Introduction

This project aims for an advanced level crossing gate for train. By taking the help of modern engineering and technology we are trying for building an automatic level crossing gate for train, which will get power from solar panel. This process is cost reducing and environment friendly. This will avoid accident. It gets the required electricity from a solar panel system. This system is effective than the manual gate operating system.

Block Diagram

Components required

Resistor

Capacitor

IC555

Diode

Battery

Switch

Motor

LED

Wires

Relay

Solar Panel

LDR

LASER

Transformer

Vero Board

Frames

Gate

Train Track

Component Description

Battery

We have used 12 volt lead acid battery here for back up.

Transformer

It consists of two coils of insulated copper wire linked by an iron core. Transformers are used to step up (increase) or step down (decrease) AC voltages. Energy is transferred between the coils by the magnetic field in the core. There is   no electrical connection between the coils. Here we have used a shell type step down transformer which step downs 230 volt AC to 12 volt AC. It can supply maximum 1 A current.

Solar Panel  

We have used here 12 volt solar panel to charge the battery. A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics e.g. current, voltage, or resistance vary when exposed to light. Cells can be described as photovoltaic even when the light source is not necessarily the sunlight. Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon or germanium. Electrons are excited from their current molecular/atomic orbital. Once excited an electron can either dissipate the energy as heat and return to its orbital or travel through the cell until it reaches an electrode. Current flows through the material to cancel the potential and this electricity is captured for our use.

Capacitor

A capacitor stores electric charge. Capacitors used here are mica and electrolytic type.

Resistor

A resistor restricts the flow of current. The resistors used here are carbon film and quarter watt type.

Transistor

A transistor amplifies current. It can be used with other components to make an amplifier or switching circuit. BC 547 is a general purpose transistor. It is an npn epitaxial silicon transistor. Its maximum collector current (DC) is 100mA.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

It is a transducer which converts electrical energy into light energy.

Motor

A motor is a device which converts electrical power into mechanical power. Here we have used a 12 volt permanent magnet type DC motor. It is a gear type motor with high torque and low rpm.

Diode 1N4007

These are general purpose diodes. These diodes have high current capability and low forward voltage drop. The average rectified output current is one ampere.

LDR

LDR Stands for Light Dependant Resistor. LDR is a kind of variable resistor and its resistance value varies depending on the intensity of light falling on it.

NE 555

The 8-pin NE 555 timer is the most useful ICs ever made in the world. Its popular name is timer IC. It is used in many electronics projects. Just adding a few external components, it can be used to construct so many circuits. The 555 has three operating modes: Monostable mode, Astable mode and Bistable mode. It can withstand maximum supply voltage up to 16 volt. It has a maximum power dissipation up to 600mW.

7805 voltage regulator

The 7805 voltage regulator IC gives us a constant 5 volt DC power supply from a 12 volt rectified output voltage. So, where the rest of the 7 volt goes ? Actually, the rest 7 volt goes nowhere. It is dissipated as heat in the heat sink provided to the voltage regulator IC.

Relay

Generally relay is defined as an electromagnetic switch. The relay used here is a 12 volt ice cube type.

LASER(Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation.

Construction

The components are connected appropriately as in the circuit diagram .The circuits are mounted on the board. The sensors are fitted 1km distance before and after the level crossing on sides of the track. Though it gets the required power from solar energy, there is also a provision of getting power from the line through a bridge rectifier circuit.

Diagram of power supply circuit.

Diagram of LDR circuit and timer circuit.

Diagram of H-Bridge

Working

The level crossing gate is closed automatically before the arrival of the train and is opened after the train has passed away. When the train comes across the first sensor, the gate mechanism is activated which closes the gate automatically. When the train leaves the second sensor, the closed gate is opened automatically. When the first LASER beam is interrupted by the train engine, LASER beam doesn’t fall on the LDR, the relay triggers the timer circuit to drive the H-Bridge for forward rotation of the motor for a specific time. As the motor shaft is attached to the gate, the gate is closed. When the second LASER beam is interrupted by the train engine, LASER beam doesn’t fall on the LDR, the relay triggers the timer circuit to drive the H-Bridge for reverse rotation of the motor for a specific time. As the motor shaft is attached to the gate, the gate is opened.

Application

1. No operator is required to close and open the gate manually in which the operator’s salary is saved.
2. In this automatic system the probability of accident is reduced.
3. As we are using solar panel to operate this system, we are depending on a non-conventional energy source which is free.

Contact:

Er. Anil Kumar Prusty

Phone: +91 9861004895