Supercapacitor power supply for a gate crossing mechanism

Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes detecting a loss of power to a motor of the gate crossing mechanism. The motor is operably coupled to a gate of the gate crossing mechanism. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by at least one supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a gate crossing mechanism, and more specifically, to techniques for a supercapacitor power supply for a gate crossing mechanism.

An intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path is referred to as a level crossing. Level crossings utilize gate crossing mechanisms to control traffic on the road or path when a train or other vehicle is passing through the level crossing. The gate crossing mechanisms prevent vehicles, pedestrians, etc., from crossing the railway line while the gate crossing mechanism is engaged.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to direction control for a motor of a gate crossing mechanism.

A non-limiting example method for controlling a gate crossing mechanism includes detecting a loss of power to a motor of the gate crossing mechanism, the motor being operably coupled to a gate of the gate crossing mechanism. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by at least one supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.

A non-limiting example gate crossing mechanism includes a gate, a motor operably coupled to the gate, a supercapacitor, and a controller for performing a method. The method includes detecting a loss of power to the motor. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by the supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.

The diagrams depicted herein are illustrative. There can be many variations to the diagram or the operations described therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the actions can be performed in a differing order or actions can be added, deleted or modified. Also, the term “coupled” and variations thereof describes having a communications path between two elements and does not imply a direct connection between the elements with no intervening elements/connections between them. All of these variations are considered a part of the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide for a gate crossing mechanism, including techniques for controlling a gate crossing motor and/or detecting and/or preventing faults of the gate crossing motor. A gate crossing mechanism protects motorists, pedestrians, and the like from oncoming trains by blocking level crossings or points at which public or private roads cross railway lines at the same level.

As one example, a gate crossing mechanism can include an arm or “gate” that, using a motor, selectively lowers/raises depending upon whether a train or other vehicle is passing through the level crossing. For example, if a train is approaching a level crossing, a gate can be lowered to prevent traffic on the road or path from crossing the railway line. A level crossing can be equipped with multiple gate crossing mechanisms. For example, each side of the railway line can include a gate crossing mechanism. In larger intersections, each side of the railway line can include two (or more) gate crossing mechanisms. Gate crossing mechanisms can further include lights, sirens, bells, or other similar devices that can provide visual and/or aural warnings.

Conventional gate crossing mechanisms can be susceptible to failures, malfunctions, etc., which can reduce their ability to control a level crossing safely. It is, therefore, desirable to improve efficiency, reliability, and functionality of conventional gate crossing mechanisms.

The above-described aspects of the invention address the shortcomings of the prior art by providing techniques for improving the efficiency, reliability, and functionality of gate crossing mechanisms. Such aspects can include fault detection of a gate crossing motor, overspeed protection of a gate crossing motor, direction control of a gate crossing motor, thermal lockout of a gate crossing motor, and controlling a gate crossing mechanism using a supercapacitor power supply (referred to herein as a “supercapacitor”).

Gate crossing mechanisms having the features and functionality described herein provide improve efficiency and address problems associated with conventional gate crossing mechanisms. For example, a gate crossing mechanism can include a brushless motor and digital control logic rather than a conventional brushed motor and mechanical cams. Motor brushes can experience uneven wear patterns, after which they must be replaced. This is both costly and time consuming for railways or those responsible for maintaining gate crossing mechanisms featuring brushed motors.

Additionally, the brushless motors of the gate crossing mechanisms described herein provide for controlling a gate crossing mechanism during a power failure using a supercapacitor. Convention gate crossing mechanisms use counterweights on the gate to enable the gate to lower from an open (i.e., substantially vertical) position to a closed (i.e., substantially horizontal) position. In some cases, the gate of a gate crossing mechanism can get stuck in the open position due to environmental factors, such as high winds, ice build-up, fallen branch or other plant material, etc. This could prevent the gate crossing mechanism from reaching a safe state (i.e., gate lowered to the closed position to prevent traffic from entering the intersection). Further, a motor of the gate crossing mechanism may provide mechanical assistance to the gate to cause it to initiate a downward movement. For example, a motor can apply an assistive force (i.e., torque) to the gate to cause the gate to begin moving from the open position to the closed position. However, during a power failure, the motor is unable to provide this assistive force, which can result in the gate being stuck in the open position and unable to lower in some cases. This results in an unsafe condition because the level crossing cannot be closed to road traffic. The present techniques address these and other shortcomings of the prior art by using a supercapacitor to provide power to the motor of the gate crossing mechanism to provide an assistive force to aid in lowering the gate, thereby preventing the stuck condition associated with conventional gate crossing mechanisms.

