EP0576320A1 - System for the running of automatic vehicles - Google Patents

System for the running of automatic vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0576320A1
EP0576320A1 EP93401487A EP93401487A EP0576320A1 EP 0576320 A1 EP0576320 A1 EP 0576320A1 EP 93401487 A EP93401487 A EP 93401487A EP 93401487 A EP93401487 A EP 93401487A EP 0576320 A1 EP0576320 A1 EP 0576320A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
exchanger
lanes
network according
selection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93401487A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0576320B1 (en
Inventor
Henri Jonca
Marx Marty
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Airbus Group SAS
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Airbus Group SAS
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Publication of EP0576320A1 publication Critical patent/EP0576320A1/en
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Publication of EP0576320B1 publication Critical patent/EP0576320B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B1/00—General arrangement of stations, platforms, or sidings; Railway networks; Rail vehicle marshalling systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B13/00—Other railway systems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a network for the circulation of automatic vehicles subject to mechanically follow one or the other of at least two lanes of circulation of the network, which are interconnected by at least one exchanger.
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks.
  • the design, in accordance with the present invention for an automatic vehicle traffic network prevents any collision of two vehicles arriving simultaneously in the exchanger, respectively by one or the other of the two paths associated with the exchanger.
  • the selection means of each vehicle normally occupy a first position requiring the vehicle to continue its journey on the same lane and are likely to occupy a second position corresponding to the lane change in response to a command order, and the inhibition means prevent the formation and / or transmission of the order.
  • each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the detection means, means of identification by the vehicle of the identity of the exchanger into which it will enter, and means on board each vehicle establish a change of direction order based on relative information to the path that the vehicle must travel and according to parameters representative of the identified exchanger into which the vehicle will enter.
  • each vehicle determines, by its own means, a possible change of direction by means of the exchanger, when approaching each exchanger that it encounters on its route.
  • the identification means comprise at least one fixed identification pad associated with the track and each vehicle includes means for reading the identification pads to determine the parameters representative of the identity of the vehicle. exchanger into which the vehicle will enter.
  • the inhibition means prevent the identification pads from being read by the vehicles.
  • each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the detection means, first transmission means which transmit to the selection means of each vehicle a switching order towards said first position, when the detection means associated with the two lanes detect the simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, arrival of a vehicle on each of the two lanes.
  • the network includes means for identifying the exchangers and first transmission means, the latter are located upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the identification means.
  • each channel comprises, downstream of the exchanger, second transmission means which transmit, to the selection means of the vehicle leaving the exchanger, an order switching to said first position in which the selection means require the vehicle to continue its journey on the same lane.
  • the path selection means of each vehicle leaving a heat exchanger are, when approaching the next heat exchanger that the vehicle will encounter, in the preferred safety position corresponding to the continuation of the path of the vehicle on the same lane.
  • the means for selecting the route of each vehicle can be of the type comprising at least one mechanical selection member mounted movable between said first and second positions, the first and / or second transmission means being then produced in the form of a cam profile with which a cam follower member mechanically connected to the selection member cooperates.
  • This design allows the first transmission means to be produced in a particularly simple manner in the form of a support element for the cam profile which is retractable between a first position in which the cam profile projects and a second position in which it is retracted, the second transmission means being produced in the form of a fixed support element with respect to the track and the vehicle.
  • the means for selecting each vehicle comprises a steering member produced in the form of a roller mounted axially movable between a first position and a second vertical position, so as to be selectively received in complementary guide grooves of the exchanger arranged on different levels to cause, or not, a change of direction of the vehicle as a function of the vertical position occupied by the guide roller.
  • each of the two lanes constitutes a circulation loop of a network comprising at least two tangent circulation loops.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a network of the type comprising two tangent circulation loops linked together by an exchanger.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale and with a partial cutaway, of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view along arrow F of Figure 3 illustrating the cooperation of the vehicle selection members with the grooves formed in the exchanger.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view on a larger scale along the line V-V of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 6 is an end view along arrow F ′ of one of the branches of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 7 schematically illustrates part of the network illustrated in FIG. 1 comprising the exchanger and portions upstream and downstream of the exchanger.
  • Figure 8 shows the block diagram of the network part shown in Figure 7.
  • the network 10 illustrated schematically in Figure 1 is of the type comprising two tangent loops 12 and 14 on which can circulate, for example in the direction indicated by the arrows C, passenger transport vehicles and, for example, automatic taxis to urban use circulating on its own site.
  • the network 10 includes a direction change device or exchanger 16, the function of which is equivalent to that of a double junction with crossing used in the field of roads. of iron.
  • the exchanger 16 has a design symmetry with respect to a median longitudinal plane PL and with respect to a median transverse plane PT.
  • the vehicles 18 illustrated schematically in Figure 4 can be of any design, such that they are mechanically subject to follow a determined path, for example along a circulation loop.
  • each vehicle 18 comprises at least one path selection member 20 in the exchanger, which is for example constituted by a rod 22 which extends in a vertical direction and which brings its end a cylindrical guide roller 24, mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.
  • Each selection member 20, or steering member is capable of moving vertically relative to the body of the vehicle 18 between a first position, illustrated for the vehicle on the left in FIG. 4, in which the roller 24 is located at a first level bottom N1, and a second position, illustrated for the vehicle on the right in FIG. 4, in which the steering roller 24 is located at a second high level N2.
  • the difference in altitude between the two levels represented by the mixed lines N1 and N2 corresponds substantially to the height h of the guide roller 24.
  • the path followed by a vehicle 18 is materialized by a profile groove complementary to that of the guide roller 24.
  • the cross-sectional profile of the guide grooves is for example illustrated in FIG. 5 in which it can be seen, considering for example the central groove, that it essentially consists of two side walls 26, which extend in parallel vertical planes which are spaced from each other by a transverse distance slightly greater than the diameter of the guide roller 24.
  • the profile of the groove is completed at its upper part by a parallel longitudinal groove 28 of smaller section, which allows the passage of the guide rod 22, the groove 28 opening for this purpose vertically upwards.
  • the exchanger 16 comprises two inlet sections TE and two outlet sections TS.
  • the height H of the guide grooves constituting the inlet TE and outlet TS sections is, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6, substantially equal to twice the height h of the guide rollers.
  • a vehicle 18 can therefore travel in the sections TE and TS, whatever the vertical position occupied by its guide roller 24.
  • Each inlet section TE is extended in the direction of the associated outlet section TS by a first intermediate section TI1, so as to constitute a section of continuous curve and without inflection point, which extends the curvature of the associated circulation loop.
  • the height of the groove of each of the first intermediate sections TI1 is substantially equal to the height h of a guide roller 24 and the grooves constituting the sections TI1 are located at the first low level N1.
  • Each of the entry sections TE also extends by a second intermediate section TI2, also called section crossing, which extends laterally in diversion with respect to the general direction common to the associated sections TE and TI1.
  • the height of the grooves constituting the second intermediate sections TI2 is substantially equal to the height h of a roller 24 and these grooves are located at the high level N2, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5.
  • the change of track or bifurcation therefore occurs substantially at the point B of connection between an entry section TE and the two intermediate sections TI1 and TI2 which are associated with it and this as a function of the low or high position occupied by the roller guide 24 of the vehicle entering the TE entry section.
  • Each vehicle 18 comprises means 30 for controlling the vertical movements of the selection members 20 actuated by a circulation management unit 47.
  • control means 30 may comprise jacks or electromagnets.
  • the exchanger 16 as just described can be described as "passive" insofar as the selection of the route that a vehicle makes in the exchanger is made from the vehicle itself. So there is a non-zero probability that two vehicles arriving simultaneously or almost simultaneously in the exchanger 16, each by one of the two lanes 12 or 14, collide in the event that at least one of the two vehicles makes a lane change during its crossing of the interchange.
  • the circulation network is advantageously produced in the manner illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • each of the tracks 12, 14 comprises means 40, which make it possible to detect the arrival of a vehicle 18 in the direction of the exchanger 16
  • the detection means 40 can for example consist of two electrical tracks between which the vehicle establishes contact by means designed for this purpose.
  • the detection means 40 are connected to a traffic management unit 41 (see FIG. 8) which, when two vehicles 18 are traveling simultaneously on the conductive tracks 40 of tracks 12 and 14, produces on its output 43 an inhibition signal whose function will be described later.
  • Each of the channels 12, 14 also includes a fixed stud 42, which allows the identification, by an arriving vehicle 18, of the identity of the exchanger 16 into which it will penetrate.
  • Each pad 42 contains, for example in the form of coded information, parameters relating to the identity of the exchanger 16.
  • Each vehicle 18 comprises, in addition to the control means 30 and the traffic management unit 47 , reading means 45, for example optical or magnetic, which, when the vehicle passes right of a pad 42, decipher the coded parameters and transmit them to the traffic management unit 47 on board the vehicle.
  • the on-board management unit 47 produces a command signal, or command, which is transmitted to the means 30 for controlling the vertical movements of the selection member 20 of the vehicle.
  • This command order has the consequence of causing or not the switching of the selection means 20, in order to effect or not a change of lane.
  • the inhibition signal produced by the traffic management unit 41 is transmitted to the identification pads 42, in order to make it impossible to read these last by 18 arriving vehicles.
  • each vehicle 18 no longer has the identification parameters of the exchanger 16, it can no longer produce control signals from the selection means 20 and each vehicle 18 is then subject to remain on the same track, when crossing the exchanger 16.
  • the inhibition signal emitted by the traffic management unit 41 could be transmitted to the traffic management units 47 of the vehicles 18, so that the latter can no longer produce control signals towards the means 30.
  • each channel 12, 14 comprises, downstream of the detection means 40 and identification 42 and upstream of the exchanger 16, pads 44, each of which has a profile on its upper face.
  • cam 46 provided for mechanically cooperating with the selection member 20 of each vehicle.
  • the design of the cam profile 46 is such that it is capable of causing the switching member 20 to switch to its first position, or high position, corresponding to the continuation of the journey without changing lanes in the exchanger 16.
  • Each of the pads 44 is mounted vertically movable between a high position (in solid lines in FIG. 8) for which the cam profile 46 protrudes from the upper face of the corresponding track 12, 14, so as to be able to cooperate with the selection member 20 of a vehicle and a low position (dotted in Figure 8) for which the profile 46 is retracted.
  • actuators 49 for example jacks or electromagnets controlled by the output 43 of the traffic management unit 41 as a function of detection by means 40 of the simultaneous arrival of two vehicles.
  • the traffic management unit 41 causes the mobile pads 44 to rise, so that the latter automatically cause the selection means 20 to switch to their high position, and this even in the event of a breakdown, or faulty operation, of the traffic management units 47 and / or of the control means 30 on board the vehicles 18.
  • each channel 12, 14 has a fixed pad 48, the design of which is similar to that of the movable pads 44, that is to say the top face of which has a cam profile 50 , which automatically causes the switching means 20 to switch to their high position.
  • each vehicle After having crossed the exchanger 16 and having passed a fixed stud 48, each vehicle can continue its journey on the corresponding track with its selection means 20 switched to the preferred safety position, or high position, in which they will present themselves at the approach of a next interchange.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
  • Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

