EP0165464B1 - Circuit arrangement for operating a light signal in a railway system - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for operating a multi-concept light signal is disclosed, which is controlled via a multi-line cable connection (K1...K4) from a signal box (ST). The individual light sources (rtH, rtN, gnH, geH, geN) are supplied from a common primary circuit via a common feed transformer (TR) mounted near to the signals. The connection and monitoring of the light sources occurs via control relays (S1, S2) located in the signal unit (SE) and arranged in the control circuits or via monitoring relays (RÜ, HFÜ, J) which are arranged in the individual light source circuits and have contacts (RÜ1...3, HFÜ1...3, J1, J2) in special monitoring circuits. The control and monitoring circuits are connected in the signal unit to one phase (R) of the common primary circuit, in the signal box to the neutral conductor or to a different phase of a three-phase network. The cable lines (K1...K4) of the connecting cable are each used according to the set signalling concept as a supply, control or monitoring line. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a circuit arrangement is e.g. from the essay "The circuit of the track plan signal box SpDrL60 (part 2)" in the magazine "Signal and Wire" 64 (1972) Issue 5, page 63, known. The so-called light blocking signal circuit is described there on page 70 under point 2.4. A circuit diagram is shown in Figure 10 on page 71. In this circuit, for the first time a number of signal lamps indicating various signal terms are fed via a common lamp transformer, the switching of the signal term taking place via a switch-on relay which is in the signal insert and can be actuated via a control line. A special monitoring line is already provided, which reports the position of a relay monitoring the main red thread of a signal lamp and, in the event of a fault, switching on the red auxiliary thread of this signal lamp to the signal box.

The known light blocking signal circuit has a circuit in which the individual light sources transmit Special, individually monitored lamp circuits and separate lamp transformers are supplied with many advantages, but bring no improvement with regard to several other problems which occur in the control and monitoring of light signals over longer positions. Above all, the influence of cable capacity, which makes reliable monitoring difficult and necessitates limiting the distance to 6.5 km and the use of expensive special relays, is not eliminated or reduced. The energy consumption of the signals is also unnecessarily high due to the need to use matching resistors.

Finally, the known circuit for the control and monitoring of more than two-concept light signals, as e.g. are required as entry and exit signals, not suitable.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a circuit arrangement of the type described above which enables the operation of all multi-term light signals commonly used in railway systems in a signal-safe manner and with a high level of operational reliability and at the same time has a lower energy requirement and the least possible outlay on cables and components.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features of the circuit arrangement according to the invention specified in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

In the circuit arrangement according to the invention, all monitoring relays are arranged in secondary circuits of the supply transformer, ie that the supply circuit as well is monitored by a monitoring relay arranged in the signal insert and no longer in the signal box by means of a monitoring relay located in a secondary circuit of a special monitoring transformer. This solution has the advantage that the presence of the signal operating voltage is really checked in the signal application and thus also errors that can occur along the cable feed line, such as excessive contact resistance or short circuit due to wire contact, will certainly lead to an error display. A further great advantage is to be seen in the fact that an exact matching of transformers and resistors used in known signal lamp circuits to one another, as was previously indispensable, is dispensed with in the circuit arrangement according to the invention and it is therefore possible to use signal terms that are associated with different power requirements, to illuminate via the same feed transformer.

In order to eliminate the influence of the cable capacitance at a long distance, diodes are provided as the subject matter of claim 2, which rectify the control and monitoring currents and thus prevent the flow of a capacitive reactive current when a monitoring circuit or a control circuit is interrupted. Any residual AC currents that occur do not influence the AC-sensitive signal relays or electronic circuits used to evaluate the track current component.

An embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention reproduced in claim 3 makes it possible to keep the number of cable wires required low. For example, a three-concept light signal can be operated just as safely with just four cable wires as in today for conventional entry and exit signals, where six cable wires are required.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 4, which provides for the operation of the light signal on the three-phase network with 380 V daily voltage, has particular advantages with regard to the required wire cross section and with regard to energy consumption.

