System and method for protecting a railroad grade crossing or railroad track section

Abstract

A system for protecting a railroad grade crossing or a railroad track section includes an initiation device located at or in proximity to a grade crossing or track section, the initiation device facilitating a protection signal for the grade crossing or the track section, and an implementation system receiving the protection signal along with location information of the grade crossing or track section and preventing a train from reaching the grade crossing or track section.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for protecting a railroad grade crossing or a railroad track section, the system comprising:
 an initiation device located at or in proximity to a grade crossing or track section, the initiation device being configured to facilitate a protection signal for the grade crossing or the track section, and   an implementation system configured to receive the protection signal along with location information of the grade crossing or track section, and wherein the implementation system is configured to prevent an approaching train from reaching the grade crossing or track section.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the implementation system comprises a positive train control (PTC) system, and wherein the PTC system creates a point of protection for the grade crossing or track section and communicates the point of protection as a stop target bulletin to an onboard system of the approaching train.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the implementation system comprises a dispatch system.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication system configured to communicate the protection signal between the initiation device and the implementation system.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the communication system is located at or near the grade crossing or track section.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the initiation device is configured to transmit the protection signal directly to the implementation system.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the initiation device comprises a mechanical or electronic switch or mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the initiation device comprises information and instructions for initiation of the protection signal.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the information and instructions include a phone number, a QR code, a web page, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the initiation device comprises an external foul detection system monitoring the grade crossing or track section for an automated initiation and generation of the protection signal.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the external foul detection system comprises one or more sensor(s), one or more video camera(s), one or more LIDAR sensors, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         12 . A method for protecting a railroad grade crossing or railroad track section, the method comprising:
 initiating protection of a grade crossing or track section utilizing an initiation device located at or in proximity to a grade crossing or track section,   generating and sending a protection signal by the initiation device, and   preventing a train from reaching the grade crossing or track section based on the protection signal.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 installing the initiation device at or in proximity to the grade crossing or track section, wherein the initiation device comprises a mechanical or electronic switch installed at or in proximity to the grade crossing or track section.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the initiation device comprises information and instructions for remotely initiating the protection of the grade crossing or track section.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the initiation device comprises an external foul detection system, and   further comprising monitoring the grade crossing or track section by the external foul detection system, and   automatically initiating and generating the protection signal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 adding location information of the grade crossing or track section to the protection signal, and   sending the protection signal with the location information to an implementation system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the implementation system comprises a positive train control (PTC) system, and further comprising:   creating a point of protection by the PTC system, and   communicating the point of protection as a stop target bulletin to an onboard system of the approaching train.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing, by the PTC system, the point of protection after the stop target bulletin has been completed, or the point of protection and/or stop target bulletin is cancelled from the PTC system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the implementation system comprises a dispatch system, and further comprising communicating the protection signal with location information to a dispatcher, wherein the dispatcher creates a bulletin utilizing the dispatch system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 notifying a crew that the train is approaching the grade crossing or track section.