- The invention relates to a system for the travel of vehicles forced mechanically to follow one or other of at least two travel lanes (12, 14) of the system which are connected to one another by means of at least one interchange (16). - According to the invention, the interchange (16) makes it possible for vehicles to change lanes by the selection, by each vehicle entering the interchange, of a specific route during its passage through the interchange; each lane comprises, upstream of the interchange, means (40) for detecting the arrival of the vehicle in the direction of the interchange (16); and the system comprises means for inhibiting the lane-change selection means associated with each vehicle, when the detection means (40) associated with the two lanes (12, 14) detect the simultaneous arrival of a vehicle on each of the two lanes. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne un réseau pour la circulation de véhicules automatiques assujettis à suivre mécaniquement l'une ou l'autre d'au moins deux voies de circulation du réseau, qui sont reliées entre elles par au moins un échangeur.The present invention relates to a network for the circulation of automatic vehicles subject to mechanically follow one or the other of at least two lanes of circulation of the network, which are interconnected by at least one exchanger.

Quoique la conception d'un tel type de réseau puisse trouver de nombreuses applications, la présente invention sera spécialement décrite ci-après dans le cas d'un réseau pour la circulation en site propre de véhicules automatiques de transport de passagers, et plus particulièrement dans le cas d'un réseau comportant des boucles tangentes de circulation.Although the design of such a type of network can find numerous applications, the present invention will be specially described below in the case of a network for the circulation on its own site of automatic passenger transport vehicles, and more particularly in the case of a network comprising tangent circulation loops.

On connaît diverses conceptions de réseaux dans lesquelles les échangeurs permettant aux véhicules de changer de direction, également appelés aiguillages, présentent tous pour inconvénient d'être des dispositifs actifs qui sont associés à la voie proprement dite et qui sont le plus souvent pilotés à partir d'un système central. De plus, aucune de ces conceptions de réseau ne permet le passage simultané de deux véhicules ou de deux convois dans l'échangeur. C'est par exemple le cas des réseaux de chemin de fer comportant des aiguillages du type à jonction double avec traversée.Various network designs are known in which the exchangers allowing vehicles to change direction, also called switches, all have the drawback of being active devices which are associated with the track proper and which are most often controlled from 'a central system. In addition, none of these network designs allows the simultaneous passage of two vehicles or two convoys in the exchanger. This is for example the case of railway networks comprising switches of the double junction type with crossing.

La présente invention a pour objet de remédier à ces inconvénients.The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks.

A cette fin, l'invention concerne un réseau du type mentionné précédemment, caractérisé en ce que :

  • l'échangeur permet le changement de voies des véhicules par sélection, par chaque véhicule pénétrant dans l'échangeur, d'un parcours déterminé lors de sa traversée de l'échangeur, ce qui aboutit soit à la poursuite par le véhicule de son parcours sur la même voie, soit au changement de voie du véhicule ;
  • chaque voie comporte, en amont de l'échangeur, des moyens de détection de l'arrivée d'un véhicule en direction de l'échangeur ; et
  • le réseau comporte des moyens d'inhibition de moyens de sélection de changement de voie associés à chaque véhicule, lorsque lesdits moyens de détection associés aux deux voies détectent l'arrivée simultanée, ou quasi simultanée, d'un véhicule sur chacune des deux voies.
To this end, the invention relates to a network of the type mentioned above, characterized in that:
  • the exchanger allows the change of lanes of the vehicles by selection, by each vehicle entering the exchanger, of a determined route during its crossing of the exchanger, which leads either to the pursuit by the vehicle on its route on the same lane, ie when the vehicle changes lanes;
  • each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger, means for detecting the arrival of a vehicle in the direction of the exchanger; and
  • the network includes means for inhibiting lane change selection means associated with each vehicle, when said detection means associated with the two lanes detect the simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, arrival of a vehicle on each of the two lanes.

Ainsi, la conception, conforme à la présente invention, pour un réseau de circulation de véhicules automatiques empêche toute collision de deux véhicules arrivant simultanément dans l'échangeur, respectivement par l'une ou l'autre des deux voies associées à l'échangeur.Thus, the design, in accordance with the present invention, for an automatic vehicle traffic network prevents any collision of two vehicles arriving simultaneously in the exchanger, respectively by one or the other of the two paths associated with the exchanger.

De préférence, les moyens de sélection de chaque véhicule occupent normalement une première position imposant au véhicule de poursuivre son parcours sur la même voie et sont susceptibles d'occuper une seconde position correspondant au changement de voie en réponse à un ordre de commande, et les moyens d'inhibition empêchent la formation et/ou la transmission de l'ordre de commande.Preferably, the selection means of each vehicle normally occupy a first position requiring the vehicle to continue its journey on the same lane and are likely to occupy a second position corresponding to the lane change in response to a command order, and the inhibition means prevent the formation and / or transmission of the order.

Ainsi, on obtient une sécurité accrue dans la mesure où chaque véhicule possède un mode propre de présélection correspondant à la poursuite de sa circulation sur sa voie d'entrée dans l'échangeur.Thus, increased security is obtained insofar as each vehicle has its own preselection mode corresponding to the continuation of its circulation on its path of entry into the exchanger.

De préférence, chaque voie comporte, en amont de l'échangeur et en aval des moyens de détection, des moyens d'identification par le véhicule de l'identité de l'échangeur dans lequel il va pénétrer, et des moyens embarqués sur chaque véhicule établissent un ordre de changement de direction en fonction d'informations relatives au trajet que le véhicule doit parcourir et en fonction de paramètres représentatifs de l'échangeur identifié dans lequel le véhicule va pénétrer.Preferably, each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the detection means, means of identification by the vehicle of the identity of the exchanger into which it will enter, and means on board each vehicle establish a change of direction order based on relative information to the path that the vehicle must travel and according to parameters representative of the identified exchanger into which the vehicle will enter.

Grâce à ces caractéristiques, chaque véhicule détermine, par des moyens qui lui sont propres, un éventuel changement de direction au moyen de l'échangeur, à l'approche de chaque échangeur qu'il rencontre sur son parcours.Thanks to these characteristics, each vehicle determines, by its own means, a possible change of direction by means of the exchanger, when approaching each exchanger that it encounters on its route.

Afin d'assurer leur fonction, il suffit alors que les moyens d'inhibition empêchent le fonctionnement des moyens d'identification.In order to ensure their function, it is sufficient then that the inhibition means prevent the functioning of the identification means.

Selon un mode de réalisation du réseau, les moyens d'identification comportent au moins un plot d'identification fixe associé à la voie et chaque véhicule comporte des moyens de lecture des plots d'identification pour déterminer les paramètres représentatifs de l'identité de l'échangeur dans lequel le véhicule va pénétrer.According to one embodiment of the network, the identification means comprise at least one fixed identification pad associated with the track and each vehicle includes means for reading the identification pads to determine the parameters representative of the identity of the vehicle. exchanger into which the vehicle will enter.

Dans cette conception, les moyens d'inhibition empêchent la lecture des plots d'identification par les véhicules.In this design, the inhibition means prevent the identification pads from being read by the vehicles.

Afin d'accroître la sécurité de fonctionnement du réseau, chaque voie comporte, en amont de l'échangeur et en aval des moyens de détection, des premiers moyens de transmission qui transmettent aux moyens de sélection de chaque véhicule un ordre de commutation vers ladite première position, lorsque les moyens de détection associés aux deux voies détectent l'arrivée simultanée, ou quasi simultanée, d'un véhicule sur chacune des deux voies.In order to increase the operational safety of the network, each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the detection means, first transmission means which transmit to the selection means of each vehicle a switching order towards said first position, when the detection means associated with the two lanes detect the simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, arrival of a vehicle on each of the two lanes.

Lorsque, selon une conception préférée, le réseau comporte des moyens d'identification des échangeurs et des premiers moyens de transmission, ces derniers sont situés en amont de l'échangeur et en aval des moyens d'identification.When, according to a preferred design, the network includes means for identifying the exchangers and first transmission means, the latter are located upstream of the exchanger and downstream of the identification means.

La sécurité du réseau peut encore être accrue et l'on prévoit à cet effet que chaque voie comporte, en aval de l'échangeur, des seconds moyens de transmission qui transmettent, aux moyens de sélection du véhicule qui quitte l'échangeur, un ordre de commutation vers ladite première position dans laquelle les moyens de sélection imposent au véhicule de poursuivre son parcours sur la même voie.Network security can be further increased and for this purpose it is provided that each channel comprises, downstream of the exchanger, second transmission means which transmit, to the selection means of the vehicle leaving the exchanger, an order switching to said first position in which the selection means require the vehicle to continue its journey on the same lane.

Ainsi, les moyens de sélection de parcours de chaque véhicule qui quitte un échangeur sont, à l'approche de l'échangeur suivant que rencontrera le véhicule, dans la position préférentielle de sécurité correspondant à la poursuite du parcours du véhicule sur la même voie.Thus, the path selection means of each vehicle leaving a heat exchanger are, when approaching the next heat exchanger that the vehicle will encounter, in the preferred safety position corresponding to the continuation of the path of the vehicle on the same lane.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, les moyens de sélection de parcours de chaque véhicule peuvent être du type comportant au moins un organe mécanique de sélection monté mobile entre lesdites première et seconde positions, les premiers et/ou seconds moyens de transmission étant alors réalisés sous la forme d'un profil de came avec lequel coopère un organe suiveur de came relié mécaniquement à l'organe de sélection.According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for selecting the route of each vehicle can be of the type comprising at least one mechanical selection member mounted movable between said first and second positions, the first and / or second transmission means being then produced in the form of a cam profile with which a cam follower member mechanically connected to the selection member cooperates.

Cette conception permet de réaliser les premiers moyens de transmission d'une manière particulièrement simple sous la forme d'un élément support du profil de came qui est escamotable entre une première position dans laquelle le profil de came est en saillie et une seconde position dans laquelle il est escamoté, les seconds moyens de transmission étant réalisés sous la forme d'un élément support fixe par rapport à la voie et au véhicule.This design allows the first transmission means to be produced in a particularly simple manner in the form of a support element for the cam profile which is retractable between a first position in which the cam profile projects and a second position in which it is retracted, the second transmission means being produced in the form of a fixed support element with respect to the track and the vehicle.

Selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention, les moyens de sélection de chaque véhicule comportent un organe directeur réalisé sous la forme d'un galet monté mobile axialement entre une première position et une seconde position verticales, de manière à être reçu sélectivement dans des rainures complémentaires de guidage de l'échangeur agencées sur des niveaux différents pour provoquer, ou non, un changement de direction du véhicule en fonction de la position verticale occupée par le galet de guidage.According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the means for selecting each vehicle comprises a steering member produced in the form of a roller mounted axially movable between a first position and a second vertical position, so as to be selectively received in complementary guide grooves of the exchanger arranged on different levels to cause, or not, a change of direction of the vehicle as a function of the vertical position occupied by the guide roller.

L'invention trouve notamment à s'appliquer dans le cas où chacune des deux voies constitue une boucle de circulation d'un réseau comportant au moins deux boucles tangentes de circulation.The invention is particularly applicable in the case where each of the two lanes constitutes a circulation loop of a network comprising at least two tangent circulation loops.

Les figures des dessins annexés feront bien comprendre comment l'invention peut être réalisée. Sur ces figures, des références identiques désignent des éléments semblables.The figures of the appended drawings will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

La figure 1 illustre un réseau du type comportant deux boucles tangentes de circulation reliées entre elles par un échangeur.FIG. 1 illustrates a network of the type comprising two tangent circulation loops linked together by an exchanger.

La figure 2 est une vue de dessus de l'échangeur illustré sur la figure 1.FIG. 2 is a top view of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1.

La figure 3 est une vue en perspective, à plus grande échelle et avec un arrachement partiel, de l'échangeur illustré sur la figure 1.FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale and with a partial cutaway, of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1.

La figure 4 est une vue en perspective selon la flèche F de la figure 3 illustrant la coopération des organes de sélection des véhicules avec les rainures formées dans l'échangeur.Figure 4 is a perspective view along arrow F of Figure 3 illustrating the cooperation of the vehicle selection members with the grooves formed in the exchanger.

La figure 5 est une vue en coupe à plus grande échelle selon la ligne V-V de la figure 2.FIG. 5 is a sectional view on a larger scale along the line V-V of FIG. 2.

La figure 6 est une vue en bout selon la flèche F' d'une des branches de l'échangeur illustré sur la figure 2.FIG. 6 is an end view along arrow F ′ of one of the branches of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 2.

La figure 7 illustre schématiquement une partie du réseau illustré sur la figure 1 comportant l'échangeur et des portions en amont et en aval de l'échangeur.FIG. 7 schematically illustrates part of the network illustrated in FIG. 1 comprising the exchanger and portions upstream and downstream of the exchanger.

La figure 8 montre le schéma synoptique de la partie de réseau montrée par la figure 7.Figure 8 shows the block diagram of the network part shown in Figure 7.

Le réseau 10 illustré schématiquement sur la figure 1 est du type comportant deux boucles tangentes 12 et 14 sur lesquelles peuvent circuler, par exemple dans le sens indiqué par les flèches C, des véhicules de transport de passagers et, par exemple, des taxis automatiques à usage urbain circulant en site propre.The network 10 illustrated schematically in Figure 1 is of the type comprising two tangent loops 12 and 14 on which can circulate, for example in the direction indicated by the arrows C, passenger transport vehicles and, for example, automatic taxis to urban use circulating on its own site.

Afin de permettre le passage des véhicules d'une boucle à l'autre, le réseau 10 comporte un dispositif de changement de direction ou échangeur 16, dont la fonction est équivalente à celle d'une jonction double avec croisement utilisée dans le domaine des chemins de fer.In order to allow vehicles to pass from one loop to another, the network 10 includes a direction change device or exchanger 16, the function of which is equivalent to that of a double junction with crossing used in the field of roads. of iron.

L'échangeur 16 présente une symétrie de conception par rapport à un plan longitudinal médian PL et par rapport à un plan transversal médian PT.The exchanger 16 has a design symmetry with respect to a median longitudinal plane PL and with respect to a median transverse plane PT.

Les véhicules 18 illustrés schématiquement sur la figure 4 peuvent être de toute conception, telle qu'ils soient assujettis mécaniquement à suivre un trajet déterminé, par exemple le long d'une boucle de circulation.The vehicles 18 illustrated schematically in Figure 4 can be of any design, such that they are mechanically subject to follow a determined path, for example along a circulation loop.

Dans les modes de réalisation illustrés sur les figures, chaque véhicule 18 comporte au moins un organe 20 de sélection de parcours dans l'échangeur, qui est par exemple constitué par une tige 22 qui s'étend selon une direction verticale et qui porte à son extrémité un galet cylindrique de guidage 24, monté à rotation autour d'un axe vertical.In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, each vehicle 18 comprises at least one path selection member 20 in the exchanger, which is for example constituted by a rod 22 which extends in a vertical direction and which brings its end a cylindrical guide roller 24, mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

Chaque organe de sélection 20, ou organe directeur, est susceptible de se déplacer verticalement par rapport au corps du véhicule 18 entre une première position, illustrée pour le véhicule de gauche de la figure 4, dans laquelle le galet 24 est situé à un premier niveau bas N1, et une seconde position, illustrée pour le véhicule de droite de la figure 4, dans laquelle le galet directeur 24 est situé à un second niveau haut N2.Each selection member 20, or steering member, is capable of moving vertically relative to the body of the vehicle 18 between a first position, illustrated for the vehicle on the left in FIG. 4, in which the roller 24 is located at a first level bottom N1, and a second position, illustrated for the vehicle on the right in FIG. 4, in which the steering roller 24 is located at a second high level N2.

La différence d'altitude entre les deux niveaux matérialisés par les traits mixtes N1 et N2 correspond sensiblement à la hauteur h du galet de guidage 24.The difference in altitude between the two levels represented by the mixed lines N1 and N2 corresponds substantially to the height h of the guide roller 24.

La voie suivie par un véhicule 18 est matérialisée par une rainure de guidage de profil complémentaire de celui du galet de guidage 24.The path followed by a vehicle 18 is materialized by a profile groove complementary to that of the guide roller 24.

Le profil en section transversale des rainures de guidage est par exemple illustré sur la figure 5 sur laquelle on voit, en considérant par exemple la rainure centrale, qu'il est pour l'essentiel constitué de deux parois latérales 26, qui s'étendent dans des plans verticaux parallèles et qui sont espacées l'une de l'autre d'une distance transversale légèrement supérieure au diamètre du galet de guidage 24.The cross-sectional profile of the guide grooves is for example illustrated in FIG. 5 in which it can be seen, considering for example the central groove, that it essentially consists of two side walls 26, which extend in parallel vertical planes which are spaced from each other by a transverse distance slightly greater than the diameter of the guide roller 24.

Le profil de la rainure est complété à sa partie supérieure par une gorge longitudinale parallèle 28 de plus faible section, qui permet le passage de la tige de guidage 22, la gorge 28 débouchant à cet effet verticalement vers le haut.The profile of the groove is completed at its upper part by a parallel longitudinal groove 28 of smaller section, which allows the passage of the guide rod 22, the groove 28 opening for this purpose vertically upwards.

On décrira maintenant en détail les différents tronçons de rainures formés dans le corps de l'échangeur 16 illustré sur les figures 1 à 6.The various sections of grooves formed in the body of the exchanger 16 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 will now be described in detail.

En considérant le sens de circulation C indiqué sur les figures, l'échangeur 16 comporte deux tronçons d'entrée TE et deux tronçons de sortie TS.Considering the direction of circulation C indicated in the figures, the exchanger 16 comprises two inlet sections TE and two outlet sections TS.

La hauteur H des rainures de guidage constituant les tronçons d'entrée TE et de sortie TS est, comme on peut le voir notamment sur les figures 4 et 6, sensiblement égale à deux fois la hauteur h des galets de guidage.The height H of the guide grooves constituting the inlet TE and outlet TS sections is, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6, substantially equal to twice the height h of the guide rollers.

Un véhicule 18 peut donc circuler dans les tronçons TE et TS, quelle que soit la position verticale qu'occupe son galet de guidage 24.A vehicle 18 can therefore travel in the sections TE and TS, whatever the vertical position occupied by its guide roller 24.

Il est également possible d'effectuer un changement de la position verticale des galets de guidage 24 dans les tronçons d'entrée TE et de sortie TS.It is also possible to effect a change in the vertical position of the guide rollers 24 in the TE inlet and TS outlet sections.

Chaque tronçon d'entrée TE se prolonge en direction du tronçon de sortie associé TS par un premier tronçon intermédiaire TI1, de manière à constituer un tronçon de courbe continu et sans point d'inflexion, qui prolonge la courbure de la boucle de circulation associée.Each inlet section TE is extended in the direction of the associated outlet section TS by a first intermediate section TI1, so as to constitute a section of continuous curve and without inflection point, which extends the curvature of the associated circulation loop.

La hauteur de la rainure de chacun des premiers tronçons intermédiaires TI1 est sensiblement égale à la hauteur h d'un galet de guidage 24 et les rainures constituant les tronçons TI1 sont situés au premier niveau bas N1.The height of the groove of each of the first intermediate sections TI1 is substantially equal to the height h of a guide roller 24 and the grooves constituting the sections TI1 are located at the first low level N1.

On comprend donc qu'un galet 24 occupant sa première position basse, correspondant au véhicule 18 de gauche de la figure 4, est guidé dans ses déplacements successivement par les tronçons TE, TI1 et TS alignés.It is therefore understood that a roller 24 occupying its first low position, corresponding to the vehicle 18 on the left in FIG. 4, is guided in its movements successively by the aligned sections TE, TI1 and TS.

Chacun des tronçons d'entrée TE se prolonge également par un second tronçon intermédiaire TI2, également appelé tronçon de croisement, qui s'étend latéralement en dérivation par rapport à la direction générale commune aux tronçons associés TE et TI1.Each of the entry sections TE also extends by a second intermediate section TI2, also called section crossing, which extends laterally in diversion with respect to the general direction common to the associated sections TE and TI1.

La hauteur des rainures constituant les seconds tronçons intermédiaires TI2 est sensiblement égale à la hauteur h d'un galet 24 et ces rainures sont situées au niveau haut N2, comme on peut le constater sur les figures 3 et 5.The height of the grooves constituting the second intermediate sections TI2 is substantially equal to the height h of a roller 24 and these grooves are located at the high level N2, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5.

On comprend donc qu'un véhicule 18 qui pénètre dans le tronçon d'entrée TE avec son galet 24 dans la position haute, correspondant au véhicule de la partie droite de la figure 4, est ensuite guidé latéralement par le second tronçon intermédiaire associé TI2, qui provoque alors le changement de direction du véhicule 18, c'est-à-dire le changement de boucle de circulation, car chaque tronçon intermédiaire TI2 se prolonge en direction du tronçon de sortie associé à l'autre boucle de circulation.It is therefore understood that a vehicle 18 which enters the entry section TE with its roller 24 in the high position, corresponding to the vehicle in the right part of FIG. 4, is then guided laterally by the second associated intermediate section TI2, which then causes the change of direction of the vehicle 18, that is to say the change of circulation loop, since each intermediate section TI2 is extended in the direction of the exit section associated with the other circulation loop.

Le changement de voie ou bifurcation se produit donc sensiblement au niveau du point B de raccordement entre un tronçon d'entrée TE et les deux tronçons intermédiaires TI1 et TI2 qui lui sont associés et ceci en fonction de la position basse ou haute occupée par le galet de guidage 24 du véhicule pénétrant dans le tronçon d'entrée TE.The change of track or bifurcation therefore occurs substantially at the point B of connection between an entry section TE and the two intermediate sections TI1 and TI2 which are associated with it and this as a function of the low or high position occupied by the roller guide 24 of the vehicle entering the TE entry section.

Chaque véhicule 18 comporte des moyens de commande 30 des déplacements verticaux des organes de sélection 20 actionnés par une unité de gestion de circulation 47. De tels moyens de commande 30 peuvent comporter des vérins ou des électro-aimants.Each vehicle 18 comprises means 30 for controlling the vertical movements of the selection members 20 actuated by a circulation management unit 47. Such control means 30 may comprise jacks or electromagnets.

L'échangeur 16 tel qu'il vient d'être décrit peut être qualifié de "passif" dans la mesure où la sélection du parcours qu'effectue un véhicule dans l'échangeur est effectuée à partir du véhicule lui-même. Il existe donc une probabilité non nulle pour que deux véhicules arrivant simultanément ou quasi simultanément dans l'échangeur 16, chacun par une des deux voies 12 ou 14, se percutent dans le cas où l'un au moins des deux véhicules effectue un changement de voie lors de sa traversée de l'échangeur.The exchanger 16 as just described can be described as "passive" insofar as the selection of the route that a vehicle makes in the exchanger is made from the vehicle itself. So there is a non-zero probability that two vehicles arriving simultaneously or almost simultaneously in the exchanger 16, each by one of the two lanes 12 or 14, collide in the event that at least one of the two vehicles makes a lane change during its crossing of the interchange.

Afin de résoudre ce problème, on réalise avantageusement le réseau de circulation de la façon illustrée schématiquement sur les figures 7 et 8.In order to solve this problem, the circulation network is advantageously produced in the manner illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 7 and 8.

En amont de l'échangeur 16, en considérant le sens de circulation indiqué par les flèches C, chacune des voies 12, 14 comporte des moyens 40, qui permettent de détecter l'arrivée d'un véhicule 18 en direction de l'échangeur 16. Comme cela est schématisé sur la figure 7, les moyens de détection 40 peuvent par exemple être constitués par deux pistes électriques entre lesquelles le véhicule établit un contact par des moyens conçus à cet effet.Upstream of the exchanger 16, considering the direction of circulation indicated by the arrows C, each of the tracks 12, 14 comprises means 40, which make it possible to detect the arrival of a vehicle 18 in the direction of the exchanger 16 As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7, the detection means 40 can for example consist of two electrical tracks between which the vehicle establishes contact by means designed for this purpose.

Les moyens de détection 40 sont reliés à une unité de gestion du trafic 41 (voir la figure 8) qui, lorsque deux véhicules 18 circulent simultanément sur les pistes conductrices 40 des voies 12 et 14, produit sur sa sortie 43 un signal d'inhibition dont la fonction sera décrite plus avant.The detection means 40 are connected to a traffic management unit 41 (see FIG. 8) which, when two vehicles 18 are traveling simultaneously on the conductive tracks 40 of tracks 12 and 14, produces on its output 43 an inhibition signal whose function will be described later.

Chacune des voies 12, 14 comporte également un plot fixe 42, qui permet l'identification, par un véhicule 18 arrivant, de l'identité de l'échangeur 16 dans lequel il va pénétrer.Each of the channels 12, 14 also includes a fixed stud 42, which allows the identification, by an arriving vehicle 18, of the identity of the exchanger 16 into which it will penetrate.

Chaque plot 42 contient, par exemple sous la forme d'informations codées, des paramètres relatifs à l'identité de l'échangeur 16. Chaque véhicule 18 comporte, en plus des moyens de commande 30 et de l'unité de gestion de circulation 47, des moyens de lecture 45, par exemple optiques ou magnétiques, qui, lorsque le véhicule passe au droit d'un plot 42, déchiffrent les paramètres codés et les transmettent à l'unité de gestion de circulation 47 embarquée à bord du véhicule.Each pad 42 contains, for example in the form of coded information, parameters relating to the identity of the exchanger 16. Each vehicle 18 comprises, in addition to the control means 30 and the traffic management unit 47 , reading means 45, for example optical or magnetic, which, when the vehicle passes right of a pad 42, decipher the coded parameters and transmit them to the traffic management unit 47 on board the vehicle.

A partir des paramètres relatifs à l'identité de l'échangeur 16 et à partir d'informations mémorisées relatives au trajet global que doit effectuer le véhicule automatique 18, l'unité de gestion embarquée 47 produit un signal, ou ordre, de commande qui est transmis aux moyens 30 de commande des déplacements verticaux de l'organe de sélection 20 du véhicule.On the basis of the parameters relating to the identity of the exchanger 16 and on the basis of stored information relating to the overall journey which the automatic vehicle 18 must perform, the on-board management unit 47 produces a command signal, or command, which is transmitted to the means 30 for controlling the vertical movements of the selection member 20 of the vehicle.

Cet ordre de commande a pour conséquence de provoquer ou non la commutation des moyens de sélection 20, afin d'effectuer ou non un changement de voie.This command order has the consequence of causing or not the switching of the selection means 20, in order to effect or not a change of lane.

Afin d'éviter la collision de deux véhicules arrivant simultanément, il est par exemple prévu que le signal d'inhibition produit par l'unité de gestion de trafic 41 est transmis aux plots d'identification 42, afin de rendre impossible la lecture de ces derniers par les véhicules 18 arrivant.In order to avoid the collision of two vehicles arriving simultaneously, it is for example provided that the inhibition signal produced by the traffic management unit 41 is transmitted to the identification pads 42, in order to make it impossible to read these last by 18 arriving vehicles.

Dans la mesure où l'unité de gestion de circulation 47 embarquée dans chaque véhicule 18 ne dispose plus des paramètres d'identification de l'échangeur 16, elle ne peut plus produire de signaux de commande des moyens de sélection 20 et chaque véhicule 18 est alors assujetti à rester sur la même voie, lors de sa traversée de l'échangeur 16.Insofar as the traffic management unit 47 on board each vehicle 18 no longer has the identification parameters of the exchanger 16, it can no longer produce control signals from the selection means 20 and each vehicle 18 is then subject to remain on the same track, when crossing the exchanger 16.

A titre de variante, le signal d'inhibition émis par l'unité de gestion de trafic 41 pourrait être transmis aux unités de gestion de circulation 47 des véhicules 18, afin que ces dernières ne puissent plus produire de signaux de commande en direction des moyens de commande 30.As a variant, the inhibition signal emitted by the traffic management unit 41 could be transmitted to the traffic management units 47 of the vehicles 18, so that the latter can no longer produce control signals towards the means 30.

Afin d'accroître la sécurité du réseau, chaque voie 12, 14 comporte, en aval des moyens de détection 40 et d'identification 42 et en amont de l'échangeur 16, des patins 44, dont chacun comporte à sa face supérieure un profil de came 46 prévu pour coopérer mécaniquement avec l'organe de sélection 20 de chaque véhicule.In order to increase network security, each channel 12, 14 comprises, downstream of the detection means 40 and identification 42 and upstream of the exchanger 16, pads 44, each of which has a profile on its upper face. cam 46 provided for mechanically cooperating with the selection member 20 of each vehicle.

La conception du profil de came 46 est telle qu'il est apte à provoquer la commutation de l'organe de sélection 20 vers sa première position, ou position haute, correspondant à la poursuite du trajet sans changement de voie dans l'échangeur 16.The design of the cam profile 46 is such that it is capable of causing the switching member 20 to switch to its first position, or high position, corresponding to the continuation of the journey without changing lanes in the exchanger 16.

Chacun des patins 44 est monté mobile verticalement entre une position haute (en traits pleins sur la figure 8) pour laquelle le profil de came 46 fait saillie à la face supérieure de la voie 12, 14 correspondante, de manière à pouvoir coopérer avec l'organe de sélection 20 d'un véhicule et une position basse (en pointillés sur la figure 8) pour laquelle le profil 46 est escamoté.Each of the pads 44 is mounted vertically movable between a high position (in solid lines in FIG. 8) for which the cam profile 46 protrudes from the upper face of the corresponding track 12, 14, so as to be able to cooperate with the selection member 20 of a vehicle and a low position (dotted in Figure 8) for which the profile 46 is retracted.

La commande des déplacements des patins 44 entre leurs positions en saillie et leurs positions escamotées est effectuée par des actionneurs 49 (par exemple des vérins ou des électro-aimants) commandés par la sortie 43 de l'unité de gestion du trafic 41 en fonction de la détection par les moyens 40 de l'arrivée simultanée de deux véhicules.The movements of the pads 44 between their projecting positions and their retracted positions are controlled by actuators 49 (for example jacks or electromagnets) controlled by the output 43 of the traffic management unit 41 as a function of detection by means 40 of the simultaneous arrival of two vehicles.

Ainsi, lorsque deux véhicules 18 arrivent simultanément sur l'échangeur 16, l'unité de gestion de trafic 41 provoque la montée des patins mobiles 44, afin que ces derniers provoquent automatiquement la commutation des moyens de sélection 20 vers leur position haute, et ceci même en cas de panne, ou de fonctionnement défectueux, des unités de gestion de circulation 47 et/ou des moyens de commande 30 embarqués dans les véhicules 18.Thus, when two vehicles 18 arrive simultaneously on the exchanger 16, the traffic management unit 41 causes the mobile pads 44 to rise, so that the latter automatically cause the selection means 20 to switch to their high position, and this even in the event of a breakdown, or faulty operation, of the traffic management units 47 and / or of the control means 30 on board the vehicles 18.

Enfin, en aval de l'échangeur 16, chaque voie 12, 14 comporte un patin fixe 48, dont la conception est similaire à celle des patins mobiles 44, c'est-à-dire dont la face supérieure possède un profil de came 50, qui provoque automatiquement la commutation des moyens de sélection 20 vers leur position haute.Finally, downstream of the exchanger 16, each channel 12, 14 has a fixed pad 48, the design of which is similar to that of the movable pads 44, that is to say the top face of which has a cam profile 50 , which automatically causes the switching means 20 to switch to their high position.

Après avoir traversé l'échangeur 16 et être passé au droit d'un plot fixe 48, chaque véhicule peut poursuivre son parcours sur la voie correspondante avec ses moyens de sélection 20 commutés vers la position préférentielle de sécurité, ou position haute, dans laquelle ils se présenteront à l'approche d'un prochain échangeur.After having crossed the exchanger 16 and having passed a fixed stud 48, each vehicle can continue its journey on the corresponding track with its selection means 20 switched to the preferred safety position, or high position, in which they will present themselves at the approach of a next interchange.

Claims (12)

Réseau (10) pour la circulation de véhicules automatiques (18) assujettis à suivre mécaniquement l'une ou l'autre d'au moins deux voies de circulation (12, 14) du réseau qui sont reliées entre elles par au moins un échangeur (16),
caractérisé en ce que l'échangeur (16) permet le changement de voies des véhicules (18) par sélection, par chaque véhicule pénétrant dans l'échangeur, d'un parcours déterminé lors de sa traversée de l'échangeur, ce qui aboutit soit à la poursuite par le véhicule de son parcours sur la même voie, soit au changement de voie du véhicule, en ce que chaque voie (12, 14) comporte, en amont de l'échangeur (16), des moyens (40) de détection de l'arrivée d'un véhicule en direction de l'échangeur, et en ce que le réseau comporte des moyens (41) d'inhibition de moyens (20) de sélection de changement de voie associés à chaque véhicule, lorsque lesdits moyens de détection (40) associés aux deux voies (12, 14) détectent l'arrivée simultanée, ou quasi simultanée, d'un véhicule (18) sur chacune des deux voies.Network (10) for the circulation of automatic vehicles (18) subject to mechanically follow one or the other of at least two traffic lanes (12, 14) of the network which are interconnected by at least one exchanger ( 16),
characterized in that the exchanger (16) allows the change of lanes of the vehicles (18) by selection, by each vehicle entering the exchanger, of a determined route during its crossing of the exchanger, which results either the vehicle continuing its course on the same lane, that is to say the vehicle lane change, in that each lane (12, 14) comprises, upstream of the exchanger (16), means (40) for detection of the arrival of a vehicle in the direction of the exchanger, and in that the network includes means (41) for inhibiting means (20) for lane change selection associated with each vehicle, when said means detection (40) associated with the two lanes (12, 14) detect the simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, arrival of a vehicle (18) on each of the two lanes. Réseau selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens (20) de sélection de chaque véhicule occupent normalement une première position (N1) imposant au véhicule de poursuivre son parcours sur la même voie et sont susceptibles d'occuper une seconde position (N2) correspondant au changement de voie en réponse à un ordre de commande, et en ce que les moyens d'inhibition (41) empêchent la formation et/ou la transmission dudit ordre de commande.Network according to claim 1,
characterized in that the means (20) for selecting each vehicle normally occupy a first position (N1) requiring the vehicle to continue its journey on the same lane and are capable of occupying a second position (N2) corresponding to the lane change in response to a command order, and in that the inhibition means (41) prevent the formation and / or transmission of said command command. Réseau selon la revendication 2,
caractérisé en ce que chaque voie comporte, en amont de l'échangeur (16) et en aval des moyens de détection (40), des moyens (42) d'identification par le véhicule de l'identité de l'échangeur (16) dans lequel il va pénétrer, et en ce que des moyens embarqués (47, 20) sur chaque véhicule déterminent un ordre de changement de direction en fonction d'informations relatives au trajet que le véhicule doit parcourir et en fonction de paramètres représentatifs de l'échangeur identifié dans lequel le véhicule va pénétrer.Network according to claim 2,
characterized in that each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger (16) and downstream of the detection means (40), means (42) of identification by the vehicle of the identity of the exchanger (16) into which he will enter, and in that on-board means (47, 20) on each vehicle determine a direction change order as a function of information relating to the path that the vehicle has to travel and as a function of parameters representative of the exchanger identified in which the vehicle will penetrate. Réseau selon la revendication 3,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'inhibition (41) empêchent le fonctionnement des moyens d'identification (42).Network according to claim 3,
characterized in that the inhibiting means (41) prevent the functioning of the identification means (42). Réseau selon l'une des revendications 3 ou 4,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'identification (42) comportent au moins un plot d'identification fixe associé à la voie (12, 14), et en ce que chaque véhicule comporte des moyens de lecture (45) des plots d'identification (42) pour déterminer lesdits paramètres.Network according to one of claims 3 or 4,
characterized in that the identification means (42) comprise at least one fixed identification pad associated with the track (12, 14), and in that each vehicle includes reading means (45) for the identification pads (42) to determine said parameters. Réseau selon la revendication 5 prise en combinaison avec la revendication 4,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'inhibition (41) empêchent la lecture des plots d'identification (42) par les véhicules.Network according to claim 5 taken in combination with claim 4,
characterized in that the inhibition means (41) prevent the identification pads (42) from being read by the vehicles. Réseau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 6,
caractérisé en ce que chaque voie comporte, en amont de l'échangeur (16) et en aval des moyens de détection (40), des premiers moyens (44) de transmission qui transmettent aux moyens de sélection (20) de chaque véhicule un ordre de commutation vers ladite première position, lorsque lesdits moyens de détection (40) associés aux deux voies (12, 14) détectent l'arrivée simultanée, ou quasi simultanée, d'un véhicule sur chacune des deux voies.Network according to any one of Claims 2 to 6,
characterized in that each channel comprises, upstream of the exchanger (16) and downstream of the detection means (40), first transmission means (44) which transmit an order to the selection means (20) of each vehicle switching to said first position, when said detection means (40) associated with the two lanes (12, 14) detect the simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, arrival of a vehicle on each of the two lanes. Réseau selon la revendication 7 prise en combinaison avec l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 6,
caractérisé en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de transmission (44) sont situés en amont de l'échangeur (16) et en aval des moyens d'identification (42).Network according to claim 7 taken in combination with any one of claims 3 to 6,
characterized in that said first transmission means (44) are located upstream of the exchanger (16) and downstream of the identification means (42). Réseau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 8,
caractérisé en ce que chaque voie (12, 14) comporte, en aval de l'échangeur (16), des seconds moyens (48) de transmission qui transmettent, aux moyens de sélection du véhicule qui quitte l'échangeur (16), un ordre de commutation vers ladite première position.Network according to any one of Claims 2 to 8,
characterized in that each channel (12, 14) comprises, downstream of the exchanger (16), second transmission means (48) which transmit, to the selection means of the vehicle leaving the exchanger (16), switching order to said first position. Réseau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 9,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens (47, 20) de sélection de parcours de chaque véhicule comportent au moins un organe mécanique de sélection (20) monté mobile entre lesdites première et seconde positions, et en ce que lesdits premiers ou seconds moyens de transmission (44, 48) sont réalisés sous la forme d'un profil de came (46, 50) avec lequel coopère un organe suiveur de came relié mécaniquement à l'organe de sélection.Network according to any one of Claims 7 to 9,
characterized in that the means (47, 20) for selecting the route of each vehicle comprise at least one mechanical selection member (20) mounted movable between said first and second positions, and in that said first or second transmission means ( 44, 48) are produced in the form of a cam profile (46, 50) with which a cam follower member mechanically connected to the selection member cooperates. Réseau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 10,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens de sélection de chaque véhicule comportent un organe directeur (24) réalisé sous la forme d'un galet monté mobile axialement entre une première (N1) et une seconde (N2) positions verticales, de manière à être reçu sélectivement dans des rainures complémentaires de guidage de l'échangeur agencées sur des niveaux différents de manière à provoquer, ou non, un changement de direction du véhicule en fonction de la position verticale occupée par le galet de guidage (24).Network according to any one of Claims 2 to 10,
characterized in that the selection means of each vehicle comprise a steering member (24) produced in the form of a roller mounted to move axially between a first (N1) and a second (N2) vertical positions, so as to be received selectively in complementary exchanger guide grooves arranged on different levels so as to cause, or not, a change of direction of the vehicle as a function of the vertical position occupied by the guide roller (24). Réseau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
caractérisé en ce que chacune des deux voies constitue une boucle de circulation d'un réseau comportant au moins deux boucles tangentes de circulation.Network according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that each of the two lanes constitutes a circulation loop of a network comprising at least two tangent circulation loops.
EP19930401487 1992-06-22 1993-06-10 System for the running of automatic vehicles Expired - Lifetime EP0576320B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9207592A FR2692540B1 (en) 1992-06-22 1992-06-22 Network for the circulation of automatic vehicles.
FR9207592 1992-06-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0576320A1 true EP0576320A1 (en) 1993-12-29
EP0576320B1 EP0576320B1 (en) 1996-01-31

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EP19930401487 Expired - Lifetime EP0576320B1 (en) 1992-06-22 1993-06-10 System for the running of automatic vehicles

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0576320B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69301438T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2083836T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2692540B1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1965593A1 (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-07-30 Rene Marty Transport devices and systems
DE2500790A1 (en) * 1974-01-11 1975-07-17 Halberthal Sa PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS OR OBJECTS
DE2635751A1 (en) * 1976-08-09 1978-02-16 Siemens Ag Automatic speed control for tracked vehicles - uses optical method independent of central processing station and associated signal transmission cables

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1965593A1 (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-07-30 Rene Marty Transport devices and systems
DE2500790A1 (en) * 1974-01-11 1975-07-17 Halberthal Sa PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS OR OBJECTS
DE2635751A1 (en) * 1976-08-09 1978-02-16 Siemens Ag Automatic speed control for tracked vehicles - uses optical method independent of central processing station and associated signal transmission cables

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2083836T3 (en) 1996-04-16
DE69301438D1 (en) 1996-03-14
FR2692540B1 (en) 1994-09-09
DE69301438T2 (en) 1996-06-05
FR2692540A1 (en) 1993-12-24
EP0576320B1 (en) 1996-01-31

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