DE102009054144A1 - Arrangement for locomotives as shunting and driver assistance system - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to detect distances for the automatically controlled approach of locomotives to a vehicle to be coupled in order to carry out a coupling process, provision is made to provide buffers for the vehicle to be coupled in advance. The signals from the sensors are fed to a computing unit via transmission elements. The computing unit is supplied with data of the locomotive and current status data, such as speed, whereby control signals for control elements of brake units and a shutdown / idling of a drive machine can be generated.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for locomotives as shunting and driver assistance system for automatically controlled approach to a vehicle to be coupled to perform a coupling operation with the locomotive.

There is a problem with coupling processes to make an assignment of the vehicles to be coupled position-specific, to then perform a coupling with towing hook and screw coupling. In an existing automatic shunting or a central buffer coupling this problem is also important in the automatic coupling process. In particular, when using locomotives in shunting with a variety of coupling operations, this is time-consuming and places high demands on the staff to allow a precise spacing of the vehicles to be coupled.

The object of the invention is to simplify the assignment of the vehicles for a coupling process in order to ensure an independent assignment.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention in that arranged in the direction of travel of the locomotive sensors for distance detection of associated buffers of the vehicle to be coupled and signals of the sensors by means of converter of a computing unit can be fed, the arithmetic unit via an input unit with data of the locomotive and current status data , As speed, powered and applied to a generated control signal of the computing unit controls for braking units and a shutdown / idling of a prime mover to associate the vehicles for a coupling operation to be performed.

As a result, an automatic approach is possible and ensures a final stop according to the requirements for a coupling operation.

An advantageous embodiment is provided by the fact that sensors based on electromagnetic technology can be used as ultrasonic sensors and / or radar.

Alternatively, it is proposed that sensors can be used on an optical basis as CCD cameras.

Furthermore, it is possible by this training that when using cameras images of the coupling region via a monitor in the cab are transferable.

Furthermore, it is provided that a stereo arrangement of sensors is arranged.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown schematically. Show it:

1 a block diagram of an arrangement and

2 an arrangement of a sensor of a locomotive with its radiation field

In a present arrangement is in both directions of a locomotive 1 an optical sensor 2 arranged in the form of a camera in the front area and directed in the direction of buffer plates of the vehicle to be coupled. Conveniently, in arrangements with two buffers, each buffer is a sensor 2 assigned. The greater the range of the sensor 2 , the lower the necessary sampling frequency. Modern sensors 2 deliver 25 frames per second, ie every 40 ms the system of the locomotive 1 be supplied with new information. After the recorded information in the form of an image, this is about converter 3 to a computer unit 4 passed. The processing time of an image until the output of a control signal to a control 5 for a brake unit 6 and a prime mover 7 for switching off or in idle position is thus 300 ms simultaneously.

For safety's sake, the evaluation should always be based on more than one image. This is also necessary to a suitable software of the computer unit 4 to allow the elimination of confounding factors such as raindrops or unfavorable reflections. It can therefore be assumed that from the detection of the track strands - 2 to 3 images - to the output of the control signal a period of 0.5 sec. Is necessary.

In addition comes the time, which is needed for an active control.

For such an arrangement, it is of course necessary via an input unit 8th the computer unit 4 with specific data of the locomotive 1 how to convey weight and drives and resulting braking distances as well as status data, such as speed.

This makes it possible to achieve an automatic distance adjustment of the vehicles to be coupled and to perform the clutch individually or automatically.

Claims (5)

Arrangement for locomotives as shunting and driver assistance system for automatically controlled approach to a vehicle to be coupled to perform a coupling operation with the locomotive, characterized in that arranged in the direction of travel of the locomotive sensors for distance detection of associated buffers of the vehicle to be coupled and signals of the sensors by means of converter of a computing unit can be fed, wherein the arithmetic unit via an input unit with data of the locomotive and current status data, such as speed fed and applied a generated control signal of the arithmetic unit controls for brake units and a shutdown / idling a prime mover to associate the vehicles for a coupling operation to be performed , Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that sensors ( 2 ) can be used on electromagnetic basis as ultrasonic sensors and / or radar. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that sensors ( 2 ) can be used on an optical basis as CCD cameras. Arrangement according to Claim 3, characterized in that, when cameras are used, images of the coupling region can be transmitted via a monitor to the driver's cab. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a stereo arrangement of sensors ( 2 ) is arranged.

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