EP2646307B1 - Device and method for making available wheel parameters of a rail vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer of the rail vehicle, and in particular a safety-capable provision of wheel diameters of a rail vehicle for the odometry of his train control system.

In the context of train protection and train control systems so-called odometry relates to the reliable determination of a position and a speed of a rail vehicle. The basis for the determination of the position and / or the speed of the rail vehicle is that the distance traveled by the rail vehicle, based either on a recognizable reference point or with respect to a time base, wherein the covered distance using a with the rolling wheel of the rail vehicle connected rotary encoder can be determined. Therefore, the wheel circumference or the wheel diameter of the wheel is a safety-relevant parameter for the rail vehicle.

The wheelsets of a rail vehicle are subject to mechanical wear during operation of the rail vehicle. Therefore, the wheelsets or wheels of the rail vehicle are regularly replaced in the course of maintenance or offset by turning back to an operational state. As a result of such measures, the wheel parameters stored in a train control computer of the rail vehicle become invalid and must be updated in a secure manner.

Conventionally, to each wheel set of the rail vehicle after turning, at the latest before the installation of the wheelset in the rail vehicle, measured to determine the wheel parameters, in particular the wheel diameter. The measurement of the wheel sets is typically carried out in two independent measurements, for example by a machine tool and then additionally by a measuring machine or measuring device. One of the two determined measured values of the respective wheel parameter is entered or input by a first person into the train control computer of the rail vehicle. Subsequently, by a second person, a comparison of the input measured value with the other measured value, which has been determined by the other, independent measurement. If the two measured values agree, the changed wheel parameter has been successfully provided in the train control computer, whereby the correct execution of the comparison is logged on a roadmap.

This conventional approach has several disadvantages. On the one hand, in the traditional approach, the human or the person is heavily involved as a controlling body, whereby the risk of unrecognized errors is comparatively high. For example, erroneous first-person wheel parameter inputs may go undetected by the second person. An unconscious or negligent negligence in checking the specified wheel parameters can not be completely ruled out.

Another disadvantage of the conventional approach is that it entails a considerable additional administrative effort in order to secure the input of the wheel parameters in the train control computer. In order to optimize the operation finished, measured wheelsets kept in stock, which further effort for a secure caching of the measured wheel parameters is required before they are finally entered after assembly in the train computer.

The patent application US 2008/306705 A 1 (LUO HUAGENG [US] ET AL) December 11 discloses an apparatus and method for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle to a train computer of the commercial vehicle having at least one measuring device that measures the wheels of the train rail rolling stock to determine the wheel parameters of the rail vehicle and transmits the determined wheel parameters to a transmitting device, which transmits the wheel parameters to a receiving device of the soy vehicle, which forwards the received wheel parameters to the migrant of the so-called towing vehicle. From the documents WO 94/05536 A1 (CARRNOVO) US Pat. No. 6,523,411 B1 (MIAN ZAHID) and US 2009/055041 A1 (MIAN ZAHID) are also known only other minor constructive details.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer of the rail vehicle, in which the provision of the wheel parameters takes place in a secure manner without possible incorrect inputs.

The invention provides a device for providing Radparametern a rail vehicle with the features specified in claim 1.

The invention provides a device for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer of the rail vehicle with at least one measuring device, which measures the wheels of rolling rail train to determine the wheel parameters of the rail vehicle and transmits the determined wheel parameters to a transmitting device which transmits the wheel parameters to a Receiving device of the rail vehicle sends, which forwards the received wheel parameters to the train computer of the rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the measuring device measures the wheel parameters during a travel of the rail vehicle at low speed. The measurement takes place, for example, when rolling out the rail vehicle from a maintenance hall.

