AU2017355153B2

AU2017355153B2 - Method and device for diagnosing railway switches

Info

Publication number: AU2017355153B2
Application number: AU2017355153A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Uwe Eckelmann-Wendt
Original assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
Current assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
Priority date: 2016-11-02
Filing date: 2017-10-05
Publication date: 2020-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-05
Also published as: ES2907427T3; CN109906182A; RU2725838C1; WO2018082857A1; AU2017355153A1; CN109906182B; EP3507165A1; EP3507165B1; DE102016221479A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for diagnosing railway switches which can be implemented with comparatively low expenditure and at the same time has a high level of reliability and efficiency. For this purpose, the method for diagnosing railway switches proceeds according to the invention in such a way that, for a group of a plurality of railway switch drives (WA1-WA5) which have a common power supply (SV), measured values are acquired which relate to at least one common electrical measurement variable, in particular in the form of a common actuating current of the railway switch drives (WA1-WA5), to a common actuating voltage of the railway switch drives (WA1-WA5) and/or to a common reactive power which is taken up by the railway switch drives (WA1-WA5). Furthermore, operational data relating to a respective operating state of the individual railway switch drives (WA1-WA5) of the group are acquired, and taking into account at least the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data for at least one railway switch (e.g. W3) whose railway switch drive (WA3) belongs to the group, characteristic diagnostic data is determined for a state of the respective railway switch (W3). The invention also relates to a device (WD) for diagnosing railway switches.

Description

Method and device for diagnosing railway switches

Efficient switch diagnosis is crucially important for increasing the availability of electrical switch operating systems that are used for railways. In particular, it allows the rapid identification of sluggish movement, maintenance states or likely damage. In this context, the state of the respective switch can be established by acquiring, evaluating and analyzing electrical measurement variables. A suitable method for diagnosing switches and a corresponding device are disclosed, for example, in the corporate publication “Weichendiagnosesystem Switchguard Sidis W compact - Hohere Verfugbarkeit von Weichenstellsystemen”, Order no.: Al9100V100-B905-V3, Siemens AG, 2014. In this case, the known device features a measurement and analysis unit for each switch machine. In this context, the respective switch machine or the respective switch machine motor is used as a sensor, such that the switch diagnosis measures control voltage and control current during switch operation and uses these values to calculate the active power as a function of the time. In this case, the switch diagnosis is based on the operating principle of a proportionality between the force that is delivered by the motor of the switch machine and the active power that is consumed by the motor. The active power curve is therefore characteristic of the present state of the respective switch in each case and consequently allows diagnosis of the switch.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method and a device for diagnosing switches, wherein said method and device can be realized with comparatively low expenditure while at the same time having a high level of reliability and efficiency.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for diagnosing switches connected to a group of switch machines having a common power supply, the method comprising:

acquiring a measured value to a common electrical measurement variable relating to the group of the switch machines, acquiring operational data relating to an operating state of the respective switch machines, wherein the operational data contain information as to at what times and/or in what periods of time the respective switch machines are activated and/or are active, and determining characteristic diagnostic data for a state of a switch that is being controlled by the group of the switch machines based on the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data.

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2017355153 25 Mar 2020

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a device for diagnosing switches, wherein the device is configured for:

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for diagnosing switches, wherein for a group of a plurality of switch machines having a common power supply, measured values are acquired which relate to at least one common electrical measurement variable, in particular in the form of a common control current of the switch machines, a common control voltage of the switch machines and/or a common active power consumed by the switch machines, operational data is acquired which relates to a respective operating state of the individual switch machines of the group, and taking into account at least the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data for at least one switch whose switch machine belongs to the group, characteristic diagnostic data is determined for a state of the respective switch.

According to the first step of the inventive method, for a group of a plurality of switch machines having a common power supply, measured values are acquired which relate to at least one common electrical measurement variable. In this case, the term “common” electrical measurement variable means that the group of switch machines has a common power supply and the acquired measured values relate to at least one electrical measurement variable which is produced for all of the switch machines of the group. Therefore the common electrical measurement variable can be in particular at least one of the following measurement variables: a common control current of the switch machines, a common control voltage of the switch machines and/or a common active power consumed by the switch machines. For example, the common control current and the common control voltage of the switch machines can be used as

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PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO common electrical measurement variables, from which the common electrical active power can then be determined. Alternatively, for example, the acquired measured values can also relate directly to the common electrical active power or to the common electrical control current and a phase shift between the common electrical control current and the common electrical control voltage.

