MOTORIZED RAILWAY SAFETY CART AND DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a motorized railway safety cart, comprising a) a chassis adapted with rail-guided carriages configured to travel along rails, and interconnected by a base frame, b) a driving unit for driving wheels attached to at least one of said rail-guided carriages, c) a control module for controlling the operation of said motorized railway safety cart, and d) a communication module, said cart is configured to automatically travel along a railway track to a designated location thereof and is further configured with one or more safety measures for performing safety tasks thereat, such as alerting or triggering preventive measures that can restrict passage into a predefined track work zone. Also disclosed herein is a deployment system that facilitates a remotely controlled deployment of said motorized railway safety cart.

Claims

1. A motorized railway safety cart, comprising: a) a chassis adapted with rail-guided carriages configured to travel along rails, and interconnected by a base frame; b) a driving unit for driving wheels attached to at least one of said rail-guided carriages; c) a control module for controlling the operation of said motorized railway safety cart; and d) a communication module, wherein said cart is configured to automatically travel along a railway track to a designated location thereof and is further configured with one or more safety measures for performing safety tasks thereat, such as alerting or triggering preventive measures that can restrict passage into a predefined track work zone.

2. A cart according to claim 1, wherein the control module is enclosed within a control box that comprises a local control and display for locally configuring the operation of the motorized railway safety cart.

3. A cart according to claim 1, wherein the safety measures are selected from the group consisting of: a warning such as a stop sign, a self-illuminated sign, a signaling module capable of transmitting radio signals, and any combination thereof.

4. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises one or more track monitoring sensors capable of providing various indications related to the surroundings of said cart, said track monitoring sensors are selected from the group consisting of: a camera, a RADAR device, a LiDAR device, and any combination thereof.

5. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises a GPS unit with a GPS antenna.

6. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises illumination means.

7. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart is foldable.

8. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises a temporary rail attachment arrangement to securely hold said cart in a stationary position, such as by rail-hugging elements.

9. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart is constructed of lightweight high-strength materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, stainless-steel alloys, composite materials, and any combination thereof.

10. A cart according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are made of or coated with materials selected from the group consisting of: steel, polyurethane, rubber, silicone, and any combination thereof.

11. A cart according to claim 1, wherein the control module is capable of storing and executing preconfigured autonomous operational scripts that establish autonomous operation of the cart.

12. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart is designed in a three-wheel configuration.

13. A cart according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more wheels comprises conical contours.

14. A cart according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises one or more lifting and carrying handles.

15. A railway safety cart remote deployment and operation system, comprising: a) one or more motorized railway safety carts according to claim 1; and b) one or more remote control devices.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more remote control devices is selected from a group consisting of: a remote controller, terminals or computers installed at a control and operations center, and any combination thereof.

17. A system according to claim 16, further comprises one or more units of an auxiliary unit (430) comprising communication, detection, and monitoring means selected from the group consisting of: a network communication device, a camera, a RADAR device, a LiDAR device, and any combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] For a better understanding of various embodiments of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motorized railway safety cart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a motorized railway safety cart comprising three carrying handles, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration of the motorized railway safety cart comprising illumination means, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 4 is an exemplary system diagram of a railway safety cart remote deployment and operation system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a foldable motorized railway safety cart, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a motorized railway safety cart comprising an extendable signpost, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the above drawings, structural details of the invention are shown to provide a fundamental understanding of the invention, where the following detailed description, taken with the drawings, makes apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention relates to a motorized railway safety cart, which is configured to automatically travel to a designated location on a railroad track and perform maintenance safety tasks thereat for alerting or triggering preventive measures that can restrict passage into a predefined track work zone. Such safety tasks may include presenting a STOP indication to a determined rail traffic direction and/or transmitting a radio signal to nearby rail traffic control equipment, e.g., one or more railway light signals to turn a red light, thus indicating danger to incoming trains. In certain embodiments, the motorized railway safety cart comprises a signaling module that may interact, e.g., via wireless radio signals or optical signals, with railway traffic control measures to exert passage prevention of incoming railway traffic into the predefined track work zone.

[0023] The automated deployment of safety measures along an extended track section (i.e., given the long stopping distance of trains) shortens the time required for railway works preparation, thereby reducing the duration of track possession and saving on manpower that would otherwise be required for a similar purpose.

