Patent US2539419A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3660652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Highway crossing signal system
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-27
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-04-27
Abstract
Abstract Two overlay track circuits without insulated joints are installed in the track approaching the highway crossing, overlapped to provide a speed measuring section at the distant end of the approach track and an approach control section extending to the crossing, but with all apparatus except track transmitters at the crossing. Detection of a train only in the measuring section actuates a set of timing relays, one for each selected speed range slower than maximum speed. Completion of the shortest timing period energizes a repeater relay having a basic slow release period which is extended by the successive completion of other timing periods. Entry of a maximum speed train into the approach control section immediately actuates the warning signal but operation is delayed for the established release period of the repeater relay for slower trains to obtain relatively uniform warning times. Two direction train operation doubles the required track circuits but uses only one set of timing relays when the same speed ranges are applicable.
Inventors
- 👤 Crawford E Staples
- 👤 William A Jacobs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:58
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L29/00; B61L29/24; B61L29/28; B61L29/286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
455 words
A highway crossing signal system, for a stretch of railroad track having electrically continuous rails without insulated joints and intersected by a highway at which crossing is located a warning signal selectively operable by an associated signal control means to a clear and a warning condition, comprising in combination, a. first and second overlay track circuits for the stretch of track over which trains approach said highway crossing in one direction for separately detecting approaching trains occupying the track circuits, each track circuit including a transmitter means and a receiver means coupled to the track rails a selected distance apart to define the limits of the corresponding track circuit, 1. the first circuit transmitter means coupled to the track rails a preselected distance farther from said crossing than the second circuit transmitter means to form a measuring section which an approaching train occupies prior to occupying the adjoining approach control section, 2. both receiver means being coupled to the track rails in the vicinity of said crossing in such manner as to maintain detection of a train moving in said one direction until it clears the crossing, b. said pair of track circuit receiver means connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when an approaching train occupies said approach control section, c. timing control relay means controlled by both circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy by an approaching train of only the measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing, d. a plurality of timing Means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each preselected timing period being at least longer than a minimum time interval required by a maximum speed train to traverse said measuring section, and e. a delay means including an equivalent plurality of delay elements, each delay element connected by a particular timing means to control said delay means for establishing a different one of a plurality of successively longer predetermined delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said delay means connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established predetermined delay period after an approaching train occupies said approach control section, g. said timing control relay means connected for actuating said plurality of timing means to measure said preselected timing periods when an approaching train occupies only said measuring section for a time interval longer than one or more of said preselected timing periods, h. said timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period when continued approach of a train toward said crossing is not detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
455 words
A highway crossing signal system, for a stretch of railroad track having electrically continuous rails without insulated joints and intersected by a highway at which crossing is located a warning signal selectively operable by an associated signal control means to a clear and a warning condition, comprising in combination, a. first and second overlay track circuits for the stretch of track over which trains approach said highway crossing in one direction for separately detecting approaching trains occupying the track circuits, each track circuit including a transmitter means and a receiver means coupled to the track rails a selected distance apart to define the limits of the corresponding track circuit, 1. the first circuit transmitter means coupled to the track rails a preselected distance farther from said crossing than the second circuit transmitter means to form a measuring section which an approaching train occupies prior to occupying the adjoining approach control section, 2. both receiver means being coupled to the track rails in the vicinity of said crossing in such manner as to maintain detection of a train moving in said one direction until it clears the crossing, b. said pair of track circuit receiver means connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when an approaching train occupies said approach control section, c. timing control relay means controlled by both circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy by an approaching train of only the measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing, d. a plurality of timing Means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each preselected timing period being at least longer than a minimum time interval required by a maximum speed train to traverse said measuring section, and e. a delay means including an equivalent plurality of delay elements, each delay element connected by a particular timing means to control said delay means for establishing a different one of a plurality of successively longer predetermined delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said delay means connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established predetermined delay period after an approaching train occupies said approach control section, g. said timing control relay means connected for actuating said plurality of timing means to measure said preselected timing periods when an approaching train occupies only said measuring section for a time interval longer than one or more of said preselected timing periods, h. said timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period when continued approach of a train toward said crossing is not detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 1 further including, a. third and fourth overlay track circuits for the stretch of track in the other direction of approach to said crossing for detecting trains approaching in that direction, each circuit including a transmitter means and a receiver means,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
the receiver means of said third and fourth track circuits coupled to said rails in the vicinity of said crossing in a manner to maintain detection of a train moving in said other direction until it clears said crossing, b. said third and fourth track circuit receiver means also connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when a train approaching in said other direction occupies the corresponding approach control section, c. the first and second pairs of track circuit receiver means selectively controlling said timing control relay means in accordance with the direction of approach of a train for repeating the occupancy of only the corresponding measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
the receiver means of said third and fourth track circuits coupled to said rails in the vicinity of said crossing in a manner to maintain detection of a train moving in said other direction until it clears said crossing, b. said third and fourth track circuit receiver means also connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when a train approaching in said other direction occupies the corresponding approach control section, c. the first and second pairs of track circuit receiver means selectively controlling said timing control relay means in accordance with the direction of approach of a train for repeating the occupancy of only the corresponding measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
303 words