It should be noted that the switch machines can be switch machines of any type and embodiment, in particular with regard to the electrical power or energy supply thereof. Therefore the common power supply can be realized as, for example, a voltage source which provides an operating voltage in the form of a direct voltage (of e.g. 110 V), in the form of an alternating voltage (of e.g. 110 V or 220 V) or in the case of a four-wire interface in the form of a three-phase alternating voltage (of e.g. 400 V/50 Hz).

The switch machines of the group will normally be assigned to different switches. In addition, it is essentially also feasible for at least some of the switch machines of the group to belong to the same switch. This therefore applies to the case in which a switch has a plurality of switch machines or a plurality of motor actuators.

According to the second step of the inventive method, which second step normally proceeds in parallel or concurrently with the first step, operational data is acquired which relates to a respective operating state of the individual switch machines of the group. In this case, the operational data preferably comprises in particular information about the time points or time periods at which or in which the respective switch machine was activated or active. In order to achieve this, for

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO example, provision can be made for documenting, within the operational data, which commands were transmitted at which time point to which switch machine of the group and which notifications were acquired at which time points from the switch machines of the group. Corresponding operational data therefore advantageously makes it possible to establish, for each time point, which of the switch machines of the group is or was active in which direction of switch operation, and when a specific end position was reached or left in this context.

According to the third step of the inventive method, taking into account at least the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data for at least one switch whose switch machine belongs to the group, characteristic diagnostic data is determined for a state of the respective switch. In this context, the inventive method advantageously makes use of the fact that all or a plurality of switches whose switch machines are assigned to the group are not normally thrown at the same time. This means that even during route setting in the context of railway operation, switches are often or usually set in such a way that the short-term starting currents which are produced when starting the switch machines do not combine in such a way as to overload the switch control supply network. For this purpose, switch triggering is routinely performed using a time delay or control current delay, e.g. in the form of staggered switch operation. Since switches are often therefore thrown individually and/or sequentially, with overlapping if applicable, it is possible from a combination of the acquired measured values relating to the group of switch machines and the acquired operational data giving the respective operating state of the individual switch machines of the group at the respective time point, to determine or extract diagnostic data from the acquired measured values,

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO said diagnostic data being characteristic of a state of at least one switch whose switch machine belongs to the group. In this case, the at least one switch for which the characteristic diagnostic data is determined will usually be a switch which was reset at least once in the respective time period covered by the measured values. Therefore diagnostic data is preferably determined for all switches that were set or actuated in the relevant time period, said diagnostic data being characteristic of or specific to the state of the respective switch.

The method according to the invention has the fundamental advantage that, unlike known methods, it is not necessary to measure or acquire at least one electrical measurement variable for each individual switch machine that is being monitored. Instead, a corresponding acquisition of measured values for the at least one common electrical measurement variable is advantageously required only for the group of the plurality of switch machines having a common power supply. In this case, the common control current of the switch machines, the common control voltage of the switch machines and/or the common active power consumed by the switch machines is preferably used as a common electrical measurement variable. This approach is advantageous in particular in situations in which a common power supply is already provided for a group of a plurality of switch machines. The fact that only one measuring entity or one measuring module is required in order to acquire the measured values for the group of a plurality of switch machines has considerable advantages in relation to the costs and expenditure associated with the switch diagnosis. A further advantage here is that the acquired measured values already relate to the totality of the switch machines of the group, and therefore a collection or consolidation of

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO corresponding measured values for individual switch machines is not required. Moreover, the measured values relating to the at least one electrical measurement variable of the switch machines of the group can optionally also be used to perform analyses which would not be possible or would require considerable expenditure using measured values that are acquired for individual switch machines. The method according to the invention is further characterized in that, notwithstanding the possible savings, it allows reliable and efficient switch diagnosis which, depending on the respective circumstances and conditions, is at least as efficient as existing systems for switch diagnosis.