Another development of the invention is the subject of claim 5 and enables the monitoring of all stop light sources that are not in operation and, according to claim 6, also other elements of the interlocking system located in the vicinity of the light signal, as far as they are functional, while the stop term (red light) is being displayed Are low impedance.

Claims 7 to 10 contain configurations of the circuit arrangement according to the invention which, by skillful multiple use of monitoring relays, keeps the required number of these relays as low as possible.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 11, finally, enables a precise adaptation of the secondary voltages of the feed transformer to the operating voltage of the light sources, even with very different positions.

An exemplary embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention and its function will now be described in detail with reference to five figures.

Figur 1

beim einschränkendsten Signalbegriff (HpO) und intaktem Rotlichthauptfaden

Figur 2

beim einschränkendsten Signalbegriff (HpO) und ausgefallenem Rotlichthauptfaden, aber intaktem Rotlichtnebenfaden.

Figur 3

beim Fahrtbegriff (Hp1)

Figur 4

beim eingeschränkten Fahrtbegriff (Hp2)

Figur 5

bei Anschaltung des Ersatzsignals

The figures show primary, control and monitoring circuits in the circuit arrangement according to the invention in the following operating states:

Figure 1

with the most restrictive signal term (HpO) and intact red light main thread

Figure 2

with the most restrictive signal term (HpO) and failed red light main thread, but intact red light secondary thread.

Figure 3

when driving (Hp1)

Figure 4

with restricted driving concept (Hp2)

Figure 5

when switching on the replacement signal

In Figure 1, the circuit arrangement according to the invention is shown in an operating state which represents the signal term HpO. It consists of a part ST on the interlocking side and a part SE in the signaling area in the interlocking system, which are connected to each other via four cable wires K1 ... K4. The circuit section in the interlocking outdoor area contains three light sources, in this case signal lamps for red, yellow and green light, each with a main thread rtH, geH, gnH and a secondary thread rtN, geN, gnN and for operation in secondary circuits of a common supply transformer TR can be switched. The primary winding of the supply transformer is fed via two of the four cable cores, K1 and K2, from the signal box. For this purpose, the cable wires are connected in the signal box with two phases R, S, of a three-phase network. The The various secondary circuits that form the operating circuits of the signal lamps are switched on by contacts of two control relays S1, S2 housed in the signal insert, the windings of which lie in control circuits which can be switched from the signal box.

To monitor the status and function of the signal lamps, three monitoring relays, the red monitor RÜ, the main thread monitor HFÜ and the travel monitor J are provided in the signal insert, each of which has a series of contacts, some of which switch spare circuits in the event that a main thread breaks and that Corresponding secondary thread must be put into operation, some of which are arranged in monitoring circuits, which trigger an error message in the signal box if such a contact opens due to a fault. All control and monitoring circuits are connected on one side, in the signal application, to one of the phases (R) of the three-phase network connected to the primary winding of the supply transformer.

The required control current or monitoring current is taken from this phase and flows via the elements to be controlled or monitored and via one of the cable wires leading to the signal box to the neutral conductor or to the third phase of the three-phase network. In the interlocking-side part of the circuit arrangement there are contacts (changeover contacts SSO1, SSO2, ES11, ES12), not shown, which close and open the control circuits according to the signal terms to be set in each case and signal relays RHÜ, GNÜ, RNÜ which with their windings are located in the individual monitoring circuits and report every interruption of a monitoring current to the signal box circuit.

In Figure 1, the red main thread rtH is in operation. The operating current flows - this is emphasized by a stronger pulling out of the connecting lines in the figure - from one of several center taps AM1 ... AM3 of the secondary winding of the feed transformer TR via contacts (break contacts S21 and changeover contact S11) of the control relays S2 and S1 and the winding of the Red monitor RÜ for the common connection of the red main thread and the red auxiliary thread, and from there via the red main thread rtH, the winding of the main thread monitor HFÜ, each one further opener S25, S13 of the control relays S2 and S1 for the secondary winding of the feed transformer TR. The operating voltage can be set by selecting the taps AM1 ... AM3, AE1 ... AE5 of the secondary winding of the supply transformer. The taps are appropriately attached so that the secondary voltage in the area of the center taps AM1 ... AM3 from one tap to the next by about 10%, in the area of the taps attached near the secondary coil end, however, only by about 2% changes.

In addition to the operating circuit for the red main thread, two monitoring circuits are connected when the signal term HPO is reproduced. There is no special control circuit, since the signal term HPO, as the most restrictive signal term (red light), forms the basic state of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, which sets itself automatically if no other signal term is set.

Of the monitoring circuits, one of the phase R of the three-phase network connected via the cable core K1 for signal use runs via a current limiting resistor R1 and a diode D1, an NC contact HFÜ1 des Main thread monitor HFÜ, a changer RÜ1 of the red monitor RÜ, an opener S27 of the control relay S2, and the cable wire K3 to the signal box, there via a changer ES11 of a signal control relay, not shown, the so-called replacement signal controller, a changer of a first signal control relay, not shown, and the winding of one interlocking relay, the red main thread monitor RHÜ to the neutral conductor of the three-phase network.

The other monitoring circuit also begins at phase R of the three-phase network, which is connected via the cable core K1 for signal use. It is also passed through a current limiting resistor R2 and a diode D2, but runs through a further resistor R3 for free connection of the red auxiliary thread rtN. From there, the monitoring current flows through all the filaments of the signal insert that are in and out of operation and the cable wire K4 to the signal box. Even the magnetic coil of an indusimagnet M can, as shown here, be included in the monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit - highlighted again in the figure by somewhat stronger solid connecting lines - runs in detail from the connection of the red secondary thread via red secondary thread rtN, red main thread rtH, yellow main thread geH, yellow secondary thread geN, two resistors R4, R5, green secondary thread gnN, green main thread gnH, indusimagnet M, one Changeover switch J1 of the travel monitor J an opener RÜ2 of the red monitor RÜ, all filaments of the replacement signal light sources ErS assigned to the light signal, an adjustable resistor R6 and an opener S17 of the control relay S1 to the cable core K4. In the signal box, the monitoring current flows via a changeover contact ES12 of the substitute signal converter ES1, a changeover contact SS02 of the first signal setting relay and the winding of the signaling device-side signaling relay RNÜ, the so-called red auxiliary thread monitor, to the neutral conductor of the three-phase network. The current in the monitoring circuit is limited to a few milliamperes, so that although the high-resistance winding of the red secondary thread monitor RNÜ responds to the monitoring current, the function of filaments and indusimagnets is not impaired.

Safe monitoring of the display of the signal term HpO is guaranteed by the two monitoring circuits. In the first monitoring circuit there are namely NO contacts RÜ1, HFÜ1 of the red monitor RÜ and the main thread monitor HFÜ, in the second monitoring circuit there is only one NO contact RÜ of the red monitor RÜ. Only when both monitoring relays are energized can both monitoring circuits carry current and signal the correct operating status. If the main red thread breaks, the main thread monitor HFÜ is de-energized. Instead of the operating circuit previously leading via the red main thread rtH and the main thread monitor HFÜ, its break contact HFÜ2 closes an operating circuit via the red auxiliary thread rtN and a resistor R3. The latter takes the place of the winding resistance of the main thread monitor previously located in the operating circuit. The red monitor RÜ is therefore still flowed through by operating current and therefore remains energized. Of the two monitoring circuits, only the first is interrupted, because only this contains an NO contact of the main thread monitor. The second monitoring circuit remains closed, even though the main red thread is broken, because closing the HFÜ2 breaker closes the second monitoring circuit via the winding of the HFÜ main thread monitor. The monitoring current is so weak that he is unable to operate the main thread monitor. The course of the operating circuit and the second monitoring circuit after breaking the red main thread is shown in FIG. 2:

The operating circuit for the red auxiliary thread rtN runs from a center tap AM1 ... 3 of the secondary winding of the feed transformer TR via the break contact S21 of the control relay S2, the changeover contact S11 of the control relay S1, the winding of the red monitor RÜ, the red auxiliary thread rtN, the resistor R3 and the Opener HFÜ2 of the main thread monitor HFÜ back to the secondary winding of the feed transformer. The primary circuit of the supply transformer remains unchanged compared to FIG. 1.

