EP0694463B1 - Method and device for warning persons in the track area - Google Patents

Abstract

The warning system is used to indicate the approach of a train via signalling stations (1) linked to warning stations (5) at the working zones. The position of each warning station is determined by a radio receiver (51) for a global positioning system, so that only the status information provided by the signalling station corresponding to the working zone in which the warning station is located is evaluated. The warning station provides a fault warning when no status information is received within a defined time frame. Pref. the signalling station similarly contains a radio receiver (13) for a global positioning system for locating the position of the signalling station, with the position information and/or the train position information combined with the transmitted status information. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for warning people in the Track area with the features specified in the preambles of claims 1 and 8, respectively.

A method and a device for warning people in the track area is known Approaching trains through addressed warning information, which consists of information about routes and train journeys derived in signal boxes and fixed by a cable along the tracks Arranged transfer devices are routed to portable warning stations. A den The location identifying the location of the warning station is transferred from the transfer facilities to the Warning station read, the warning station if the address of the Warning information evaluates the warning information and always triggers a warning in the event of a delay in warning (DE 41 23 960 C1). The warning station is portable. The address of the warning information refers to the unchangeable one Location of the transfer facility.

A generic method and a generic device for warning are known of people in the track area in front of approaching trains by trains installed on the track Detectable, addressable reporting stations that send status information to a train Addressable warning station located in the work area of the person capable of alarming in an organized time-division multiplex operation over a high-frequency message channel, wherein the stations have an adjustable location address that characterizes the installation location (DE 40 05 354 C2). The stations are also here by the fixed address during operation to the Site bound.

Such warning stations are fixed in the track area, the status information assigned destination, e.g. in the middle of a work area to be warned. Will the Warning station beyond the work area into an adjacent or more distant work area moved, the destination must be redefined if there is no false warning for an incorrect one Work area. Such a conventional warning system is therefore only suitable for Longer-standing, stationary construction sites, but not for moving construction sites or even for Railroad track inspectors.

The possibility of using the GPS navigation system to locate objects in the civil and military area is known (DE-Z: Wehrtechnik, 1990, H. 4, S. 59 - 61: Fritschi: GPS-NAVSTAR - the navigation system of the future).

The GPS navigation system is principally used in railway technology. So for Correction of a wheel-driven odometer of a locomotive. From this the current situation, derived the direction, speed and acceleration of the locomotive (US 5 129 605).

In another application of the GPS navigation system, the signals of the system also used to determine the current position of a locomotive compared to a Speed detection of the locomotive by Doppler wheels and one electronically stored route map to calculate expected rail curves where the Car body inclination is controlled (DE 42 44 624 A1).

An application of the GPS navigation system for location-based warning of people in the Track area is not known.

The object of the invention is a generic method and a generic Specify the facility where it is possible to present people in the track area before approaching trains to warn, and at least one warning station is also freely movable during operation, and the status information that signals the trains and serves as a warning evaluates that are assigned to the work area in which the relevant warning station is currently located located.

This object is achieved according to the generic method or the Generic device solved by the characterizing features of claim 1 and 8 respectively.

Further advantageous configurations are described in the subclaims. Is essential an embodiment to avoid an impermissible positional deviation with simple means.

Fig. 1 eine Melde- und eine Warnstation.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows

Fig. 1 a reporting and a warning station.

1 shows a typical circuit of a reporting station (1) and a warning station (5). Several reporting and / or warning stations can also be used. Status information signaling the trains and serving for warning purposes is sent to the reporting station (1) via an input (29) and stored in a status memory (19). However, the status information can also be derived in the signaling station by a computer (11) from signals at the input (29). As is known, the status information is, for example, secured information about the train location and route or warning information derived therefrom. As is known, the status information is assigned a destination for the information, with which the corresponding warning station (5) in the work area of the person is addressed via an information channel (3) and the status information is transferred there to a status memory (63). With only one destination, knowledge of the destination can be dispensed with. The information channel (3) can be a line, an inductive loop or expediently a radio channel, a similar transmission medium or a mixture thereof.

The information about the inadequate for the method and assigned to the status information the fixed destinations are in the stations (1, 5) from the status memory (19, 63) via a line (25, 81) read in converter (15, 79), which derive from it the work areas to be warned and the Write the status information back into the status memory (19, 63). The Work areas to be derived can e.g. in a table in the converter (15, 79) or a computer (11, 51) as relative or absolute - then expediently reduced - Coordinates predetermined and assigned to the destinations. With a derivation in the reporting station (1) the Information about the work area to be warned to the warning stations (5) via the Information channel (3) directed, possibly without the information contained therein about the Destination.

A radio receiver (53) of a global positioning system (GPS) in the warning station (5) receives information about its geographical location via an antenna (65), which corresponds to the location of the Warning station (5) is identical, and puts the information on a line (67) in one Location memory (57). The warning station (5) is thus known where it is currently located.

A selector (61) in the warning station (5), the one with the position memory (57) and the status memory (63) is connected (73 or 75), the current location of the warning station (5) from the location memory (57) with the warnings assigned to the status information in the status memory (63) Compare work areas. If the current position of the warning station (5) is within warning work area, the selector (61) transfers the assigned status information a line (71) to an evaluator (59) and as a retrigger signal to a timing element (55). Of the The evaluator (59) evaluates the status information in a known manner and gives corresponding information Signals - e.g. Warning on / off at its output (77). The timer (55) is inside If a waiting period specified by the timer (55) is not retriggered, then there is a dangerous period Information gap before whereupon the timer via a line (69) to the evaluator (59) Provides an incentive warning.

The reporting station (1) is also expediently equipped with a radio receiver (13) global positioning system (GPS) equipped with an antenna (21) information about its geographical location, which is identical to the location of the reporting station (1), receives and via a Line (23) stores in a memory (17). The location can be via a line (27) Status memory (19) communicated and linked there, for example, with localized status information will. Such status information is e.g. Train location sensors or wheel counters connected to the Reporting station (1) are connected via line 29 and get into the status memory (19). This also makes the reporting station (1) freely movable and the status information is always linked to the current situation.

If the computers (11, 51) in the stations (1, 5) in the location memory (17, 57) by comparison one Determine the temporal change in position of the positions determined by the global positioning system exceed a predetermined waiting period, e.g. the maximum movement speed of the stations corresponds to incorrect behavior of the global positioning system available. The computers (11, 51) then initiate a fault message in a known manner.

The measurement tolerance of the global positioning system can be used to record the Work areas are compensated when the computer (11, 51) the positions in the position memory (17, 57) or status memory (19, 63) extended by this measurement tolerance by addition. Larger Expansion can be useful overlaps of the work areas.

To increase security, e.g. in a station (1, 5) by radio receivers (13, 53) two different global positioning systems (GPS) evaluated and the results through the computer (11, 51) are compared, the computer (11, 51) being determined beforehand impermissible deviations in a known manner causes a fault message. This principle can be Apply in a known manner to all other system parts (11, 51).

The means shown above can be changed using the switching elements (13 to 19, 53 to 79) and / or the computers (11, 51) are carried out or applied to them.

After a further configuration to avoid a positional deviation, at least one Reporting station set up to receive the global positioning system, but not all others. Of the The actual location of the reporting stations (1) is the geographical value in the reporting station (1) a location memory (83) via a line (87) specified internally or externally and the Status memory (19) entered via a line (89). The value of the geographic location serves in known way to determine the source location of the information to be transmitted. At Usually known absolute geographical distance of the destination to the source can Destination of the information to be transmitted is formed in a known manner from addition to the source location will. Become source and destination through a global positioning system with the same Deviations from the real source and destination are determined, so the absolute geographical remains Distance equal. Information with such a different source location would be the right destination "Hit" distance if the destination also shows the same deviation. To achieve this, in at least one reporting station (1) the value of the real geographical location from the location memory (83) and by the radio receiver (13) of the global Positioning system determined and stored in the location memory (17) geographic value Lines (89, 93) fed to a comparator (85), the deviation of the supplied geographic values. This deviation reaches the via a line (95) Status memory (19) and from there via the information channel (3) to the status memory (19) other reporting stations (1) not equipped for receiving (13, 17) the positioning system. This is usually the case in limited areas due to the global positioning system the same deviation from the real geographical location is known to all reporting stations (1). By Adding the value of the real geographic location with the deviation can be in all Reporting stations (1) correct the value as if it came from the global Positioning system. The deviations of all reporting stations (1) are then identical to those Deviations in the position (57) of the position determined exclusively by the global positioning system Warning stations (5) located in the vicinity, the deviations being compensated for. Basically only one of all reporting stations (1) with a device for receiving a global Positioning system, but two for better safety.

The deviations between that determined by the global positioning system (17) and the real geographic location (83) can become too large for a security system like this. If the deviation of one specified in the comparator (85) of the reporting stations (1) is exceeded Value, the comparator (85) issues a fault message (91). This can also be the status memory (19) fed there if necessary combined with the other information and about the Information channel (3) to other reporting stations (1) and / or warning stations (5).

In the event of large deviations between the (17) determined by the global positioning system and the real geographic location (83), availability can be avoided by avoiding a Fault reporting can be increased if the relative ones decisive for the security of the system Deviations between the reporting stations (1) in the areas of the warning stations (5) can be measured and are sufficiently small. To do this, at least at reporting stations (1) means for receiving (13) the global positioning system. The comparators (85) These reporting stations (1) exchange the deviations between those caused by the global Positioning system determined position (17) and the actual location (83) with each other via the Status memory (19) and the information channel (3). The difference between the exchanged Deviations can be determined using the comparator (85). The comparator (85) can be like Submit a fault message (91) above if the difference is one specified in the comparator (85) Value exceeds.

Claims (16)

1. Process for warning personnel on railway tracks of approaching trains by means of at least one transmission station (1) that feeds to the destination location, to at least one warning station (5) capable of giving a warning in the area where personnel are working, via an information channel (3), status information that signals the presence of trains and is used to give the warning, to which status information, information on at least one destination location is assigned, whereby a malfunction warning is initiated by the warning station (5) if no valid information destined for the station arrives within a predefined period,
   characterised in that

   the positions of the working areas to be warned are derived from the destination locations assigned to the status information, and then assigned to the status information,

   that from the radio receiver (53) of a global positioning system in the warning station (5), information is received on the position of the radio receiver and with it the position of the warning station (5), and

   that the status information received over the information channel (3) by the warning station (5) is evaluated as being destined for it for the output of a warning, if the information contained therein on the position of the working area matches the position that has been determined for the warning station (5).
2. Process in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that

   from the radio receiver (13) of a global positioning system in the transmission station (1), information is received on the position of the radio receiver, and with this information the position of the transmission station (1) and / or the position of the train signaling devices in the local area of the transmission station (1) is determined, and

   that the position determined is linked to the status information.
3. Process in accordance with one of the foregoing Claims, characterised in that

   a malfunction signal is output by the stations (1, 5) if the position determined by the global positioning system indicates a change in the position over time that exceeds a predefined threshold value.
4. Process in accordance with one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that

   the position determined is expanded by a zone that corresponds to at least the measurement tolerance of the global positioning system.
5. Process in accordance with Claim 2 and one of the forgoing Claims, characterised in that

   an actual position for the transmission station (1) can be entered internally, or fed in externally, for the determination of a geographical source location and the destination location for the information,

   that at least one transmission station (1) determines the error between the position determined by the global positioning system and its actual position and feeds other transmission stations without facilities for the reception of the global positioning system, and

   that the actual position is corrected by addition of the error.
6. Process in accordance with Claim 5, characterised in that

   at least one transmission station (1) outputs a malfunction signal (91) if the error between the position determined by the global positioning system and its actual position exceeds a predefined value.
7. Process in accordance with Claim 6, characterised in that

   at least one transmission station (1) outputs a malfunction signal (91) if the difference between the errors from at least two transmission stations (1) exceeds a predefined value.
8. Facility for warning personnel on railway tracks of approaching trains by means of at least one transmission station (1) that feeds to the destination location, to at least one warning station (5) capable of giving a warning in the area where personnel are working, via an information channel (3), status information that signals the presence of trains and is used to give the warning, to which status information, information on at least one destination location is assigned, whereby the stations (1, 5) each contain a computer (11, 51) with its peripherals (15, 19, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 79), whereby the computer (51) in the warning station (5) receives the status information via the information channel (3) and stores it in a status memory (63), and whereby the warning station (5) contains an evaluator (59) that evaluates the status information for giving a warning (77), and initiates a malfunction warning at its output (77), if a period defined by a delay element (55) elapses without the delay element (55) being re-triggered from a selector (61) by valid information destined for the warning station (5),
   characterised in that

   the warning station (5) contains a radio receiver (53) for a global positioning system,

   that in the transmission station (1) or in the warning station (5), from the destination locations assigned to the status information from a status memory (19, 63), the positions of the working areas to be warned are derived by a converter (15, 79) and assigned to the status information in the status memory (19, 63),

   that the radio receiver (53) receives information on its position and thus determines the position of the warning station (5) and stores it in a position memory (57), and

   that the status information in the status memory (63) is fed, as being destined for the warning station (5), via the selector (61), to the evaluator (59), if the selector (61) determines a match between the position of the working area contained in the status information, and the position determined for the warning station (5) contained in the position memory (57).
9. Facility in accordance with Claim 8, characterised in that

   the transmission station (1) contains a radio receiver (13) for a global positioning system and further peripherals for the computer (11, 17),

   that the radio receiver (13) receives information on its position and with this information determines the position of the transmission station (1) and / or the position of train signalling devices in the local area of the transmission station (1) and stores the position in a position memory (17), and

   that the computer (11) links the position in the position memory (17) to the status information in the status memory (19).
10. Facility in accordance with one of the Claims 8 to 9, characterised in that

    the stations (1, 5) output a malfunction signal if the computer (11, 51) finds in the position memory (17, 57) a change over time in the position determined by the global positioning system, and this change exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
11. Facility in accordance with one of the Claims 8 to 10, characterised in that

    the computer (11, 51) extends the position determined and stored in the position memory (17, 57) or status memory (19, 63) by a zone that corresponds to at least the measurement tolerance of the global positioning system.
12. Facility in accordance with one of the Claims 8 to 11, characterised in that

    the radio receivers (13, 15) and / or the computers (11, 51) in the stations (1, 5) are redundant and monitor each other.
13. Facility in accordance with Claim 12, characterised in that

    the radio receivers (13, 53) and/or the computers (11, 51) are diversely redundant and monitor each other.
14. Facility in accordance with one of the claims 8 to 13, characterised in that

    several transmission stations (1) contain a location memory (83) and at least one transmission station (1) has a radio receiver (13) and a position memory (17) for a global positioning system, as well as a comparator (85),

    that a value characterising the actual position of the transmission stations (1) can be entered internally, or fed externally, via the location memory (83) to the status memory (19) for the determination of a geographic source location and the destination location for the information,

    that in at least one transmission station (1) the value for the position of the transmission station (1) determined by the global positioning system and stored in the position memory (17), and the value for the position of the actual position from the location memory (83) are fed to the comparator (85),

    that the comparator (85) determines the error between the determined position and the actual position,

    that the transmission station (1) transfers the error to the status memory (19) and to the status memories (19) of other transmission stations (1) without facilities for the reception of a global positioning system via the information channel (3), and

    that in the status memory (19) in the transmission stations (1), the value for the actual position is corrected by addition with the error.
15. Facility in accordance with Claim 14, characterised in that

    the transmission station (1) outputs a malfunction signal (91), if necessary to other transmission stations (1) and / or warning stations (5) via the status memory (19), and the information channel (3), if the comparator (85) finds an error between the determined position and the actual position that exceeds a predefined value.
16. Facility in accordance with Claim 15 characterised in that,

    the comparators (85) in at least two transmission stations (1) exchange the error between the determined position and the actual position via the status memory (19) and the information channel (3), and

    that the transmission stations (1) output a malfunction signal (91), if necessary to other transmission stations (1) and / or warning stations (5) via the status memory (19) and the information channel (3), if the comparator (85) finds a difference between the errors exchanged that exceeds a predefined value.

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