The method according to the invention can advantageously be developed in such a way that diagnostic data is determined which relates to at least one of the following variables: control current of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, control voltage of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, and active power consumed by the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch. The cited variables, i.e. control current, control voltage, and active power consumed during throwing of the respective switch, are advantageously those variables which allow a precise switch diagnosis. In this case, the determined diagnostic data can be in particular the temporal course of the relevant variable during throwing of the respective switch. It is moreover essentially also conceivable for the diagnostic data to be already reduced or preprocessed to the effect that, for example, only maximum and/or minimum values of the respective variable are determined as diagnostic data, possibly in connection with a length of a corresponding time interval or corresponding time intervals.

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According to a further preferred embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, an evaluation of the state of the respective switch is performed on the basis of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch. This is advantageous because the determined diagnostic data which is characteristic of the state of the respective switch is therefore used to evaluate the state of the relevant switch. This can take place in such a way that, for example, in the event of distinctive features in the diagnostic data, a warning notification is generated or e.g. maintenance is initiated or planned.

At this point it should be noted that the inventive method for switch diagnosis preferably proceeds fully automatically. This applies equally to the acquisition of the measured values and operational data, to the determination of the diagnostic data, and to the evaluation of the state of the respective switch.

The inventive method can advantageously also be configured such that the evaluation of the state of the respective switch is performed on the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch with reference data. On the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined 'for the respective switch with reference data, it is advantageously possible to effect a particularly reliable evaluation of the state of the relevant switch. In this case, for example, the reference data can relate to a temporal reference course of the at least one variable to which the diagnostic data relates. In the case of a corresponding comparison of the curve courses, tolerances are advantageously taken into account or allowed, in order to ensure that slight

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO deviations are not detected as a possible problem or a possible fault.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment variant of the inventive method, updated reference data is determined on the basis of the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data. This means that the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data can be used to perform an update of the reference data. This preferably takes place in a state in which all switch machines of the group, or at least the switch machine being inspected in the respective individual case, have been or has been maintained and therefore the acquired measured values and operational data are suitable as a reference. If applicable in this context, provision is made for typical values to be acquired as reference data by self-learning over the course of time for each point movement combination that occurs during normal operation, such that the relevant reference data can be used for a comparison with the current diagnostic data when the corresponding point movement combination reoccurs. It is consequently possible in this context to effect an overall inspection, if applicable for a plurality of concurrently actuated switch machines of the group, without having to resolve the diagnostic data in relation to an individual actuated switch machine. For example, this applies if a plurality of switch machines or motor actuators of a switch are actuated in an overlapped manner and it is sufficient to perform an overall inspection in order to evaluate the state of the relevant switch, without separately inspecting the individual switch machines of the switch for this purpose.

The method according to the invention can advantageously be further developed in such a way that at least one limit value

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO for at least one of the following variables is used as reference data: control current of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, control voltage of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, active power consumed by the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, duration of the throwing of the respective switch, and duration of individual phases of the throwing of the respective switch. This is advantageous because limit values for the cited variables allow a reliable evaluation of the state of the respective switch. As a result of using only at least one limit value for at least one of the cited variables as reference data, the comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch with the reference data is advantageously simplified, as is therefore the evaluation of the state of the respective switch.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment variant of the inventive method, in the context of evaluating the state of the respective switch, environmental data relating to the meteorological situation, the general weather and/or the climate is taken into consideration. The environmental data in this case can include in particular, for example, details of the respective temperature and air humidity. The environmental data in this context can relate to the current meteorological situation. However, the environmental data can also relate to the general weather,

i.e. the meteorological situation and/or the meteorological conditions over a longer time period. Moreover, the environmental data can also relate to the climate and therefore take regularly or permanently low temperatures into account, for example. It is usually sufficient to acquire the environmental data for the group of switch machines or for an

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO extended area such as an entire railway station. This means that individual acquisition of environmental data for the individual switch machines of the group is advantageously unnecessary, since as a rule the environmental data will be at least largely identical or applicable for all switch machines of the group.

In the context of the inventive method, the acquisition of the measured values and operational data can in principle take place continuously. In this case, the corresponding data is therefore acquired even when none of the switch machines of the group is active.

According to a particularly preferred development of the inventive method, the measured values are acquired at least during the throwing of at least one of the switches assigned to one of the switch machines of the group. It is therefore sufficient in many cases to acquire the measured values and if applicable also the operational data only if at least one of the switches is thrown or if one of the switch machines of the group is active. This can produce advantages to the effect that the acquired data volume is reduced and possible interaction of the measurement is reliably avoided in the event that none of the switch machines is active.

The inventive method can advantageously also be configured such that the measured values are acquired without any interaction. This is advantageous because any interaction during the acquisition of the measured values, which interaction could adversely affect the reliability or safety of the triggering of the respective switch machine, must be reliably avoided. A corresponding absence of interaction can be ensured by means of electrical isolation, for example,

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO wherein corresponding methods and devices for acquiring measured values without any interaction are known per se.

With regard to the device for diagnosing switches, the object of the invention is inventively achieved by virtue of the device being designed in such a way that, for a group of a plurality of switch machines having a common power supply, it acquires measured values which relate to at least one common electrical measurement variable, in particular in the form of a common control current of the switch machines, a common control voltage of the switch machines and/or a common active power consumed by the switch machines, it acquires operational data which relates to a respective operating state of the individual switch machines of the group, and taking into account at least the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data for at least one switch whose switch machine belongs to the group, it determines characteristic diagnostic data for a state of the respective switch.

The advantages of the inventive device correspond to those of the inventive method, and therefore reference is made to the corresponding explanations set forth above in this regard. This applies likewise to the preferred developments of the inventive devices cited below in relation to the respective correspondingly preferred development of the inventive method, and therefore reference is again made to the corresponding explanations set forth above in this regard.

The inventive device can advantageously be developed in such a way that the device is designed to determine diagnostic data which relates to at least one of the following variables: control current of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, control voltage of the

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, and active power consumed by the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment variant, the inventive device is designed to perform an evaluation of the state of the respective switch on the basis of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch.

According to a further preferred development, the inventive device is designed to perform the evaluation of the state of the respective switch on the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch with reference data.

The inventive device can preferably also be designed to determine updated reference data on the basis of the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data.

According to a further preferred development, the inventive device is designed to use as reference data at least one limit value for at least one of the following variables: control current of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, control voltage of the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, active power consumed by the respective switch machine during throwing of the respective switch, duration of the throwing of the respective switch, and duration of individual phases of the throwing of the respective switch.

The inventive device can advantageously also be designed such that, in the context of evaluating the state of the respective switch, environmental data relating to the meteorological

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO situation, the general weather and/or the climate is taken into consideration.

The inventive device can advantageously also be configured such that it is designed to acquire measured values at least during the throwing of at least one of the switches assigned to one of the switch machines.

Furthermore, the inventive device can also be designed to acquire the measured values without any interaction.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. For this purpose, the figure shows a schematic diagram of an arrangement comprising an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device for diagnosing switches.

The schematic illustration in the figure indicates switches W1 to W5, which can be switches in a station area, for example. The switches W1 to W5 have switch machines WAI to WA5 which allow electrical resetting of the respective switch W1 to W5.

Also indicated in the figure is an element operating module ST, which serves primarily to ensure reliable activation and deactivation of the switch machines. In this case, the element operating module ST represents the interface between a failsafe interlocking computer STR and the switch machines WAI to WA5. In this context, the element operating module ST receives commands from the interlocking computer STR and forwards them to the respective switch machine WAI to WA5. In addition, the element operating module ST receives notifications from the

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO respective switch machine WAI to WA5, processes these as necessary and forwards them to the interlocking computer STR.

The switch machines WAI to WA5 have a common power supply SV, meaning that the electrical energy required by the switch machines WAI to WA5 is provided by the power supply SV. The function of the element operating module ST is therefore essentially limited, in the event of a request from the interlocking computer STR for actuation or activation of one of the switch machines WAI to WA5, to switching through an electrical connection between the power supply SV and the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 such that the control current and the associated control voltage required for the setting of the respective switch W1 to W5 is provided by the power supply SV.

It should be noted that instead of the illustrated element operating module ST, which serves to link the switch machines WAI to WA5 to the indoor equipment of an interlocking tower STW, a separate element operating module or point activation module could also be provided for each switch machine WAI to WA5. Even in this case, however, the power supply for all switch machines WAI to WA5 would be provided by means of the central power supply SV. This would still apply if, for example, the element operating module ST or the corresponding element operating modules were arranged decentrally in the region of the outdoor equipment. It is also conceivable for the switch machines WAI to WA5 to be interconnected and supplied with energy via an energy bus. In this case, the power supply SV would then be the power supply which fed the energy bus .

