DE102006021654A1 - Rigid switch for e.g. train, has direction selecting device controlled by vehicle control unit, and selecting direction for gab point of switch, where device activates chassis and deactivates another chassis in direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch has an automatic vehicle track control driving a vehicle along a track (2) provided by a guide system of a road, when a chassis for a rail is deactivated. A direction selecting device is controlled by a vehicle control unit, and selects a direction for a gab point (7) of the switch. The device activates the chassis and deactivates another chassis in the direction. The road is mounted on the track that is inserted behind a connection point in a roadway.

Description

give way Track-bound traffic systems with mechanical adjustment mechanisms allow a clear leadership the vehicles driving on them. To the operational safety too guarantee, are until the completion of the points setting absolute braking distances to keep the switch. This results in large distances between the individual Trains or Vehicles independently drive. These distances are in proportion to the train length very large. Due to this circumstance, the railway network can be economical only by long trains be used. The use of short railcars leaves the possible transport capacity of the rail decline. However, it is very expensive, especially in freight transport Put together trains and to load. That is why the railways achieve freight traffic high market shares only with extremely wide transport distances or with bulk goods, with which whole trains from the source to the destination. That causes the railroad and the truck rather complement, than that they compete with each other. The same applies in public Passenger traffic. To fill big trains, be great Traffic flows needed. This Traffic needs to be either with the help of many stops be collected or it is between the nodes to available so that trains directly can be used. Only for However, part of the traffic demand is to assume that with the train offered in each case a direct connection of the desired Departure station to the desired Destination station is offered.

by virtue of the better environmental compatibility the railways will be a major traffic share of the Railroad aims. The better environmental compatibility of the railway is based too big Sharing on the lower rolling friction of the steel-steel contact compared to the tire on the road and on the lower Air resistance per unit load due to train formation. Indeed becomes the traffic at least be able to better fulfill the collection and distribution tasks, since the road network is bigger, as that of the train.

The Rail system of the railway is known. Furthermore, there are rails, which are embedded in roadways, by railroad crossings, by facilities for the handling of goods between rail and road, as well as by trams known. There are known rigid switches in which the device for the Lane change is located in the vehicle. Turnouts of this kind are found in the C-Bahn or the new railway technology Paderborn. They are also rail-road hybrid vehicles known to both suspensions for Driving on the rail, as well as chassis for driving on the road have. These vehicles are used as small shunting locomotives and as construction, rescue or maintenance vehicles for Calls used in the railway network. Under the name SchieStraBus were around 1960 also intercity buses with additional Suspension for used the rail. As a special advantage of this vehicle is called that in places where the track in a roadway is laid, at least at standstill or at low speeds easy between the rail and the road can change. Of another is known besides the classical mechanical tracking, Keep vehicles with a guidance system on a lane. These guidance systems can optical type, such as Road markings, guiding beams or Or laser navigation, electrical type or magnetic type based on satellite navigation.

From Therefore, the invention is based on the problem, the railway network the railway with a suitable switch type such that on the one hand the use of the network with the existing rolling Railway material is not obstructed and, on the other hand, access to the rail network for small rail road transport units being allowed in the type of buses or trucks, taking care for this Vehicles the conditions for Pure travel in the colony traffic or in the coupled network be created so that the capacity of the railway network is increased and more traffic can be drawn to the rail.

This Problem is solved by the features described in the claim solved.

The advantages achieved in the invention are, in particular, that it is possible to form trains or columns of individual hybrid transport units on the rail, which can shear out of the dressing while driving on the switches or push on a switch to the column can significantly hamper the other vehicles. This will give you the benefits of the truck or bus. Only one section of the road is replaced by one on the rail. Economically, this change from road to rail is worthwhile for the vehicle operator when the bundle of travel time, travel costs, personnel costs and operating costs is more favorable. The journey on the rail could be without a driver or counted as a break time for the driver, so that the staff costs are cheaper. Due to the lower driving resistance, lower operating costs are to be expected. Travel time is likely to be shorter on the rail, as this system will result in smoother rail traffic and permissible line speeds usually exceed the maximum on-road speed lie. Also, the vehicle continues during the break of the driver. The infrastructure costs will be the result of political action or competition. However, a clear advantage in favor of a network is not yet clear. However, the rail network can be refinanced more easily if more demand is channeled onto the rail. The road network would have to be expanded less to meet the increasing volume of traffic.

The potential business advantages but the disadvantage contrary to the fact that the vehicles are more expensive due to the additional equipment required and offer less payload.

Under From an economic point of view, there is still the advantage of less pollution and resource conservation.

Next the possible Shifting traffic from road to rail is also to expect a substitution of small local trains by hybrid buses. As a result, with a drop in the purchaser charges for rail passenger transport to count.

