Abstract
An apparatus for use with a railway safety system having a circuit for enabling and disabling a safety device when trains are approaching or within a railway crossing. The apparatus may include an override switch, a flag, and a light, and may generate a control signal received by and configured to override the safety device circuit. The flag and the light may indicate to approaching trains that the safety device of the railway safety system has been overridden.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use with a railway safety system at a railway crossing having a circuit for enabling and disabling a safety device, said apparatus comprising: a) a switch generating a control signal received by said safety device circuit, said control signal having a first state and a second state, wherein said safety device circuit is adapted to override said safety device in response to said control signal having said second state; b) a flag having a first position and a second position; c) a light having a first state and a second state; and d) an external housing, said apparatus further comprising (i) a first state when said flag is in said first position and said light is in said first state and (ii) a second state when said flag is in said second position, said light is in said second state, and said control signal has said second state.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flag is positioned to indicate to indicate that said apparatus comprises said second state.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light is positioned to indicate that said apparatus comprises said second state.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a rotatable lever having a first position and a second position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lever comprises a tab, and said housing comprises at least one stopper mounted thereon adjacent to said tab of said lever.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lever further comprises a cam and operable with said switch generating said control signal.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said flag is fixedly engaged with said lever at a distal end thereof.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said lever further comprises a handle at a proximal end thereof.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device comprises a motor actuated movable gate positioned to prevent vehicles from entering into the railway crossing.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device comprises an audible notification device.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device comprises a visual notification device.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device comprises a roadway traffic control signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device circuit comprises an electronic relay and wherein said relay is opened and closed in response to said control signal.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said safety device circuit is positioned within a signal house adjacent to said railway crossing, and wherein said apparatus is engaged to said signal house.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising attachment devices for engaging said housing to a signal house adjacent to said railway crossing.
16. An apparatus for overriding an automatic railway safety system, said device comprising: a) a housing in proximity to a signal house containing a circuit for said railway safety system; b) a rotatable lever extending through a portion of said housing; c) a flag at a distal end of said lever; d) a light activated and deactivated by rotation of said lever; and e) at least one cam on said lever engaged with a switch that is electrically coupled with said safety system circuit.
17. A system for overriding a portion of a railway safety system comprising: a) a safety device in a railway crossing; b) a circuit for activating and deactivating said safety device, said circuit positioned in a signal house; and c) an override apparatus disposed proximate to said signal house, said override apparatus comprising a switch generating a control signal, a flag having a first position and a second position, and a light, wherein said control signal is received by said circuit in said signal house.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a first state and a second state, wherein in said first state said safety device is activated, said flag has said first position, and said light is deactivated, and wherein in said second state, said safety device is deactivated, said flag has said second position, and said light is activated.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein in said second position, each said flag and said light provide a visual indication to a train approaching said railway crossing that said safety device is deactivated.
20. The system of claim 19, said override apparatus further comprising a lever with a cam operably engaged with said switch, said lever having said flag engaged at a distal end thereof.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a conventional railway crossing with a safety device activated.
[0027] FIG. 2 is another drawing of the railway crossing of FIG. 1, with the safety device deactivated.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a railway crossing in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, with a safety device activated.
[0029] FIG. 4 is another drawing of the railway crossing of FIG. 3, with the safety device deactivated.
[0030] FIG. 5 is another drawing of the railway crossing of FIG. 3, with the safety device in override mode.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an override apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a front-view drawing illustrating a portion of an override apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 8 is back-view drawing of the override apparatus of FIG. 7.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a front-view drawing illustrating a portion of an override apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a side-view drawing of the override apparatus of FIG. 9.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a bottom-view drawing of the override apparatus of FIG. 9.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating the inside of a signal house.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] The invention, in its various aspects, will be explained in greater detail below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with several exemplary embodiments, the exemplary embodiments themselves do not limit the scope of the invention. Similarly, the exemplary illustrations in the accompanying drawings, where like elements have like numerals, do not limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments and/or invention. Rather the invention, as defined by the exemplary claims, may cover alternatives, modifications, and/or equivalents of the exemplary embodiments.
[0039] Referring now to the exemplary illustrations, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, railway crossing 10 may include railway 11 upon which a train may travel and roadway 12 upon which vehicles may travel. Railway crossing 10 may include one or more safety devices, such as, without limitation, visual notification device 13 (which may be, but is not limited to, one or more lights) and/or barrier 15 (which may be, but is not limited to, a boom gate). Visual notification device 13 may notify drivers of vehicles upon roadway 12 that a train is approaching or within railway crossing 10. Barrier 15 may preclude entry of vehicles upon roadway 12 from entering railway crossing 10 when a train is approaching or within railway crossing 10. In some implementations, railway crossing 10 may also include signal house 17, which may contain electronic circuitry (not shown) controlling the safety devices. For example, and without limitation, signal house 17 may contain electronic circuitry connected to visual notification device 13 so as to enable it to flash or illuminate when a train is approaching railway crossing 10. In additional examples, and without limitation, signal house 17 may contain electronic circuitry connected to a motor associated with barrier 15 lowering barrier 15 when a train is approaching railway crossing 10. In ordinary operation, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, when a train is not near or within railway crossing 10, visual notification device 13 may be deactivated (i.e., not flashing or illuminated) and/or barrier 15 may have a near upright position permitting passage of vehicles on roadway 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, when a train is near or within railway crossing 10, visual notification device 13 may be activated (i.e., flashing or illuminated) and/or barrier 15 may have a near horizontal position precluding passage of vehicles on roadway 12. The activating and deactivating of the safety devices (for example, and without limitation, visual notification device 13 and/or barrier 15) may be controlled by signal house 17 depending on whether a train is near or within railway crossing 12. It is to be appreciated that the railway safety system (including, without limitation, signal house 17, visual notification device 13, and barrier 15) is ordinarily configured to activate the safety devices when there is a malfunction. Thus, even if no train is approaching, if the railway safety system has a malfunction or is otherwise needed to be maintained, conventional railway safety systems are configured to activate the safety devices (for example, and without limitation, by causing visual notification device 13 to flash or illuminate and lower barrier 15).
[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, and referring now to the exemplary illustrations of FIGS. 3-5, override apparatus 20 may be disposed proximate to signal house 17. Override apparatus 20 allows for one or more portions of signal house 17 controlling the safety devices to be placed in an override mode. For example, and without limitation, in ordinary operation, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, when a train is near or within railway crossing 10, visual notification device 13 may be activated (i.e., flashing or illuminated) and/or barrier 15 may have a near horizontal position precluding passage of vehicles on roadway 12. And as illustrated in FIG. 4, when a train is not near or within railway crossing 10, visual notification device 13 may be deactivated (i.e., not flashing or illuminated) and/or barrier 15 may have a near upright position permitting passage of vehicles on roadway 12. During a malfunction or maintenance of the railway safety system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 5, the override apparatus 20 may be configured between a first state and a second state, wherein in the second state, one or more safety devices can be deactivated (i.e., visual notification device 13 may not flash or be illuminated and barrier 15 may have a near upright position. Thus it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention include an override apparatus which has a first state permitting normal operation of the railway safety system and a second state in which one or more safety devices are deactivated.
[0041] Referring now to the exemplary illustration of FIG. 6, override device 20 may include housing 30, flag 40, and one or more lights 50, 51, 52. In some implementations, housing 30 may include door 31 which may be engaged with the body of housing 30 by one or more hinges 32. Door 31 may be secured with body of housing 30 by locking mechanism 33. In some examples, and without limitation, locking mechanism 33 may comprise holes through which a padlock (not shown) may be engaged through to restrict access to override mechanism 20 to authorized railway personnel. In some embodiments override device may include lever 70, which may extend through a portion of housing 30. Lever 70 may include a handle 72 for rotating lever between at least two positions, as discussed more fully herein. Flag 40 may be engaged to a distal portion of lever 70.
