Abstract:
A continuous rail track circuit apparatus having termination shunts at each end detects the presence of a railroad vehicle shunt across the rails and indicates vehicle presence. Shunt means near one end of the track circuit periodically introduces a test shunt across the track, and receiver means coupled to the rails near the other end of the track circuit is sensitive to changes in track circuit parameters occasioned by the test shunt and respondingly introduces a reply test shunt in accordance with the period of the shunt means. Means at the first end of the circuit sensitive to changes in track circuit parameters occasioned by the reply test shunt provides indication of vehicle presence when the change in track circuit parameters ceases.
Abstract:
The hot box detector structure comprises a main enclosure and an upper deck enclosure. The main enclosure houses the radiometer which should be maintained at ambient temperature. For this reason, the upper deck enclosure is separated from the main enclosure by a suitable air space. It also supports a surrounding sun shade to further protect the main enclosure of the structure from the direct rays of the sun and thus prevent the building up of its internal temperature above the ambient. The tower enclosure rises from one end of the main enclosure and includes a window at its top or head through which the radiometer can view the passing hot elements of a moving train. The head of such tower also includes certain operative parts such as a shutter for the window, heating elements, shutter control, window washer and dryer, and the like. This head of the tower is heat insulated from the tower supporting structure and from the main enclosure.
Abstract:
A continuous rail alternating current track circuit has been provided having shunts at extreme ends for terminating the circuit. A track transmitter is coupled to the rails for center feeding the circuit with a first signal having an associated effective range less than the distance to the shunt. The improvement for providing accurate detection of a vehicle shunt between the termination shunt and the end of the effective range of the signal includes a transmitter located at each end of the track circuit coupled to the rails for propagating a second signal at least to the range end of the first signal. Means at the range end of the second signal modulates the first and second signals in the rails to high and low side-band frequencies and a detector means at each end of the track circuit responds to at least one side-band frequency for detecting the modulated frequency and providing indication of vehicle presence when the side-band frequency is interrupted.
Abstract:
Logic circuitry in a vehicle transportation system, such logic circuitry providing fail-safe operation utilizing solid-state circuits. The logic circuitry is described relative to control of a highway crossing indicator, such circuitry selectively producing a most restrictive output signal or a least restrictive output signal in accordance with traffic conditions to the crossing indicator. A vital signal is generated that is characteristically differentiated from other signals in the circuit. The vital signal is serially transferred through gate circuits by corresponding enable signals to each gate circuit. When and only when the vital signal has been transferred along a path of gate circuits and through the logic circuitry, the crossing indicator assumes a least restrictive mode of operation.
Abstract:
A track quality meter for determing ballast resistance of a track section, regardless of whether or not the track section is insulated. An oscillator produces a signal at an appropriate frequency which is applied to the track section. Detector means, connected across the track section, is responsive to the voltage across the track section. From this voltage the characteristic impedance of the track section can be determined in a number of ways. In a preferred embodiment, the signal applied across the track section is also applied across a variable resistor. By adjusting the variable resistor so that the voltage across it equals the voltage across the track section, the resistor value is a measure of the characteristic impedance of the track section at the frequency produced by the oscillator. The characteristic impedance of the track section has a number of parameters, but only the ballast resistance in the track section is variable. As a result, the ballast resistance for the track section can be read off a calibration table.