US3721819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Railroad lift bridge remote control system
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-04
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-08-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus at the lift bridge receives whistle signals from approaching ships and records requests for raising the bridge span to allow ship passage. A horn transmitter on the bridge automatically responds to ship requests to indicate whether or not span will raise, as determined by the response of the control system operator. In response to a received ship request indication, the remote control operator, if conditions allow, initiates a command function to raise the bridge span. Safety logic sequencing circuitry checks the condition of the railroad traffic control system and transmits the bridge raise command only if no rail traffic route across the bridge is established or occupied by a train and if safety devices, e.g., derails, are in their blocking positions. The bridge lift apparatus properly sequences the actions necessary to raise and lower the bridge, including rail unlock and locking and starting and stopping the span, when the corresponding command function is received. Remote operator selection of a rail traffic route across the bridge initiates the safety logic circuitry sequence to lower the bridge, if up, and to then establish derail and signal conditions for train movement. Under-bridge ship detectors prevent lowering the span upon a ship occupying that space. When span-seated and rails-locked indications are received and checked, the safety logic circuitry closes the derails and subsequently clears the proper signal for the desired train movement.
Inventors
- 👤 F Samrok
- 👤 W Higgins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L1/00; B61L1/20; G; G08; G08G; G08G3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
390 words
A remote control system for a movable railroad bridge, for selectively controlling from a remote location the movement of trains on the track stretch across the bridge and of waterway traffic under the bridge, comprising in combination, a. bridge movement sequencing apparatus connected for controlling the movement of the movable bridge span in each direction between clear and blocking positions for waterway traffic when actuated by corresponding control functions received from said remote location, b. a first detection means at the bridge responsive to signals from approaching waterway traffic for recording a request for a clear bridge span position, c. a second detection means at the bridge, responsive to the passage of waterway traffic for detecting and recording the presence and absence of waterway traffic under said bridge, d. railroad traffic control means along the track wayside operable between a proceed and a restricting condition for authorizing and prohibiting, respectively, movement of trains across said bridge, 1. said railroad traffic control means operable to its proceed condition only when the bridge span is in its blocking position and said bridge movement apparatus has established preselected safety conditions, e. joint control means at said remote location operable for selecting and actuating the transmission of control functions to direct the operation of said bridge movement apparatus and said traffic control means to condition the system apparatus for a waterway movement or a train movement when the corresponding selection is made, and f. safety logic circuit means at said remote location responsive to the operation of said joint control means and controlled at times by said first detection means and said traffic control means for transmitting a control function to said bridge movement apparatus to move the bridge span to its clear position when a request is received only if said traffic control means is in its restricting condition, g. said circuit means controlled at other times, when a train movement is selected by said joint control means, by said second detection means and said bridge movement apparatus for transmitting control functions to said bridge movement apparatus and said traffic control means to establish a proceed condition on said railroad traffic control means for the selected train movement only when no underbridge waterway traffic is detected and all preselected safety conditions for the selected train movement are completed by said bridge movement apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
390 words
A remote control system for a movable railroad bridge, for selectively controlling from a remote location the movement of trains on the track stretch across the bridge and of waterway traffic under the bridge, comprising in combination, a. bridge movement sequencing apparatus connected for controlling the movement of the movable bridge span in each direction between clear and blocking positions for waterway traffic when actuated by corresponding control functions received from said remote location, b. a first detection means at the bridge responsive to signals from approaching waterway traffic for recording a request for a clear bridge span position, c. a second detection means at the bridge, responsive to the passage of waterway traffic for detecting and recording the presence and absence of waterway traffic under said bridge, d. railroad traffic control means along the track wayside operable between a proceed and a restricting condition for authorizing and prohibiting, respectively, movement of trains across said bridge, 1. said railroad traffic control means operable to its proceed condition only when the bridge span is in its blocking position and said bridge movement apparatus has established preselected safety conditions, e. joint control means at said remote location operable for selecting and actuating the transmission of control functions to direct the operation of said bridge movement apparatus and said traffic control means to condition the system apparatus for a waterway movement or a train movement when the corresponding selection is made, and f. safety logic circuit means at said remote location responsive to the operation of said joint control means and controlled at times by said first detection means and said traffic control means for transmitting a control function to