a roadway that a railway vehicle traveling on a railway is approaching an intersection between the railway and the roadway. The system uses road modules and/or light strips embedded in or on the surface of the railway. A processor is configured to cause the road modules and/or light strips to illuminate and/or flash. The processor is configured to send the signal to the road module(s) and/or light strip(s) in response to a signal from a transmitter and/or sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

Description

PRIORITY/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/643,951, filed Mar. 16, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/660,829, filed Apr. 20, 2018, the contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed technology generally relates to the field of road safety, and more particular embodiments relate to systems or methods of signaling and managing traffic.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The purpose of the summary is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The summary is neither intended to define the inventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the inventive concept(s) in any way.

The invention pertains generally to roadway signaling. More specifically the idea pertains to a method of providing in-road modules and/or one or more light strips that illuminate, change color and/or flash in order to alert a vehicle traveling on a roadway that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

The method preferably includes the step of providing a plurality of road modules and/or one or more light strips. In a preferred embodiment the road modules and/or light strips comprise a plurality of lights thereto. In a further preferred embodiment the lights are LED lights and/or another type of light emitting source. The road modules and/or one or more light strips include a light configured for illumination and de-illumination. The road modules and/or one or more light strips are embedded in and/or affixed to the surface of a road proximate to an intersection between a railway and a roadway. The road modules and/or one or more light strips can be embedded in or affixed to a road surface within the roadway lanes of travel or proximate to lines or striping delineating roadway traffic lanes. The road modules and/or light strips can be embedded in or affixed to the road surface spanning a partial lane of travel, a complete lane of travel, or across the entire roadway. Two or more light strips can be positioned adjacent to one another in a lane to provide the appearance of a continuous light strip. A road is defined herein to mean any surface on which vehicles, automobiles, bicycles, or pedestrians travel, including but not limited to walking paths, roads, and bicycle paths. The road modules and/or one or more light strips include a receiver configured for communicating with a processor. The receiver can be a transceiver. The road modules and/or one or more light strips are configured to illuminate, change color, and/or flash in response to a communication from the processor. More than one processor can be utilized to communicate to the road modules and/or light strip(s).

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of interacting with existing railway transmitters and/or sensors that detect an approaching train and trigger warnings, such as alarm bells, to alert a vehicle traveling on the roadway that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection. Alternatively a railway vehicle can be configured with a transmitter or tracker that provides a signal that is sensed or detected by the sensor. Alternatively the processor can receive a signal from an independent source such as a detection device or sensor configured to detect that the railway vehicle is approaching and communicate to the road modules and/or one or more light strips to cause the road modules and/or one or more light strips to illuminate and/or flash. Multiple sensors can further be utilized to determine the approach of a railway vehicle. Alternatively the method includes at least one sensor configured for detection of an approaching railway vehicle, such as a train, and/or configured to sense when a vehicle, pedestrian or other traveler is approaching the intersection. The sensor can be separate from or integral with the processor(s) of the system. The sensor can be configured by a variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to laser, radar, video analytics, RFID, loop detection sensor, electrical circuit sensors positioned on the railway tracks, or any other sensor.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of providing at least one processor configured for wireless and/or wired communication with the sensor. The processor is further configured for wireless and/or wired communication with the plurality of road modules and/or one or more light strips. The road modules and/or one or more light strips have one or more lights that can illuminate, de-illuminate, flash and/or change color. The processor is configured to communicate to the road modules and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, change color, and/or flash upon signal from the processor. The processor is configured to communicate a signal to the road modules and/or one or more light strips when a railway vehicle is traveling on the railway and approaches the intersection of the roadway and the railway. The processor can be configured to communicate with the roadway modules and/or one or more light strips wirelessly or in wired communication. The roadway modules and/or one or more light strip(s) can be configured to be wired for power, wireless power, receive wireless power if such technology becomes available, or powered by a battery, ultra capacitor, and/or power generator, such as a solar power generator or generator configured for harvesting vibrational energy from vehicles on the roadway and/or railway, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment a solar collector is positioned proximate to the railway crossing to provide power to the road modules and/or light strips. The modules can be powered in series, in parallel, or independently. The modules can each be configured to receive a signal from the process or can be wired in series or parallel. In a further preferred embodiment the solar collector is connected to an energy storage device, such as a battery, that stores energy for future use by the system.

The processor can be configured to receive a signal from pre-existing railway sensors and/or transmitters in order to retrofit pre-existing systems. In this embodiment the method includes the step of configuring the processor for communication with the pre-existing transmitter and/or sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an intersection having an embodiment of a railway vehicle detection system utilizing road modules and light strips embedded in the surface of the road.