The measurement or measurement of the wheel parameters by the measuring device is preferably carried out without contact during the passage of the rail vehicle to the measuring device.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the train computer is a train protection computer which stores the wheel parameters and provides the stored wheel parameters to a train control computer of the rail vehicle during operation of the rail vehicle. The train control calculator and the train control bill can also be integrated in a train computer. The train computer is located for example in a locomotive of the rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transmitting device comprises a transponder provided in a track bed of the train rail. Alternatively, the transmitting device may also be a transmitting antenna placed in the longitudinal direction of the track bed.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wheel parameters determined by the device are wheel diameters of the wheels of the rail vehicle.

According to the invention, the measuring device is connected to a processing computer which assigns the wheel parameters measured by the measuring device to the wheels of the rail vehicle and encodes them into a data record which is sent by the transmitting device as a message wireless to the receiving device of the rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the data record transmitted by the transmitting device contains
a number of the measured axes of the rail vehicle, the measured wheel parameters of the wheel axles of the rail vehicle,
a travel speed of the rail vehicle at the time of measurement as well
the time of the measurement itself.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transmitting device is arranged starting from the measuring device in the direction of travel of the rolling rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the receiving device is arranged at the front end of the rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the train control computer calculates a distance covered by the rail vehicle within a time interval and / or a travel speed on the basis of the wheel diameter provided by the train control computer in dependence on measurement pulses generated by pulse generators for each rotation of a wheel of the rail vehicle of the rail vehicle.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wheel parameters stored in the train control computer are set to an undefined memory state when the wheels of the rail vehicle are replaced.

In a further possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wheel parameters stored in the train control computer are set to a defined memory state after the determination of the wheel parameters.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, the train control computer blocks an exceeding of a predetermined maximum speed by the rail vehicle as long as the wheel parameters are in an undefined memory state.

In one possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, if a deviation between the previously stored wheel parameters and the determined wheel parameters is exceeded, a safety reaction is automatically triggered.

The invention further provides a method for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer of the rail vehicle with the features specified in claim 14.

• Im Weiteren werden mögliche Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Bereitstellung von Radparametern unter Bezugnahem auf die beigefügten Figuren näher erläutert.

The invention provides a method for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer of the rail vehicle with the steps specified in claim 14:

• In the following, possible embodiments of the device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention for providing wheel parameters will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a diagram for explaining a possible embodiment of the inventive device for providing Radparametern a rail vehicle for a train computer according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a simple flowchart for illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the invention for providing wheel parameters of a rail vehicle for a train computer;

How to get out Fig. 1 can recognize, a rail vehicle 1 on a train computer 2. The train computer 2 comprises in the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, a train protection computer 2A and a train control computer 2B. The train protection computer 2A and the train control computer 2B can be integrated in a train computer 2, or be formed by two separate computers. In the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the rail vehicle 1 is a locomotive or a train carriage of a train. The rail vehicle 1 moves on rails or rails 3, as in Fig. 1 shown. The rail vehicle or the locomotive 1 has several sets of wheels, each wheel set consists of two wheels, which are connected to each other via an axle. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the rail vehicle 1 has four sets of wheels, wherein the in Fig. 1 shown side view represents the wheels 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4 on one side of the locomotive. The rail vehicle 1 rolls in Fig. 1 , as symbolized by an arrow, from left to right, with a relatively low speed or rolling V. On the wheelsets each pulse generator 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4 are provided, which at each Rotation of the wheelset deliver a pulse to the train computer 2 of the rail vehicle 1, for example via a bus or a signal line 6. The four wheels 4-i each have a wheel diameter RD. The four in Fig. 1 shown wheels 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4 have accordingly wheel diameter RD-1, RD-2, RD-3, RD4. Correspondingly, the opposite wheels of the wheelsets also have wheel diameters RD-1 ', RD-2', RD-3 'and RD-4'.

As in Fig. 1 illustrated, located in or on the rails 3 at least one measuring device 7 for the measurement of the wheel parameters, in particular the wheel diameter RD-i, which are measured without contact when passing the rail vehicle 1 at low speed. The measurements are carried out without contact during the passage and can be performed several times, for example by the in Fig. 1 illustrated measuring devices 7A, 7B. The measured values are generated at the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment of an intrinsically safe host computer 8. The received measured values are determined by the Host computer 8 assigned by the temporal order of the various wheels or axles of the rail vehicle 1 and consolidated with each other. The processing computer 8 may be located directly next to the measuring device 7 or connected to the measuring device 7 via a data network. The transfer of data can be done in cryptographically secure form.

The measuring device 7 is according to the invention connected to the host computer 8, which assigns the wheel parameters measured by the measuring device 7 to the wheels of the rail vehicle 1 and encoded into a data record which is transmitted from the host computer 8 to a transmitter 9. The data record is transmitted by the transmitting device 9 as a message wirelessly to a receiving device 10 of the rail vehicle 1, as in Fig. 1 indicated. The transmitted data set may have a number of the measured axes of the rail vehicle 1 as well as the measured wheel parameters of the different wheel axles of the rail vehicle 1. Furthermore, the data record can have a travel speed v of the rail vehicle 1 during the measurement at a time of the measurement. Several wheel parameters may be included in the data set, for example the circumference or diameter of the wheels in millimeters and accuracy specifications. Furthermore, for example, a distance of a wheel axle can be specified to a predecessor axis. The time of measurement includes, for example, a date and time of measurement. The wheel parameters received by the reception device 10 are transmitted in the rail vehicle 1 to the train computer 2. The wheel parameters are preferably stored in a data memory of the train control computer 2A.

The transmitting device 9 is located starting from the measuring device 7 in the direction of travel of the rolling rail vehicle 1. For example, the transmitting device 9 is arranged at a certain distance from the measuring device 7 in the direction of travel on the rails 3. The receiving device 10 is preferably located at the front end or the tip of the rail vehicle 1. The transmission device 9 may be a transponder provided in a track bed of the train rail 3. Furthermore, the transmitting device 9 can be a transmitting antenna laid in the longitudinal direction of the track bed. In this transmission antenna may be, for example, a so-called Balisenantenne acting as a transmitting device. For example, this transmitting device 9 can be used as a transparent Datenbalise, so that the messages to be read or telegrams are dynamically interchangeable. To transmit the wheel parameters in a data set, an ETCS packet 44 defined in the ETCS specification can be used, which is defined by a corresponding data record content. In this embodiment, an additional software application in the train computer 2 reads this proprietary packet 44 telegram and transmits the received data to an executed on the train computer 2 odometry application or to an internally existing data memory to which the application has access. In this case, the train control computer 2B calculates on the basis of the provided by the train control computer 2A wheel parameters, in particular the provided wheel diameter RD, in response to measuring pulses generated by the pulse generators 5-i at each revolution of a wheel of the rail vehicle 1, of the rail vehicle 1 within In this embodiment, the train control computer 2A has an internal data memory in which the wheel parameters, in particular the wheel diameter RD, are stored or temporarily stored. At a possible embodiment, the wheel parameters stored in the train control computer 2A are set to an undefined memory state when replacing the wheels of the rail vehicle 1. The wheel parameters stored in the train control computer 2A are then set to a defined memory state after the determination of the wheel parameters. In one possible embodiment, the train control computer 2B blocks the exceeding of a predetermined speed by the rail vehicle 1 as long as the data memories of the train control computer 2A and the stored wheel parameters are in an undefined memory state. For example, the rail vehicle 1 can only exceed a speed of 10 km / h when the wheel parameters are in a defined memory state. This increases train safety.

In one possible embodiment, a safety action or safety reaction is triggered by the train computer 2 when a deviation between the previously stored wheel parameters and the determined wheel parameters is exceeded. This also increases the driving safety of the train.

In the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, the measurement of the wheels 4-i of the rail vehicle 1 takes place in the assembled state. Since the measurement takes place directly on the rail vehicle, steps in the workshop or maintenance hall are eliminated, which increases the overall efficiency. In addition, the logistics are simplified, since the storage and manual assignment of the wheel parameters to the wheelset is no longer required. The assignment of the measured values to the wheel set and axle of the rail vehicle 1 is clear and error-free in the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention.