both receiver means being coupled to the track rails in the vicinity of said crossing in such manner as to maintain detection of a train moving in said one direction until it clears the crossing, b. said pair of track circuit receiver means connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when an approaching train occupies said approach control section, c. timing control relay means controlled by both circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy by an approaching train of only the measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing, d. a plurality of timing Means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each preselected timing period being at least longer than a minimum time interval required by a maximum speed train to traverse said measuring section, and e. a delay means including an equivalent plurality of delay elements, each delay element connected by a particular timing means to control said delay means for establishing a different one of a plurality of successively longer predetermined delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said delay means connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established predetermined delay period after an approaching train occupies said approach control section, g. said timing control relay means connected for actuating said plurality of timing means to measure said preselected timing periods when an approaching train occupies only said measuring section for a time interval longer than one or more of said preselected timing periods, h. said timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period when continued approach of a train toward said crossing is not detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
303 words
both receiver means being coupled to the track rails in the vicinity of said crossing in such manner as to maintain detection of a train moving in said one direction until it clears the crossing, b. said pair of track circuit receiver means connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when an approaching train occupies said approach control section, c. timing control relay means controlled by both circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy by an approaching train of only the measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of that train toward said crossing, d. a plurality of timing Means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each preselected timing period being at least longer than a minimum time interval required by a maximum speed train to traverse said measuring section, and e. a delay means including an equivalent plurality of delay elements, each delay element connected by a particular timing means to control said delay means for establishing a different one of a plurality of successively longer predetermined delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said delay means connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established predetermined delay period after an approaching train occupies said approach control section, g. said timing control relay means connected for actuating said plurality of timing means to measure said preselected timing periods when an approaching train occupies only said measuring section for a time interval longer than one or more of said preselected timing periods, h. said timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period when continued approach of a train toward said crossing is not detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
345 words
the receiver means of said third and fourth track circuits coupled to said rails in the vicinity of said crossing in a manner to maintain detection of a train moving in said other direction until it clears said crossing, b. said third and fourth track circuit receiver means also connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when a train approaching in said other direction occupies the second approach control section, c. a second timing control relay means controlled by said third and fourth track circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy, by a train approaching in said other direction, of only said second measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of the other direction train toward said crossing, d. a second plurality of timing means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each period at least longer than the minimum time interval a maximum speed train occupies only said second measuring section, said second timing periods also being different than those of the first plurality of timing means, e. a second delay means including a plurality of delay elements equivalent to the second plurality of timing periods, each delay element connected by a particular second plurality timing means to control said second delay means for establishing a different one of a second plurality of delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said second delay means also connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established delay period after an approaching train occupies said second approach control section, g. said second timing control relay means connected for actuating said second plurality of timing means to measure the corresponding timing periods when said second measuring section only is occupied, h. said second timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period of said second delay means when continued approach by a train moving in said other direction is not detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
345 words
the receiver means of said third and fourth track circuits coupled to said rails in the vicinity of said crossing in a manner to maintain detection of a train moving in said other direction until it clears said crossing, b. said third and fourth track circuit receiver means also connected for controlling said signal control means to normally operate said signal to its warning condition when a train approaching in said other direction occupies the second approach control section, c. a second timing control relay means controlled by said third and fourth track circuit receiver means for repeating the occupancy, by a train approaching in said other direction, of only said second measuring section and for subsequently detecting the continued approach of the other direction train toward said crossing, d. a second plurality of timing means, each operable when actuated for measuring a different and successively longer preselected timing period, each period at least longer than the minimum time interval a maximum speed train occupies only said second measuring section, said second timing periods also being different than those of the first plurality of timing means, e. a second delay means including a plurality of delay elements equivalent to the second plurality of timing periods, each delay element connected by a particular second plurality timing means to control said second delay means for establishing a different one of a second plurality of delay periods when said particular timing means completes its timing period, f. said second delay means also connected to said signal control means for delaying the operation of said signal to its warning condition for the established delay period after an approaching train occupies said second approach control section, g. said second timing control relay means connected for actuating said second plurality of timing means to measure the corresponding timing periods when said second measuring section only is occupied, h. said second timing control relay means also connected for interrupting the established delay period of said second delay means when continued approach by a train moving in said other direction is not detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 2 which further includes, a. a directional relay arrangement controlled by both pairs of track circuit receiver means and by said timing control relay means for establishing and storing an indication of the direction in which a particular train is traversing the crossing stretch when a measuring section is initially occupied,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 3 in which each track circuit includes a train detection device controlled by the corresponding receiver means for indicating the occupancy of the circuit by a train, said device and the receiver means for each track circuit being located at the highway crossing, together with said tiMing means, said delay means, said timing control relay means, and said directional relay arrangement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 2 in which, a. each timing means comprises a time element relay with a preselected different timing period and an energizing circuit controlled by said timing control relay means for energizing the associated time element relay only when an approaching train occupies only a measuring section, b. said time delay means is a slow release relay energized by the shortest timing period time element relay when its timing period is completed, c. said delay elements are resistor-capacitor circuit paths, each connected by the corresponding time element relay when its preselected timing period is completed to snub said slow release relay to add to the established delay period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 1 which further includes, a. third and fourth overlay track circuits for the stretch of track in the other direction of approach to said crossing for detecting trains approaching in that direction, each circuit including a transmitter means and a receiver means,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A highway crossing signal system as defined in claim 6 in which, a. each timing means is a time element relay with a preselected different timing period and an energizing circuit controlled by the timing control relay means for the corresponding train direction for energizing that time element relay only when an approaching train occupies only the corresponding measuring sectiOn, b. each time delay means is a slow release relay energized by the shortest timing period time element relay for the corresponding train direction when its timing period is completed, c. said delay elements are resistor-capacitor circuit paths, each connected by the corresponding time element relay when its timing period is completed to snub the associated slow release relay to add to the established delay period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2133171A
Cited
US3268723A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |