Abstract:
A backup power railroad crossing notification system for a railroad crossing mechanism. The system includes a stationary audible device carried within a railroad housing proximate to a railroad crossing mechanism; a remote mobile device; and a computer carried within the railroad housing. The computer includes a switch conductively coupled to a battery and operably associated with the stationary audible device; and a transceiver in data communication with the mobile device. A method includes wirelessly communicate with the mobile device via the transceiver if power is being drawn from the battery; and activating the stationary audible device if power is being drawn from the battery.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to backup power notifications systems for railroad installations. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Backup power notification systems for railroad installations are well known in the art and are effective means to notify maintenance personnel that an installation&#39;s backup power mechanism has been engaged. For example,  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a conventional backup power notification system  101  associated with a railroad crossing mechanism  100 . The system  101  is stored within the railroad housing  107  and is configured to provide power to the mechanism  100 . The system  101  includes a battery  201 , relay device  203 , and warning light  103  carried by a relay case  105  within a railroad housing  107 . 
     It should be understood that the railroad housing  107  is powered by the city grid (not shown) and the backup power mechanism only engages when the primary power source is disabled due to, for example, inclement weather, vandalism, or maintenance. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , when the backup power mechanism engages, the relay device  203  enables the battery  201  to provide power to the warning light  103 , which serves to notify maintenance personnel that the primary power must be restored. 
     A common disadvantage associated with notification system  101  is its limited scope. For example, maintenance personnel working in the daylight may not notice that the warning light  103  is on. It is understood that a railroad installation relying heavily on a backup power mechanism has a limited lifespan and will likely require additional maintenance. 
     Another common disadvantage associated with system  101  is that it cannot detect the proximity of maintenance personnel or warn anyone that does not have a line of sight on the warning light  103 . 
     Although great strides have been made in the area of backup power notification systems for railroad installations, many shortcomings remain. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified front view of a conventional backup power notification system for railroad crossing mechanisms; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic of the notification system of  FIG. 1  with the backup power engaged; 
         FIG. 3  is simplified front view of a backup power notification system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 4A  is a simplified schematic of the notification system of  FIG. 3  with the primary power engaged; and 
         FIG. 4B  is a simplified schematic of the notification system of  FIG. 3  with the primary power disengaged. 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic of the notification with range finder system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic of the range finder of the notification system of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional backup power notification systems for railroad stations. Specifically, the system of the present application is configured to transmit audio notification that primary power systems should be restored. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 3  depicts simplified front view of a backup power notification system  301  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that the system  301  overcomes one of more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional backup power notification systems. 
     In the contemplated embodiment, system  301  includes a battery  401 , one or more relay devices  403 , and one or more audible devices  303  (such as an audio chirp) carried by a relay case  305  that is housed within a railroad installation  307 . 
     It will be understood that, when the system  301  is removed from its primary power source (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), the relay devices  403  will engage the battery  401  to power the warning devices  303  which will in turn provide notification to a maintenance worker  309  that primary power is disabled. It will be appreciated that, by allowing a maintenance worker  309  to receive additional, non-visual warnings to restore primary power, the risk that the worker will fail in this task is reduced. 
     In the contemplated embodiment, the audible device  303  is a transmitter through which the reminder to restore primary power can be sent to a nearby wireless device (not shown) carried by the maintenance worker  309 . It will be appreciated that such a reminder can be sent to any mobile device (not shown) and can be archived for record-keeping purposes. 
     In another contemplated embodiment the system  301  also includes a receiver (not shown) that detects the proximity of a maintenance worker  309  to the railroad installation  307 , and enables the engagement of the warning device  303  if the worker becomes too distant from the railroad installation  307  while primary power is disabled. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  a simplified schematic of the system of  FIG. 3  is shown with the primary power  401  engaged and disengaged, respectively. As discussed, the system  301  includes a battery  403 , one or more relay devices  405 , and one or more non-visual warning devices  303  carried by a relay case  305 . A visual warning device  407  is also shown. 
     One of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is that it employs one or more non-visual methods for warning railroad staff that a railroad installation is running on backup power and may require reengagement with its primary power source. 
     Additional unique features believed characteristic of the present application include that the warnings provided by the system  301  can be triggered by the proximity of the maintenance worker  309  and need not rely on line of site. Also, the warnings can be sent to the maintenance worker  309  directly to prevent the worker from leaving the installation while it is running on backup power; or the warnings may be sent to third party personnel to audit and address the thoroughness of the maintenance crews. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , the features of system  301  are further defined and shown during use. System  301  includes a computer  501  having a processor  503  in data communication with the railroad crossing mechanism  100 . The computer is configured to activate the audible device  303  when the battery is being drawn. System  301  is further provided with a range finder  505  and a transceiver  507  operably associated with processor  503 . In the contemplated embodiment, transceiver  507  detects the presence of and relays a signal to a remote device  509  carried by the worker  309 . In the exemplary embodiment, the remote device  509  is a key fob configured to securely attach to the keys of the worker (not shown). The key fob can be configured to emit a signal, for example, one or more of a light, vibration or audible noise signal that can be seen, felt, or heard by the worker or third party. It will be appreciated that a mobile phone and/or other similar device could also receive the signal from transceiver  507 . For example, a smartphone could include an application that receives and notifies the worker in the event that the backup battery is being drawn. Such notifications could be a phone call, text message, ring tone, and the like. 
     In lieu of or in addition to sending a signal to device  509 , it is also contemplated incorporating the features of alerting a third party such as a control office  511  via wireless transmission, e.g., cellular data communication. Thus, another worker can be notified via transceiver  507 . 
     It should be understood that as the worker leaves the railroad housing, the distance between the transceiver  507  and the device  509  increases, thus limiting the type of signal that can be transmitted. Accordingly, it is contemplated using a range finder  505  configured to send a signal to the device  509 , and if no signal is received in return, to switch between a second stronger signal, as indicated in  FIG. 6 , and discussed more fully below. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the features of the range finder  505  are shown. The range finder  505  is configured to send a wireless transmission via transmitter  507  within a determined range area  601  and to determined the distance the device  509  is relative to the railroad housing. As indicated by circles  603 ,  605 , and  607 , the respective distances D 1 , D 2 , and D 3  requires the range finder  505  to switch between different signal transmission types, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or GPS. Thus, the further the device  509  from the railroad housing, the higher powered signal is transmitted. The range finder is thus configured to determine the range distance of the mobile device via the transceiver  507  and processor  503 . 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.