FR2769566A1 - Warning system for use at unmanned road-rail level crossings - Google Patents

Abstract

Additional signs on the railway warn train drivers in event of failure of road signs The signaling device in intended for road - rail crossings and comprises two sets of traffic lights on each approach road, and two electronic display panels. The text displayed on these panels may be modified as required at any time from a central control at a station or other control post. There is also a series of warning posts on each approach road to the crossing. The last of these posts is sufficiently far from the crossing that a lorry approaching the crossing at 140 km/h is able to stop before reaching the crossing. On the railway line there is a signal requesting the train driver to slow down when the road signals are not working. The whole system may also be connected to the normal railway safety and signaling system.

Description

 The present invention relates to road signs, and more particularly to the crossings between a railway track and a road. So guarded or unguarded level crossings.

 Currently, level crossings are indicated by a triangular sign, a red light and a barrier or half-barrier.

Current signage has several drawbacks. Indeed - the majority of motorists drive at a speed
higher than the authorized speed, - most roads have a forward turn and
after the level crossing.

- The majority of motorists pay little attention to
triangular panel,
A motorist arriving at the time of the passage of a train without having slowed down when seeing the triangular panel does not see the red light and the barrier lowered until after the turn. However if he is traveling at high speed (which is very often the case) he is in the material impossibility of stopping his vehicle before having broken down the barrier. Accidents, sometimes fatal, ensue.

 The device according to the present invention makes it possible to reduce the frequency and the severity of these collisions.

 The present invention consists of a combination of means which, to my knowledge, have never been brought together to solve this type of problem.

The device according to the invention comprises - on each of the access routes, a set of 4
posts: A, B, C, D. installed before the level crossing.

- at the edge of the railway track a system intended to warn the train driver that the road signs are malfunctioning.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the post A will be placed 50 cm before the barrier, the post B, 5 meters before the barrier.

 Posts C and D will be located at a sufficient distance to allow a truck traveling at 140 km / h to brake before the crossing.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the post C could be placed 195 meters before the barrier and the post D, 200 meters before the barrier.

 Posts A and D will be fitted with a three-color light system.

 Posts B and C will be equipped with a luminous electronic display panel. The text on these panels can be changed at any time, from a station or a central station.

 Example of use - 10 minutes before the train passes, the traffic lights turn to flashing orange. Panels B and C display the following text: "Watch out for the train" - 2 minutes before the train passes, the traffic lights turn red. panels B and C display: "Stop danger, train crossing" - after the train has passed, the traffic lights will turn green. Panels B and C display "Thank you" or, for France "SNCF thank you".

- 10 minutes after the train has passed, the signs
display and the traffic lights go out, and
remain off until the next train.

Claims (6)

 1) Signaling device intended to avoid collisions between a train and a road vehicle. This system is characterized by a series of posts located on the access roads.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the triangular panel and the red light are replaced by three-color lights much better known to motorists.  3) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the first and the last post is sufficient, to allow a truck traveling at 140 km / h to brake before the crossing.  4) Device according to claim 1, characterized by the presence of one or more electronic display panels.  5) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the text on the display panels can be changed at any time from a station or a central station.  6) Device enabling the train driver to be informed that the road signs are defective by means of a system located at the edge of the railway track.