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The figure further indicates a measuring entity ME, which serves to acquire measured values, for the group of the plurality of switch machines WAI to WA5 having the common power supply SV, which relate to at least one common electrical measurement variable, in particular a common control current and/or a common control voltage of the switch machines WAI to WA5. The acquisition in this context advantageously takes place without any interaction, such that any adverse effect on the function of the element operating module ST or the switch machines WAI to WA5 by the acquisition of measured values is prevented.

The measuring entity ME is connected to an analysis entity AE and in combination therewith forms a device WD for diagnosing switches. In this case, the measuring entity ME transfers the acquired measured values to the analysis entity AE. The latter maintains a communication link to the fail-safe interlocking computer STR and receives operational data therefrom relating to a respective operating state of the individual switch machines WAI to WA5. In this context, use is made of the fact that during normal operation the control computer STR is aware at all times of the respective operating state of the individual switch machines WAI to WA5. In this case, the operational data advantageously relates in particular to details of time points of state changes of the switch machines WAI to WA5, such that it can be determined from the operational data, for example, which of the switch machines WAI to WA5 was thrown at which time point or in which time period.

Taking into consideration at least the measured values acquired by the measuring entity ME and the operational data acquired here upon receipt from the control computer STR (and

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO by the control computer STR itself), the analysis entity AE is now advantageously able to determine characteristic diagnostic data for a state of the switches W1 to W5. This applies in particular in this case to those switches W1 to W5 which have been reset at least once in the relevant time period. By combining the measured values with the operational data, it is then advantageously possible to determine diagnostic data which characterizes the state of the respective individual switch, e.g. W3, despite the provision of a common power supply SV for the switch machines WAI to WA5. In this case, the determined diagnostic data can relate to e.g. the control current of the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5, the control voltage of the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5, and in particular to the electrical active power consumed by the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5. The latter can be determined e.g. from acquired measured data for the common control current and for the common control voltage of the switch machines WAI to WA5.

On the basis of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch W1 to W5, it is now possible for the analysis entity AE to perform an evaluation of the state of the respective switch W1 to W5. This can be effected, for example, on the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch W1 to W5 with corresponding reference data. In this case, it is possible to use as reference data e.g. a limit value or a plurality of limit values for the control current of the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5, the control voltage of the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5,

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO the active power consumed by the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 during throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5, the duration of the throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5 and/or the duration of individual phases of the throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5.

On the basis of the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data, it is moreover possible to effect an update of the reference data. Taking a completed maintenance service of the switches W1 to W5 as a starting point, for example, the device WD for diagnosing switches can successively learn the point movement combinations which become operational and store or update corresponding reference data. As a rule, the reference data in this context relates to variables which apply to an individual switch W1 to W5. It is however also possible in principle, e.g. in the event that a plurality of switch machines WAI to WA5 are routinely active in an overlapped manner, as in the case of a plurality of switch machines of a switch, for the reference data to relate to the combination of switch machines concerned.

By virtue of corresponding (long-term) observations, with reference to the diagnostic data, the analysis entity AE is able reliably and promptly to identify in particular variations whose tendency emerges over an extended period,

e.g. in the form of a drift or a continuous slowing down of the throwing of the switch concerned. It is moreover also possible for the analysis entity AE of the device WD for diagnosing switches to identify problems or defects which occur spontaneously, such as a stone which is jammed in the switch blade, e.g. on the basis of a correspondingly longer throw duration and a higher current consumption.

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In the context of the evaluation of the state of the respective switch W1 to W5, it is advantageously possible to take environmental data relating to the meteorological situation, the general weather and/or the climate into consideration. By virtue of in particular the acquired measured values relating to all switch machines WAI to WA5 of the group, and taking environmental data into consideration, it is therefore possible to identify a common effect which is caused by meteorological or weather conditions and concerns all switch machines WAI to WA5 equally. This applies in the event that, for example, the throwing of all switches W1 to W5 is delayed or slowed down due to cold. In this case, a mere overall inspection of the acquired measured data therefore makes it possible to identify the presence of not a malfunction or problem of an individual switch machine WAI to WA5, but a common effect caused by meteorological or weather conditions. For this purpose, the environmental data can relate in particular to the respective temperature and air humidity and to any precipitation that may be present, e.g. in the form of ice and snow.

The device WD for diagnosing switches as illustrated in the figure has the advantage in particular that only one measuring entity ME is required for reliable switch diagnosis of the switches W1 to W5. This means that in comparison with a usual arrangement, in which a measuring entity ME would be arranged between the element operating module ST and the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 in each case, significant advantages can be derived or produced in terms of a reduction in the costs and expenditure incurred for installation of the device WD and operation thereof.

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Moreover, the acquisition of measured values before the point activation device in the form of the element operating module ST is essentially less safety-critical than the acquisition of measured values for each individual switch machine WAI to WA5 or the respective switch motor. This is because, according to the inventive method, the measured values are combined with the operational data relating to the respective operating state of the individual switch machines WAI to WA5 of the group. By this means, an association is therefore established with the knowledge that is already present in the interlocking tower STW in relation to state changes of the switch position of the switches W1 to W5. As a result of the corresponding association or combination of the measured values with the operational data, an additional plausibility check is therefore also possible, such that possible faults can be identified in a particularly reliable manner. If applicable, it is advantageously possible in this context to dispense with the need for safety inspections, which would or could be necessary if the measuring entity ME was (conductively) incorporated into the connection line between the element operating module ST and the respective switch machine WAI to WA5 .

According to the foregoing explanations in connection with the described exemplary embodiments of the inventive device WD and the inventive method for diagnosing switches, these have the particular advantage that the need for individual acquisition of measured values for each of the switch machines WAI to WA5 is removed. This is advantageously replaced by the acquisition of a measured value relating to a common electrical measurement variable, e.g. the common or central power consumption or the total consumption of active power for the group of switches W1 to W5. This acquisition of measured

PCT/EP2017/075280 / 2016P21449WO values is combined with the knowledge of the control system, in the form of the control computer STR of the activation device in the form of the element operating module ST, in relation to the temporal change of the operating states of the switch machines WAI to WA5. The corresponding operating states in this case can be, for example, the throwing of the respective switch W1 to W5 or the arrival at the end position. By means of an analysis associating all switches W1 to W5, it is advantageously possible in this case to use a variation in the operating characteristics or running characteristics of the respective drive WAI to WA5, the degree of said variation, the tendency of said variation and further variables, to generate alarms or notifications therefrom and consequently to allow specifically adapted maintenance of the switches W1 to W5 .

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing switches connected to a group of switch machines having a common power supply, the method comprising:

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data relates to at least one of the following variables:

control current of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, control voltage of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, and active power consumed by the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising evaluating the state of the respective switches on the basis of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switches.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the evaluation of the state of the respective switches is performed on the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switches with reference data.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising determining updated reference data on the basis of the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one limit value for at least one of the following variables is used as the reference data: control current of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches,

24568596 (IRN: P0006306AU)

2017355153 25 Mar 2020 control voltage of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, active power consumed by the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, duration of the switching of the respective switches, and duration of individual phases of the switching of the respective switches.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, when evaluating the state of the respective switches, environmental data relating to the meteorological situation, the general weather, and/or the climate is taken into consideration.

8. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measured values are acquired at least during the switching of at least one of the switches assigned to one of the switch machines of the group.

9. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measured values are acquired without any interaction.

10. A device for diagnosing switches, wherein the device is configured for:

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the diagnostic data relates to at least one of the following variables:

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2017355153 25 Mar 2020

12. The device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the device is further configured for evaluating the state of the respective switches on the basis of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switches.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the evaluation of the state of the respective switches is performed on the basis of a comparison of the diagnostic data determined for the respective switch with reference data.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the device is further configured for determining updated reference data on the basis of the acquired measured values and the acquired operational data.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein at least one limit value for at least one of the following variables is used as the reference data:

control current of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, control voltage of the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, active power consumed by the respective switch machines when switching the respective switches, duration of the switching of the respective switches, and duration of individual phases of the switching of the respective switches.

16. The device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein environmental data relating to the meteorological situation, the general weather, and/or the climate is taken into consideration when evaluating the state of the respective switches.

17. The device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the device is further configured for acquiring the measured values at least during the switching of at least one of the switches assigned to one of the switch machines of the group.

18. The device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the measured values are acquired without any interaction.