1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The invention relates to the field of half-barriers and full-length barriers for securing of a railroad level crossings.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The railroad level crossing is a place of direct confrontation between rail and road traffic, and thus, from the point of view of traffic safety, it is a high-risk point. For this reason, such sites must be properly secured in order to achieve the safe flow of traffic. In practice, securing of such railroad crossings is carried out by passive and active safety measures. The passive safety measures usually include traffic signs, but this turned out to be insufficient. As a higher level of safety, the active measures are taken to secure the railroad level crossing, especially by installation of the half-barriers. After having long been dealt with the issue of securing the railroad level crossing by means of the half-barriers, the inventors have noticed that the existing solutions do not provide total safety when the half-barrier system is driven by electric drive. Namely, in the event of the loss of the power supply, the existing half-barrier systems did not close the railroad crossings with 100% reliability. The present invention solves the problem of safe lowering of the half- barrier in the event of the loss of the power supply. 3. PRIOR ART:

The inventor is familiar with different systems of active security of the railroad level crossings. One of the fundamental solutions for the mechanisms of safety barriers for railroad level crossing is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3964704- Working mechanism for railroad crossings. Inventor has no knowledge that somebody in the world has succeeded in designing and practical carrying-out of the half-barrier for securing of a railroad level crossings as disclosed in the present invention.

4. CORE OF THE INVENTION:

A half-barrier drive for railway crossings is a device for securing of a railroad level crossings. Its primary purpose is to be used as a haif-barrier, although it can also be used as a full-length barrier, depending on the length of the poie and the width of the road. A device disclosed here comprises a start mechanism with appropriate control equipment, a casing in which the mechanism is fitted and an arm with a pole which serves as an executive element for the basic function of the device. The operation of the device is automated, leaving the possibility of direct control in some outstanding circumstances possible.

The drive of the device is directly dependent on the following safety signal systems in the railway traffic:

a) A closure system for closing of the railroad crossings in station areas

b) An automatic closure system for closing of the road crossings with remote control

c) An automatic closure system for closing of the road crossings with control signals

A concept of the half-barrier drive is fully aligned with the requirements and regulations that apply to these and similar devices in railway traffic.

The basic characteristic of the drive actuator is that the lifting of the pole is driven by a DC motor at relatively low power consumption, with the possibility of controlling the time of lifting the pole (according to the regulations, it takes place in the interval of 5 to 7 seconds).

The lowering of the pole is gravitational without the use of electrical power, with the possibility of configuring the lowering time of the pole (according to the regulations, it takes place in the interval of 8 to 12 seconds). To keep the pole in extreme vertical or horizontal position, this position is secured by the effect of the electromagnetic brake. The pole is made of corrosion-resistant material and is designed to withstand the wind to the 100kg / m ² of strength, as well as its own weight, and is connected by a breakable element to the basic construction of the barrier drive, which keeps the drive unit protected from accidental damages, primarily from shocks. This invention provides for the possibility of manually lifting and lowering the pole in the event of a power supply failure on the electric motor. Inside the device the microswitches are installed, whereby the open or closed position of the microswitch contact depends on the position of the pole. The housing of the device is made of metal by welding with the possibility of removing the cover after opening the door with the lock, allowing access to the drive mechanism. The device casing is fastened to the concrete base of the barrier drive by means of screws. The arm of the barrier drive to which the pole with a security segment is fastened by means of the screw connection can be placed on left or right side of the barrier drive, wherein the arm of the barrier drive has an intended place for placement of counterweights depending on the length of the pole. The usual pole lengths are 3 ½, 4 ½, 5 ½, 6 ½ or 7 ½ meters. The poles are painted in accordance with the relevant regulations and are equipped with position lights as well as reflective lights, depending on the purpose and the length of the pole ( full- length barrier or half-barrier).

The drive actuator comprises following elements of the device: a series DC motor with an electromagnetic brake on one side and a drive gear on the other side of the motor, a reducer of the barrier-drive comprising three pairs of gears, as well as the seventh gear for a manual drive and a shaft with segment gear and switching segments, that by means of ball bearings lean on the housing of the barrier drive. The self-lubricating bearings are used. In addition, the drive actuator also comprises a microswitch assembly mounted on a microswitch mounting bracket for the purpose of defining the end positions of the pole of the barrier drive; it also comprises a microswitch for power supply disconnection in the case of manual operation, control resistors for adjusting the lifting or lowering time of the pole of the barrier drive, motor protection switch, cable clamps, and auxiliary elements such as cable clamp holder, a hand drive lever, and an anti-frost heating element. The opening and closing (lifting and lowering) of the pole are regulated by the systems for closing the railroad crossings, depending on which the half-barrier drive the pole is connected.