[0024] The invention also relates to a deployment system of the proposed cart that may comprise control and communication means for remotely controlling the proposed cart, thus enabling the deployment of one or more railways stop carts of the invention across desired track sections.

[0025] In the following detailed description, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are discussed and illustrated, where references are made to accompanying drawings. These embodiments and accompanying drawings should be understood as non-limiting examples of implementing the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as optionally, for instance, for example, exemplary, e.g.,, may, etc., refer to optional features being selected in certain embodiments of the invention for the sake of simplicity and clarity of explanation. It should be understood, however, that optional features mentioned in different embodiments may be used, in conjunction and/or separately, to implement further embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motorized railway safety cart (100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cart (100) comprises a chassis (110) adapted with rail-guided carriages (112) that are configured to travel along rails (10). In an exemplary embodiment, cart (100) utilizes a three-wheel configuration for stability on the track while maintaining a relatively low weight and compact cart design, thus simplifying and reducing the effort required for its deployment and retrieval. The wheels (113) may be steel railroad wheels or wheels made from or coated with a polymer such as polyurethane, rubber, or silicone, or a combination thereof to create friction-based propulsion. The polymerized coating/construction material thereof provides sufficient friction to facilitate the continuous rolling of wheels (113) on rails (10) (i.e., reducing or preventing undesired sliding), providing a more efficient propulsion and a shorter braking distance of cart (100). According to certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more wheels (113) comprise conical contours that enhance the stability of cart (100) during its travel along straight and curved rails (10), by exerting its centering on the track. Furthermore, one or more wheels (113) may also comprise flanges to maintain their engagement with the track.

[0027] Rail-guided carriages (112) are interconnected by a base frame (111), where at least one of the carriages (112) comprises a driving unit (120) comprising a driving mechanism, such as an electric motor (121), and corresponding transmission configured to deliver and optionally control the power delivered to wheels (113). Electric motor (121) and a corresponding electric battery (122) (e.g., a rechargeable battery) are illustrated herein as an exemplary propulsion means, whereas alternative propulsion means and energy sources may be selected by one skilled in the art for use in lieu, or in conjunction with motor (121) and battery (122).

[0028] In certain embodiments of the present invention, one battery (122) of suitable capacity may be utilized for supplying an electrical propulsion means of cart (100) (e.g., motor 121) and other power-consuming instruments, such as illumination and communication means disclosed herein. Alternatively, separate batteries may be installed with cart (100) to support one or more power-consuming instruments separately.

[0029] Cart (100) further comprises a control module for controlling its operation. The control module may be enclosed within a predesigned enclosure such as a control box (130). Control box (130) may further enclose the required circuitry designated for further operational functions and predetermined tasks performed by cart (100), including, but not limited to, power supply means and their operation control (e.g., charge controller of a rechargeable battery); a communication module (e.g., comprising a wireless communication module) for communicating with one or more predefined remote control devices such as a remote controller operable by a railway worker or other control devices (further discussed in FIG. 4); and an audial/visual signaling module that can generate one or more audial and/or visual signals/alerts (e.g., LED illumination, infrared signals, emergency horn) to alert, e.g., incoming and/or crossing rail vehicles of undesirably passage (e.g., of incoming trains, non-railway traffic or people) into a predefined work-zone, such as defined by one or more carts (100).

[0030] In certain embodiments, the control box (130) may comprise a local control and display panel (131) for locally configuring the operation of the cart (100) and controlling the same in real-time. For instance, enabling the presetting of a determined travel distance that cart (100) should travel and one or more tasks to be performed during the travel of that determined distance and/or upon arrival thereat, such as presenting an interchangeable pop-up warning/guiding sign or a stationary sign (114) (e.g., a standard stop sign, an electric self-illuminated sign) carried by a support element such as a foldable/detachable signpost (114a) that is attached to base frame (111). Signpost (114a) may be an extendable post (e.g., utilizing telescopic threaded profiles) for extending sign (114) to a desired range of heights (e.g., remotely viewable by a train driver/operator), as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0031] Further shown in FIG. 1 is an auxiliary circuitry box (132), which comprises a GPS unit with a GPS antenna (132a); and track monitoring sensors (133) directed in opposed track directions and comprising optional detection/monitoring sensors, such as one or more video and/or stills cameras, RADAR unit(s) (e.g., automotive radar), LiDAR units, and/or other detection sensors that may provide cart (100) with various indications, such as the GPS location of its intended deployment location, or may trigger the braking and stopping of the cart (100) in front of detected obstacles. The track monitoring sensors (133) may also be used to provide real-time monitoring of a passing train on an adjacent track. Optionally, one of the abovementioned video cameras may be configured to continuously photograph the deployed sign (114) throughout a mission to verify its status and proper deployment.

