Railroad safety communication structure

Abstract

A communication structure including a first track system and a second track system including a first and second microprocessor and first and second control circuitry is provided. The control circuitry is configured to determine an inbound train on one of the track systems. The first and second control circuitry may be configured to communicate the inbound train on the corresponding track to the other control circuitry. The first and second microprocessor may be configured to communicate with one another. At least one of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor may be configured to determine whether a first activation of warning devices is needed at a grade crossing and communicate the first activation to the other microprocessor. At least one of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor may be configured to determine a second sustained activation of the warning devices and communicate the first activation to the other microprocessor.

1 . A communication structure comprising:
 a first track system comprising a first microprocessor and first control circuitry associated with a first track; and   a second track system comprising a second microprocessor and second control circuitry associated with a second track;   wherein the first control circuitry is configured to determine when there is an inbound train on the first track, and the second control circuitry is configured to determine an inbound train on the second track,   wherein the first control circuitry is configured to communicate the inbound train on the first track to the second control circuitry, and the second control circuitry is configured to communicate the inbound train on the second track to the first control circuitry,   wherein the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor are configured to communicate with one another,   wherein the first microprocessor is configured to determine that a first activation of warning devices is to be activated at a grade crossing and communicate the first activation to the second microprocessor, and   wherein the second microprocessor is configured to determine a second sustained activation of the warning devices and communicate the second sustained activation to the first microprocessor.   
     
     
         2 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein the first track includes at least two separate train tracks monitored by the first control circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The communication structure of  claim 2  wherein the second track includes at least two separate train tracks monitored by the second control circuitry. 
     
     
         4 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein the first microprocessor is configured to communicate a clearance signal to a traffic indicator at the grade crossing upon an inbound movement of a train on the first track. 
     
     
         5 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein the first microprocessor is configured to communicate a warning device activation signal to warning indicators next to the first track upon an advancement of a train on the first track to the grade crossing. 
     
     
         6 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein the second microprocessor is configured to communicate a clearance signal to a traffic indicator at the grade crossing upon an inbound movement of a train on the second track. 
     
     
         7 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein the second microprocessor is configured to communicate a warning device activation signal to warning indicators next to the second track upon an advancement of a train on the second track to the grade crossing. 
     
     
         8 . The communication structure of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor communicate an inbound movement of a first train on the corresponding track with one another. 
     
     
         9 . The communication structure of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor communicate a first advancement of the first train on the corresponding track with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The communication structure of  claim 9  wherein the first advancement of the first train communicated between the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor causes at least one warning indicator on one or both the first track system and the second track system to activate, disallowing any vehicles from entering the grade crossing. 
     
     
         11 . The communication structure of  claim 10  wherein a second advancement of a second train at or near the same time as the first advancement communicated between the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor causes the at least one warning indicator on one or both the first track and the second track to remain activate, disallowing any vehicles from entering the grade crossing during an entirety of the first advancement and the second advancement. 
     
     
         12 . The communication structure of  claim 11  wherein the warning devices are deactivated upon clearance of the first train and the second train from the grade crossing. 
     
     
         13 . The communication structure of  claim 11  wherein the warning devices remain active after clearance of one of the first train or the second train from the grade crossing. 
     
     
         14 . A method for communicating train grade crossing signals comprising:
 detecting a first inbound movement of a first train on a first track towards a grade crossing via a first control circuitry of a first track system associated with the first track;   communicating the first inbound movement via the first control circuitry to a first microprocessor of the first track system;   communicating the first inbound movement via the first microprocessor to a second microprocessor of a second track system associated with a second track, and a traffic indicator;   communicating a first advancement of the first train towards the grade crossing via the first microprocessor to the second microprocessor, the traffic indicator, and first warning devices;   detecting a second inbound movement of a second train on the second track towards the grade crossing via a second control circuitry of the second track system;   communicating the second inbound movement via the second control circuitry to the second microprocessor;   communicating the second inbound movement via the second microprocessor to the first microprocessor and the traffic indicator; and   communicating a second advancement of the second train towards the grade crossing via the second microprocessor to the first microprocessor, the traffic indicator, and second warning devices;   wherein communication of the first inbound movement causes the traffic indicator to enter a clearance phase,   wherein communication of the first advancement causes the traffic indicator to enter a dwell phase and the first warning devices and the second warning devices to become active; and   wherein communication of the second inbound movement or the second advancement causes the traffic indicator to remain in the dwell phase and the first warning devices and the second warning devices to remain active.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first track includes at least two separate train tracks monitored by the first control circuitry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the second track includes at least two separate train tracks monitored by the second control circuitry. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising communicating a clearance signal to the traffic indicator at the grade crossing upon an inbound movement of the train on the first track. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 triggering a communication of the control signal when a second advancement of a second train, occurring within a threshold duration as the first advancement communicated between the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor, and controlling warning indicator on one or both the first track and the second track to remain activate and inhibiting vehicles from entering the grade crossing during an entirety of the first advancement and the second advancement.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 deactivating the first warning devices and the second warning devices upon clearance of the first train and the second train from the grade crossing.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 maintaining the first warning devices and the second warning devices active after clearance of only one of the first train or the second train from the grade crossing.