Safety apparatus

US4621252A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• David Johns · Woodinville, US
• Kieran J. Donlon · Portarlington, AU
• Manfred E. Braun · Melbourne, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 1984
• Grant date: Nov 4, 1986
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B61L29/284
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

For indicating whether a vehicle can pass through a bridge, a radio transmitter is positioned adjacent the bridge to generate radio signals which are encoded with information as to the height of the bridge as presented to vehicles. A vehicle is provided with a radio receiver capable of receiving and decoding the signals from the transmitter, and comparing the height information so derived with pre-encoded information as to the height of the vehicle. A warning signal is produced in the event that the comparison indicates a danger that the vehicle cannot safely pass under the bridge. The technique is also applicable to railway crossings where a transmitter is positioned at the crossing to generate ratio signals indicative of approach of a train so that the receiver on the vehicle may provide a warning of such approach of a train on decoding the radio signals.