Smart cam for digitalization of a gate mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11938985-B2
Application number	US-201916437835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2019
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A highway grade crossing gate mechanism having a smart cam system capable of measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time is provided. The gate mechanism includes a DC motor, a cam system, and a controller. The DC motor is coupled to a main shaft for driving a gate arm between a vertical position and a vertical position. The cam system includes manually adjustable cams coupled to the main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation in order to set operational features of a crossing gate. An internal sensing device is disposed internal to the cam system measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time. A controller controls the motor and receives and stores the parameter. The parameter may be transmitted to an external network giving accurate feedback of the state of the gate mechanism in real time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A highway grade crossing gate mechanism, comprising:
an electric motor coupled to a main shaft for driving a gate arm between a vertical position and a horizontal position;
a cam system, comprising:
a plurality of manually adjustable cams coupled to the main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation in order to set operational features of a crossing gate, and
a rotational position sensor disposed internal to the cam system measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time; and

a controller comprising at least one processor coupled to the electric motor and the cam system wherein the controller is configured to control the motor and receive and store the parameter of the gate mechanism,
wherein the rotational position sensor includes an accelerometer disposed on a control board,
wherein the control board is disposed on a back portion of a cam of the plurality of cams for measuring an accurate angular position of the main shaft.

2. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control board comprises at least the rotational position sensor, a signal connector, a power source, and a signal conditioner.

3. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the accelerometer provides 3-axis acceleration data of the main shaft.

4. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the angular position of the main shaft gives real time feedback of the angular position of the gate arm.

5. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a current sensing device measuring a current of the electric motor.

6. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a torque of the main shaft is determined by the processor utilizing the current of the electric motor and the angular position of the main shaft.

7. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the gate arm is adjusted according to a prescribed adjustment based on the determined torque.

8. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control board is mounted on brackets coupled to an inner surface of a cam of the plurality of cams.

9. The gate mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is an (IoT) edge device in communication with a network in order to transmit the parameter external to the gate mechanism.

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Spencer Daniel

Classifications

• B61L29/10 Primary

  Means for securing gates in their desired position · CPC title

• B61L29/04 Primary

  Gates for level crossings · CPC title

• B61L29/08

  Operation of gates; Combined operation of gates and signals · CPC title

• B61L29/24

  Means for warning road traffic that a gate is closed or closing, or that rail traffic is approaching, e.g. for visible or audible warning · CPC title

• G01L3/00

  Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general · CPC title