Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing warning lamps on the side of railcars where the lamps are powered by and receive information from a power line extending across numerous cars of the train and where the power line also provides power and information to the electronic air brakes disposed on the various railcars.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to railroad grade crossing safety systems and more particularly relates to on-board railroad grade crossing safety systems. 
     In the past, numerous steps have been taken to help reduce accidents between trains and automobiles at railroad grade crossings. One step commonly used is to provide railroad grade crossing barriers or barricades which extend across the roadway as a train approaches and crosses the grade crossing. This would be considered a protected grade crossing. These barricades are usually associated with flashing red lights to catch the attention of approaching motorists. While these barricades are very helpful at reducing automobile to train collisions, they are expensive, and it is often viewed as cost prohibitive to place these barricades at every railroad grade crossing. One method that has been used in the past to help reduce automobile/train collisions is to require the locomotive engineer to sound a loud horn as the train approaches every grade crossing. While this approach of sounding a horn at a grade crossing has been helpful, the primary benefit is for trains which are approaching a grade crossing, and it does very little to help with collisions between automobiles and a rear section of the train. Every year numerous automobiles drive into the side of a train occupying a grade crossing, especially during times of low visibility, such as snow, fog, or a late-night rainstorm, etc. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved railroad grade crossing systems which help reduce collisions occurring between automobiles and rear sections of a train as it passes an unprotected railroad grade crossing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced railroad grade crossing safety. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to include running lights disposed on railcars. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to warn automobiles of the existence of all sections of a train as it crosses a railroad grade crossing. 
     It is another object of the present invention to enhance railroad safety in an economically efficient manner. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to utilize a power line extending between the railcars which is used for operating electronic air brake systems. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to minimize the financial investment necessary to deploy such a system. 
     The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving railcar visibility at grade crossings which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, achieve the above-mentioned objects, include the herein-described features and achieve the already articulated advantages. 
     Accordingly, the present invention includes a plurality of railcars with an electronic communication/power line extending therebetween for use by an electronic air brake system and at least one running light disposed on the railcar where the running light is powered by the communication/power line for the electronic air brake system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a train, of the present invention, as it crosses a highway at an unprotected grade crossing. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of the present invention in its intended environment in which the components of the invention found on a single car are detailed while a series of dots represents a series of similarly constructed railcars. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a train of the present invention generally designated  100 , as it crosses a highway  102 . Train  100  is shown including cars  110 ,  112  and  114 . Interconnecting the cars  110 ,  112  and  114  of train  100  is an electronic air brake power line designated  120 , which is used to provide power for the electronic air brake system, as well as a medium for communicating messages from a locomotive (not shown) to the various railcars of the train  100 , including cars  110 ,  112  and  114 . The cars  110 ,  112  and  114  are shown having running lights  130 ,  132  and  134  respectively disposed thereon. Connecting running lights  130 ,  132  and  134  to power line  120  are lines  140 ,  142  and  144  respectively. Also shown on cars  110 ,  112  and  114  are electronic air brake systems  150 ,  152  and  154  respectively. Power line  120  runs the length of the train  100  and connects the various air brake systems, including electronic air brake systems  150 ,  152  and  154 . It should be understood that a similar running light may be disposed on the opposite side of the railcar to alert motorists approaching from the opposite direction. It should also be understood that the system of the present invention could be employed with a power line that does not relate to an electronic air brake system. 
     Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a train  100  of the present invention, having a locomotive  202  and a head end control unit  204  disposed thereon. Running the length of train  100  is power line  120 . Train  100  could include numerous railcars; however, FIG. 2 shows a representative railcar  112  having an air brake control  152  thereon, as well as running lights  132 . Running lights  132  may be any type of device which utilize power on the power line  120  to generate or regulate emission of light in a direction toward motorists approaching a train at a railroad grade crossing, including but not limited to incandescent, fluorescent, iridescent, luminescent, phosphorescent, gas discharge, electroluminescent, among others. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with their ruggedness and low power consumption may be well suited as running lights  132 . Each railcar may also include a car ID module  262 , which includes a unique identification for each railcar and may further include an intra-car network which couples the various electronic components on the car. The car ID module  262  may also be responsible for running light power regulation from power line  120  and illumination control as it receives running light messages from the powerline. Such components may be additional sensors  272  which are optional and are not necessary for operation of the present invention. 
     In operation, the present invention may be operated in conjunction with the horn  280  located on the locomotive  202  and connected with a horn switch  282 . For example, as a train approaches a grade crossing, the locomotive engineer may sound a horn by pushing a button  282  or pulling a lever. This action could also be used to activate the running lights  132 . The lights may all be turned on simultaneously or, in the alternative, only those sections approaching and crossing a road may be illuminated. It is expected that various schemes may be employed to provide the necessary illumination and to concomitantly limit the power consumption and the duration of illumination of lights  132 , such as using the speed of the train, the known length of the train, distance traveled (e.g. odometer readings) and a timer to activate and deactivate the running lights at appropriate times. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described being a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.