[0042] It is to be appreciated that, in some embodiments, flag 40 and lights 50, 51, 52 should be positioned relative to housing 30, and override apparatus 20 should be positioned relative to signal house 17 and railway crossing 10, such that approaching trains can see flag 40 and one or more of lights 50, 51, 52 so as to provide a visual indication to a train approaching railway crossing 10 that the railway safety system has been bypassed. In some implementations, override apparatus 20 may be include only light 50 and 52 (for example, and without limitation, as shown in the illustration of FIG. 5 when override apparatus 20 is mounted on a side of signal house 17 perpendicular to the direction of railway 11). Similarly, in some implementations, flag 40 may be disposed at a position such that it may be seen by approaching trains (for example, and without limitation, as shown in the illustration of FIG. 5 when the flag has a surface facing the direction of railway 11). Other configurations and orientations of flags and lights are contemplated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
[0043] Referring now to the exemplary illustrations of FIGS. 7 and 8, the override apparatus may include attachment devices 37 for fixedly engaging housing 30 to the signal house. In some examples, and without limitation, attachment devices 37 may comprise bolts extending through a flange on housing 20 which may be secured in a side wall of the signal house. In other examples, the attachment devices may be provided inside the inner cavity of housing 30. It is to be appreciated that, in some implementations and as discussed more fully herein, the override apparatus may have one or more switches generating a control signal received by electronic circuitry in the signal house. In some embodiments, the control signal may be provided over wires which are electrically tied to electronic circuitry in the signal house. For example, and without limitation, the override apparatus may include wires 65 positioned in an inner cavity of housing 30 and which may pass through opening 35 in housing (as shown in FIG. 8) to the circuitry in the signal house. It is to be appreciated that wires 65 may comprise any number of wires, which may transmit the control signal from the override apparatus to the circuitry in signal house and which may receive power from the signal house provided to the override apparatus. In some embodiments, wires 55 may provide power and/or control to light 50, wires 56 may provide power and/or control to light 51, and wires 57 may provide power and/or control to light 52.
[0044] Referring now to the exemplary illustrations of FIGS. 9-11, wherein for illustration purposes the wires and door have been removed, the override apparatus may include one or more switches for generating the control signal provided to the circuitry in the signal house, and one or more switches for activating the lights. For example, and without limitation, switch 60 may generate a control signal, and switches 61, 62, 63 may activate the lights (for example, lights 50, 51, 52). It is to be appreciated that in preferred embodiments, and discussed herein, switch 60 generating a control signal may be operatively engaged with a cam on a rotatable lever. However, in some embodiments of the present invention, switch 60 (and switches 61, 62, 63) may consist of one or more toggle or push button switches on an interior or exterior of housing 30. Other switches and positions thereof are contemplated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
[0045] In preferred embodiments, the override apparatus can include lever 70 (shown extending through the bottom and top of housing 30) for selecting a state of the apparatus. The bottom of lever 72 may include handle 72 which can be operated by a user, and may be positioned outside of housing 30. Flag 40 may be fixedly engaged at a top or distal portion of lever 40 and have a surface for indicating the state of override apparatus 20 to trains (as illustrated in FIG. 6). The positioning of the override apparatus and flag 40 is such that approaching trains can see the surface of flag 40 when the override apparatus is in a second state, as illustrated generally in FIG. 5, and cannot see the surface of flag 40 when in a first position, as illustrated generally in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
[0046] In some embodiments lever 70 may have a first position and a second position (and thus flag 40 fixedly engaged thereto may have a first position and a second position). Handle 72 can be operated by a user to rotate lever 70 between the first position and the second position. In some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 11, the lever may include tab 71 and housing 30 may have stoppers 38, 39 (for example, and without limitation, tabs) for limiting the range of rotation of lever 70. In some other embodiments an annular seal or gasket (not shown) may be provided around the lever at the interface with the housing to prevent environmental intrusion into the interior of the housing. It is to be appreciated that, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, lever 70 may have two or more positions.
