Supplemental shunting device indicator

Abstract

A supplemental shunting device indicator (SSDI) for use with respect to a shunting device for a railroad. The SSDI comprises a housing. The housing comprises a light, a clamp for surrounding at least a portion of the shunting device, a power supply, and a current-sensing switch configured to electrically connect the power supply and the light in response to detection of a current.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A supplemental shunting device indicator (SSDI) for use with respect to a shunting device for a railroad, the SSDI comprising:
 a housing, the housing comprising:
 a light; 
 a clamp for surrounding at least a portion of the shunting device; 
 a power supply; and 
 a current-sensing switch configured to electrically connect the power supply and the light in response to detection of a current. 
   
     
     
         2 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a magnet for attaching the SSDI to a rail. 
     
     
         3 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the light is configured to strobe in response to being electrically connected to the power supply. 
     
     
         4 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the current-sensing switch is an integral part of the clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the light to strobe in response to being electrically connected to the power supply. 
     
     
         6 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the light to illuminate in a predetermined pattern in response to a particular content of the current detected. 
     
     
         7 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to detect current equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold current value. 
     
     
         8 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to detect current less than a predetermined threshold current value. 
     
     
         9 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is one or more batteries. 
     
     
         10 . The SSDI of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker electrically connected with the current-sensing switch, and
 wherein the current-sensing switch is further configured to electrically connect the power supply and the speaker in response to detection of the current.   
     
     
         11 . The SSDI of  claim 10 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the speaker to generate sound at a predetermined frequency in response to the current detected. 
     
     
         12 . The SSDI of  claim 10 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the speaker to generate sound at a predetermined modulation in response to the current detected. 
     
     
         13 . A supplemental shunting device indicator (SSDI) for use with respect to a shunting device for a railroad, the SSDI comprising:
 a housing, the housing comprising:
 a speaker; 
 a clamp for surrounding at least a portion of the shunting device; 
 a power supply; and 
 a current-sensing switch configured to electrically connect the power supply and the speaker in response to detection of a current. 
   
     
     
         14 . The SSDI of  claim 13 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the speaker to generate sound at a predetermined frequency in response to the current detected. 
     
     
         15 . The SSDI of  claim 13 , wherein the current-sensing switch is configured to cause the speaker to generate sound at a predetermined modulation in response to the current detected. 
     
     
         16 . The SSDI of  claim 13 , further comprising a light electrically connected with the current-sensing switch, and
 wherein the current-sensing switch is further configured to electrically connect the power supply and the light in response to detection of the current.   
     
     
         17 . The SSDI of  claim 16 , wherein the light is configured to strobe in response to being electrically connected to the power supply. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a supplemental shunt device indicator (SSDI) on a shunting device for a railroad, the SSDI comprising a housing having a light, a clamp for surrounding at least a portion of the shunting device, a power supply, and a current-sensing switch configured to electrically connect the power supply and the light in response to detection of a current, the method comprising:
 attaching a shunting device between rails of a track circuit; and   attaching the SSDI to the shunting device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of using the SSDI of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 for each worker working in a region near the shunting device, attaching one SSDI per each worker to the shunting device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of using the SSDI of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 removing each SSDI attached to the shunting device from the shunting device after verifying that a corresponding worker has left the region near the shunting device.