A switch device for moving switch rails. The switch device includes a motor operatively coupled to move the switch rails into and between first and second positions. The motor is configured for electricity to flow therethrough along a first path and a second path. A first path relay has two normally open contacts each within the first path, where activating the first path relay closes the two normally open contacts thereof. A second path relay has two normally open contacts each within the second path, where activating the second path relay closes the two normally open contacts thereof. The motor moves the switch rails towards the first position when the first path relay is activated and the second path relay is deactivated, and the motor moves the switch rails towards the second position when the second path relay is activated and the first path relay is deactivated.

For fault detection in a switch system including multiple switches, for a respective switch its operating data are acquired and transmitted to a central control. For a respective first switch of the switch system, a deviation of an operating behavior of the first switch from a set behavior is determined by the central control on the basis of its operating data. If there is a deviation, operating data of the first switch are compared with operating data of other, second switches of the switch system and, depending on that, a second switch with similar operating data is selected.

A crossing gate mechanism includes a gate mechanism enclosure defining an interior space, external wires located substantially outside the gate mechanism enclosure, and a terminal board positioned within the interior space of the gate mechanism enclosure. The external wires are connected to the terminal board. The terminal board is coupled to and swingable relative to the gate mechanism enclosure.

A crossing gate mechanism includes a gate mechanism enclosure defining an interior space, external wires located substantially outside the gate mechanism enclosure, and a terminal board positioned within the interior space of the gate mechanism enclosure. The external wires are connected to the terminal board. The terminal board is coupled to and swingable relative to the gate mechanism enclosure.

A wayside communication system for transmitting coded current signals through running rails of a railroad track between wayside control devices. A power line common to the wayside control devices is used as the return path for the current signals. The system features train and broken rail detection. The system allows sending signals long distances since rail to rail current leakage is no longer an issue.

A wayside communication system for transmitting coded current signals through running rails of a railroad track between wayside control devices. A power line common to the wayside control devices is used as the return path for the current signals. The system features train and broken rail detection. The system allows sending signals long distances since rail to rail current leakage is no longer an issue.

The invention provides computing devices and systems for railroad control and automation in railyards and on rail lines. A computing device has a housing having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, an exposed side, and an unexposed side, as well as an interior. The interior of the housing is adapted to support a communications bus, a processor board with a digital signal processor having memory thereon coupled to the communications bus. The memory stores a unique device identification. Additionally in the interior is an input/output board coupled to the communications bus, and a user-interface board coupled to the communications bus. The front has a user-viewable screen adapted to display a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and a user-interactive input device adapted to allow a user to scroll through alphanumeric data displayed on the screen. The top has a bank of output connectors comprising a first output connector adapted to send a control signal to a first railroad device, a first microphone, and a bank of power input connectors. The bottom has a bank of input connectors comprising a first input connector adapted to accept a signal from the first railroad device, and a wire-line data communications receptacle, while the back is adapted to couple to a DIN-Rail.

The invention provides computing devices and systems for railroad control and automation in railyards and on rail lines. A computing device has a housing having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, an exposed side, and an unexposed side, as well as an interior. The interior of the housing is adapted to support a communications bus, a processor board with a digital signal processor having memory thereon coupled to the communications bus. The memory stores a unique device identification. Additionally in the interior is an input/output board coupled to the communications bus, and a user-interface board coupled to the communications bus. The front has a user-viewable screen adapted to display a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and a user-interactive input device adapted to allow a user to scroll through alphanumeric data displayed on the screen. The top has a bank of output connectors comprising a first output connector adapted to send a control signal to a first railroad device, a first microphone, and a bank of power input connectors. The bottom has a bank of input connectors comprising a first input connector adapted to accept a signal from the first railroad device, and a wire-line data communications receptacle, while the back is adapted to couple to a DIN-Rail.

An anomaly determination device includes a changeover force measurement unit that measures a changeover force output by a driving device, the driving device outputting a changeover force for switching a direction of a branch rail whose direction is variable, a voltage measurement unit that measures a voltage supplied to the driving device, a current measurement unit that measures a current flowing through the driving device, and an anomaly determination unit that determines whether or not there is an anomaly in the branch rail, there is an anomaly in the driving device, and there is an anomaly in power supplied to the driving device on the basis of the magnitude of the changeover force, the magnitude of the voltage, and the magnitude of the current.

An anomaly determination device includes a changeover force measurement unit that measures a changeover force output by a driving device, the driving device outputting a changeover force for switching a direction of a branch rail whose direction is variable, a voltage measurement unit that measures a voltage supplied to the driving device, a current measurement unit that measures a current flowing through the driving device, and an anomaly determination unit that determines whether or not there is an anomaly in the branch rail, there is an anomaly in the driving device, and there is an anomaly in power supplied to the driving device on the basis of the magnitude of the changeover force, the magnitude of the voltage, and the magnitude of the current.