A train simulator test set is disclosed that can be operably coupled to a railroad track to measure the resting impedance of that track circuit and simulate a train by varying the railroad track inductance over a set period of time. The test set can select the speed, direction, and number of trains to simulate. By applying a variable inductance on the railroad tracks, the test set can simulate a train moving at variable speeds toward and away from the island. The test set can apply inductances to the railroad tracks to simulate two or more trains moving in each direction of the tracks at the same time, along with multiple looks and routes. The train simulator test set can include simulation software to vary the parameters of the train simulation and couple a variable inductance on the railroad tracks.

A system for simulating a railroad track. The system comprises one or more modular track simulation units that are smaller than conventional track simulators and are easy to use with and be connected to a device being tested (e.g., grade crossing predictor). Each track simulation unit may have one of a plurality of impedances associated with a corresponding railroad track length. The units are combinable such that the system can simulate multiple, different track lengths. Each unit has a plurality of test points that can be connected to the device under test and/or used to alter conditions of the simulated track.

A conveyor facility having at least one traveling unit, which has an electrical load, in particular an electric drive and which can be moved along a conveyor path by means of the drive; and a railbus, which is arranged along the conveyor path and which has at least one supply collector wire via which the traveling unit is supplied with power. In order to reduce the space required by the railbus, a safety device is provided which has only one safety collector wire and yet ensures an emergency stop in a fault-tolerant manner.

Stand-alone remote sensor arrangement for monitoring parameter activity in a cable including a sensor unit, a power source unit, a connecting cable, and a control unit. The sensor unit includes a shielded housing enclosing a toroid-shaped core fixed around the cable to be monitored. The arrangement operates in a low current consumption mode and a measurement mode, in which measurement mode a Hall sensor element senses a predetermined parameter activity of the cable. The sensor unit includes a sensor activation unit arranged and structured to sense parameters related to magnetic field variations in the core caused by parameter activity of the cable, and to generate a sensor activation signal including parameter values dependent on sensed parameters. The control unit receives the signal and evaluates the parameter values in relation to predetermined mode changing criteria, and changes mode of operation of the arrangement dependent on the result of the evaluation.

A sensor system for sensing movement of an object, including: a first sensor providing a first signal along a first signal path on a semiconductor chip, the first signal being used to determine a first characteristic of the movement; a second sensor providing a second signal along a second signal path on the semiconductor chip, the second signal being used to determine a second characteristic of the movement; and an alarm circuit configured to issue a fault warning when there is a violation of a predefined relationship between the first signal and the second signal based on a missing or additional portion of the first signal or the second signal.

An impact detection tower is disclosed that can facilitate a reliable method of avalanche detection, related to the maintenance and monitoring a railway system. The avalanche detection system can include a plurality of impact detection towers comprising sensors in operable communication with a gateway configured to utilize data transmitted from the sensors to determine if an avalanche has occurred. The gateway can be in operable connection with a human-machine interface to facilitate monitoring of the system by a railroad engineer.

An impact detection tower is disclosed that can facilitate a reliable method of avalanche detection, related to the maintenance and monitoring a railway system. The avalanche detection system can include a plurality of impact detection towers comprising sensors in operable communication with a gateway configured to utilize data transmitted from the sensors to determine if an avalanche has occurred. The gateway can be in operable connection with a human-machine interface to facilitate monitoring of the system by a railroad engineer.

A monitoring system for a light emitting diode (LED) signal (100) includes optical detectors (120) for measuring a light output of LEDs (112, 114), a first processing unit (124) in communication with the plurality of optical detectors (120) and configured to receive and process measurement data of the light output from the plurality of optical detectors (120), and a first switching element (130) operably coupled to the first processing unit (124). The first processing unit (124) is further configured to transmit a control signal based on the measurement data of the light output of the plurality of LEDs (112, 114) to the first switching element (130) to disconnect a reference load (150) by switching from a first state to a second state when the light output is less than a predefined threshold value, wherein the second state of the first switching element (130) is stored in a storage medium (148).

A rail contact element for drop off detection is disclosed, wherein the rail contact element is mountable to a rail and includes a spring element, a main body which holds the spring element and an optical fiber. The spring element is in a tension state or in a relax state depending on a mounting state of the rail contact element. The optical fiber includes an outlet surface for emitting a light beam and the rail contact element further includes a reflector element. The spring element, the reflector element and the optical fiber are arranged so that the influence of the reflector element on the light beam is different in the tension state than in the relax state.

A rail contact element for drop off detection is disclosed, wherein the rail contact element is mountable to a rail and includes a spring element, a main body which holds the spring element and an optical fiber. The spring element is in a tension state or in a relax state depending on a mounting state of the rail contact element. The optical fiber includes an outlet surface for emitting a light beam and the rail contact element further includes a reflector element. The spring element, the reflector element and the optical fiber are arranged so that the influence of the reflector element on the light beam is different in the tension state than in the relax state.