said bridge movement apparatus to move the bridge span to its clear position when a request is received only if said traffic control means is in its restricting condition, g. said circuit means controlled at other times, when a train movement is selected by said joint control means, by said second detection means and said bridge movement apparatus for transmitting control functions to said bridge movement apparatus and said traffic control means to establish a proceed condition on said railroad traffic control means for the selected train movement only when no underbridge waterway traffic is detected and all preselected safety conditions for the selected train movement are completed by said bridge movement apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 1 in which, a. said first detection means is a receiver-amplifier device responsive to ship signals for recording and transmitting to said remote location a clear bridge request only if a preselected sequence of signals is received from a single direction of ship approach along said waterway, and which further includes, b. a signal transmitter at said bridge controlled by said first detection means and said joint control means for transmitting a distinct signal to an approaching ship in response to a clear Bridge request in accordance with the operation of said joint control means to select a clear or blocking bridge position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 2 in which said second detection means comprises, a. two or more light beam detection arrangements positioned with the beams transverse the waterway under said bridge to detect the passage of an object along the waterway through said beams, b. recording means responsive to the interruption of each light beam to record occupancy of the underbridge waterway space, c. said recording means further controlled by said light beam detection arrangement for recording a clearance of said underbridge space only when all light beams have been interrupted and subsequently restored.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
209 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 1 in which said traffic control means comprises, a. a wayside signal for each direction of train movement across said bridge, each signal normally displaying a restricting indication and operable at times to display a proceed indication for authorizing a train movement, b. a derail device in the track on each approach to the movable span obstructing in its normal position a train movement onto said span, each derail device operable to a reverse position to remove the train movement obstruction, c. rail lock means connected for checking the physical seating of the track rails when the bridge span is in its blocking position and operable by said bridge movement apparatus for locking the rails on said span when seated to establish a safe passage condition for a train across said span, d. a traffic control circuit network at the wayside connected to said signals and controlled by said safety logic circuit means, said derail devices, and said rail lock means for operating one signal only to display its proceed indication when said joint control means has selected the corresponding train movement control, said derail devices are in the reverse position, and said rail lock means has locked the span rails.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 4 in which, a. said first detection means is a receiver-amplifier device responsive to ship signals for recording and transmitting to said remote location a clear bridge request only if a preselected sequence of signals is received from a single direction of ship approach along said waterway, and which further includes, b. a signal transmitter at said bridge controlled by said first detection means and said joint control means for transmitting a distinct signal to an approaching ship in response to a clear bridge request in accordance with the operation of said joint control means to select a clear or blocking bridge position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 5 in which said second detection means comprises, a. two or more light beam detection arrangements positioned with the beams transverse the waterway under said bridge to detect the passage of an object along the waterway through said beams, b. recording means responsive to the interruption of each light beam to record occupancy of the underbridge waterway space, c. said recording means further controlled by said light beam detection arrangement for recording a clearance of said underbridge space only when all light beams have been interrupted and subsequently restored.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 6 in which said safety logic circuit means comprises, a. a route control circuit network responsive to the selection of a train movement control by said joint control means for transmitting a control function to said wayside traffic control circuit network, only when said derail devices are in reverse positions and said rail lock means has locked the seated rails, to operate corresponding wayside signals to display a proceed indication, b. a derail position selection circuit network controlled by said route control circuit network for transmitting control functions to operate said derail devices to reVerse positions when a train movement route is established and the bridge span is in its blocking position and to normal positions when the train movement is completed, and c. a bridge position control circuit network controlled by said joint control means for transmitting a control function to move the bridge span to its clear position when said joint control means is operated in response to a ship request,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A remote control system as defined in claim 7 in which, said signal transmitter at said bridge is further controlled by said first detection means for always transmitting, when a clear bridge position request is recorded, a signal to an approaching ship that said bridge span will remain in its blocking position except when a control function is received from said bridge position control circuit network to actuate the transmission of a signal that said bridge span will operate to its clear position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |