Advance warning system for railroad crossing

Abstract

An early warning system warns a motorist that a train is near a railway crossing that is being approached by the motorist. The early warning system utilizes magnetometers that are placed along a railway at locations corresponding to the locations at which existing electrical circuits detect an approaching train. The early warning system also includes a sign system that is spaced apart from the railway crossing and is visible to a driver at least five hundred feet before the driver reach the sign system. The sign system is activated when a train approaches the railway crossing.

1 . A warning system for a railroad crossing consisting of the intersection of a road and a railway, the system alerting a driver of a vehicle approaching along the road the railroad crossing of the presence of a train on the railway, said system comprising 
 (a) at least one sensor to detect the presence of a train on the railway a selected distance before the railroad crossing and to generate activation signals;    (b) at least one warning sign system positioned along the road at least one hundred and fifty feet from the railroad crossing to receive activation signals and including 
 (i) a railroad crossing warning sign,  
 (ii) a spaced apart pair of lights that each are normally off and that flash on and off when said sign system receives said activation signals  
 (ii) a sign indicating that a train is approaching when said lights flash,  
    said warning sign visible to the driver of the vehicle on the road and approaching the railroad crossing at least five hundred feet before the vehicle reaches the warning sign system under weather conditions where visibility is at least five hundred feet.    
   
   
       2 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor causes activation signals to be generated by sending warning signals to a controller that receives said warning signals and generates said activation signals.  
   
   
       3 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein there is a direct line of sign from said warning sign system to said railroad crossing.  
   
   
       4 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein there are a plurality of said sensors to detect the location of the train at different points along the railway.  
   
   
       5 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said sensor determines the speed of the train.  
   
   
       6 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is a magnetometer.  
   
   
       7 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said sensor determines the distance of the train from the railroad crossing.  
   
   
       8 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said sign system includes only a single light that flashes when said sign system receives said activation signals.  
   
   
       9 . The warning system of  claim 5  wherein said warning signals are transmitted as radio signals.  
   
   
       10 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said flashing lights each have a width of at least eight inches.  
   
   
       11 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said flashing lights alternately flash on and off.  
   
   
       12 . The warning system of  claim 1  wherein said railroad crossing includes an existing electrical circuit system that detects the presence of a train at said selected distance from said crossing.  
   
   
       13 . A warning system for a railroad crossing consisting of the intersection of a road and a railway, the system alerting a vehicle approaching along the road the railroad crossing of the presence of a train on the railway, said system comprising 
 (a) at least one sensor in the railway to measure a magnetic field to detect the presence of a train on the railway a selected distance before the railroad crossing and to generate activation signals;    (b) a warning sign system positioned along the road at least one hundred and fifty feet from the railroad crossing to receive said activation signals and including 
 (i) a railroad crossing warning sign,  
 (ii) at least one signal light to flash on and off when said sign system receives said activation signals  
 (ii) a sign indicating that a train is approaching when said lights flash,  
    said warning sign visible to the driver of the vehicle on the road and approaching the railroad crossing before the vehicle reaches the warning sign system.    
   
   
       14 . A warning system for a railroad crossing consisting of the intersection of a road and a railway, the system alerting a driver of a vehicle approaching along the road the railroad crossing of the presence of a train on the railway, said system comprising 
 (a) at least one sensor in the railway to measure a magnetic field to detect the presence of a train on the railway a selected distance before the railroad crossing and to generate activation signals;    (b) a warning sign system positioned along the road at least one hundred and fifty feet from the railroad crossing and with a direct line of sight to the railroad crossing to receive said activation signals and including 
 (i) a railroad crossing warning sign,  
 (ii) at least one signal light to flash on and off when said sign system receives said activation signals,  
 (ii) a sign indicating that a train is approaching when said lights flash,  
    said warning sign visible to the driver of the vehicle on the road and approaching the railroad crossing before the vehicle reaches the warning sign system.