Railway hazard acoustic sensing, locating, and alarm system
US6216985A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61L23/045
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A highly reliable early warning system is disclosed. The warning system provides immediate detection of railway activity and early warning of dangerous railway conditions to train crews and to Rail Traffic Control offices. The warning system has acoustic sensors coupled to one of the rails of a railway for detecting sound or vibration transmitted from physical events. The detected acoustic signals are analyzed by a computer sound recognition system to ascertain the nature of the event causing the signal. If a suspect condition is identified or an unrecognized high energy acoustic signature is detected, an alarm is generated. The alarm signal may be transmitted over any communication system to the Rail Traffic Control office and to the trains traveling toward the suspect track location. The system can also detect railway rolling stock problems such as flat spots on wheels or derailed cars. When desired, the alarm may employ wireless transmissions to stop the trains remotely. When more than one acoustic sensor detects the same event, the exact location can be determined. Any physical events that are detected may be stored in a sound file. These may be catalogued as to location, time …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.