The second monitoring circuit runs from the phase R connected via the cable core K1 to the primary winding of the supply transformer via the resistor R2, the diode D2 the opener HFÜ2 of the main thread monitor HFÜ to the opener S13 of the control relay S1 and from there further as described above in connection with FIG. 1.

If the signal is to be set to run (HP1), this is done by actuating the signal control relay SS1. The changeover SS10 in the primary circuit of the supply transformer is thereby changed and phase S of the three-phase network is separated from the cable core K2. After the primary current for the light signal is interrupted, the red monitor RÜ falls back and its changeover contact RÜ1 and its make contact RÜ2 interrupt the monitoring circuits shown in FIG. The result of this is that the two signaling relays in the RHÜ and RNÜ signal box fall back and a further signal setting relay, the so-called not shown in the figure Press the neutral signal actuator SS0. Its changeover contacts SS01 and SS02 establish connections in the interlocking between the cable core K3 and the neutral conductor of the three-phase network or the cable core K4 and the third phase T of the three-phase network. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a control circuit is switched from phase R via control relay S1 and a diode D4 to the neutral conductor of the three-phase network, and a new primary circuit is also formed for the feed transformer, which now flows from phase R via the primary winding of the feed transformer and the cable wire K4 runs to phase T of the three-phase network. The two control relays S1 and S2 are insensitive to pure AC voltage, which is why the simultaneous connection of both relays by the contacts RÜ1 and RÜ3 of the red monitor can only attract relay S1, since only this is supplied with direct current via diode D4.

On the secondary side of the feed transformer in the signal insert, an operating circuit is now switched via the main green thread gnH, which has the following course: center tap of the secondary winding of the feed transformer AM1 ... 3, break contact S21 of control relay S2, changeover contact S11 of control relay S1, make contact S12 of control relay S1 , Winding the main thread monitor HFÜ, normally open contact S14 of the control relay S1, green main thread gnH, winding the travel monitor J, normally open contact S15 of the control relay S1, tap AE1 ... 5 of the secondary winding of the supply transformer.

The actuation of the travel monitor J causes the connection of a monitoring circuit via the cable core K2. This is done by the changeover contact J2, which is a circuit between phase R and the neutral of the three-phase network closes. The monitoring current flows through the resistor R1, the diode D1, the changer J2 of the trip monitor, the cable core K2, the changer SS20 of the signal control relay SS2, the changer SS10 of the signal control relay SS1, a series resistor R6 and the winding of the signal relay GNÜ, the so-called green monitor to the neutral conductor.

Similar to the failure of the main red thread, the main green thread is switched on if the main green thread fails. This is triggered by an opener HFÜ3 of the main thread monitor HFÜ, which establishes a connection between the secondary green thread and the center tap of the feed transformer via a low-resistance resistor R4.

If the restricted driving concept (HP2) is to be set, this is done similarly to the setting of the driving concept (HP1), except that the signal setting relay SS2 is actuated instead of the signal setting relay SS1. Due to the position of the contacts SS11 and SS22 of the two signal actuating relays SS1 and SS2, the cable core K3 is now connected to phase T of the three-phase network and the cable core K4 via diode D4 to the neutral conductor of the three-phase network. Thus, instead of control relay S1, control relay S2 picks up because it is now supplied with direct current. By means of its contacts S22, S23 and S24, the control relay S2 effects the connection of a secondary circuit which leads both via the main green thread gnH and over the main yellow thread. The higher operating voltage required for the series connection of the two main threads is now no longer tapped at the center tap of the secondary winding of the feed transformer, but at taps, which are located near the ends of the secondary winding. In Figure 4 this circuit runs as follows: Tapping AE1 ... 5 of the feed transformer TR, make contact S22 of control relay S2, winding of travel monitor J, main green thread gnH, make contact S24 of control relay S2, winding of main thread monitor HFÜ, main yellow thread GEH, make contact S23 of Control relay S2 tapping AA1 ... 5 of the secondary winding of the supply transformer TR.

