US20080011186A1

US20080011186A1 - Train forerunner

Info

Publication number: US20080011186A1
Application number: US11/451,569
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher Tam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-17
Filing date: 2006-07-17
Publication date: 2008-01-17

Abstract

Many dead results from train accidents every year. A simple invention like train forerunner can save many lives. What is a train forerunner? Basically, it is an extra train engine running independently ahead of the train at the same speed of the train with its own train engine. The train forerunner is not coupled to the train or train engine but running independently ahead of the train engine or train. The train forerunner is controlled by remote control to run at the same speed of the train while the train engine is controlled by a engineer. The remote controlled train forerunner can be programmed to run ahead at a distance that a train is able to stop.

Description

Many dead results from train accidents every year. A simple invention like train forerunner can save many lives. What is a train forerunner? Basically, it is an extra train engine running independently ahead of the train at the same speed of the train with its own train engine. The train forerunner is not coupled to the train or train engine but running independently ahead of the train engine or train. The train forerunner is controlled by remote control to run at the same speed of the train while the train engine is controlled by a engineer. The remote controlled train forerunner can be programmed to run ahead at a distance that a train is able to stop. Because the load that a train is carrying, the train forerunner can always stop faster than a train can stop. In order for the forerunner to run at the same speed as the train, the engine of the forerunner should be the same as the engine of the train. While the forerunner is controlled by remote control, the train can receive signals from the forerunner in case of an accident. If the forerunner is stopped or destroyed in case of an accident, a signal or lack of a signal (in case the forerunner is destroyed) will signal the train to stop. Because the forerunner runs ahead at a distance more than the stopping distance of the massive train, the train should stop before the point of accident the forerunner encounter. The accident the forerunner can encounter can be derailment, an object blocking the forerunner, collision from another train or forerunner, problems with the rails, and falling from missing bridge.

ADVANTAGES OF THE TRAIN FORERUNNER

1. The forerunner can check the safety of the rail before the train run on it preventing derailment.
2. In case of a missing bridge, the forerunner will be destroyed and lack of signal from the forerunner signals the train to stop ahead of time.
3. In case of collision from another train or forerunner, stopping or destroying the forerunner resulting in the train to stop ahead of time.
4. Because the forerunner is much less massive than the train, the impact by the forerunner on an object on the rail will be less severe.
5. Because the forerunner can stop much faster than the train, the impact by the forerunner on an object on the rail will be much less severe.

Claims

1. What I claim my invention is to reduce train accidents such as derailment, an object on the rail blocking the train, collision between two trains, problems with the rails, and train destruction resulted from a missing bridge.

2. The forerunner can check the safety of the rail before the train run on it preventing derailment as in claim 1.

3. In case of a missing bridge as in claim 1, the forerunner will be destroyed and lack of signal from the forerunner resulting in the train to stop ahead of time.

4. In case of collision between two trains as in claim 1, the destruction of the forerunners resulting in the trains to stop ahead of time.

5. In case of an object on the rail as in claim 1, because the forerunner is much less massive than the train, the impact by the forerunner on the object will be less severe.

6. In case of an object on the rail as in claim 1, because the forerunner can stop much faster than the train, the impact by the forerunner on the object will be less severe.