There are disclosed apparatuses and methods for withdrawal of a bearing from a gate mechanism including a mechanism housing, a carrier assembly, and discrete fasteners. The mechanism housing includes a receiving bore as well as housing fasteners and housing surfaces located about a periphery of the receiving bore and offset from one another. The carrier assembly includes a carrier housing having a carrier support mating with the receiving bore and a carrier bearing supported for rotation within the carrier housing. The carrier housing has flange fasteners aligning with the housing fasteners and the housing surfaces when the carrier housing mates with the receiving bore. The carrier assembly withdraws from the mechanism housing in response to removing the discrete fasteners from a first group of the flange fasteners aligned with the housing fasteners and inserting the discrete fasteners to a second group of the flange fasteners aligned with the housing surfaces.

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.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for monitoring vehicles traversing a dedicated roadway that includes an at-grade crossing. In some implementations, a system includes a central server, a gate system, and sensors. The gate system provides access to an at-grade crossing for vehicles. The sensors are positioned in a fixed location relative to a roadway, the roadway including the at-grade crossing. Each sensor can detect vehicles on the roadway. For each vehicle, each sensor can generate sensor data and observational data from the generated sensor data. Each sensor can determine a likelihood that the detected vehicle will approach the at-grade crossing by comparing the likelihood to a threshold. In response, each sensor can transmit data to the gate system that causes the gate system to allow the autonomous vehicle access to the at-grade crossing prior to the autonomous vehicle reaching the gate system.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for monitoring vehicles traversing a dedicated roadway that includes an at-grade crossing. In some implementations, a system includes a central server, a gate system, and sensors. The gate system provides access to an at-grade crossing for vehicles. The sensors are positioned in a fixed location relative to a roadway, the roadway including the at-grade crossing. Each sensor can detect vehicles on the roadway. For each vehicle, each sensor can generate sensor data and observational data from the generated sensor data. Each sensor can determine a likelihood that the detected vehicle will approach the at-grade crossing by comparing the likelihood to a threshold. In response, each sensor can transmit data to the gate system that causes the gate system to allow the autonomous vehicle access to the at-grade crossing prior to the autonomous vehicle reaching the gate system.

A backup power railroad crossing notification system for a railroad crossing mechanism. The system includes a stationary audible device carried within a railroad housing proximate to a railroad crossing mechanism; a remote mobile device; and a computer carried within the railroad housing. The computer includes a switch conductively coupled to a battery and operably associated with the stationary audible device; and a transceiver in data communication with the mobile device. A method includes wirelessly communicate with the mobile device via the transceiver if power is being drawn from the battery; and activating the stationary audible device if power is being drawn from the battery.

A backup power railroad crossing notification system for a railroad crossing mechanism. The system includes a stationary audible device carried within a railroad housing proximate to a railroad crossing mechanism; a remote mobile device; and a computer carried within the railroad housing. The computer includes a switch conductively coupled to a battery and operably associated with the stationary audible device; and a transceiver in data communication with the mobile device. A method includes wirelessly communicate with the mobile device via the transceiver if power is being drawn from the battery; and activating the stationary audible device if power is being drawn from the battery.

A crossing gate mechanism includes a swingable gate arm, a rotatable gate arm shaft fixed to the gate arm, and an electronic sensor assembly coupled to the gate arm shaft. Rotation of the gate arm shaft corresponds with swinging of the gate arm. The electronic sensor assembly senses an angular position of the gate arm shaft and transmits a position signal corresponding thereto. The electronic sensor assembly includes a driving element that is attached to the gate arm shaft to rotate therewith. the electronic sensor assembly also includes a driven element that is driven by the driving element such that rotation of the gate arm shaft causes the driven element to rotate. The electronic sensor assembly is configured to generate the position signal based on a position of the gate arm shaft.

A crossing gate mechanism includes a swingable gate arm, a rotatable gate arm shaft fixed to the gate arm, and an electronic sensor assembly coupled to the gate arm shaft. Rotation of the gate arm shaft corresponds with swinging of the gate arm. The electronic sensor assembly senses an angular position of the gate arm shaft and transmits a position signal corresponding thereto. The electronic sensor assembly includes a driving element that is attached to the gate arm shaft to rotate therewith. the electronic sensor assembly also includes a driven element that is driven by the driving element such that rotation of the gate arm shaft causes the driven element to rotate. The electronic sensor assembly is configured to generate the position signal based on a position of the gate arm shaft.

Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes detecting a loss of power to a motor of the gate crossing mechanism. The motor is operably coupled to a gate of the gate crossing mechanism. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by at least one supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.