Failsafe rail mounted shunt device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878729-B2
Application number	US-201514873589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to shunt devices for providing multi-fold protection for track workers. For example, a failsafe shunt device may have a pair of end components magnetically couple to two running rails and a central unit connected to the pair of end components via electrical wires. The failsafe shunt device may communicate with an operations control center (OCC) to indicate a presence of the shunt device. Related methods of using disclosed shunt devices and associated systems are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shunt device for railroad use comprising: a pair of end components configured to magnetically couple to two running rails; and a central unit connected to the pair of end components via electrical wires, wherein the central unit sends a signal to an operations control center (OCC) to indicate a presence of the shunt device.

2. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of end components comprises:
a magnet for coupling to a running rail; and
a handle attached to the magnet for operation by a rail worker to attach the magnet to the running rail or to remove the magnet from the running rail.

3. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit comprises a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit signals to the OCC in a frequency band near about 220 MHz.

4. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit comprises one or more transceivers configured to wirelessly communicate with the OCC over a global positioning system (GPS) link or over a cellular link.

5. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit is configured to communicate, in accordance with positive train control (PTC) technologies, near at least one of the following representative frequencies: 430 MHz, 220 MHz, 900 MHz, and 2.4 MHz.

6. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein communicating with the OCC comprises sending signals to a wayside communication system, which in turn relays the signals to the OCC to indicate the presence of the shunt device.

7. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit comprises a signaling mechanism configured to indicate whether the shunt device is installed and operational.

8. The shunt device of claim 7 , wherein the signaling mechanism comprises a green light that verifies an operational status of the shunt device, and wherein the green light is activated after an electrical connection is formed between the two running rails and after the shunt device is turned on.

9. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit comprises at least one of visual and audio alarm components configured to warn surrounding rail personnel of a condition in which the shunt device is not properly connected to the two running rails.

10. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the central unit comprises a transmitter configured to send a radio frequency (RF) signal to one or more wayside devices or personal alert devices, and wherein the RF signal provides warning to nearby rail workers in an event that the shunt device is disconnected from at least one of the rails without proper authorization.

11. The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein communicating with the OCC comprises sending a signal to the OCC for distinguishing the shunt device from rail vehicles that also communicate with the OCC.

12. The shunt device of claim 11 , wherein the central unit comprises on-board circuitry configured to:
alternatively switch, on and off, an electrical connection of the shunt device to the two running rails; and
generate the signal to be sent to the OCC, the signal being generated based on the alternative switching of the electrical connection to specify an identity of the shunt device.

13. A method of using a shunt device for positive train control (PTC)-compatible rail communications, the method comprising:
magnetically coupling the shunt device to two rails of a railroad;
transmitting signals, from the shunt device to an operations control center (OCC), that indicate a presence of the shunt device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
indicating an operational status of the shunt device using a signaling mechanism located thereon; and
issuing warnings to surrounding rail workers when the shunt device stops being properly connected to both rails.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, prior to magnetically coupling the shunt device to the two rails, contacting the OCC, by a designated work crew coordinator, to request permission to install the shunt device, wherein for the request the designated work crew coordinator reports to the OCC information including a radio number, a location of work zone, a number of onsite workers, and nature of work.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
verifying that the shunt device is operational after magnetically coupling the shunt device to both rails, the verification being performed by a rail employee located at the OCC based on a Track Occupancy Light (TOL) displayed at the OCC; and
granting access, by the rail employee at the OCC, to a work crew to enter a work zone based upon the verification, the shunt device being deployed in the work zone.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
contacting the OCC, by a designated work crew coordinator, to request permission to remove the shunt device;
removing, by the designated work crew coordinator, the shunt device based upon receiving permission from the OCC; and
after removal of the shunt device, verifying with the OCC, by the designated work crew coordinator, that a Track Occupancy Light (TOL) corresponding to the shunt device is off.

18. A positive train control (PTC)-compatible failsafe shunt device deployed on a railroad, the shunt device comprising: first and second end components configured to electrically connect to first and second rails of the railroad, respectively; first and second electrical wires connected to the first and second end components, respectively; and a central unit connected to the first and second end components via the first and second electrical wires, wherein the shunt device sends a signal, directly or indirectly, to a control center to indicate a presence of the shunt device.

19. The shunt device of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second end components comprises a magnet configured to magnetically couple to a rail, and wherein communication with the control center distinguishes the shunt device from rail vehicles.

20. The shunt device of claim 18 , wherein the central unit is configured to wirelessly transmit signals to the control center over at least one of the following communication links: a 220 MHz radio link, a global positioning system (GPS) link, and a cellular link.

Assignees

• Harsco Technologies LLC

Inventors

• Bartek Peter Michael
• Davis Michael Stephen

Classifications

• B61L1/18

  Railway track circuits (rail joints E01B11/00, e.g. insulated rail joints E01B11/54) · CPC title

• B61L25/025

  Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates · CPC title

• B61L23/20

  with transmission of instructions to stations along the route · CPC title

• B61L23/34

  for indicating the distance between vehicles or trains by the transmission of signals therebetween · CPC title

• B61L2205/04

  Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] · CPC title