HIGH WATER DETECTOR

DETECTEUR DE NIVEAUX ELEVES D'EAU

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
HIGH WATER DETECTOR
(Automatic Detection and Alarm Systems)
for High Water Conditions on Railways
PROPOSED SYSTEM
An automatic detection and alarm system for dangerous high water
levels on railroads. This system contains a flotation device which
activates a series of red warning lights to immediately alert railway
traffic in the area, and also automatically alerts railway control centres of
the dangerous conditions.
The system would contain a series of detection and alarm
components installed at high risk locations, e.g. culverts, bridges, etc.
The basic components are connected into central communication nets

which would automatically alert railway control centres of the dangerous
conditions.
The basic system has significant potential for other important
applications, e.g. major highways.

Claims

IN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE
DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1) An automatically operated warning device to alert railroads and
highways of dangerously high rising water, by means of warning
lights or buzzers. This device comprises a flotation device pulling
a multiplier shaft upwardly and a pull rod downwardly on the
opposite end of the multiplier shaft, then pulling downwardly on
the swinging plate thus either opening or closing a circuit,
henceforth setting off warning lights or an alarm system of
dangerous high waters.
2) A warning device as defined in claim #1, an outer shield designed
with water input and air exhaust and water cut off ports and
maintaining a dry cylinder housing for the contact base and
electrical circuits.
3) A warning device as defined in claim 1, a flotation device that
activates all the mechanisms to this device.
4) A warning device as defined in claim 1 and 3 is a multiplier shaft
to increase pressure for either opening or closing the points.
5) A warning device as defined in claim 1 is a tension retaining
spring to maintain constant pressure on the points or to retain an
open circuit.

6) A warning device as defined in claim 1 is a contact base made of
tivar, a non-electrical conductive material pertaining to the highest
standards for low voltage circuitry.
7) A warning device as defined in claim 1 and claim 4 is a floating
washer to maintain 100% usage of the points surface and a solid
stable contact.

Description

2 1 ~
HIG~I WATER DETECTOR
This invention relates generally to the field of railroads and
highways and to an automatically operated alarm system for warning
railroad and highway traffic of dangerous high water conditions.
Because of the thinning of the ozone layer, we have been getting
more rain and major storms in recent years, therefore, the value of such
a detector is quite evident.
Also, in recent years more and more dangerous chemicals and
commodities are being moved on the railways and highways.
The object of my invention is to set signals of red warning lights
to alert people of the approaching danger of high water which could
bring on a washout of a railroad or highway.
The object of my invention is to have a protective outer cover on
the high water detèctor so that the machinery part of my invention won't
.j
' be damaged by the elements of the weather.
It is the object of my invention to provide a high water detector
that is environmentally safe.
It i9 another object of my invention to provide an economical high
water detector.
i
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.
Another object of my invention is to provide a high water detector
that can be put in a small space and does not get in the way of other
objects.
Another object of my invention is when culverts and bridges on
railways and highways, even though cleaned at regular intervals from
brush and trees floating down the rivers and creeks after an abnormal
amount of rain, run into trouble. Then beaver dams start brealdng up
and bringing down trees and brush and the culverts clog up, and rivers
and creeks rise. The water comes up dangerously close to the track level
where it starts to wash away the roadbed.
It is also the object of my invention to provide protection in case
the culvert has started to deteriora~e and cave in, thus starting water to
back up, rise over the culvert, and start raising to the level of the railway
tracks or highway bed.
It is further the object of my invention that once the water starts to
back up and come to the level of my invention, it will set off an alarm
and set off red lights in each direction, and automadcally alert railway -
control centres of the dangerous condition which will alert the traffic to
stop before the railway or the highway starts to wash out.
In accordance with one aspect of my invendon, a protective
housing which has air vents approximately 5/8 of the way up from the
bottom to allow water to acdvate the Iqoat which will pull on the
muldplier rocker shaft, therefore pulling on the pull rod that goes

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upwardly through the contact base, thus pulling downwardly on a
swinging plate which houses a floating circular washer. This therefore
breaks the contact with the circuit point, thus activating the red lights to
come on.
These foregoing objects and aspects of the invention, together with
other objects, aspects, and advantages thereof will be more apparent
from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken
in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:
Figure 1: Shows a protective outer housing for the detector.
Figure 2: Shows an end view of the high water detector plus
the support bracket.
Figure 3: A side view of the detector with all parts numbered
and an open circuit.
Figure 4: A side view showing a closed circuit.
Figure 5: A view of an opened switch.
Figure 6: A view of a support bracket.
Figure 7: A view of a culvert with my invention in place.
Figure 8: A view of n dirt nnd bug screen.

o~a4
Figure 1: Referring to the drawings in detail is a protective outer
shield #500 which has air vent exhaust holes #501, approximately 5/8 of
tbe way up from the bottom to allow the air to exhaust as the high rising
water is entering into the outer protective shield #500 through holes :
#502, which then will start to raise float #3.
. . .
Figure 2: This is a picture which is a face view of my invention
showing the support brackets #15.
'~
Figure 3: This is a side view picture of my high water detector
invention with an open circuit, starting with base #1, bracket #2 bolted ~:
Z together with bracket bolts #16 thus supporting multiplier shaft #4, thus
~ supporting float #3 at the longer end and pull rod #5 at the other end and
all three hinge points pinned with hinge pins #10, when the water enters ~:
through holes #502 passes through Figure 8 dirt filter #503 into float
chamber, thus raising flotation #3, lifting multiplier shaft #4, thus pulling
upwardly on multiplier shaft #4 on flotation end. This causes a
downward pull on pull rod #5 connected to #6 Tivar swinging plate with
pin #21, thus pulling downwardly on Tivar swinging plate #6, which
houses floating self centering circuit washer #7 retained in place with
retaining pins #20 on Figure 5. On the opposite end, it is anchored to
contact base #17, which contains stationary support bracket #14, which is

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,
pinned to swinging plate #6 with pin #13. Once swinging plate #6 has
been pulled downwardly, compressing spring #9 which helps to keep the
points open. ~11 is held in place with hinge pins #25 and forced into
locking position with spring #12. As the top portion of swinging plate
#6 bypasses the bottom of the top lip of safety lock #11 this locks circuit
washer #7 and circuit point #8 in a positive locked position. This then
has completed a single circuit which then has put on the red warning
light on the railroads, highways, etc.
Figure 4: This is the same principal as Figure 3, except it has a
different tivar swinging plate #6 with circuit floating washer #7 plus
circuit point #8, in a different location with a different type of stationary
swing bracket #24. Once all this action has taken place, circuit Iqoating
washer #7 with wire A connected to #7 and the opposite end connected
to a light system comes in contact with circuit point #8 connected to wire
B and connected to the opposite side of the light system thus making a
complete circuit and setting off an alarm system of lights warning of
high water danger ahead.
Figure 5: This is an opened upwardly view of #6 Tivar swinging
plate containing floating circuit washer #7, also showing the position of
circuit point #8.

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Figure 6: This is just a type of bracket that can be used in the
mounting to a culvert and can be made to different lengths.
, :Figure 7: This is jus~ a typical culvert ident.,fied by the letter C with
my high water detector mounted on it.
Figure 8: This is just a dirt and bug screen #503 which extends
downwardly from the top of contact base #17, and is held in place by my
outer protective shield #500 as it surrounds the outer top portion of my
main base #1.

Representative Drawing