Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – External signal light system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-03-27
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
External signal light system
C340S466000, C340S468000, C340S463000, C246S115000, C246S117000, C246S16700M
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208246
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to railroad grade crossing safety systems and more particularly relates to on-board railroad grade crossing safety systems.
In the past, numerous steps have been taken to help reduce accidents between trains and automobiles at railroad grade crossings. One step commonly used is to provide railroad grade crossing barriers or barricades which extend across the roadway as a train approaches and crosses the grade crossing. This would be considered a protected grade crossing. These barricades are usually associated with flashing red lights to catch the attention of approaching motorists. While these barricades are very helpful at reducing automobile to train collisions, they are expensive, and it is often viewed as cost prohibitive to place these barricades at every railroad grade crossing. One method that has been used in the past to help reduce automobile/train collisions is to require the locomotive engineer to sound a loud horn as the train approaches every grade crossing. While this approach of sounding a horn at a grade crossing has been helpful, the primary benefit is for trains which are approaching a grade crossing, and it does very little to help with collisions between automobiles and a rear section of the train. Every year numerous automobiles drive into the side of a train occupying a grade crossing, especially during times of low visibility, such as snow, fog, or a late-night rainstorm, etc.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved railroad grade crossing systems which help reduce collisions occurring between automobiles and rear sections of a train as it passes an unprotected railroad grade crossing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced railroad grade crossing safety.
It is a feature of the present invention to include running lights disposed on railcars.
It is an advantage of the present invention to warn automobiles of the existence of all sections of a train as it crosses a railroad grade crossing.
It is another object of the present invention to enhance railroad safety in an economically efficient manner.
It is another feature of the present invention to utilize a power line extending between the railcars which is used for operating electronic air brake systems.
It is another advantage of the present invention to minimize the financial investment necessary to deploy such a system.
The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving railcar visibility at grade crossings which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, achieve the above-mentioned objects, include the herein-described features and achieve the already articulated advantages.
Accordingly, the present invention includes a plurality of railcars with an electronic communication/power line extending therebetween for use by an electronic air brake system and at least one running light disposed on the railcar where the running light is powered by the communication/power line for the electronic air brake system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1738016 (1929-12-01), Pehrson
patent: 5361070 (1994-11-01), McEwan
patent: 5457394 (1995-10-01), McEwan
patent: 5510800 (1996-04-01), McEwan
patent: 5512834 (1996-04-01), McEwan
patent: 5518561 (1996-05-01), Rosa
patent: 5534733 (1996-07-01), Wetzel et al.
patent: 5603556 (1997-02-01), Klink
patent: 5630216 (1997-05-01), McEwan
patent: 5821700 (1998-10-01), Malvaso
Halvorson David H.
Kernwein Jeffrey D.
McGuireWoods LLP
Pope Daryl
Wabtec Railway Electronics, Inc.
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