US4085913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for preventing collision of trains
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-01-12
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1997-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for preventing collision of trains includes two units, a stationary signal sending unit mounted on the wayside and a moving control unit mounted on the locomotive. The signal sending unit including the traffic light system transmits a D. C. voltage, zero, positive, or negative value, representing red, yellow, or green traffic light, to the control unit through two contacts, one mounted on the wayside and one mounted on the locomotive. The control unit includes an electro-responsive valve, the air brake system of the train, and four speed-switches. The electro-responsive valve is connected by a pipe to the air brake system of the train. Openings of the electro-responsive valve will cause brake applications. The so organized device will cause the train to stop if the train runs through a red traffic light, and will cause the train to restrict its run under a pre-set low speed limit after passing the red traffic light. It will also cause the train to slow down if the train's speed is higher than the pre-set speed limit when passing a yellow traffic light. A green traffic light will cause the device to reset itself to a non-activated state.
Inventors
- 👤 Chen-Kun Chang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:34
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L3/00; B61L3/02; B61L3/08; B61L3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A railway automatic signal sending unit from a wayside to a locomotive, consisting of two relays, two storage batteries, a stationary wayside contact, a yellow traffic light, a green traffic light, and electric circuits, wired such that when the yellow traffic light is on, a D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is positive, when the green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is negative, and when neither the yellow nor green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is zero.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A railway automatic signal sending unit from a wayside to a locomotive, consisting of two relays, two storage batteries, a stationary wayside contact, a yellow traffic light, a green traffic light, and electric circuits, wired such that when the yellow traffic light is on, a D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is positive, when the green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is negative, and when neither the yellow nor green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A railway automatic signal sending unit from a wayside to a locomotive, consisting of two relays, two storage batteries, a stationary wayside contact, a yellow traffic light, a green traffic light, and electric circuits, wired such that when the yellow traffic light is on, a D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is negative, when the green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is positive, and when neither the yellow nor green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
A railway automatic signal sending unit from a wayside to a locomotive, consisting of two relays, two storage batteries, a stationary wayside contact, a yellow traffic light, a green traffic light, and electric circuits, wired such that when the yellow traffic light is on, a D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is negative, when the green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is positive, and when neither the yellow nor green traffic light is on, the D. C. voltage on the stationary wayside contact is zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch is on; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch is on; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
223 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, a medium-speed switch, a high-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that whenever the high-speed switch is on, the electro-responsive valve will open, and whenever the high-speed switch is off the electro-responsive valve will close, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been positive for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the medium-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the medium-speed switch is off, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been negative for at least the time required to activate a relay, the control unit will reset itself to a non-activated state if it was activated previously, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
223 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, a medium-speed switch, a high-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that whenever the high-speed switch is on, the electro-responsive valve will open, and whenever the high-speed switch is off the electro-responsive valve will close, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been positive for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the medium-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the medium-speed switch is off, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been negative for at least the time required to activate a relay, the control unit will reset itself to a non-activated state if it was activated previously, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
223 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, a medium-speed switch, a high-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that whenever the high-speed switch is on, the electro-responsive valve will open, and whenever the high-speed switch is off the electro-responsive valve will close, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been negative for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the medium-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the medium-speed switch is off, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been positive for at least the time required to activate a relay, the control unit will reset itself to a non-activated state if it was activated previously, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
223 words
A control unit mounted on a locomotive, consisting of a mechanical switch, a contact, relays, a storage battery, a zero-speed switch, a low-speed switch, a medium-speed switch, a high-speed switch, an electro-responsive valve, and electric circuits, wired such that whenever the high-speed switch is on, the electro-responsive valve will open, and whenever the high-speed switch is off the electro-responsive valve will close, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been negative for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the medium-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the medium-speed switch is off, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact has been positive for at least the time required to activate a relay, the control unit will reset itself to a non-activated state if it was activated previously, and if the D. C. voltage on the contact is zero and the zero-speed switch is off and if the mechanical switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay, the electro-responsive valve will open and stay open until the zero-speed switch has been on for at least the time required to activate a relay; and then the electro-responsive valve will open whenever the low-speed switch is on, and will close whenever the low-speed switch is off.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |