Potential Means of Cost Reduction in Grade Crossing Automatic Gate Systems. Volume I:Overview and Low Cost Railroad/Highway Grade Crossing Gate Systems.

摘要

This report,Volume I of a two-volume study,examines the potential for reduction of the cost of installing and maintaining automatic gates at railroad-highway grade crossings. It comprises a general overview; a review of current practices,equipment,and standards; a consideration of modification of existing specifications to permit use of alternative technologies;the generation of design concepts for new gate systems or subsystems intended to offer significant economic benefits;an analysis and comparative evaluation of the more promising concepts;and conclusions concerning further design,development,and test activities. Concepts found to be particularly promising include a low-cost gate-drive mechanism utilizing high-reliability commercially available components; a swing-away,gravity resetting arm support intended to reduce the incidence of gate breakage;and a gate arm using new materials to obtain resistance to breakage.