US 6,845,953 B2
Method and system for checking track integrityGeneral
US 6,845,953 B2
Method and system for checking track integrity
Tech Center:
3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security and License and Review
Examiner:
S. Joseph Morano
Art Unit:
3617 Surface Transportation
Agent:
Inventors:
Mark Edward Kane; James Francis Shockley; Harrison Thomas Hickenlooper
Assignee:
Priority:
10/10/02
Filed:
10/10/02
Granted:
01/25/05
Expiration:
10/11/22
Abstract
A train control system includes a control module that determines a position of a train using a positioning system and consults a database to determine when the train is approaching a portion of track monitored by a track circuit. When the train is near a track circuit, but while the train is still far enough away from the track circuit such that the train can be stopped before reaching the portion of track monitored by the track circuit, the train transmits an interrogation message to a transceiver associated with the track circuit. When the track circuit receives the interrogation message, a test is initiated. The test results are transmitted back to the train. The train takes corrective action if the track circuit fails to respond or indicates a problem.
Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
B61B61L2205/04B61L