EP1177965A1

EP1177965A1 - Interlocking device of blocking system

Info

Publication number: EP1177965A1
Application number: EP00948300A
Authority: EP
Inventors: M. Kuki Office The Nippon Signal Co. Ltd. SAKAI
Original assignee: Nippon Signal Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Signal Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-07
Filing date: 2000-08-01
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: EP1177965A4; WO2001066400A1; JP4785316B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlocking device in a blocking system for facilitating the operation for verifying the safety of the interlocking device. Modules (1 to 3) are assigned to the block sections (L1 to L3) and are wired to each other. An output of an AND operation of running permission signals (Pa', Pc') and running body absence verification signals (Aa', Ac') received from the neighboring section of front side with respect to the traveling direction of the moving bodies and moving body absence information (T) in the own section (L1), is transmitted as running permission signals (Pc, Pa) of the own section (L1) and running body absence verification signals (Ac, Aa) of the own section to the neighboring section of rear side with respect to the traveling direction of the moving bodies.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an interlocking device for securing safety in a blocking system so as to avoid collision of moving bodies with each other and to avoid derailment of the moving body. More particularly, the present invention relates to technology for facilitating a safety verifying operation of the interlocking device.

Background Art

As one of the systems for safely operating the moving bodies, there is a blocking system. The blocking system is a control system in which a traveling route of the moving bodies is divided into a plurality of sections, and the traveling of the moving bodies is controlled in a unit of section, to maintain in safety a distance between the moving bodies so that only one moving body exists in one section.
In such a blocking system, in order to ensure safety in the traveling of the moving bodies while avoiding collision of the moving bodies with each other or derailment of the moving body at a branch line, there is provided an interlocking function for controlling the traveling of moving bodies by relating to each other: a traveling control of moving bodies among the sections neighboring to each other; and a control of signal devices, switching devices and the like.
A relay interlocking device using electromagnetic relays has heretofore been known to execute such an interlocking function. In the relay interlocking device, many electromagnetic relays are electrically wired, so as to realize logic functions such as AND, OR, NOT and the like, as well as to realize a self-holding function and a timer function. As the electromagnetic relay to be used, since a silver-carbon contact point free from the problem of melt-adhesion of contact point is insufficient from the standpoint of durability, there is no other way but to adopt the one using a metal contact point with the likelihood of melt-adhesion of contact. In order to secure safety in the interlocking function by using the electromagnetic relays adopting such metal contact points, there has heretofore been employed a method called back checking (method which confirms ON of "b" contact point to confirm OFF of "a" contact point which operates as a pair with the "b" contact point), to cope with a problem of when melt-adhesion of the contact points occurs.
Although a given function can be realized only by the "a" contact point if the electromagnetic relays adopting the silver-carbon contact points are used, the use of the electromagnetic relays adopting metal contact points requires to use the "b" contact in addition to the "a" contact point, resulting in an increase in the number of contact points. Besides, the "b" contact point for back checking is required to be disposed in a portion where a control output of a circuit is generated. In order to achieve the downsizing of the interlocking device, further, it is necessary to perform the circuit design so as to decrease the number of the electromagnetic relays, e.g., to perform the circuit design so as to use a single timer relay to be used in common although the use of a plurality of timer relays enables the simplification of the circuit structure.
Because of the above-mentioned reason in the conventional interlocking device, the circuit structure becomes complex resulting in the complex relay wiring. As a result, the number of test patterns required for checking whether or not the wiring of the interlocking device is proper becomes enormous and a lot of time and labor is required for verifying the safety of the interlocking device.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide an interlocking device facilitating an operation for verifying safety of the interlocking device.

Disclosure of the Invention

With claim 1 of the present invention, the constitution is such that, in a blocking system in which a traveling route of moving bodies is divided into a plurality of block sections, and the traveling of the moving bodies is controlled so that one block section is occupied by one moving body, one module is assigned for the each block section, each module being wired to the modules in the neighboring sections, and there is provided a logic unit for creating moving body control information to be transmitted to a neighboring section of rear side with respect to a moving body running direction, based on a logical operation of: moving body control information received from a neighboring section of front side with respect to the moving body running direction; and moving body absence information in the own section.
According to this constitution, simply by assigning a module to each block section, the module having a logic function in compliance with a blocking logic of the assigned section, wiring the neighboring modules together, and transferring the moving body control information is among the modules, it becomes possible to realize an interlocking function for securing safety of the moving bodies. Therefore, an operation for verifying the safety of the interlocking device can be performed more simply compared to the conventional technique, since it only needs to check whether or not the wiring among the modules is correct.
Specifically, the moving body control information transmitted and received among the modules includes a running permission signal that permits the moving body to enter the own section as described in claim 2. As described in claim 3, further, the moving body control information consists of the running permission signal that permits the moving body to enter the own section and a running body absence verification signal that notify of the absence of the moving body running to the own section. Then, the device can be applied even to a section including a branch line.
According to claim 4, the logic unit has a constitution that differs depending on the presence/absence of moving body running control means in the block section and on the presence/absence of the branch line.
According to this constitution, a dedicated module is provided for each block section to eliminate a waste in module function compared with a case in which the modules of the same constitution are used for all block sections.
According to claim 5, the logic unit in the block section having the moving body running control means is so constituted as to generate a control output to the moving body running control means based on a moving body proceeding instruction input from the exterior.
As described in claim 6, a specific constitution is such that the logic unit in the block section provided with the moving body running control means for controlling the running of the moving bodies from the neighboring sections to the own section, generates: the running permission signal based on a result of an AND operation of the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side and moving body absence information in the own section; the running body absence verification signal based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that a moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and a running permission control output to the moving body running control means based on a result of an AND operation of a moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of rear side and the running permission signal of the own section.
According to claim 7, the logic unit in the block section provided with the moving body running control means for controlling the running of the moving bodies from the own section to the neighboring sections: performs an OR operation of the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side, and an AND output of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that there is no proceeding instruction for the moving body toward the direction of the neighboring section of front side, to generate the running permission signal based on a result of an AND operation of an output of the OR operation and the moving body absence information in the own section; performs an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that the proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated, to generate the running body absence verification signal based on a result of an OR operation of an output of the AND operation and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and generates a running permission control output to the moving body running control means based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body and the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side.
According to claim 8, for the constitution of claim 7, the running body absence verification signal is generated based on a result of an OR operation of: an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and the moving body absence information in the own section; a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the signal indicating that the proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more. This makes it possible to achieve the efficiency of generating the running body absence verification signals.
According to claim 9, the control output to the moving body running control means is generated based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body, the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side, and a running inhibition verification signal notified from the neighboring section of front side indicating a state where the travel is inhibited by the moving body running control means. This makes it possible to achieve the interchangeability with the currently employed systems.
According to claim 10, the logic unit in the block section including a branch line: generates a running permission signal to a neighboring section of meeting direction side based on a result of an AND operation of an output of an AND operation of a running permission signal from a neighboring section of branching direction side and a traveling route open verification signal in that direction, a switching impossible verification signal of a branching device, and the moving body absence information in the own section; generates a running permission signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side based on a result of an AND operation of a running permission signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side, the traveling route open verification signal, the switching impossible verification signal of the branching device, and the moving body absence information in the own section; generates a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of meeting direction side based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an AND operation of a running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of branching direction side and a traveling route open verification signal in that direction; performs an AND operation of a running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side, the traveling route open verification signal and the moving body absence information in the own section, to generate a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side on the open side based on a result of an OR operation of an output of the AND operation and the other traveling route open verification signal; and generates a switch permission signal for the branching device based on a result of an AND operation of running body absence verification signals from all neighboring sections and the moving body absence information in the own section.
According to claim 11, for the constitution of claim 10, a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of meeting direction side is generated based on a result of an AND operation of results obtained by performing, for each branching direction, an OR operation of: a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of branching direction side and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the other traveling route open verification signal, and a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side on the open side is generated based on a result of an OR operation of: a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the other traveling route open verification signal. This makes it possible to achieve the efficiency of generating the running body absence verification signals.
According to claim 12, the moving body control information created by the logic unit is a speed control signal. This makes it possible to control the speed of the moving body.
Specifically, as described in claim 13, the logic unit generates the speed control signal based on the running permission signals from the plurality of block sections in the direction of the neighboring section of front side.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an interlocking device according to the present invention, for a case of a relay section;
Fig. 2 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a module applied to the above first embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a second embodiment according to the present invention, for a case of a block section provided with signal lights for controlling moving bodies at the entrance of the block section;
Fig. 4 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a module applied to the above second embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a third embodiment according to the present invention, for a case of a block section provided with signal lights for controlling moving bodies at the exit of the block section;
Fig. 6 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a module applied to the above third embodiment;
Fig. 7 is another constitutional diagram of the module applied to the above third embodiment;
Fig. 8 is a diagram of a traveling route including a branching section;
Fig. 9 is a constitutional diagram of a module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention applied to the block section including a branch line shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of a switch control device in Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram of an opening direction verification circuit of Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a logic unit in the module of Fig. 9;
Fig. 13 is another constitutional diagram of the logic unit in the module of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining an example of controlling the running of moving bodies in an existing system;
Fig. 15 is a diagram for explaining a logical constitution of a module added with a running inhibition verification signal;
Fig. 16 is a constitutional diagram illustrating a module that can be applied to both a branching section and to a signal light management section;
Fig. 17 is a constitutional diagram of a traveling route including branching sections;
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection of modules on the traveling route of Fig. 17;
Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating in detail main portions of Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment for transferring speed control signals among the modules;
Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for transferring speed control signals among the modules;
Fig. 22 is a diagram of a traveling route including a branching section;
Fig. 23 is a diagram of an embodiment for transferring speed control signals among the modules applied to the branching section of Fig. 22;
Fig. 24 is an explanatory diagram of signal generating conditions of the modules of Fig. 23;
Fig. 25 is a table for illustrating the signal generating conditions of the modules of Fig. 23;
Fig. 26 is a circuit diagram constituting the modules of Fig. 20 in a fail-safe manner;
Fig. 27 is a circuit diagram constituting the speed control circuit of Fig. 20 in a fail-safe manner;
Fig. 28 is a circuit diagram constituting the modules of Fig. 23 in a fail-safe manner;
Fig. 29A is a diagram of a running permission signal generating circuit provided in the module in the branching section; and
Fig. 29B is a diagram of a running permission signal receiving circuit in the module in the meeting side section.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

An interlocking device in a blocking system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a description is given for an embodiment of a module in a block section without including a branch line. In this case, the block section may or may not include signal lights as moving body running control means.
First, described below is a constitution example of the module of when there exists no moving body running control means such as signal lights.
Referring to Fig. 1, modules 1 to 3 are assigned to block sections L1 to L3 each of which is a relay section where no signal light exists. Each of the modules 1 to 3 has a logic unit for realizing an interlocking function to be described later. The logic unit in each of the modules 1 to 3 is wired to the logic units of the neighboring modules.
Next, the constitution of the logic unit will be described in detail.
In a blocking system, a traveling route for moving bodies is divided into a plurality of block sections, to control the traveling of the moving bodies is so that one moving body occupies one block section, an interlocking function for safely performing a moving control of the moving bodies in the relay section L1 as shown in Fig. 1, controls the running of the moving bodies while verifying the safety in the front side block section, by generating, as moving body control information in the own section, an output of an AND operation of moving body control information received from a neighboring section of front side with respect to a moving body running direction and moving body absence information in the own section representing safety of the own section, to sending this output to a neighboring section of rear side with respect to the moving body running direction.
That is, when the moving body runs from the section L2 toward the section L1 in Fig. 1, a running body absence verification signal Aa' and a running permission signal Pa' are received as the moving body control information from the neighboring section L3 of front side, and an output of an AND operation of these signals Aa', Pa' and the moving body absence information T in the own section L1 is transmitted to the neighboring section L2 of rear side as a running body absence verification signal Ac and a running permission signal Pc which are moving body control information in the own section L1. When the moving body runs from the section L3 toward the own section L1 in Fig. 1, a running body absence verification signal Ac' and a running permission signal Pc' are received from the neighboring section L2 of front side, and an output of an AND operation of these signals Ac', Pc' and the moving body absence information T of the own section L1 is transmitted to the neighboring section L3 of rear side.
Here, the running body absence verification signal A is the one for informing of the absence of the running moving body, the running permission signal P is the one for permitting the running, and the moving body absence information T is a signal representing the absence of the moving body generated by, for example, a track circuit which is a moving body detecting apparatus provided in the own section.
If a state where a signal is generated is a logic value 1 and a state where no signal is generated is a logic value 0, then, the interlocking function in the logic unit of the module 1 in the relay sections in Fig. 1 can be expressed by the following logical formulas: Ac = T · Aa' Pc = T · Pa' Aa = T · Ac' Pa = T · Pc' where a symbol " · " represents an AND operation.
As shown in Fig. 2, therefore, a logic unit 1A of the module 1 comprises four AND gates. In this embodiment, the module includes a track circuit for detecting the presence/absence of the moving body in the own section to output the moving body absence information T. When the sections L2 and L3 are the relay sections, the modules 2 and 3, too, are constituted in the same manner as the module 1.
In this embodiment, the module 1 generates the running permission signals Pc, Pa and the running body absence verification signals Ac, Aa, to transmits them to the neighboring sections by taking into consideration a case where a block section including a branch line to be described later neighbors to the own section. When no branch line exists in the neighboring section, the running body absence verification signals Ac, Aa are not necessary, and the logic unit 1A of the module 1 may generate the running permission signals Pc, Pa only, and can, hence, be constituted by two AND gates only.
Next, described below is a constitutional example of the module in the block section (signal light management section) where there exists moving body running control means such as signal lights. In this embodiment, the signal light management section has a length longer than a distance necessary for the moving body to be stopped. That is, when the moving body running from the neighboring section of rear side is inhibited from running to the neighboring section of front side by the signal light in the signal light management section, the moving body is stopped within the signal light management section. However, when the signal aspect is changed from the running permission to the running inhibition after the moving body has entered into the signal light management section, it is not guaranteed that the moving body is stopped within the signal light management section.
The signal light management section may be provided with signal lights for managing the running of the moving body from the neighboring section into the signal light management section, or may be provided with signal lights for managing the running of the moving body from the signal light management section into the neighboring section.
First, with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a description is given for a case where there are provided signal lights for managing the running of the moving bodies from the neighboring sections to the signal light management section. The same elements as those of Figs. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In Fig. 3, modules 11 to 13 are assigned to the block sections L1 to L3 and wired to the neighboring modules like in Fig. 1. At both ends . of the block section L1, there are provided signal lights 14 and 15 that are managed by the module 11 to indicate permission/inhibition of the running for the moving bodies running toward the section L1 from the neighboring sections L2 and L3. Arrows of the signal lights 14 and 15 indicate directions of travel of the moving bodies controlled by the signal lights 14 and 15.
In this case, the interlocking function for safely controlling the travel of the moving bodies can be realized by: generating the running permission signals Pc, Pa based on a result of an AND operation of the running permission signals Pa', Pc' from the neighboring section of front side with respect to the moving body running direction and the moving body absence information T of the own section; generating the running body absence verification signals Ac, Aa based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body absence information T of the own section and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signals Aa', Ac' from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that moving body proceeding instructions Ic, la for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side have not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and generating running permission control outputs PXa, PXc to the signal lights based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instructions la, Ic for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of rear side and the running permission signals Pc, Pa in the own section for the neighboring section of rear side.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following logical formulas: Ac = T · (Aa' V TDon(IXc')) Pc = T · Pa' Aa = T · (Ac' V TDon(IXa')) Pa = T · Pc' PXC = IXc · Pa PXa = IXa · Pc where a symbol V denotes an OR operation, IXa is a signal representing the generation of moving body proceeding instruction la given from an external unit such as CTC (central traffic control device) or an operation management device to the moving body running from the section L2 toward the section L1 in Fig. 3, IXa' is a signal representing that the moving body proceeding instruction la has not been generated, IXa and IXa' are signals dual to each other and in a relationship IXa- IXa' = 0, IXc and IXc' are the same as IXa and IXa' except that they are based on the moving body proceeding instruction Ic for the moving body from the direction of the section L3 in Fig. 3, PXa and PXc are control outputs representing the running permission output to the signal lights 14 and 15 from the module 11, and TDon(IXa') and TDon(IXc') are signals representing that the moving body proceeding instructions la and Ic have not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more.
A logic unit 11A of the module 11 in the signal light management section L1 is constituted as shown in Fig. 4.
That is, the logic unit 11A, in addition to the plurality of AND gates and OR gates, includes: circuits 11a and 11b provided with level detection circuits that directly detect the levels of the moving body proceeding instructions la and Ic input from the exterior, respectively, to generate IXa and IXc, and level detection circuits that detect the levels of inverted signals of the moving body proceeding instructions la and Ic, respectively, to generate IXa' and IXc', thus forming IXa, IXa', IXc and IXc'; and on- delay circuits 11c and 11d that delay IXa' and IXc' by predetermined periods of time to generate TDon(IXa') and TDon(IXc'); respectively. Signals to be transferred between the modules 12 and 13 neighboring the module 11 are the same as those of the case of Figs. 1 and 2.
Next, with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, a description is give for a case where there are provided signal lights for managing the running of the moving bodies to the neighboring sections from the signal light management section. Here, the same elements as those of Figs. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In Fig. 5, modules 21 to 23 are assigned to the block sections L1 to L3 and wired to the neighboring modules like in Fig. 3. At both ends of the signal light management section L1, there are provided signal lights 24 and 25 that are controlled by the module 21 to indicate permission/inhibition of the running for the moving bodies running toward the neighboring sections L2 and L3 from the signal light management section L1. Arrows of the signal lights 24 and 25 indicate the directions of running of the moving bodies controlled by the signal lights 24 and 25.
In this case, the interlocking function for safely controlling the travel of the moving bodies can be realized by: performing an OR operation of the running permission signals Pa', Pc' from the neighboring section of front side, and an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signals Aa', Ac' from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction signals la, Ic have not been generated for the moving bodies running toward the direction of the neighboring section of front side, to generate the running permission signals Pc, Pa based on a result of an AND operation of the output of the above OR operation and the moving body absence information T of the own section; performing an AND operation of the moving body absence information T of the own section and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signals Aa', Ac' from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instructions Ic, la have not been generated for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side, to generate the running body absence verification signals Ac, Aa based on a result of an OR operation of the output of the above AND operation and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instructions Ic, la for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side have not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and generating the running permission control outputs PXa, PXc to the signal lights based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instructions la, Ic for the moving body and the running permission signals Pa', Pc' from the neighboring section of front side.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following formulas: Ac = T · (Aa' V IXc') V TDon(IXc') Pc = T · (Pa' V IXa' · Aa') Aa = T · (Ac' V IXa') V TDon(IXa') Pa = T · (Pc' V IXc' · Ac') PXc = IXc · Pc' PXa = IXa · Pa'.
A logic unit 21A of the module 21 in the signal light management section L1 is constituted as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows only the logic unit 21A in the module 21 and does not show the track circuit 1B. Further, The circuits 11a and 11b for generating IXa, IXa', IXc and IXc' are the same as those of Fig. 4 and are not shown here.
In managing the travel of the moving body into the signal light management section from the neighboring section, the entrance to the signal management section cannot be permitted unless the condition of the neighboring section of front side is judged. Accordingly, the running permission of the moving body requires the information of the neighboring section of front side. In the case of controlling the signal light for managing the travel of the moving body to the neighboring sections from the signal light management section, on the other hand, the moving body can be stopped at the exit of the signal light management section. Thus, there is an advantage in that it becomes possible to permit the entrance of the moving body to the own section by the control in the own section.
Here, however, the logical processing of the module 21 shown in Fig. 6 has a disadvantage in the efficiency of when the neighboring section includes a branch line.
For example, when a branch line exists in the neighboring section L3 of Fig. 5 and the moving body runs from the section L2 to the section L1, one of the conditions for permitting the switching of the branch line in the section L3 is that the running body absence verification signal Aa is generated from the section L1. The condition for generating the running body absence verification signal Aa by the logical processing of the module 21 shown in Fig. 6 is; Aa = T · (Ac' V IXa') V TDon(IXa').
According to this logical processing, when for example, the proceeding instruction la toward the direction of the section L3 is extinguished (when the signal light 25 indicates the running inhibition in Fig. 5) just before the moving body enters into the section L1, the moving body enters into the section L1 to exist there (T becomes 0). Therefore, although it is guaranteed that the moving body can be stopped in the section L1, the running body absence verification signal Aa is not generated from the module 21 until after the state without the proceeding instruction la has continued for a predetermined period of time (until after TDon(IXa') = 1 is generated).
If it is guaranteed that the moving body can be stopped in the section L1 when the running is inhibited immediately in front of the section L1, then, the running body absence verification signal Aa may be generated at a moment when the proceeding instruction la is extinguished.
In order to generate the running body absence verification signal Aa at a moment when the proceeding instruction la is extinguished, the logical processing should be modified into the one described below by using a self-holding function.
That is, the modified logical processing can be realized by generating the running body absence verification signal Aa based on a result of an OR operation of: an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal Ac' from the neighboring section of front side and the moving body absence information T of the own section; a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information T of the own section based on a result of an AND operation of a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction la for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated and the moving body absence information T of the own section; and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction la for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more.
The above logical processing can be expressed by the following logical formula, Aa = T · Ac' V Qa V TDon(IXa') where Qa is a self-holding output, i.e., Qa = IXa' · (T V Qa).
The same also holds even for the running body absence verification signal Ac, i.e., Ac = T · Aa' V Qc V TDon(IXc') where Qc = IXc' · (T V Qc).
In this case, the circuit structure for generating the running body absence verification signals Aa, Ac in the logic unit 21A of the module 21 in the section L1 is as shown in Fig. 7. The circuit structure for generating other signals is the same as that of Fig. 6 and the description thereof is omitted. In Fig. 7, reference numerals 11e and 11f denote self-hold circuits.
Next, a description is given for the constitutional example of the module of when the block section (referred to as branching section) contains a branch line as shown in Fig. 8.
In Fig. 8, modules 31 to 34 of Fig. 9 are assigned to block sections L, La to Lc and wired to the neighboring modules. The branching section L is branched in the directions of a to c, and the traveling route is controllable to be switched by a branching device 41 shown in Fig. 9 so that the a-c direction is opened or the c-b direction is opened. Here, symbols a, b, c, a', b' and c' represent the directions of travel of the moving bodies. Further, the c-direction is regarded to be a meeting direction, and a- and b-directions are regarded to be branching directions. In the branching section L, it is assumed that the traveling is possible in the c→a, a→c, c→b and b→c directions but the traveling is impossible in the a→b and b→a directions.
Fig. 9 illustrates the constitution of the module of the branching section L.
In Fig. 9, the module 31 includes the track circuit 1 B, a logic unit 31 A and a false signal generating circuit 31 B. The logic unit 31A in the module 31 is wired to the logic units in the modules 32 to 34 of the neighboring sections, transmits running permission signals Pa, Pb, Pc to the neighboring sections La to Lc and running body absence verification signals Aa, Ab, Ac, and receives running permission signals Pa', Pb', Pc' from the neighboring sections La to Lc and running body absence verification signals Aa', Ab', Ac'. Further, the logic unit 31A transfers a switch impossible verification signal SL and a switch permission signal S between a switch control device 42 that controls the switching operation of the branching device 41. Further, the logic unit 31A is input with traveling route open verification signals LSa, LSb from an open direction verification circuit 43 that generates the traveling route open verification signals LSa, LSb for verifying the switching direction based on an output from contact point of a circuit controller in the branching device 41.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the constitution of the switch control device 42 that generates the switch impossible verification signal SL and the constitution of the open direction verification circuit 43 that generates the traveling route open verification signals LSa and LSb.
In Fig. 10, LXA denotes a switch instruction for opening the c→a direction and LXB denotes a switch instruction for opening the c→b direction. When, for example, the switch instruction LXA is input from the exterior in a state where the running body absence verification signals Aa' to Ac' are input from all neighboring sections La to Lc, to verify that no moving body is running to the branching section L from the neighboring sections La to Lc, and a switch permission signal S is being generated, then, switches SW11 and SW12 in the switch control unit 42 are turned on, a relay RY is excited by an output of the AND gate, and the contact points a1 and a2 are turned on. Accordingly, a motor in the branching device 41 is connected to a power source E, an electric current flows in the direction of an arrow IA in Fig. 10, and the c→a direction in Fig. 8 is opened. When the switch instruction LXB is input, switches SW21 and SW22 are turned on, the electric current flows in the direction of an arrow IB in Fig. 10, and the c-b direction in Fig. 8 is opened.
When the relay RY is in an excited state, i.e., during the switching operation, a back contact point b1 thereof is in an off state, and the switch impossible verification signal SL is not generated. When both of or either one of the switch permission signal S and switch instructions LXA, LXB are not generated, the relay RY becomes an unexcited state, the contact points a1 and a2 are tuned off, the back contact b1 is turned on, and the switch impossible verification signal SL is generated.
When the branching device 41 is switched to the side of opening the c→a direction and contact points sa1 and sa2 in the circuit controller are turned on as shown in Fig. 11, a photocoupler PC1 in the open direction verification circuit 43 is turned on/off in synchronism with a frequency of AC signal from an oscillator 43A, and LSa is generated from a photocoupler PC2 in response to the flashing of a light emitting diode D2. When the branching device 41 is switched to the side of opening the c→b direction, contact points sb1 and sb2 of the circuit controller are turned on, and LSb is generated from a photocoupler PC3 in response to the flashing of a light emitting diode D3 in synchronism with the frequency of the AC signal from the oscillator 43A. The contact points are interlocked to each other in a manner that the contact points sb1 and sb2 are turned off when the contact points sa1 and sa2 are on, and that the contact points sb1 and sb2 are turned on when the contact points sa1 and sa2 are off.
In such a branching section L, the constitution for transferring signals in the logic unit 31A that realizes the interlocking function for safely controlling the travel of the moving body is as follows.
The running permission signal Pc in the meeting direction is generated as a result of an AND operation of: the moving body absence information T in the branching section L; the switch impossible verification signal SL of the branching device 41; and an output of an AND operation of the running permission signals Pa', Pb' from the neighboring sections La, Lb on the branching direction side and the traveling route open verification signals LSa, LSb in that direction.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following logical formula, Pc = T · SL · (Pa' · LSa V Pb' · LSb).
The running permission signals Pa and Pb in the branching direction are generated as a result of an AND operation of: the running permission signal Pc' from the neighboring section Lc of meeting direction side; the traveling route open verification signals LSa and LSb; the switch impossible verification signal SL of the branching device; and the moving body absence information T in the branching section L.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following logic formulas, Pa = T · SL · Pc' · LSa Pb = T · SL · Pc' · LSb.
The running body absence verification signal Ac to the neighboring section Lc of meeting direction side is generated as a result of an AND operation of: the moving body absence information T in the branching section L; and an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signals Aa', Ab' from the neighboring sections La, Lb of branching direction side and the traveling route open verification signals LSa, LSb in that direction.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following logical formula, Ac = T · (Aa' · LSa V Ab' · LSb).
The running body absence verification signals Aa, Ab to the neighboring sections La and Lb of branching direction side are generated as a result of an OR operation of: an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal Ac' from the neighboring section Lc of meeting direction side, traveling route verification signals LSa and LSb in the respective directions, and the moving body absence information T in the branching section L; and the other traveling route open verification signals LSb and LSa.
The above-mentioned interlocking function can be expressed by the following logical formulas, Aa = T · Ac' · LSa V LSb Ab = T Ac' · LSb V Lsa.
As described earlier, the switch permission signal S of the branching device is generated as a result of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signals Aa' to Ac' from all neighboring sections La to Lc and the moving body absence information T in the branching section L. In the branching section, the branching device must be switched by verifying that the moving body is not entering from the neighboring sections. Therefore, the running body absence verification signals Aa' to Ac' are necessary for generating the switch permission signal S.
If expressed by a logical formula, S = T · Aa' · Ab' · Ac'.
Therefore, the logic unit 31A of the module 31 in the branch section L is constituted as shown in Fig. 12.
However, the logic processing of the module 31 shown in Fig. 9 has a disadvantage in the efficiency as described below.
Consideration is given on a switch permission timing at the branch line in the section L when for example the moving body on the section Lb runs to sections Lb → L → Lc in Fig. 8. When the moving body enters into the section Lc from the section L, the running body absence verification signal Aa' from the section La and the running body absence verification signal Ab' from the section Lb are generated, but the running body absence verification signal Ac' from the section Lc is generated only after the moving body has left the section Lc. Even when the section Lc has receive the running body absence verification signal from the section of front side, the section Lc does not send the running body absence verification signal Ac' to the section L since the moving body exists in the own section Lc. However, provided that the moving body does not reverse its travel direction in the section Lc, the running body absence verification signal Ac' may be sent to the section L from the section Lc based on the running body absence verification signal from the front section of the section Lc at a moment when the moving body has left the section L.
This can be done by self-holding the moving body absence information T in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal received from the direction opposite to the moving body running direction and the moving body absence information T in the own section. This makes it possible to generate the running body absence verification signal even if the moving body exists in the own section.
In this case, the logical formulas of the generation of the running body absence verification signals Aa to Ac of the module 31 may be modified as follows: Aa = Qa V LSb Ab = Qb V LSa Ac = (Qca V LSb) · (Qcb V LSa) where Qa, Qb, Qca and Qcb are self-holding outputs, and are, Qa = Ac' (Qa V T) Qb = Ac' · (Qb V T) Qca = Aa' · (Qca V T) Qcb = Ab' · (Qcb V T).
In this case, the circuit structure for generating the running body absence verification signals Aa to Ac in the logic unit 31A of the module 31 is as shown in Fig. 13. The circuit structure for generating other signals is the same as that of Fig. 12 and is not shown. In Fig. 13, reference numerals 31a to 31d denote self-hold circuits.
The logical processing described above has a problem as described below in regard to the compatibility with the existing systems.
In the above logical processing, when there is no moving body, since there is no objective to cause collision or derailment, safety is basically secured irrespective of the state of the signal lights or the switching device, and the running permission can be generated for a plurality of conflicting routes. In the existing systems, however, the running permission signal is not generated for the plurality of conflicting routes even when there exists no moving body.
For example, in Fig. 8, it is assumed that signal lights are provided at a boundary between the section L and the section Lc and at a boundary between the section L and the section Lb, respectively, the route in the Lc → L direction in which the entrance is permitted by the signal light at the boundary between the section L and the section Lc, conflicts the route in the Lb → L direction in which the entrance is permitted by the signal light at the boundary between the section L and the section Lb. In the above logical processing, if there is no moving body, both signal lights may indicate the running permission based on the instruction of running permission. However, the two signal lights never indicate the running permission simultaneously unless the instructions of running permission to the both signal lights are erroneously generated at the same time. However, since an error of direction in the instruction of running permission is indefinite, there is no guarantee for avoiding the simultaneous generation in case a failure has occurred. In case of considering the compatibility with the existing systems, it is necessary to so constitute the logical processing as to avoid the simultaneous generation of the running permission for the plurality of conflicting routes even when there is no moving body, inclusive of the time when a failure has occurred.
Fig. 14 illustrates an example of controlling the moving body in the existing system.
In Fig. 14, SP1 to SP3 and SQ1 to SQ3 denote signal lights. These signal lights SP1 to SP3 and SQ1 to SQ3 serve the following roles, respectively.
The signal light SP1 controls the permission of running of the moving body departing from the section L1 up to the section L3 passing through the section L2.
The signal light SP2 controls the permission of running of the moving body departing from the section L3 up to the section L5 passing through the section L4.
The signal light SP3 controls the permission of running of the moving body from the section L5 to the section L6.
The signal light SQ1 controls the permission of running of the moving body from the section L2 to the section L1.
The signal light SQ2 controls the permission of running of the moving body departing from the section L4 up to the section L2 passing through the section L3.
The signal light SQ3 controls the permission of running of the moving body departing from the section L6 up to the section L4 passing through the section L5.
Among the routes through which the traveling is permitted by these signal lights, the route L1 → L2 → L3 permitted by the signal light SP1 conflicts the route L4 → L3 → L2 permitted by the signal light SQ2, and the route L3 → L4 → L5 permitted by the signal light SP2 conflicts the route L6 → L5 → L4 permitted by the signal light SQ3.
In order not to simultaneously give the running permission to the conflicting routes even when there is no moving body, therefore, it is necessary to guarantee that the running. permission are not simultaneously given by the signal lights SP1 and SQ2, and that the running permission are not simultaneously given by the signal lights SP2 and SQ3.
With reference to Fig. 15, a description is given for the logical processing constitution for guaranteeing not to simultaneously generate the running permission to the plurality of conflicting routes. In Fig. 15, symbol SPa denotes a signal light for permitting the running in the direction of sections L1 to L3 (a-direction), and SPc denotes a signal light for permitting the running in the direction of sections L1 to L2 (c-direction).
In Fig. 15, there can be considered in the section L1 the following two states where the running toward the a-direction (toward the section L3) is inhibited.
1) A state where the running inhibition is notified to the section L1 from the section L2 when there is no signal light SPa that permits the running to the section L3 from the section L2.
2) A state where the running is inhibited by the signal light Spa when there exists the signal light SPa that permits the running to the section L3 from the section L2.
Here, provided that a running inhibition verification signal notified to the section L1 from the neighboring section L2 of the c-direction side is denoted by NPc' and a running inhibition verification signal notified to the neighboring section L3 of the a-direction side from the section L1 is denoted by NPa, then, the above-mentioned states 1) and 2) can be expressed by the following logical formula. Here, the running inhibition verification signal is the one representing a state where the traveling is inhibited by the signal light. NPa = (NPc' · Da') V (IXa' · Da) where Da' = 1 represents that there is no signal light SPa that permits the running in the a-direction, Da' = 0 represents other states, Da = 1 represents that there exists the signal light SPa, Da = 0 represents other states, Da · Da' being 0, IXa' is a signal indicating no proceeding instruction in the a-direction described already, and the signal light SPa indicates the state of running inhibition when IXa' = 1.
The same also holds even in the c-direction. Provided that the running inhibition verification signal notified to the section L1 from the neighboring section L3 of the a-direction side is denoted by NPa' and the running inhibition verification signal notified to the neighboring section L2 of the c-direction side from the section L1 is denoted by NPc, then, NPc = (NPa' · Dc') V (IXc' · Dc) where Dc' = 1 represents that there is no signal light SPc that permits the running in the c-direction, Dc' = 0 represents other states, Dc = 1 represents that there exists the signal light SPc, Dc = 0 represents other states, Dc · Dc' being 0, IXc' is a signal indicating no proceeding instruction in the c-direction, and the signal light SPc indicates the state of running inhibition when IXc' = 1.
Therefore, the conditions for generating the running permission control outputs including the running inhibition verification signals to the signal lights SPa, SPc become as follows: PXa = IXa · Pa' · NPa' PXc = IXc · Pc' · NPc'.
By adding the running inhibition verification signal as described above, it is possible to verify that other routes that conflict the route for which the running is permitted by the signal lights SPa or SPc, are in the state of running inhibition. By incorporating the above logical processing into the module, therefore, it is possible to avoid the simultaneous generation of running permission for the plurality of conflicting routes even when there is no moving body, and compatibility with the existing systems is secured.
The module 31 in the branching section L of Fig. 9 can be used as the module 1 for the relay section in Fig. 1 by so regarding that there is not the running of the moving body in the  b- and  b'-directions in Fig. 8 and that the branch line is open across c-a at all times and cannot be switched.
That is, the signal lines Pb, Pb', Ab, Ab', LSb and S are not connected, but the signal lines LSa and SL are connected to the false signal generating circuit 31 B to give a signal of logic value 1.
Further, when the traveling is inhibited in the directions ( a',  b',  c) running to the branching section L, for example, when there is only the traveling in the  a-direction and there is no traveling in the  a'-direction, the signal line Pa is not connected but the signal line Aa' is connected to the false signal generating circuit 31B to give the signal of logic value 1. The module 32 to which the connection is made may disconnect the signal lines Pa and Aa'.
If the module 31 for the branching section of Fig. 9 is replaced by a module 51 of Fig. 16 which is provided with a logic function of the block section in which the signal lights exist as described with reference to Figs. 4 and 6, then, simply by assigning the modules of the same constitution to the block sections and setting the connections among the modules depending on the setting conditions of the block sections, it is possible to realize the interlocking functions in all block sections. In Fig. 16, reference numeral 51A denotes a logic unit, and 44 denotes a signal light. Modules 52 to 54 of the neighboring sections have the same constitution as the module 51.
Fig. 18 illustrates a constitutional example of an interlocking device applied to traveling routes as shown in Fig. 17 by combining the module 21 for the signal light management section of Fig. 6 and the module 31 for the branching section of Fig. 9.
In Fig. 17, reference numerals 101 to 110 denote block sections, 121 to 127 denote signal lights, 131 to 133 denote branching devices, and arrows indicate the directions of travel of the moving bodies.
In Fig. 18, reference numerals 141 to 150 denote modules assigned to the block sections 101 to 110, fine arrows denote running body absence verification signals, thick arrows denote running permission signals, PXa and PXc denote signal light control outputs, and S denotes switch permission signals output to the branching devices 131 to 133.
Fig. 19 illustrates in detail the connection among the modules 142 to 149 in Fig, 18.
In Fig. 19, the logics of generating the signals Aa, Pa, Ac, Pc, PXa and PXc of the modules 142, 144, 146, 147 and 149 are based on the above-mentioned logic formulas; i.e., Aa = T · (Ac' V IXa') V TDon(IXa') Pa = T · (Pc' V IXc' · Ac') Ac = T · (Aa' V IXc') V TDon(IXc') Pc = T · (Pa' V IXa' · Aa') PXa = IXa · Pa' PXc = IXc · Pc'.
Further, the logics of generating the signals Aa, Pa, Ac, Pc, Ab, Pb and S of the modules 143, 145, and 148 are based on the above-mentioned logic formulas; i.e., Aa = T · Ac' · LSa V LSb Pa = T · SL · Pc' · LSa Ac = T · (Aa' · LSa V Ab' · LSb) Pc = T · SL · (Pa' · LSa V Pb' · LSb) Ab = T · Ac' · LSb V LSa Pb = T · SL · Pc' · LSb S = T · Aa' · Ab' · Ac'.
In the modules 143, 146 and 147 in Fig. 19, the false signal denoted by "1" in Fig. 19 is fed back to themselves. The false signal Aa' = 1 in the module 143 means that the entrance to the section 104 from the section 103 (from the a-direction) is inhibited and the moving body does not run from the section 104 to the section 103. The false signal Aa' = 1 in the module 146 means that there is no traveling route on the right side of the section 106 in the figure and the moving body does not run from the right side (from the a-direction) in the figure. The false signal Ac' = 1 in the module 147 means that the entrance to the section 107 from the section 108 (from the c-direction) is inhibited and the moving body does not run from the section 108 to the section 107.
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the traveling of the moving body is controlled by generating/not generating the running permission signal P. It is, however, also possible to control the traveling speed of the moving bodies.
An example of speed control is described below.
Fig. 20 illustrates an embodiment of a case of the block section where signal lights exist as moving body running control means. This embodiment shows a speed control in three steps, i.e., inhibition (R), slow (Y) and go (G), which can be corresponded to signal lights of R (red), Y (yellow) and G (blue). In Fig. 20, further, the moving body moves in the direction of an arrow X. In Fig. 20, therefore, the neighboring section of rear side is denoted by L3 and the neighboring section of front side is denoted by L2.
In Fig. 20, modules 201 to 203 are assigned to the block sections L1 to L3 and wired to the neighboring modules. The modules 201 to 203 are in the same constitution. Description is given for the module 201. The module 201 includes a speed logic unit 201A for outputting speed control signals P11 and P12, a track circuit 201B for outputting moving body absence information T in the section L1, and a speed control circuit 201C for controlling the indication of a signal light 204 based on speed control signals P11' and P12' from the module 202 of the neighboring section L2 of front side. The speed logic unit 201A includes an AND gate 201a for generating the speed control signal P12 by operating an AND of the moving body absence information T in the section L1 and the speed control signal P11' from the neighboring section L2 of front side, to output the speed control signal P12 to the module 203 of the neighboring section L3 of rear side. In Fig. 20, reference numeral 205 denotes a signal light controlled by the module 202.
In this constitution, when the moving body exists in neither the section L1 (T = 1) nor the neighboring section L2 of front side (P11' = 1), then, P12 = 1 is generated by the AND gate 201a and is sent to the module 203 of the neighboring section L3 of rear side. Further, when the moving body exists in the neighboring section L3 of front side but no moving body exists in the section L1, then, P11 = 1 only is generated. P11' and P12' from the module 202 of the neighboring section L2 of front side are generated based on the same logic for generating P11 and P12.
The speed control circuit 201C of the module 201 generates a G-indication instruction to the signal light 204 to indicate the running permission when it has received both P11' = 1 and P12' = 1, generates a Y-indication instruction to the signal light 204 to indicate the slow traveling when it has received P11' = 1 only, and generates an R-indication instruction to the signal light 204 to indicate the running inhibition when it has received neither P11' nor P12'.
Fig. 21 illustrates an embodiment applied to the block section without signal light as shown in Fig. 1. The directions of running of the moving bodies, the neighboring section of front side and the neighboring section of rear side are the same as those in Fig. 20.
In Fig. 21, a module 211 assigned to the block section L1 includes a speed logic unit 211A for outputting speed control signals P11 and P12, and a track circuit 211B for outputting moving body absence information T in the section L1. The speed logic unit 211 A includes two AND gates 211a and 211b. Modules 212 and 213 assigned to the neighboring section L2 of front side and to the neighboring section L3 of rear side are in the same constitution as the module 211.
In this constitution, the slow or running permission signal is transmitted to the module 213 of the neighboring section L3 of rear side only when the moving body exists at least in neither the section L1 nor the neighboring section L2 of front side.
With reference to Figs. 22 to 25, description is given for an embodiment applied to a block section including a branch line.
In Fig, 22, it is assumed that the moving bodies move in the direction of an arrow Y. Reference numerals Pc1 and Pc2 denote speed control signals transmitted to the neighboring section Lc of meeting direction side from the module of the branching section L, reference numerals Pa1' and Pa2' denote speed control signals transmitted to the branching section L from the neighboring section La of the branching side, and Pb1' denotes a speed control signal transmitted to the branching section L from the neighboring section Lb of the branching side. Reference numeral 221 denotes a signal light.
Fig. 23 illustrates a speed logic unit 230 of a module assigned to the branching section L of Fig. 22. The speed logic unit 230 comprises a plurality of AND gates and an OR gate, and is added with a speed limiting function due to the switching direction. That is, when the c-b direction is open (LSb = 1), up to the slow travel is permitted (Pc1 = 1) irrespective of the state of the section of front side if there is no moving body in the section Lb (Pb1' = 1) provided that the switch impossible verification signal SL is 1.
When the c-a direction is open, on the other hand, the speed control is performed in accordance with a speed logic that will be described with reference to Figs. 24 and 25 provided that signal light does not exist at the branching section that does not serve as a start point.
Namely, in Fig. 24, symbols X1, X4 and X5 denote signal light management sections for managing signal lights SS1 to SS3, and X2 and X3 denote relay sections without signal light. It is assumed that the moving bodies move from the left direction toward the right direction. Table 1 of Fig. 25 shows the generating conditions of the speed control signals Pc1 and Pc2 that are transmitted from the module to the neighboring section of rear side. In Table 1, the generating condition of the speed control signals that are transmitted from the modules of the sections X4 to X1 to the module of the neighboring section of rear side, are represented by the moving body absence information T1 to T5 in the sections X1 to X5. In Table 1, symbol " - " represents an AND.
When the c-a direction is open in Fig. 22, therefore, the speed control signals Pc1 and Pc2 from the speed logic unit 230 are generated under the condition of section X2 → X1 in Table 1.
Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate circuit structure examples of when the logic unit 201A and the speed control circuit 201C in the module 201 of Fig. 20 are realized by a fail-safe circuitry that does not generate an output when a failure has occurred.
In the logic unit 201A of Fig. 26, when an electromagnetic relay RX is excited by the moving body absence information T input from the track circuit 201 B, the contact point thereof (silver-carbon contact point free of melt-adhering defect) is turned on, whereby an oscillator 301 is operated to generate the speed control signal P11. At this time, if the speed control signal P11' is input from the module of the neighboring section of front side, a photocoupler PC21 is turned on so that the speed control signal P12 is generated.
In the speed control circuit 201C of Fig. 27, when a moving body proceeding instruction I is input from the exterior, a signal Ix indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction I is input through the circuit same as that of Fig. 4 is rectified by a voltage doubler rectifying circuit REC1 to be input to an AND gate A1. At this time, if the speed control signal P11' has been input from the neighboring section of front side, a light receiving transistor of a photocoupler PC22 is turned on/off by an optical signal P1 from the photocoupler PC22 shown in Fig. 26, and a signal generated by the on/off of the light receiving transistor is rectified by a voltage doubler rectifying circuit REC2 to be input to the AND gate A1. Then, a Y (yellow) indication instruction PX1 corresponding to the slow travel is output to the signal light. Further, when the speed control signal P12', too, has been input from the neighboring section of front side, a light receiving transistor of a photocoupler PC23 is turned on/off by an optical signal P2 from the photocoupler PC23 shown in Fig. 26, and a signal generated by the on/off of the light receiving transistor is rectified by a voltage doubler rectifying circuit REC3 to be input to an AND gate A2. The AND gate A2 receives an output of the AND gate A1 after rectified by a voltage doubler rectifying circuit REC4 and receives the moving body proceeding instruction I, to output a G (blue) indication instruction PX2 corresponding to the running.
Fig. 28 illustrates a circuit structure example of when the logic unit 230 in the module of Fig. 23 is realized by a fail-safe circuitry that does not generate an output when a failure has occurred.
In the circuit of Fig. 28, when the signal Pa1' is input from the section La, and the open verification signal LSa in that direction is input provided that the switch impossible verification signal SL has been input, then, signals of logical value 1 are input to an AND gate A11 through respective voltage doubler rectifying circuits, so that a photocoupler PC31 is turned on/off by an output from the AND gate A11, and an optical signal PG1 is generated. Further, when an electromagnetic relay RX1 is excited by the moving body absence information T in the own section, the contact point thereof is turned on to generate the speed control signal Pc1. When the signal Pa2' has also been input from the section La, a photocoupler PC32, too, is turned on/off by an output from an AND gate A12 so that an optical signal PG2 is generated and, hence, the speed control signal Pc2 is generated. Further, when the signal Pb1' is input from the section Lb, and the open verification signal LSb in that direction is input provided that the switch impossible verification signal SL has been input, then, signals of logical value 1 are input to an AND gate A13 through respective voltage doubler rectifying circuits, a photocoupler PC33 is turned on/off by an output from the AND gate A13 to generate an optical signal PG3, and the speed control signal Pc1 is generated provided that the moving body absence information T in the own section L has been input.
In the foregoing description, when safety is secured, it does not matter in which direction the moving bodies travel through the branching section. That is, even when there is an error in the switching direction of the branching device, a running permission signal is generated if it is possible to verify that no collision occurs. If described with reference to Figs. 10 and 12, when there is an error in the switching instructions (LXA, LXB) input to the switch control circuit 42 of Fig. 10, the circuit structure of Fig. 12 outputs a running permission signal Pc for the module of the section Lc of meeting direction side if it is verified that the erroneous switching direction is safe.
When it is desired to distinguish the direction in which the running is permitted, it is necessary that the two signal lights are controlled in the module of the section in the meeting direction, so that two running permission signals are output from the module of the-branching section to the module of meeting direction side for each of the directions.
Fig. 29 illustrates a circuit structure example capable of performing the control for each direction without increasing the number of wirings.
In the circuit of Fig. 29, a generation circuit of the running permission signal Pc is provided in the module in the branching section, and a receiving circuit of the signal Pc is provided in the module in the section of meeting direction side.
Fig. 29A illustrates the generation circuit of the running permission signal Pc provided in the module in the branching section, and Fig. 29B illustrates the receiving circuit of the signal Pc provided in the module in the section of meeting direction side. Here, AND gates A12 and A13 are the same as those shown in Fig. 28.
In Fig. 29A, when the running is permitted in the c-a direction in Fig. 8, an AC amplification circuit AP1 is operated by an output from the AND gate A12, and the amplified output thereof is transmitted to a secondary side of a transformer T11. Since the track relay contact point has been turned on due to the moving body absence information T in the branching section L, the running permission signal Pc is generated based on an output of a voltage doubler rectifying circuit REC11 as a pulse signal in synchronism with the frequency of an oscillator SG.
In the module of the section of meeting direction side in Fig. 29B, on the other hand, a signal IXa indicating the generation of the proceeding instruction la in the a-direction is rectified by the voltage doubler rectifying circuit to be input to an AND gate A21. When the running permission signal Pc is input, an electric current flows intermittently in the la-direction, and an optical signal Pca flashes causing a photocoupler PC41 to be turned on/off. An AC signal from the photocoupler PC41 is then rectified by the voltage doubler rectifying circuit to be input to the AND gate A21. Then, a running permission instruction PXa to the a-direction is generated.
When the running is permitted in the c-b direction in Fig. 8, on the other hand, the AC amplification circuit AP2 is operated by an output from the AND gate A13, and the running permission signal Pc being a pulse signal is generated in the same manner as described above. In the module of the section of meeting direction side, in this case, an electric current flows intermittently in the Ib-direction, and a photocoupler PC 42 is turned on/off by the flashing of an optical signal Pcb. A running permission instruction PXb to the b-direction is generated from an AND gate A22 by a signal IXb indicating the generation of a proceeding instruction Ib in the b-direction and a rectified output of the photocoupler PC 42.

Industrial Applicability

An interlocking device is fabricated in the form of modules for securing safety in a blocking system that controls the traveling of the moving bodies, making it possible to simplify the circuitry and wiring of the interlocking device and to facilitate the operation for verifying safety of the interlocking device, offering great industrial applicability.

Claims

An interlocking device in a blocking system in which a traveling route of moving bodies is divided into a plurality of block sections, and the traveling of the moving bodies is controlled so that one block section is occupied by one moving body, wherein one module is assigned for said each block section, each module being wired to the modules in the neighboring sections, and there is provided a logic unit for creating moving body control information to be transmitted to a neighboring section of rear side with respect to a moving body running direction, based on a logical operation of: moving body control information received from a neighboring section of front side with respect to the moving body running direction; and moving body absence information in the own section.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 1, wherein

the moving body control information created by said logic unit is a running permission signal that permits the moving body to enter the own section.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 1, wherein

the moving body control information created by said logic unit is a running permission signal that permits the moving body to enter the own section and a running body absence verification signal that notify of the absence of the moving body running to the own section.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 1, wherein

said logic unit differs depending on the presence/absence of moving body running control means in the block section and on the presence/absence of the branch line.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 4, wherein said logic unit in the block section having said moving body running control means generates a control output to said moving body running control means based on a moving body proceeding instruction input from the exterior.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 5, wherein said logic unit in the block section provided with the moving body running control means for controlling the running of the moving bodies from the neighboring sections to the own section, generates:

said running permission signal based on a result of an AND operation of the running permission signal from said neighboring section of front side and moving body absence information in the own section;

said running body absence verification signal based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signal from said neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that a moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and

a running permission control output to said moving body running control means based on a result of an AND operation of a moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of rear side and the running permission signal of the own section for the neighboring section of rear side.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 5, wherein

said logic unit in the block section provided with the moving body running control means for controlling the running of the moving bodies from the own section to the neighboring sections:

performs an OR operation of the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side, and an AND output of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that there is no proceeding instruction for the moving body toward the direction of the neighboring section of front side, to generate said running permission signal based on a result of an AND operation of an output of said OR operation and the moving body absence information in the own section;

performs an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an OR operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and a signal indicating that the proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated, to generate said running body absence verification signal based on a result of an OR operation of an output of said AND operation and a signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more; and

generates a running permission control output to said moving body running control means based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body and the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 7, wherein

said running body absence verification signal is generated based on a result of an OR operation of: an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of front side and the moving body absence information in the own section; a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the signal indicating that the proceeding instruction for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the signal indicating that the moving body proceeding instruction. for the moving body from the direction of the neighboring section of front side has not been generated for a predetermined period of time or more.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 7, wherein

a control output to said moving body running control means is generated based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body proceeding instruction for the moving body, the running permission signal from the neighboring section of front side, and a running inhibition verification signal notified from the neighboring section of front side indicating a state where the travel is inhibited by said moving body running control means.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 4, wherein

said logic unit in the block section including a branch line:

generates a running permission signal to a neighboring section of meeting direction side based on a result of an AND operation of an output of an AND operation of a running permission signal from a neighboring section of branching direction side and a traveling route open verification signal in that direction, a switching impossible verification signal of a branching device, and the moving body absence information in the own section;

generates a running permission signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side based on a result of an AND operation of a running permission signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side, the traveling route open verification signal, the switching impossible verification signal of the branching device, and the moving body absence information in the own section;

generates a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of meeting direction side based on a result of an AND operation of the moving body absence information in the own section, and an output of an AND operation of a running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of branching direction side and a traveling route open verification signal in that direction;

performs an AND operation of a running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side, the traveling route open verification signal and the moving body absence information in the own section, to generate a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side on the open side based on a result of an OR operation of an output of said AND operation and the other traveling route open verification signal; and

generates a switch permission signal for the branching device based on a result of an AND operation of running body absence verification signals from all neighboring sections and the moving body absence information in the own section.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 10, wherein

a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of meeting direction side is generated based on a result of an AND operation of results obtained by performing, for each branching direction, an OR operation of: a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of branching direction side and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the other traveling route open verification signal, and

a running body absence verification signal to the neighboring section of branching direction side on the open side is generated based on a result of an OR operation of: a self-holding output self-holding the moving body absence information in the own section based on an output of an AND operation of the running body absence verification signal from the neighboring section of meeting direction side and the moving body absence information in the own section; and the other traveling route open verification signal.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 1, wherein

moving body control information created by said logic unit is a speed control signal.
An interlocking device in a blocking system according to claim 12, wherein

said logic unit generates said speed control signal based on the running permission signals from the plurality of block sections in the direction of the neighboring section of front side.