FIG. 2 depicts an intersection having an embodiment of a railway vehicle detection system utilizing road modules and light strips embedded in the surface of the road in which the road modules and/or light strips are flashing to warn roadway traffic of an approaching railway vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a railway 4 intersection with a roadway 2. The roadway 2 approaches the railroad tracks 4 and continues 20 after the railway intersection. A vehicle 16 is shown approaching the intersection. FIG. 1 depicts a sign 8 indicating to the vehicle that it is approaching the intersection. The roadway has road modules and/or one or more light strips 10, 12, 14 embedded in or affixed to the surface of the lane of travel of the vehicle 16 approaching the intersection. The depicted roadway includes road modules and/or one or more light strips 19, 21 embedded in, affixed to the road surface with the roadway lanes of traffic and proximate to the lines designating travel lanes on the roadway, including in dashed line 18. Road modules and/or one or more light strips can be also be provided in the roadway 20 on the opposite side of the railway tracks. A solar power generator such as a solar panel and battery is depicted as box 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle approaching the intersection when a railway vehicle 22 is traveling through the intersection. When the railway vehicle 22, in the depicted embodiment a train locomotive, approaches the intersection a sensor 24 detects the railway vehicle. Alternatively a transmitter on a railway vehicle can be configured to transmit information to the processor of the approaching railway vehicle. The sensor signals or communicates to a processor that the railway vehicle is approaching the intersection. In the depicted embodiment the processor can be integral with the sensor or integral with the road modules and/or one or more light strips. The sensor can be configured to sense a tag or receive a signal from a transmitter 26 positioned on or in the railway vehicle. Alternatively the processor can be configured to receive a signal from a transmitter positioned on or in the railway vehicle.

When the railway vehicle 22 approaches the intersection the processor directs the roadway modules and/or one or more light strips 28, 30, 32 positioned in or on the roadway lane of travel to illuminate, flash, and/or change color to alert any approaching vehicle 38 of the railway vehicle. The processor also directs roadway modules and/or one or more light strips positioned in or on the lines delineating roadway lanes of travel to flash, change color and/or illuminate.

FIG. 2 further depicts a cross section 32 of the roadway showing a typical road having a base and pavement. The cross section depicts light strips positioned in channels of the roadway. The light strips are shown in an illuminated and/or flashing mode. The light strips and/or road modules can be positioned proximate to the center line depicted in the roadway or spaced apart from it.

The sensor can be positioned and configured to also sense when a vehicle, pedestrian, or other traveler is traveling on the roadway is approaching the intersection. Alternatively a second or more sensors can be utilized to sense when a vehicle, pedestrian, or other traveler traveling on the roadway is approaching the intersection. The processor can be configured to utilize the signals regarding the approach of the railway vehicle and the approach of the roadway vehicle to cause illumination, flashing, and/or changing of color of the roadway modules and/or one or more light strips such that illumination, flashing and/or changing of color occurs when both roadway vehicle(s) and railway vehicle(s) are present. This optionally can allow the system to save power.

In a preferred embodiment the system and method include utilizing a heater, heating apparatus, or heating system to melt snow and ice accumulating on the road modules and/or light strips. A heater can further be utilized to melt snow from the sensor and/or from a the power generator such as a solar collector or vibrational energy harvester. The heater can utilize a heating element, such as heating wires, or can be a film or other material configured to general heat from an electrical element or chemical reaction. The heating element can be powered by the power source powering the light system or by a separate power source. This could include an alternating current source such as a power grid or an energy storage system.

While certain preferred embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for alerting a roadway traveler to a railway vehicle approaching the intersection of a railway and a roadway, said system comprising:

at least one road module and/or one or more light strips embedded in or on a roadway, said road module comprising a light;

at least one processor, wherein said processor is configured to communicate via wireless and/or wired communication to said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/or change color in response to a railway vehicle approaching said intersection of a railway and a roadway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to receive a signal from a transmitter positioned on or in a railway vehicle and/or a pre-existing railway or independent sensor configured to detect an approaching railway vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising and/or said system comprises a sensor configured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor is configured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching said intersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said road modules and/or light strips are configured to receive wireless communication from said processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to wirelessly communicate with said processor.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor and said sensor are integral.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a heater, heating system, or heating apparatus configured to melt snow from said system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to be powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solar power system, and a vibrational energy harvesting system.

10. A method of alerting a roadway traveler to a railway vehicle approaching the intersection of a railway and a roadway, said method comprising the following steps:

the step of providing at least one road module and/or one or more light strips embedded in or on the surface of a roadway, said road module and/or one or more light strips comprising a light;

the step of providing a processor in communication with a transmitter and/or sensor, wherein said processor is configured to communicate to said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/or change color in response to a railway vehicle approaching said intersection of a railway and a roadway;

the step of said transmitter or sensor transmitting a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching said intersection and said processor causing said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash, and/or change color in response to said signal from said transmitter and/or said sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching said intersection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said method comprises the step of configuring said processor to interact with pre existing railway or independent devices configured to transmit a signal of the presence of an approaching railway vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said method comprises the step of providing a sensor, wherein said sensor is configured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor is configured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching said intersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the processor can be configured to communicate with a computer located onboard a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said computer located onboard a vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing a sensor comprises providing a sensor configured for wireless communication with said processor.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing a processor comprises providing a processor having an integral sensor.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said method comprises the step of providing a solar power generator and battery or ultra-capacitor configured to power said roadway modules and/or said light strips.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said method comprises the step of providing a heater, heating apparatus, or heating system configured to melt snow from said roadway modules and/or said light strip(s).

19. The method of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to be powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solar power system, and a vibrational energy harvesting system.