Closing (lowering) of the pole is predetermined by releasing the electromagnetic brake by means of the power supply disconnection. The pole (the closing element) is lowering to a horizontal position via gravity-effects, and during the entire lowering cycle, by means of the reducer, the effect is made on the electric motor, whereby the motor acts as a serial generator. The electric power produced in this way slows down the motor rotation and the lowering of the pole. In the horizontal position of the pole, the electromagnetic brake is again activated via the corresponding microswitch.

The opening (lifting) of the pole is predetermined by the power supply disconnection of the electromagnetic brake and by activating a relay which comprises the power supply for electric motor for the lifting of the pole.

In vertical position, at 85° - 90°, the power supply of the electric motor via relay is disconnected, starting at the same time to supply the electromagnetic brake that blocks the pole in the vertical position.

The contact segments control the microswitches that act within the system of relay groups of the railroad crossings. To determine the pole position, a total of 6 microswitches is used.

The casing of the half-barrier drive is carried out in such a way that it can be orientated for ± 15°. The length of the pole must be correctly selected with respect to the width of the roadway for which it is intended, and the corresponding breakable segment must be fitted with a properly selected counterweight. The pole in a vertical position is balanced with a counter-torque with values that depend on the length of the pole: for a pole of 3.5 m of length, the value amounts 10 kgm, for a pole of 4.5 m of length, it amounts 11.4 kgm, for a pole of 5.5 m of length it amounts 14 kgm, for a pole 6.5 of length, it amounts 19 kgm, and for a pole of 7.5 m of length, it amounts 24 kgm. The passive resistance, not included in the above values, amounts 4 kgm.

The torque moment (after lifting) of the pole without the counterweight is calculated approximately for the bare pole in [kgm], or 2x the length of the pole in [m].

For the purpose of adjusting the speed of lowering and lifting the pole, this innovative half-barrier drive for railroad crossings comprises a control resistor for regulation of lifting the pole, which resistor controls the lifting time of the pole of the barrier drive, and / or the control resistor for lowering the pole, which resistor controls the lowering time of the pole of the barrier drive.

To control the lifting of the pole, the left potentiometer with electrical characteristics of 3Ω / 100W is used. To control the lowering of the pole, the right potentiometer with electrical characteristics of 0.5Ω / SOW is used.

In basic embodiment, this innovative half-barrier drive for securing of a railroad level crossings comprises a start mechanism with appropriate control equipment, a casing of the barrier-drive in which the start mechanism and the arm with pole are placed, which arm is the executive element for the basic function of the device; it further comprises a series DC motor with an electromagnetic brake, a gear reducer, a motor switch-on relay and seven microswitches, whereby the dosing i.e. lowering of the pole is achieved by releasing the electromagnetic brake by means of the power supply disconnection, and the pole, due to gravity-effects, is lowered to a horizontal position, wherein, by means of the reducer, the effect is made on the electric motor during the entire lowering cycle, whereby the motor acts as a serial generator, wherein the electric power produced in this way slows down the motor rotation and the lowering of the pole, and when the horizontal position of the pole is achieved, the electromagnetic brake is again activated via the microswitch, while opening i.e. lifting of the pole is achieved by disconnecting the electromagnetic brake and activating the motor switch-on relay, wherein the drive of the electric motor for lifting the pole is turned on. Furthermore, when the pole is in vertical position, at 85° - 90°, the power supply of the electric motor via the motor switch-on relay is disconnected, starting at the same time to supply the electromagnetic brake that blocks the pole in the vertical position.

In a further embodiment, this innovative half-barrier drive for securing of a railroad level crossings comprises a switch segment assembly connected to microswitches in such a way that the first micro switch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 75 ° to 90 °, wherein the first microswitch has the function to control the upper position; the second microswitch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from of 10 ⁰ to 90 °, wherein the second microswitch has the function of turning off the road signal; the third microswitch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 0 ⁰ to 85 °, in which case the third microswitch has the function to switch on the motor relay, and the third microswitch also establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 85 ⁰ - 90 °, in which case the third microswitch has the function to switch on the electromagnetic brake; the fourth microswitch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 0 to 10 °, wherein the fourth micro switch controls the lower position; the fifth microswitch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 0 ° to 85 °, wherein the fifth microswitch has function to switch on the lighting of the pole; the sixth microswitch establishes a connection between the switch segment assembly and the said microswitch when the position of the pole ranges from 0 ° - 3D, wherein the fifth microswitch has the function to switch on the electromagnetic brake in horizontal position.

