EP1256502A2 - Protection against accident and fire for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for technical monitoring of vehicles has two detectors (M, R, M, L) on both sides of a carriageway or arranged symmetrically relative to a vehicle, a detector unit that determines a difference from the values measured using the two detectors and a warning device for alerting a driver when a threshold value is exceeded. An Independent claim is made for a method for technical monitoring of a motor vehicle with the following steps simultaneous measurement of noise or temperature arising from the tires, wheels, running gear, etc. on both sides of a vehicle, calculation of the difference between the measured values and stopping of a vehicle when the difference exceeds a threshold value.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for avoiding accidents caused by road, Rail and aircraft.

Accidents involving road, rail and aircraft can caused by human or technical failure become. The technical causes include, for example Defects in brakes, tires, wheels, wheel rims, Wheel bearings and engines. Has in the past proven that these errors have particularly fatal consequences if they occur in tunnels and on bridges, because there are insufficient escape opportunities there. But are also on supposedly safe routes cannot rule out the devastating consequences of technical damage. An example of this is the derailment of a Train and subsequent collision with a bridge file.

For aircraft, the required take-off distance and the speed required for take-off depending of takeoff weight and meteorological influences can be calculated exactly. The crew is however unable to determine during startup a damaged wheel bearing or a hanging brake calculated values dangerously influenced. A row of So far, total losses have already occurred because of these causes after retracting the landing gear a tire has overheated, burst and is vital Has destroyed hydraulic lines. Another one Problem is that a large area of the aircraft already during takeoff, i.e. in one Phase in which the start is still canceled can be on fire without the crew can determine because the corresponding sensors only in the cool area of the engine, such as the Accident the Concorde showed in Paris.

The invention has for its object the prevent accidents described in an improved manner.

The invention is achieved by a method and by a Device with the features of the independent claims solved. Advantageous configurations result from the dependent claims.

To achieve the object of the invention, a device provided for the technical inspection of vehicles, the two on either side of a lane or mirror-symmetrically attached to a vehicle Has detectors. The detectors are positioned that physical properties are symmetrical at two Devices attached to the vehicle measured can be. Such facilities are for example Tires and wheel bearings on a car. A physical Property in the sense of the invention is, for example the noise or the occurring Tire or wheel bearing temperature.

The device comprises an evaluation unit with which a difference between two at the same time by the two Detectors measured values is evaluated.

A warning device is provided in the device, which gives a warning signal when from the evaluation exceeding a predetermined threshold value results. The warning signal is sent to, for example Vehicle driver transmitted. This can be done with the prompt connected to stop his vehicle. One at Exceeding the threshold at the red traffic light can be a warning device in the sense of the invention his.

Microphones for noise measurement and / or temperature measuring devices are in one embodiment of the invention as. Detectors used.

Are the detectors typical regardless of the vehicle Hazardous areas provided, will be advantageous checks all vehicles that are at the danger point approach. A tunnel represents a typical danger point in the sense of the invention since an accident in a tunnel with particularly great dangers for the rest Road users are connected. The device is therefore preferably located before entering a Tunnel or an underpass or before or at the beginning a runway for aircraft. The device is in According to the invention "before" such a danger point attached if by this attachment the vehicles be checked, the danger point with great Probability will actually happen. Is there, for example, before entering a tunnel several more branches that are not in the The tunnel is behind the device branch roads. A fork However, it can be provided before the tunnel to detect defects To redirect vehicles.

According to the invention, a Physical properties of the vehicle such as Temperatures and / or noise at two symmetrical Devices attached to the vehicle measured. Tires, Wheels, wheel bearings, exhausts and / or engines represent such facilities. It becomes the difference between two of the physical measured at the same time Properties determined.

The vehicle is stopped when the difference is one exceeds the predetermined threshold and thus on indicates a defect.

Before an accident occurs, the operator cancels the accident Damage occurring regularly by a local Temperature increase or change in driving noise on. Temperature and noise can be relatively easily non-contact be measured. The problem, however, is that the normal due to different operating conditions Operating noises or the normal operating temperatures can vary greatly. That's why it's an easy one Unsuitable measurement without reference. Usually the vehicles mentioned above are symmetrical. The errors almost never occur symmetrically. By a symmetrical measurement is therefore possible, a reference signal to win. If you now compare the measurement data, which were obtained by "symmetrical" measurement, so you have the opportunity to use the difference decide whether a dangerous operating condition with the Vehicle is present. The comparison is advantageous through Differential signal formation (e.g. at temperatures) carried out, because this is particularly easy.

In a further improved embodiment, statistical Processes such as statistical process control (SPC) applied to differential signals. Especially this works reliably for recurring people similar measuring objects.

Alternatively, more complex processes such as a Evaluation of the symmetrically determined signals by a neural network can be applied. Such a process is particularly useful for the evaluation of sound measurements apply.

The measurement can either be stationary or mobile on the vehicle be performed. The stationary measurement is to be preferred, if particularly dangerous routes are universal are to be secured. examples for this are Entrances into a tunnel or a runway of one Airport. Then all vehicles are checked, that drive into a tunnel or that of want to take off from a runway independently from the individual safety equipment of the respective Vehicle.

For example, bearing noises and / or occurring Temperatures measured externally and without contact. At the Entrance to a tunnel will be one on the left and one on the right Vehicle track sensors for non-contact measurement of the Temperatures and / or sound generated by passing vehicles are generated. Become very different Measurement signals registered, for example from a defective wheel bearing. On Warning signal is then issued and the affected vehicle stopped manually or by means of a traffic light system.

In this way, abnormalities in wheels can also occur and wheel rims in rail vehicles when driving through a measuring section - and evaluation of the temperature difference signal can be determined by means of SPC, which on a Indicate defect.

Tire, wheel and storage temperatures, but also the temperature individual parts of the cargo on road vehicles can be determined when driving through a measuring section become. By forming the difference between the measured temperatures with or without statistical analysis can disturbances or damage that occurs to the aforementioned parts be recognized early.

Engine and exhaust gas temperatures in aircraft can be measured in a targeted manner. By forming the difference between Thermal images with or without evaluation by a neural Network then represents the value used to determine Accidents.

Engine noise in aircraft together with evaluation the sound emission by means of a neural network can also be used.

Landing gear and / or wheel bearing temperatures of aircraft before and during the start can be measured symmetrically to get information regarding possible defects to win.

In addition, the speed is preferred according to the invention as well as acceleration or braking of the Vehicles measured. It is then checked, for example, whether there are temperatures in tires or wheel bearings occur, move in the normal framework. Otherwise, it will a warning sign.

This configuration differs from the aforementioned by not measuring a reference signal. Instead of of which absolute values are evaluated and from one of them the resulting suspicion of a fault, a warning signal is issued. The warning signal is either sent to the vehicle driver and / or forwarded to an external body, by of the required protective measures manually or be initiated automatically.

Acceleration or deceleration is measured because this causes typical changes in the operating state become. These are in the evaluation or evaluation to consider.

If a train slows down, there are one on the first axle Measuring point measured temperatures relatively cool. Happens the last car of a train finally the measuring point, so here is a significant rise in temperature Compared to the first axis. This temperature rise from axle to axle of subsequent wagons determined. If the rise shows an outlier, this is the case a sign of a malfunction. The warning signal is then issued. In this embodiment of the invention a temperature profile is determined and noticeable Deviations determined as a measure of faults.

The invention is preferably used stationary. The stationary version is especially designed so that these at all times in terms of weight and technical effort to be brought to another location can. The cost of stationary measuring equipment is extremely low, as a single system every day can check many thousands of vehicles. Furthermore is a complete recording of all road, rail and runway users only with a stationary System possible.

It is advantageous to have a high speed line Operator of a rail network at a distance of 150 kilometers to be equipped with a measuring device. With everyone else The distance will stretch such an operator chosen that also short-haul routes are covered by the measurement become.

At sporadic intervals it always happens that shifted cargo catastrophic rail traffic accidents triggers. Because the acceleration values and the Centrifugal force in rail traffic are relatively low, The cargo rarely slips suddenly, but rather sections. By timely detection of the Such an accident can be prevented. He follows e.g. the measurement and / or the image acquisition from oblique above, so in addition to evaluating, for example, temperature differences also the vertical geometry of the vehicle and / or the charge can be determined. With this Measurement is checked at the same time whether parts of the load have slipped and laterally over the prescribed Protrude width.

Stationary equipped with the inventive device Measuring points in front of the entrances to the train stations and ferries are advantageous because there is an uncoupling defective vehicle causes the least problems. Other measuring points are especially in front of slow speed points, and to provide hiking construction sites. These measuring points must be set up in front of the relevant danger point be that the train driver has a radio signal is asked to brake and the speed can still reduce with a normal braking, if he has not yet initiated a delay at this point. If he does not respond to this signal, it will follow up short time delay another signal which is switched so that then an automatic Braking is initiated. With the use of the invention Equipment would have the serious railway accident in Brühl, Germany.

At airports, the setup would be one device per Kilometers of runway and in special cases also sensible on the taxiways. In road traffic would be additional to those already mentioned Installation options for other installations on strong Slope advantageous. Because here too many serious accidents have occurred in the past which were particularly involved in road trains and buses. Usually these accidents were caused by too late or wrong downshifting and the associated thermal overload of the wheel brakes caused. If the driver is warned here early, then he can still drive the vehicle before the complete Bring brake failure to a halt. They are here too Cost of a stationary system in relation to the number the measurements are negligible.

Trucks and their cargo should be checked before entering in a ferry, but also before loading "Piggyback trains" checked for possible heat radiation to be a future fire like he did some time ago in the tunnel under the English Channel.

For manufacturing, sales and economic reasons every single device will be able to support everyone for the requirements envisaged by air, rail and road traffic correspond to.

Areas of application of the invention are therefore in particular:

Road transport:

Early detection of bearing damage, damage to the Brake system, overheating of vehicle parts, tires and Charge.

Measuring points:

Sporadically on motorways, selectively before entering critical areas such as tunnels, rail loading, bridges, Ferries etc. and at the beginning of steep descents.

Measurement Methods:

Determination of the operating state by recording the speed, of acceleration and deceleration under Use of non-contact measurement methods and wherever they are is not possible due to space or traffic reasons, by induction loops. Detection of the reference signal by symmetrical Measurements using thermal imaging cameras, Heat and sound sensors. Evaluation of the measurement by forming the difference signal, Application through static process control (SPC) and the use of a neural network.

Warning Methods: Acoustically, optically and by mechanically blocking a street or roadway.

rail transport

Early detection of bearing damage and damage to the Brake system, overheating of vehicle parts and cargo. Detection of excess cargo and prevention of excessive Speed in hazardous areas

Measuring points:

Every 50 to 200 km, preferably every 150 km in the high-speed range, at much shorter intervals Short distances, as well as in front of danger and hiking construction sites, before entering main stations and critical Areas such as tunnels, rail loading stations, bridges and Ferries.

Measurement Methods:

As described in road traffic. In addition can Wheel rims are detected by inductive proximity sensors.

Warning Methods:

By radio directly to the train driver and route approval point. Acoustically, optically and through signals.

air traffic

The application possibilities in the field of air traffic are most extensive identical to the possibilities of the road and rail transport. However, they are geographical Limited area of airports.

Type of detectors used preferably regardless of Type of traffic (air, rail, road) Mechanical sensors:

such as pressure sensors that pass through the contact force of a tire can be triggered.

Optical sensors:

such as light barriers when driving through triggered or image capture by cameras which can be used as an input signal for a neural network can.

Inductive / electromagnetic sensors:

such as induction switches through the metal Wheel rim of the wheel of a rail vehicle are triggered.

Type of evaluation

The use of is particularly useful when evaluating images neural networks makes sense since it also evaluates the Picture of a complete vehicle. On the above sensors to identify an individual Rades can e.g. to be dispensed with. Then it just becomes the difference of both sides was evaluated. specially neural networks are also capable of design-related Differences such as the location of the exhaust system recognizable in trucks. In addition, it is then possible Identify sources of fire on loads.

In Figure 1, a vehicle is sketched in supervision, which is provided with four wheels and drives into a measuring point at a speed v. The four wheels generate thermal images T ₁ (L), T ₂ (L), T ₁ (R) and T ₂ (R). The measuring point is equipped with several pressure sensors (D1, R), (D2, R), (D3, R), (D1, L), (D2, L), (D3, L) as well as a right and a left infrared camera (M , L) or (M, R). The pressure sensors (D1, R), (D2, R), (D3, R) and (D1, L), (D2, L), (D3, L) are arranged one behind the other with a respective distance d. A right first pressure sensor (D1, R) is assigned a first right transmitter (S1, R), a right second pressure sensor (D2, R) is assigned a second right transmitter (S2, R) etc. Measured values are transmitted to an evaluation unit via the transmitters.

According to FIG. 2, at time t _0, the first pair of wheels, which generates the thermal images T ₁ (L) and T ₁ (R), acts on the first two pressure sensors (D1, R) and (D1, L) and a time measurement is performed in Gear set.

According to FIG. 3, the aforementioned first pair of wheels is detected for the second time at time t _1, namely by the pressure sensors (D2, R) and (D2, L). The speeds V _{1, R} and V _{1, L} with which the two detected objects have moved are determined in accordance with the past time and the distance traveled v 1, R = (T 0, R -t 1, R ) / D and v 1, L = (T 0, L -t 1, L ) / D determined. If the determined speeds match, this is an indication for the system that the objects detected are actually a pair of wheels.

At a subsequent time t ₂ , the aforementioned first pair of wheels is recorded for the third time in accordance with FIG. 4, namely by the pressure sensors (D3, R) and (D3, L). For the first time, the second rear pair of wheels acts on the pressure sensors (D1, L) and (D1, R). The speed of the wheels of the first pair of wheels are according to v 2, R = (T 1, R -t 2, R ) / D and v 2, L = (T 1, L -t 2, L ) / D determined again and compared. If the speeds v _{2, R} and v _{2, L} match again, the detected objects are identified by the system as a front pair of wheels. In one embodiment, the detection of the rear pair of wheels can be used as additional information that confirms this identification. In this embodiment, the front pair of wheels is only identified as a pair of wheels when a subsequent pair of wheels is separated from the first two pressure sensors (D1, R) and (D1, L) at a distance of a few meters, which is typical for motor vehicles, for example less than 6 Meters is recorded.

In one embodiment, the type of movement is as follows rated.

If v ₁ = v ₂ , the vehicle is moving smoothly.

If v ₁ > v ₂ , the vehicle brakes.

If v ₁ <v ₂ , the vehicle accelerates.

The measurement time t _{3 is} calculated on the basis of the driving behavior and the speed. When time t ₃ is reached, the front pair of wheels is at the same height as the infrared cameras (M, L) and (M, R).

If objects moving through the pressure sensors have been identified as a pair of wheels in the aforementioned manner, the thermal images T1 (L) and T1 (R) of the two infrared cameras (M, L) and (M, R) are taken at time t ₃ first pair of wheels recorded symmetrically, as shown in Figure 5. The amount of the normalized mean is calculated as follows: T _{1, n} = 2 * [T ₁ (R) - T ₁ (L)] / [T ₁ (R) + T ₁ (L)].

The system has advantageously previously calculated the point in time t ₃ on the basis of the determined speed along with any acceleration or deceleration which may have been determined, so that the system "knows" with great accuracy at what point in time the thermal images must be taken.

FIG. 6 shows the plot of the normalized mean values determined as a function of a consecutive numbering x. It is made clear in FIG. 6 that a temperature difference threshold OEG is determined based on empirical values, which corresponds here to the dotted line. An alarm is triggered if the threshold value is exceeded. According to FIG. 6, this is the case for the value T _{16, n} .

The thermal images recorded at time t ₃ are also evaluated. First difference images are determined. Examples of possible results are shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c.

According to FIG. 7a, a tire is significantly warmer than that other, which is due to low one-sided air pressure points.

According to FIG. 7b, a brake has overheated because of a rim flange is much hotter than the opposite one. According to Figure 7c, a camp has overheated because of overheating Area compared to the reference value on the area of Axis concentrated.

In addition to the relative measurements, the measured ones can also be used absolute temperature values depending on the speed and driving behavior are evaluated. They give way absolutely measured values of empirical values and one of them determined threshold value, an alarm is triggered.

Claims (8)

Device for the technical inspection of vehicles with two detectors (M, R, M, L) attached to a vehicle on either side or mirror symmetry with an evaluation unit, with which a difference between two values measured simultaneously by the two detectors is evaluated, with a warning device which emits a warning signal if the evaluation results in a predetermined threshold value (OEG) being exceeded. The device of claim 1, wherein the microphones and / or temperature measuring devices, in particular serve to record thermal images as detectors are used. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Device before entering a tunnel or an underpass or before or at the beginning of one Airplane runway is attached. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which means 1 to i (S _{i, R} , D _{i, R} , S _{i, R} , D _{i, r} , S _{i, L} , D _{i, L} , S _{i, L} , D _{i, L} ) are provided for speed measurement and / or for measuring the acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle, in particular i = 1 for a simple detection, i = 2 for a speed measurement and i = 3 for an acceleration measurement. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which means (S _{1, R} , D _{1, R} , S _{1, R} , D _{1, r} , S _{1, L} , D _{1, L} , S _{1, L} , D _{1, L} ) are provided for speed measurement and / or for measuring the acceleration or deceleration of individual wheels of a vehicle. Procedure for the technical inspection of vehicles with the steps: simultaneous measurement of the occurring temperatures and / or noises in two devices symmetrically attached to a moving vehicle, in particular tires, wheels, wheel bearings, exhausts and / or engines attached to the vehicle, Determining the difference between two of the temperatures or sounds measured at the same time, Stopping the vehicle when the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. Method according to the preceding claim, which the vehicle has before entering a tunnel, in an underpass or in front of or on one Airplane runway when crossing the Threshold is stopped. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, at which the speeds, accelerations and / or vehicle delays or individual parts of the vehicle and be evaluated.

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