Turning now toFIG.1, a block diagram of a controller110for a motor102of a gate crossing mechanism100is depicted according to one or more embodiments described herein. In this example, the gate crossing mechanism100includes the motor102, the controller110, a supercapacitor150, and a gate104. The gate104can be supported by any suitable structure, such as a gate support105. The controller110and/or the motor102can be coupled to, incorporated in, or otherwise associated with the gate104and/or the gate support105. The gate crossing mechanism100controls the gate104at an intersection (i.e., crossing)120of a railway122and a road124. The gate104, when in a “down” or “closed” position, prevents traffic traveling along the road124from crossing the intersection120. When in an “up” or “open” position, the gate104allows traffic traveling along the road124to cross the intersection120. In examples, the intersection can be controlled by additional gate crossing mechanisms (not shown). The supercapacitor150provides power to the motor102and/or the controller110to enable an assistive force to be applied to the gate104to cause the gate104to lower from the opened position to the closed position in the case of a power failure.

FIG.2depicts a block diagram of the controller110ofFIG.1being configured for controlling a gate crossing mechanism100using a supercapacitor150according to one or more embodiments described herein. According to one or more embodiments described herein, the controller110can include various components configured and arranged as shown.

As one example, the controller110includes a battery201, the supercapacitor150, a safety discharge216, gate control inputs212, a gate control voltage converter214, a signal isolation block206, control circuitry210, an overspeed block218, and a motor snubber220. As shown inFIG.2, one or more of the supercapacitor150and the control circuitry210can be powered by the battery201, although any suitable power source can be used.

As described herein, during a power failure, the motor102is unable to provide an assistive force to the gate104, which can result in the gate104being stuck in the open position and unable to lower. The controller110ofFIG.2utilizes the supercapacitor150to provide power to the motor102to enable the motor102to provide the assistive force to the gate104to enable the gate104to overcome a stuck condition and lower from the open position the closed position.

Power is provided to the controller110via the battery201and the gate control inputs212. As shown, the supercapacitor150is charged by the battery201(or another power source such as the gate control inputs212). If the battery201and/or the gate control inputs212(or another power source) become discharged or are unable to provide power (i.e., a loss of power occurs), the supercapacitor150can provide power to the control circuitry210, which causes the motor snubber210and/or the overspeed block218to control the motor102to enable the motor102to provide the assistive force to the gate104. The assistive force provided by the motor102causes the gate104to lower to the closed position from the open position. That is, the motor102can apply an assistive force, using power from the supercapacitor150, to the gate104when the controller110loses power.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, the battery201acts as a trickle charger to keep the supercapacitor150charged to a high charge threshold (e.g., 12 volts). If the charge level of the supercapacitor150falls below a low charge threshold, the battery201can provide power to the supercapacitor150to charge the supercapacitor150until it is charged to the high charge threshold.

The safety discharge216utilizes a discharge circuit (e.g., discharge circuit370ofFIG.3) to enable manually discharging the supercapacitor150, such as to enable maintenance to be safely performed.

FIG.3depicts a circuit300for having a plurality of supercapacitors150,351,352,353,354for powering the gate crossing mechanism100according to one or more embodiments described herein. The circuit300can be implemented in or by the controller110for example. The supercapacitors150,351-354are arranged in series, as shown, to provide a desired voltage. In the example ofFIG.3, the circuit300five supercapacitors150,351-354; however, it should be appreciated that other numbers of supercapacitors can be implemented to provide a desired voltage.

The supercapacitors150,351-354receive power from the battery201(or another suitable power source) via VCCB340. Once the voltage of the supercapacitors150,351-354reaches a desired charge (i.e., the high charge threshold), the battery201(VCCB340) is disconnected by turning off BJT342pin T2. In some examples, the high charge threshold is about 12 volts, although other voltages can be used. After the supercapacitors150,351-354achieve their desired charge, to maintain this charge, the supercapacitors150,351-354receive a trickle charge from a voltage supply derived from the gate control signals (VCC_GATE344). Each supercapacitor150,351-354is balanced to ensure that each is charging at the same rate and to the same voltage level. This balancing of the supercapacitors150,351-354is managed by balancing circuits360,361,362,362,364respectively, which are configured and arranged as shown inFIG.3for example. In particular, the balancing circuits360-364can be active balancing circuits (as shown inFIG.3) or passive balancing circuits (not shown). It should be appreciated that, in some implementations such as where only one supercapacitor is used, the balancing circuits360-364may be omitted.

Once both battery power (VCCB340) and the gate control signal (VCC_GATE344) are removed/disconnected from the controller110, the gate crossing mechanism100is in a state of power loss (a fault state). At this point, the supercapacitors150,351-354discharge and supply power to apply the assistive force to the gate104to enable the gate104to be pushed from the open position. In some examples, the assistive force lasts a predetermined period of time, such as about 3 seconds. After this period of time, the assistive force stops, and the gate104continues to lower to the closed position due to gravity. The period of time can be set using the low charge threshold for example. That is, the low charge threshold can be set such that it will take the desired period of time for the supercapacitors150,351-354to discharge from the high charge threshold to the low charge threshold.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, a discharge circuit370is provided to enable manually discharging the supercapacitors150,351-354. This enables maintainers that are coming to perform work on the gate crossing mechanism100to safely discharge the supercapacitors150,351-354by pressing a discharge button372. In such cases, the discharge circuit370discharges the supercapacitors150,351-354using one or more resistors (e.g., R156, R158, R169). A light-emitting diode (LED) can remain illuminated throughout the discharging according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG.4depicts a flow diagram of a method400for controlling the gate crossing mechanism100using a supercapacitor (e.g., one or more of the supercapacitors150,351-354) according to one or more embodiments described herein. The method400can be implemented by any suitable processing system or device, such as the controller110. The method400is now described with reference toFIGS.1-3.

At block402, the controller110(or any other suitable processing system and/or processing device) detects a loss of power to the motor102of the gate crossing mechanism100. The motor102is operably coupled to the gate104of the gate crossing mechanism100.

At block404, responsive to detecting the loss of power at block402, the supercapacitor150provides power to the motor102to initiate the gate104moving from an open position to a closed position. In some examples, such as shown inFIG.3, multiple supercapacitors (e.g., the supercapacitors150and351-354) are used and arranged in series. In the case of multiple supercapacitors, each supercapacitor can be electrically coupled to a balancing circuit to provide balanced charging to each of the supercapacitors. The balancing circuit can be an active balancing circuit (as shown inFIG.3) or a passive balancing circuit (not shown).

Additional processes also may be included. For example, the method400can include, subsequent to restoration of the power, recharging the supercapacitor150using a battery201until the supercapacitor150has a charge level at least equal to a high charge threshold. As an example, the high charge threshold can be a voltage threshold, such as 12 volts, or another suitable voltage that enables the supercapacitor150to operate the gate104.

In another example, the method400can include, responsive the charge level of the supercapacitor150dropping below a low charge threshold, recharging the at least one supercapacitor using a voltage supply derived from a gate controller (e.g., the battery201) until the supercapacitor150has a charge level at least equal to the high charge threshold. As an example, the low charge threshold can be a voltage threshold, such as 9 volts, or another suitable voltage that, when reached, causes the supercapacitor to stop sending power to the motor102. In some examples, the supercapacitor sends power to the motor102responsive to detection of a power loss until the supercapacitor is fully discharged of power.

In another example, the controller110can include a discharge circuit370. The discharge circuit370causes the supercapacitor150(and any additional supercapacitors, including supercapacitors351-354) to discharge responsive to a discharge button372being engaged. This enables, for example, maintenance to be performed without risking electrocution by the supercapacitor. The discharge circuit370can include one or more resistors (e.g., R156, R158, R169) and/or one or more LED (e.g., D59). For example, an LED can remain illuminated during the discharging, and the LED stops illuminating once the discharge is complete (i.e., once the supercapacitor has been fully discharged) to indicate that the supercapacitor has been fully discharged.

It should be understood that the process depicted inFIG.4represents an illustration, and that other processes may be added or existing processes may be removed, modified, or rearranged without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented as one or more systems, methods, and/or computer program products at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.