It is implied that the operation range of the contact assembly is ± 2.5°, while the vertical position of the pole can vary between 81° and 90°. Due to possibility of manual starting and positioning of the pole, this innovative half-barrier drive for railroad crossings comprises the additional, seventh microswitch, which interrupts the power circuits when the lever for manual manipulation is inserted into the barrier drive.

The possible embodiment of the device is such that there is a serial DC motor with an electromagnetic brake on one side of the motor while the drive gear is on the other side of the motor. The gear reducer comprises three pairs of gears, and the seventh gear for the manual drive. Furthermore, this innovative half-barrier drive for securing of a railroad level crossings comprises a shaft with a segment gear, whereby the switching segments by means of ball bearings lean on the housing of the barrier drive. For the motor protection, the circuit breaker is fitted with the function of protecting from overload, while the heating element is mounted to protect it from freezing.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The enclosed images, which are referred to in the description and which form a part of the description, illustrate the best invention embodiment and help explain the basic principles of the invention.

Figure 1. An overview of the half-barrier drive for railroad crossings with position indication of the elements

Figure 2. An overview of the half-barrier drive for railroad crossings set on the concrete foundation

Figure 3. An overview of the half-barrier drive for railroad crossings with position indication of the pole in extreme lower and extreme upper end positions Figure 4. An overview of the ground plan of half-barrier drive for railroad crossings with indication of possibility of mounting the pole on the left or on the right side of the drive

Figure 5. An overview of the Simplified Electrical Scheme of the half-barrier drive for railroad crossings

A LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1 concrete foundation of the barrier drive

2 screws

3 fixing plates

4 casing of the barrier drive

5 door of the barrier drive

6 cover

7 shafts

8 arm of the barrier drive

9 counterweight

10 cuttable cartridge

11 PVC conductor hose

12 half-barrier pole

13 retro-reflectors

14 position light

90 gear reducer

98 panel with electrical components

99 switch segment assembly

100 space for microswitches

101 first microswitch (circuit breaker)

102 second microswitch (circuit breaker)

103 third microswitch (circuit breaker)

104 fourth microswitch (circuit breaker)

105 fifth microswitch (circuit breaker) 106 sixth microswitch (circuit breaker)

107 seventh microswitch (circuit breaker)

108 connector positions (cable damps)

109 cable clamp holder

210 motor

220 electromagnetic brake

230 capacitor

240 pole lighting

250 motor switch-on relay

260 pole break control

270 resistor for regulation of lifting the pole

280 resistor for regulation of lowering the pole

290 Schottky diode

300 electric heater

310 motor circuit breaker

320 thermocouple

1' to 17' - connectors

2503, 2509 - contacts of the switch-on relay

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE WAY OF CARRYING OUT OF THE INVENTION

The construction of the casing of the barrier-drive 4 is made out of metal, preferably the metal sheet, made by welding with the possibility of removing the cover 6 after opening the door of the barrier drive 5 comprising a lock, allowing the access to the drive mechanism. The casing of the barrier drive 4 is fixed to the previously prepared concrete foundation 1 by means of the screws 2 via the fixing plate 3. The arm of the barrier drive 8 to which the half-barrier pole 12 is fastened with a security segment, by means of the screw connection, can be placed on left or right side of the barrier drive, wherein the arm of the barrier drive has an intended place for placement of counterweights depending on the length of the pole of the half-barrier 12. The usual pole lengths are 3 ¹ / _z , 4 ½, 5 ½, 6 ½ or 7 ½ meters. The pole of the barrier drive has to be painted in accordance with the relevant regulations and equipped with position lights 14 as well as with retro- reflectors (cataphotes), depending on the purpose and the length of the pole (full- length barrier or half-barrier).

The external incoming cable is connected to the cable clamps from 1 'to 17', the best choice is 6 mm2, and the connector (cable clamps) 108 positions are shown in Figure 1. The outer cable is fixed in the casing of the barrier drive 4 by means of the cable clamp holder 109. Figure 1 also shows a space for microswitches 100, while Figure 5 shows the indication of interval in degrees - when conducting - next to the microswitch connections, for each individual microswitch (from the first to the seventh) 101 ,102,103,104,105, 06,107. The electrical components are positioned on the panel with the electrical components 98.