By the smaller transport units will be in track-bound traffic An adaptation to the transport demand facilitates, since the individual vehicles can drive directly from the source to the destination.

in the Connection with systems for controlling the movement of trains and the vehicle distances the advantages of low energy consumption in train traffic and the direct transport routes connected by independent, small transport units. With this technique could Buses or trucks instead of the highways use the rail. Becomes the system equipment expanded so that the vehicles in the rail network up to the transition points to the road network can drive fully automatically, so would the vehicles no longer need drivers and thus have a significant economic advantage over on the street moving bus or truck. This advantage is probably clear greater than the disadvantage of the extra Equipment of the vehicle with a chassis for the rail arises. Consequently could he for improving the market share of rail in the transport market.

One embodiment The invention will be described in more detail below.

In a continuous railway track ( 1 ) becomes a carriageway ( 3 ) at the fork point ( 7 ) as a separate track ( 2 ) branches off. The length of the section in which the railway track is embedded in the roadway, resulting from the necessary length for the lane change section ( 5 ) and the security zone ( 6 ). In the lane change zone ( 5 ), the vehicles first activate their landing gear and their lane control for the road. Then they deactivate their suspension for the rail. The lane control for the road leads the vehicle along the lane marking ( 4 ).

A lane change monitoring control in the vehicle controls the lane change process. If the vehicle is the lane change zone ( 5 ) leaves without the lane change monitoring control having confirmed completion of the lane change, the lane change monitoring controller initiates emergency braking. The security zone ( 6 ) is designed so long that the vehicle can come to a safe stop. The length of the security zone ( 6 ) corresponds to the absolute braking distance as a function of the maximum route speed plus the necessary reaction times. If the lane change monitoring control confirms the successful lane change, the vehicle follows the lane marking ( 4 ) and drives in the fork zone of the switch ( 7 ) out of the rail track. To the carriageway without a track ( 2 ), a vehicle transfer center ( 8th ) into which the vehicles are automatically guided. Here again a driver takes over the control of the vehicle, so that the way in the road network can be continued.

Becomes at the switch intends no lane change, so goes the Vehicle on the landing gear for the Rails continue. Is the vehicle a traditional one? Rail vehicle, so the vehicle can only follow the rail track. It is neither obstructed by the switch, nor has it the possibility to choose the direction.

Thereby, that the switch has no active mechanical elements and the track selection on the individual vehicles takes place, the Vehicles when driving over the switch no additional Safety distance to each other. It is in doubt only required, distances within the scope of the virtual train association between the vehicles. If a fault When changing lanes of a vehicle occurs, the immediately following Vehicles also brake. However, a threat to the system remains locked out.

The switch can also be used in the opposite direction to link traffic flows. In the event that the vehicles can thread themselves into the track during the journey, the function of the zones ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) reversed. Accordingly, their lengths are adjusted. However, it is not necessary for the vehicles during the drive from the road to the tracks can change. For threading into the convoy or virtual train, it is also possible that the incoming vehicles approaching from behind or front of the Association. For this reason, the vehicles can be removed from the road ( 2 ) coming to the section ( 3 ), where the track is laid in the carriageway and stop there to put their track for the tracks on the rails. Only then do they have to accelerate to get closer to the association. Approaches the train to the accelerating vehicle from the rear, so during the Einspur- and acceleration process corresponding absolute braking distances between the entering vehicle and the vehicle association on the track must be adhered to.

In this embodiment An optical tracking control has been chosen because it is illustrative is representable. However, it is in northern Europe because of the possible Covering with ice, snow or foliage poorly suited.

Claims (3)

Rigid turnouts for rail-road hybrid vehicles characterized by a continuous railway track that in the area let in before the fork point of the switch in a road-like roadway is which as independent Street or lane at the fork point of the switch branches off and with a control system is provided for automated vehicle control, so that the Rail track and the road lane a vehicle to select the direction by changing the track system enable, what the vehicle is for one Suspension for the rail and a landing gear for the street, which activates or deactivates the vehicle by raising or lowering, while during the drive at least the suspension for the road activated and the landing gear for the Rail can be deactivated, an automated vehicle lane control, the vehicle along a predetermined by the guidance system of the road The track steers as soon as the chassis is deactivated for the rails is and a direction selector provided by a vehicle span controller is controlled and the direction before the fork point of the switch chooses, by activating the appropriate suspension and deactivating the other having. Turnout system according to claim 1, characterized that the street is threaded into the track and the track behind the node is embedded in the roadway. Switch system according to claim 2, characterized that the vehicle has a device that is the vehicle allowed while drive the landing gear for to place and activate the rail exactly in the rail and the suspension for the street to disable.