A laminated wood and encapsulated railroad tie structure and its associated method of manufacture. A wood core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged at each end of the composite sleeve, being secured to both the wood or other natural fiber core and sleeve. Longitudinal grooves or slots for engagement with a railroad bed characterize the bottom and side surfaces of the sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end case also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure. The core may also be manufactured of a wood or other natural fiber giving the core a desired flex modulus to provide for better control and serviceability of associated rails and railway cars.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an electric motor with one or more sensor(s), a crossing gate arm operated via the electric motor, and a controller configured to control the electric motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal. The controller is further configured to sense a motion of the crossing gate arm and detect an obstruction that prevents the crossing gate arm to execute the motion. Further, an associated method and non-transitory computer readable medium are described.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an electric motor with one or more sensor(s), a crossing gate arm operated via the electric motor, and a controller configured to control the electric motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal. The controller is further configured to sense a motion of the crossing gate arm and detect an obstruction that prevents the crossing gate arm to execute the motion. Further, an associated method and non-transitory computer readable medium are described.

An automated counterbalance system includes a crossing gate mechanism with an electric motor, a sensing device and a motor control unit, a crossing gate with a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm.

An automated counterbalance system includes a crossing gate mechanism with an electric motor, a sensing device and a motor control unit, a crossing gate with a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm.

The present disclosure provides a new gate lamp system and method. The system and method is configured to facilitate the installation of a gate lamp onto a gate arm, and to facilitate the replacement of one or more of the gate lamps. The present disclosure provides a system and method of installing gate lamps on a gate arm in the field in a robust manner with case.

The present disclosure provides a new gate lamp system and method. The system and method is configured to facilitate the installation of a gate lamp onto a gate arm, and to facilitate the replacement of one or more of the gate lamps. The present disclosure provides a system and method of installing gate lamps on a gate arm in the field in a robust manner with case.

A system of auto-calibration is provided in a crossing gate mechanism. The crossing gate mechanism comprises a shaft, a gate arm, a gate-down buffer, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor, a motor speed and position controller, an accelerometer and a hall-sense position counter. The system auto-calibrates the accelerometer and/or the hall-sense position counter when they are in disagreement due to temperature or due to some other phenomenon.

A system of auto-calibration is provided in a crossing gate mechanism. The crossing gate mechanism comprises a shaft, a gate arm, a gate-down buffer, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor, a motor speed and position controller, an accelerometer and a hall-sense position counter. The system auto-calibrates the accelerometer and/or the hall-sense position counter when they are in disagreement due to temperature or due to some other phenomenon.

A method for operating a railroad crossing includes using an axle counter to capture measurement data for rail vehicles approaching the railroad crossing during passage of the rail vehicle. The velocity and the acceleration of the rail vehicle are calculated from the measurement data as properties of the rail vehicle by arithmetic measures. A time of closure is specified for triggering a closure of the railroad crossing as a function of the calculated properties of the rail vehicle. The velocity and the acceleration are calculated from the measurement data of the axle counter. The time of closure of the railroad crossing is specified with reference to the calculated velocity and the calculated acceleration as the rail vehicle is leaving the axle counter. An apparatus for operating a railroad crossing, a computer program product and a delivery apparatus for the computer program product are also provided.