[0032] The information detected by the GPS unit and the track monitoring sensors (133) may be transmitted to the control module for further processing by a suitable controller. The control module may be securely installed within the control box (130) or auxiliary circuitry box (132).

[0033] Furthermore, an emergency shutoff button (132b) is installed on the auxiliary box (132), to immediately halt the operation of the cart (100), for example, in the case of an erroneous configuration entered through panel (131) shutoff button (132b) may be pressed to hold cart (100) in place to correct the configuration. It should be readily understood that in different embodiments of the invention, any of the components comprised in the control box (130) may be installed within the auxiliary box (132) and vice-versa.

[0034] FIG. 1 further illustrates a carrying handle (115) for carrying a cart (100) (e.g., onto rails (10)). Of course, any desired number of handles (115) may be determined as suitable for carrying the cart (100) safely by the maintenance personnel, depending on the shape, dimensions, and weight of the cart (100).

[0035] In certain embodiments of the present invention, in addition to braking based on the motor transmission and the friction of the wheels, cart (100) is provided with one or more temporary rail attachment arrangement configured to securely hold cart (100) in a stationary position, particularly upon its arrival to its intended deployment location, thereby, avoiding an unintended shifting of cart (100) or removal thereof from rails (10) (e.g., by unauthorized persons, due to an inclined track, or under extreme weather conditions). Such temporary rail attachment means may include, for instance, manually or automatically applied rail-hugging elements such clasps, (e.g., pneumatically, hydraulically, magnetically or electrically operated clamps applied manually or controlled by the control module of cart (100)), or other securement means.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a safety cart (100) comprising three carrying handles (115), two of which are attached to the longer rail-guided carriage (112), while a single handle (115) is attached to the shorter rail-guided carriage (112), in correspondence to both shape and distributed weight of cart (100). Also shown in FIG. 2 is the motor (121) which is connected with wheels (113) through a transmission (201), which may engage/disengage motor (121) and wheels (113) and directly transfer the rotation of motor (121) to wheels (113), or (optionally) convert the rotation/moment of motor (121) in a predetermined manner (e.g., by transmission cogged-wheels) to specifically control the travel speed and rotation moment of wheels (113).

[0037] In certain embodiments, cart (100) further comprises illumination means that illuminate sign (114) to improve its visibility, e.g., LED projector (301) illustrated in FIG. 3. Sign (114) may be painted/coated/covered by a reflective paint/film for further improving its long-distance visibility. Optionally, cart (100) may comprise marking lights across chassis (110), carriages (112), or any other component thereof.

[0038] Hence one or more carts (100) may be transported (e.g., by a suitable utility wheeled/rail-guided vehicle) to a desired location/track section at which maintenance work is required, then unloaded and carried onto rails (10), and subsequently be configured to travel to a desired location at which cart (100) stops and alerts incoming rail vehicles to avoid entrance to the maintenance work-zone, such as illustrated in the following FIG. 4.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an exemplary system diagram of a railway safety cart remote deployment and operation system (400), according to an embodiment of the present invention. System (400) comprises one or more railway safety carts (100), one or more remote control devices, such as one or more designated (i.e., predefined in control module of cart (100) as a valid source for control commands) remote controller (410), and/or one or more designated terminals/computers installed at a central control and operations center (420).

[0040] For example, where maintenance work may be performed on a track section (401), for which maintenance personnel transport two carts (100) to the intended work site, e.g., in the middle of track section (401). Following the unloading of two carts (100), the maintenance personnel may configure one of the carts (100) to travel in a determined rail direction and the second cart (100) to travel in the opposite direction. While the operation of carts (100) may be pre-configured completely through the control panel (131) (of FIG. 1), in certain embodiments, carts (100) are partially/completely configured and operated through one or more remote controllers (410) and/or from the control/operations center (420) that maintains a broader operational view, that includes an overview of the entire trains traffic, and the current areal railway traffic near track section (401).