A break in one of the main threads gnH, geH also leads to a drop in the main thread monitor HFÜ, whose contact HFÜ3 closes a spare circuit via the green secondary thread gnN, the resistor R4 and the yellow secondary thread geN. The monitoring circuit leading over the cable core K2 remains practically unchanged from the position of the travel term shown in FIG. 3.

Figure 5, finally, shows the connection of the light sources of the substitute signal ErS, e.g. in the event of total failure of the light signal. Via change-over contacts ES11, ES12 of the substitute signal actuator ES1, a circuit from phase S in the signal box via the cable core K3, the opener S27 of the control relay S2, a capacitor C2, the light sources ErS of the substitute signal, an adjustable resistor R6, an opener S17 of the control relay S1 , the cable core K4 and a further signal relay GnÜ1 for phase R of the three-phase network. The operating current for the replacement signal lamps partly flows through a diode D3 connected in parallel with the signal relay GnÜ1, which results in a direct current component for the signal relay.

Claims (11)

1. Circuit arrangement for operating a multiaspect light signal connected to an interlocking station by a multi-conductor cable wherein all light sources are operated by alternating current from a common primary circuit through a common feeding transformer located near the signal and, to this end, are included in secondary circuits of the common feeding transformer, wherein at least one control relay located near the signal and included in a control circuit is provided for changing the aspect, and wherein a plurality of supervisory relays traversed by light-signal operating current and having contacts included in at least one supervising circuit are provided for supervising the feed circuit and the light sources and for automatically turning on substitute light sources in the event of a light-source failure, characterized in that the windings of all supervisory relays (RÜ, HFÜ, J) are located in secondary circuits of the feeding transformer (TR), and that all control circuits and supervising circuits have one end connected to, and are supplied with operating current from, the common primary circuit.
2. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control and supervising circuits contain diodes, and that both the control relays and repeating relays or electronic circuits located at the interlocking station and evaluating the statuses of the supervising circuits are designed to be insensitive to alternating current.
3. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conductors (K1...K4) of the cable link between the interlocking station and the light signal are switchable as primary-circuit lines, control lines, or supervisory lines depending on the aspects to be or being displayed.
4. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the common primary circuit is closed between two phases (R, S in Fig.1) of a three-phase system, and that the control and supervising circuits go from either of the two phases to the third phase (T) of said three-phase system or to the neutral conductor (O).
5. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supervising circuit indicating to the interlocking station the condition of the light source (rtH, rtN) displaying the most restrictive aspect passes through said light source and all other light sources (geH, geN, gnH, gnN, Ers) of the light signal.
6. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the supervising circuit indicating to the interlocking station the condition of the light source displaying the most restrictive aspect additionally passes through an inductive train control magnet (M) or one or more other elements of the outdoor interlocking equipment which are located near the light signal.
7. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the display of the most restrictive aspect, there are provided a main light source (rtH) and a substitute light source (rtN) which have a common supply line, that the common supply line includes the winding of a first supervisory relay (RÜ), that the supply line for the substitute light source includes the winding of a second supervisory relay (HFÜ), and that two supervising circuits are provided one of which includes contacts of both supervisory relays, while the other includes only a contact of the first supervisory relay.
8. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, during the display of an aspect, the second supervisory relay (HFÜ) is in series with the light source (rtH, gnH) necessary for the display, and that, in the event of a failure of said light source, the second supervisory relay (HFÜ) turns on a substitute light source (rtN, gnN) through one of its contacts (HFÜ2, HFÜ3).
9. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, during the display of the restricted-speed aspect, the second supervisory relay (HFÜ) is in series with two light sources (gnH, geH) necessary for this display, and that, in the event of a failure of either of said light sources, it turns on two series-connected auxiliary light sources (gnN, geN) through one of its contacts (HFÜ3).
10. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating current for all light sources (gnH, geH) or substitute light sources (gnN, geN) necessary for the display of the proceed or restricted-speed aspect flows through a supervisory relay (J) which indicates the presence of said operating current to the interlocking station by means of a contact (J2) included in a supervising circuit.
11. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding transformer (TR) has a number of taps (AA1...5, AM1...3, AE1...5) on its secondary side from which the secondary voltages required to operate the individual light sources can be obtained in both coarse and fine steps.

Images