The measurement of the wheel parameters on the train rails 3 takes place when passing the rail vehicle 1 to the measuring devices. By mounting the measuring devices 7 on Ausfahrgleisen an establishment or maintenance hall, each train or each rail vehicle 1 is inevitably measured, so that an accidental omission of the update of the wheel parameters can be excluded. Furthermore, the measurement of the wheel parameters takes place concurrently to the exit and is thus time optimal.

In one possible embodiment, the measurement is carried out with several measuring devices 7 at different locations, for example on the left and right side of the track 3 or also behind one another. As a result, measurement errors due to deviations can be detected and safety can be increased. Furthermore, for example, a 2-out-of-3 system can be provided, thus increasing the availability of the overall device.

In one possible embodiment, a large number of measuring points or measured values can be detected by a quasi-continuous measurement at minimum time intervals per wheel. On the one hand, a large amount of measured values makes it possible to filter out erroneous individual measurements and in this way increases the safety against incorrect measurements. At the same time, by determining the measured values, i. the good values, a scattering in the measured values are compensated, whereby an increase in the measurement accuracy can be achieved.

By using a stationary wireless transmission from the transmitting device 9 to the receiving device 10, a correct assignment of the data to the rail vehicle 1 is ensured. By a temporal restriction of the held telegram or the transmitted message, a further robustness to exceptional situations can be achieved. In one possible embodiment, the lead time is derived from the measured pulling speed of the rail vehicle 1. The lead time may typically be in the range of a few seconds. Furthermore Track movement information from an interlocking or train signals can also be used.

By enriching the transmitted message with further information derivable from the measurements, further plausibility of the data in the rail vehicle 1 is possible. Thus, for example, the speed at the passing of the measuring device 7 as well as the observed or derived axle spacing between two wheel axles can be transmitted and compared with the data present in the rail vehicle 1 in a memory, in particular configuration data. Alternatively, for example, a speed measurement can be done with radar. The measurement of the wheel parameters is preferably carried out without contact.

The measuring devices 7 are preferably mounted inside a maintenance hangar, to be used e.g. to protect against the weather. Thus, complex weather protection measures can be omitted. When mounting the measuring device 7 is also to be considered that in particular in ballast rail beds, the rails and sleepers can yield under the weight of the rail vehicle 1. Therefore, the measuring device 7 is preferably connected to the rail 3 sufficiently directly, i. there is a mounting on the rail 3 or in a solid concrete track bed, such as usual in a maintenance hall.

Fig. 2 shows a simple flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for providing Radparametern a rail vehicle 1 for a train computer 2 of the rail vehicle. 1

In a first step S1, the wheels of the rail vehicle 1 rolling on train rails 3 for determining wheel parameters of the wheels of rail vehicle 1 are measured, the wheel parameters are assigned to the wheels of the rail vehicle and coded in a data record. Subsequently, in a further step S2, the data record is transmitted to a transmitting device 9, which transmits the data record to a receiving device 10 of the Rail vehicle 1 sends, which forwards the record to a train computer 2 of the rail vehicle 1.

The rail vehicle 1 may be any rail vehicle, in particular a locomotive or a wagon of a passenger train. Furthermore, the rail vehicle 1 may be the wagon of a freight train.

The wheel parameters are different parameters of a train wheel, in particular a wheel diameter or a wheel radius. Furthermore, the wheel thickness or wheel contour can be detected. Other possible detectable wheel parameters are material properties of the wheel. If the updated wheel parameters deviate significantly from the previous wheel parameters or from predetermined setpoint parameters, a safety action takes place, for example a stop of the rail vehicle 1. In this case, a renewed check of the wheels can be carried out. The determined wheel parameters are transmitted in a possible embodiment not only to the train control computer 2A of the rail vehicle 1, but also via a network to a database. This also allows a statistical evaluation of the determined wheel parameters. Furthermore, the determined wheel parameters can be electronically logged in this way.

Claims (14)

1. Device for making available wheel parameters of a rail vehicle (1) for a train computer (2) of the rail vehicle (1) having at least one measuring device (7) which measures the wheels of the rail vehicle (1), rolling on train tracks (3), in order to determine the wheel parameters of the rail vehicle (1), and transmits the determined wheel parameters to a transmitting device (9) which sends the wheel parameters to a receiving device (10) of the rail vehicle (1) which passes on the received wheel parameters to the train computer (2) of the rail vehicle (1),
   wherein the measuring device (7) is connected to a processing computer (8) which assigns the wheel parameters measured by the measuring device (7) to the wheels (4) of the rail vehicle (1) and encodes them into a data record which is sent as a message in a wireless fashion by the transmitting device (9) to the receiving device (10) of the rail vehicle (1).
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   wherein the measuring device (7) measures the wheel parameters in a contactless fashion during travel of the rail vehicle (1) at a low speed.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2,
   wherein the train computer (2) has a train protection computer (2A) which stores the wheel parameters and makes them available to a train control computer (2B) of the rail vehicle (1) while the rail vehicle (1) is operating.
4. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3,
   wherein the transmitting device (9) has a transponder which is provided in a track bed of the rail (3) or a transmitting antenna which is laid in the longitudinal direction of the track bed.
5. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4,
   wherein the determined wheel parameters have wheel diameters of the wheels (4) of the rail vehicle (1).
6. Device according to Claim 5,
   wherein the transmitted data record has
   a number of the measured axles of the rail vehicle (1),
   the measured wheel parameters of the wheel axles of the rail vehicle (1),
   a velocity (V) of the rail vehicle (1) during the measurement, and
   a time of measurement.
7. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 6,
   wherein the transmitting device (9) is arranged starting from the measuring device (7) in the direction of travel of the rolling rail vehicle (1).
8. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 7,
   wherein the receiving device (10) is arranged at the front end of the rail vehicle (1).
9. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8,
   wherein the train control computer (2B) calculates, on the basis of the wheel diameters made available by the train protection computer (2A) and as a function of measuring pulses which are generated by pulse generators (5) at each revolution of a wheel (4) of the rail vehicle (1), a distance which is covered by the rail vehicle (1) within a time interval and/or a velocity of the rail vehicle (1).
10. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 9,
    wherein the wheel parameters which are stored in the train protection computer (2A) are placed in an undefined storage state when the wheels (4) of the rail vehicle (1) are replaced.
11. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 10,
    wherein the wheel parameters which are stored in the train protection computer (2A) are placed in a defined storage state after the wheel parameters have been determined.
12. Device according to Claims 10 and 11,
    wherein the train protection computer (2A) blocks a predefined maximum speed being exceeded by the rail vehicle (1) as long as the wheel parameters are in an undefined storage state.
13. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 12,
    wherein, when a difference between the previously stored wheel parameters and the determined wheel parameters is exceeded, a safety reaction is triggered.
14. Method for making available wheel parameters of a rail vehicle (1) for a train computer (2) of the rail vehicle (1) comprising the following steps:

    - measuring wheels (4) of the rail vehicle (1), rolling on train tracks (3), in order to determine wheel parameters of the rail vehicle (1) using at least one measuring device (7);

    - assigning the measured wheel parameters to the wheels (4) of the rail vehicle (1) using a processing computer (8) which is connected to the at least one measuring device (7);

    - encoding the assigned wheel parameters into a data record using a processing computer (8) which is connected to the at least one measuring device (7);

    - sending the data record as a message which is transmitted in a wireless fashion to the receiving device (10) of the rail vehicle (1);

    and

    - passing on the wheel parameters of the received data record to the train computer (2) of the rail vehicle (1).

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