[0041] Further shown in FIG. 4 is an auxiliary unit (430), which may comprise one or more auxiliary components of the system (400), such as a network communication device, e.g., range extender (e.g., one or more units of auxiliary unit (430) may be deployed to establish stable and fluent communication between carts (100) and control/operations center (420)). Remote-controller (410), control/operations center (420), and auxiliary unit (430) may communicate with the communication module of the cart(s) (100) through a wireless radio (e.g., cellular/satellite) communication network. One or more auxiliary units (430) may be deployed across a predefined area to also provide extended detection/monitoring capabilities, where each of the auxiliary units (430) may comprise detection/monitoring devices (e.g., video and/or stills cameras, RADAR unit(s) such as automotive radar, and LiDAR units), such as for providing redundant detection/monitoring capabilities to validate detection/monitoring information received from carts (100).

[0042] The illustrated automated deployment of carts (100) significantly shortens the deployment of stop signs (i.e., and other monitoring and work-zone isolation means) as well as the retrieval thereof, thus reducing both the preparation and completion of track maintenance projects, hence the overall invested work time and effort. Furthermore, while a primary function of system (400), and carts (100), is to isolate the work-zone by alerting the incoming rail traffic, in certain embodiments control box (130) is configured to trigger an alert (e.g., in any of cart (100), remote controller (410), control/operations center (420) and/or auxiliary unit (430)) to alert for an engagement of a rail vehicle with any of carts (100) (e.g., detected by gyroscope/piezo-electric sensors attached to carts (100)), for detecting high-speed approaching rail vehicle toward any of carts (100) (e.g., detected by track monitoring sensors (133) of carts (100)), or for significant failure/malfunction of carts (100) that compromise it's monitoring/alerting integrity. The indications for triggering such alerts are communicated by utilizing any communication course between carts (100), remote controller (410), control/operations center (420), and/or auxiliary unit (430) for warning the maintenance personnel on possible work-zone safety hazards. Furthermore, track monitoring sensors (133) may comprise video cameras that can submit continuous video footage of the tracks surrounding each cart (100) during its deployment at a desired track location, and/or along its travel thereto.

[0043] In certain configurations of carts (100) and system (400), carts (100) are adapted with autonomous operation capability established by preconfigured operational scripts (e.g., stored and run by the aforementioned control module). Such scripts may include for instance, instructions based on time of day, type of work, or input from the central control center, such as travel 5 km west, activate warning lights, and monitor for approaching trains. In autonomous operation, cart (100) may independently begin its operation as soon as it is positioned on the track and turned on. Furthermore, a plurality of carts (100) may be parked in a rail track buffer zone that may selectively become physically connected to preselected rail track sections, to enable a controlled/autonomous lunching of carts (100) to maintenance work zones upon need.

[0044] Cart (100) may be constructed of lightweight yet high-strength materials (e.g., lightweight aluminum, lightweight stainless-steel alloys, composite materials) and may be designed to be carried by two people or a single person, for example, in its folded state. Nevertheless, carts (100) may be designed to have an overall weight below the detection threshold of predetermined existing track sensors to avoid undesired alerts in the control/operations center (420), while the instant position of carts (100) (e.g., detected by the GPS unit of cart (100)) may be continuously communicated and indicated at the control/operations center (420).

[0045] Furthermore, one or more components of cart (100) (e.g., wheels (113), determined elements of chassis (110)) may be made from/coated by an electrically isolating material to isolate cart (100) from electrical current within rails (10) and/or to prevent carts (100) from being a conductive link between rails (10), and from activating electrical sensors deployed along rails (10).

[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a foldable motorized railway safety cart (500), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The base frame (111) of the foldable cart (500) comprises two sections (511) that are rotatably connected by a hinge (511a). Furthermore, cart (500) comprises a foldable stop sign (114) that can be shifted and locked in either an erected or folded position by a lockable hinge (514). The foldable cart (500) provides compact folded dimensions, facilitating low-volume transport and storage. Exemplary dimensions of the compact folded cart (100) may be 130 cm by 86 cm.

[0047] Furthermore, in the folded state of safety cart (500), signpost (114a) and sections (511) are folded over each other, thus facilitating the carriage of cart (100) by merely grasping and lifting a single handle (515) with a single person.