On the connectors 11 and 12, a 24 V DC voltage is always present, so that the connector 11 is connected to the (+) pole and the connector 12 to the (-) pole of the power supply. When the half-barrier pole 12 is in a vertical position, the connector 1' is at a voltage value of + 24 V. The current flows from the connector 1' through the third microswitch 103, the electromagnetic brake 220 and through the seventh microswitch 107 towards the connector 12' with the minus potential (- ). The electromagnetic brake 220 holds the half-barrier pole 12 locked in the vertical position.

When the command to lower the half-barrier pole 12 is received from the device of the half-barrier drive (not shown in the picture), the connector 1 ¹ loses its voltage, wherein the voltage of +24 V appears on the connector 15'. The current flow through the electromagnetic brake 220 is interrupted, which releases the half- barrier pole 12 which, due to gravity-effects, is lowered to a horizontal position, causing the motor 210 to rotate (which motor, until that moment, was not connected to a source of voltage). Then the motor 210 works as a generator, causing the current flow from one pole of the motor 210 through the motor switch- on relay 250 via the contacts 2503 and 2509 and through the resistor for regulation of lowering the pole 280 to the other pole of the motor. This causes the speed reduction of the lowering of the half-barrier pole 12, and the lowering speed of the half-barrier pole 12 can be adjusted by changing the resistance value of the resistor for regulation of lowering the pole 280, which resistor regulates the generator braking current.

When the half-barrier pole 12 reaches the horizontal position, the sixth microswitch 106 is pressed, so the current flows from the connector 5' which is at a voltage value of + 24 V, through the sixth microprocessor 106, through the electromagnetic brake 220 and through the seventh microswitch 107 towards the connector 12' which is at minus (-) voltage, i.e. at zero potential. Then the electromagnetic brake 220 attracts and holds the half-barrier pole 12 in a horizontal position.

When the command to lift the half-barrier pole 12 is received from the device of the half-barrier drive, the connector 15' loses its voltage, wherein the voltage of + 24V appears on the connector 1'.

The current flow through the electromagnetic brake 220 is interrupted, which releases the half-barrier pole 12. The current flows from the connector 1 '(+) through the third microswitch 103, through the coil of the motor switch-on relay 250 and through the seventh microprocessor 107 towards the connector 12' which is at zero (-) voltage

The motor switch-on relay 250 turns on the motor 210, which closes the second power circuit - from the connector 11' with the plus potential, through the circuit breaker 310, through the contacts of the motor switch-on relay 250, through the resistor for regulation of lifting the pole 270 and through the motor 210 according towards the connection 12 '. The motor 210 raises the half-barrier pole 12 to a vertical position, and the lifting speed can be adjusted by changing the resistance value of the resistor for regulation of lifting the pole 280, which resistor regulates the current through the motor. When the half-barrier pole 12 reaches the vertical position, the motor 210 is switched off (via contacts of the switch-on relay), the electromagnetic brake 220 is switched on by the third microswitch 103 and we again have the situation described at the beginning.

The first microswitch 101 and the fourth microswitch 104 provide the device of the half-barrier drive with information on the upper and lower position of the half- barrier pole 12, and the seventh microswitch 107 interrupts the power circuits when the lever for manual manipulation is inserted into the barrier drive. The second microswitch 102 turns off the road signal when the half-barrier pole 12 reaches the horizontal position.

In one embodiment, into the half-barrier pole 12, a cuttable cartridge 10 can be inserted, which serves for checking the integrity of the half-barrier pole 12 (fracture control), for example in the event that a car hits the half-barrier pole 12. The conductor that extends from the casing 4 to the half-barrier pole 12 is protected by PVC conductor hose 1.

The best results are achieved by installing an electric motor (210) with a nominal voltage of 24 V and nominal rotation speed of 110 min ~ ¹ with the series excitation, the excitation resistance is 122.39 m Ohm and the resistance between the ribs is 240.00 m Ohm. Regarding the selection of the electromagnetic brake (220), the best results are achieved with the electromagnetic brake (220) with a nominal voltage of 24 V and a braking torque of 5Nm with a maximum rotation speed of 6000 min ^""1 with an air gap of 0.3 to 0.5 mm.