[0047] In preferred embodiments, the switch or switches generating the control signal(s) provided to the circuitry in the signal house may comprise roller switches. Lever 70 may have cams 80, 81, 82, 83 for operation with switches 60, 61, 62, 63, respectively. Cams 80, 81, 82, 83 may be positioned on a portion of lever 70 inside of housing 30, and may be integrally formed in lever 70 or attached thereto. In some embodiments, a cam may have varying radial sections. The roller portion of switch may operate as a cam follower, moving towards and away the cam as the cam rotates with the lever. It is to be appreciated that the varying radial sections of the cam may cause the roller switch to transition between two or more states. In some implementations, and without limitation, a cam may be generally circular and may have a section with a longer radial section. As the cam rotates with the roller of the roller switch following, the longer radial section of the cam outwardly displaces therefrom the switch causing the switch to toggle from a first state to a second state.
[0048] It is to be appreciated that override apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may have any number of switches. In some examples, and without limitation, an override device comprising a single notification light and generating a single control signal to be provided to the circuitry in the signal house may comprise two switches: one switch for generating the control signal and one switch for activating the light. In some examples, a single switch can activate multiple lights. In some examples, multiple switches can provide control signals to the circuitry in the signal house. It is to be appreciated that the number of switches provided in an override apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be made, with reference in part, to the particular circuitry in the signal house, the number of safety devices in the railway safety system, and the number of notification lights provided in the override apparatus.
[0049] With reference to the exemplary illustrations of FIGS. 7, 9, and 12, the switches may be engaged via wires extending from the override apparatus to the circuitry of the signal house and generate a control signal to override the circuitry associated with a railway safety system safety device. In some examples, and without limitation, switch 60 can generate a control signal in reference to switching action imparted on switch 60 by cam 80 via rotation of lever 70, such control signal of which can be provided via wires 65 to circuitry within signal house 17. In some examples, signal house 17 may include relays 18, 19 for selectively activating and deactivating the safety devices when a train is approaching or within a railway crossing. For example, relay 18 may activate and deactivate visual notification devices of the railway safety system (such as visual notification devices 13 as illustrated in the example of FIG. 3) and relay 19 may activate and deactivate barriers vis--vis a motor control circuit (such as barrier 15 as illustrated in the example of FIG. 3). It is to be appreciated however that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to electrically engaging the switches of the apparatus with relays of a railway safety systems, but that embodiments of the present invention pertain to engaging the switches with any portion or device of the railway safety system circuit to override one or more safety devices.
[0050] In operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention, override apparatus 40 may have a first state where lights (for example, and without limitation, any of lights 50, 51, 52) are deactivated and flag 40 has a first position (for example, and without limitation, the position as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4), and wherein the control signal generated by a switch has a first state. In some implementations, in the first state of override apparatus, lever 70 has a first position. In the first state of override apparatus 40, the railway safety system may operate normally (i.e., when trains are within or approaching the railway crossing, safety devices, as shown in FIG. 3, for example and without limitation, visual notification devices 13 are flashing or illuminated and barrier 15 is in a near horizontal position, and when trains are not within or approaching the railway crossing, as shown in FIG. 4, for example and without limitation, visual notification devices 13 are not flashing or illuminated and barrier 15 is in a near vertical position). Upon malfunction or maintenance of the railway safety system, the override apparatus 40 may be placed into a second state where lights (for example, and without limitation, any of lights 50, 51, 52) are activated and flag 40 has a second position (for example, and without limitation, the position as shown in FIG. 5), and wherein the control signal has a second state. In some implementations, the override apparatus 40 may be placed in the second state by rotation of lever 70 to a second position. When the override apparatus 20 is in the second state, it is to be appreciated that the control signal generated by the switch is provided to the circuitry in the signal house 17, which overrides the safety devices. As discussed above, conventionally when the railway safety system malfunctions or is being maintained, the safety devices are activated (for example, and without limitation, visual notification devices 13 are flashing or illuminated and barrier 15 is in a near horizontal position) regardless of whether a train is within or approaching the railway crossing. Advantageously, by utilizing the apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a user can place the override apparatus 20 in the second state, which causes the safety devices to be deactivated by the control signal, and provides one or more visual indications to approaching trains (for example, and without limitation, activating the lights and rotating the flag), all as illustrated in the exemplary illustration of FIG. 5. In such second state, vehicles can continue to utilize the railway crossing and approaching trains are notified that there is a malfunction or maintenance on the railway safety system.
[0051] It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. Thus, although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
