Rail crossing remote diagnostics

Abstract

The present technology provides a rail crossing remote diagnostics system. The rail crossing remote diagnostics system includes a rail crossing station monitor installed in a bungalow at a rail crossing station. The station monitor has a communication module, such as a wireless transceiver, a connection to the ethernet, a cellular transceiver, a telephone connection, or a modem. The rail crossing remote diagnostics system also includes one or more diagnostic sensors installed at the rail crossing station. The diagnostic sensors are adapted to communicate with the station monitor. The station monitor automatically monitors at least one device installed at the rail crossing station and generates rail crossing diagnostics reports. The present technology also provides a rail crossing diagnostics network that includes a network hub and one or more rail crossing remote diagnostics systems. Certain embodiments also provide methods for automatically monitoring the operation of a rail crossing station.

1 ) A rail crossing remote diagnostics system comprising:
 a station monitor installed in a bungalow at a rail crossing station, the station monitor having a communication module; and   a diagnostic sensor installed at the rail crossing station, the diagnostic sensor adapted to communicate with the station monitor;   wherein, the station monitor monitors at least one device installed at the rail crossing station and generates rail crossing diagnostics reports.   
     
     
         2 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor automatically monitors at least one device installed in the bungalow. 
     
     
         3 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module transmits the rail crossing diagnostics reports to a network via the communication module. 
     
     
         4 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module allows the station monitor to be operated remotely via a network. 
     
     
         5 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor further comprises at least one redundant backup control, the redundant backup control operating at least one rail crossing station function when the station monitor detects a problem at the rail crossing station. 
     
     
         6 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor and the diagnostic sensor operate together to monitor the operation of at least one sensor installed at the rail crossing station. 
     
     
         7 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic sensor is installed at the rail crossing station external to the bungalow. 
     
     
         8 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic sensor is installed at the rail crossing station inside of the bungalow. 
     
     
         9 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more diagnostic sensors installed at the rail crossing station, each the diagnostic sensor adapted to communicate with the station monitor. 
     
     
         10 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic sensor comprises at least one of the following: a power source sensor, a gate tip sensor, a dragging equipment sensor, a wind speed monitor, a shunt sensor, an equipment temperature sensor, a video camera sensor, an ambient light sensor, a light signal sensor, a backup gate sensor, and a sound sensor. 
     
     
         11 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor monitors the performance of at least one of the following: signal roundel lights, crossing gate lights, crossing gate tilt, crossing gate integrity, time between gate lowering and train arrival, time that a train is in the crossing area, power integrity into the bungalow, power level of a bungalow backup battery, bungalow date and time, signal integrity of a gate trigger system, and status of backup gate activation systems. 
     
     
         12 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor further includes at least one of a bungalow intrusion alarm and a data recorder. 
     
     
         13 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor further comprises a station monitor power system that includes a station monitor backup battery. 
     
     
         14 ) The rail crossing remote diagnostics system of  claim 1 , wherein the station monitor is connected to a crossing controller unit installed in the bungalow. 
     
     
         15 ) A rail crossing diagnostics network comprising:
 at least one rail crossing remote diagnostics system installed at a rail crossing station, the rail crossing remote diagnostics system comprising:
 a station monitor installed in a bungalow at the rail crossing station, the station monitor having a communication module; and 
 a diagnostic sensor installed at the rail crossing station, the diagnostic sensor adapted to communicate with the station monitor; and 
   a network hub in communication with the at least one rail crossing diagnostics system;   wherein, the station monitor automatically monitors at least one device installed at the rail crossing station and generates rail crossing diagnostics reports, and further wherein the network hub provides remote access to the at least one rail crossing remote diagnostics system.   
     
     
         16 ) The rail crossing diagnostics network of  claim 15 , further comprising at least two rail crossing remote diagnostics systems, wherein the network hub provides remote access to each of the at least two rail crossing remote diagnostics systems. 
     
     
         17 ) A method for automatically monitoring the operation of a rail crossing station comprising the following steps:
 monitoring equipment within a bungalow installed at a rail crossing station using a station monitor installed in the bungalow;   monitoring the operation of at least one rail crossing station sensor using the station monitor and one or more diagnostic sensors installed at the rail crossing station, where the one or more diagnostic sensors are in communication with the station monitor; and   generating a diagnostics report with the station monitor.   
     
     
         18 ) The method for automatically monitoring the operation of a rail crossing station of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of using the station monitor to transmit a diagnostics report over a network. 
     
     
         19 ) The method for automatically monitoring the operation of a rail crossing station of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of using the station monitor to execute a function based upon a remote command transmitted over a network. 
     
     
         20 ) The method for automatically monitoring the operation of a rail crossing station of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of using the station monitor to execute a backup control operation when the station monitor detects a problem at the rail crossing station.