EP3326886B1 - Method and device for realising a long-life bulb replacement - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for implementing a replacement of an incandescent lamp by a more energy-saving light source for a light signal in rail-bound traffic, which is involved in an interlocking safety monitoring.

As before, light signals for the control of traffic flows, in particular for the control of rail-bound traffic, is of paramount importance, even if, for example, standards now exist in railway engineering which transmit train control exclusively by radio transmission into the cab of a locomotive or a control car Provide information (ETCS Level 2 and above).

Such light signals are currently still equipped to a large extent with conventional light bulbs. However, the limited life of such bulbs represents a very high risk to the safety of traffic, because non-luminous signal points can distort the actually signal to be displayed dangerous. For this reason, stand for the control of the function of the incandescent bulbs above all things such measures that can close from the usually absorbed by a light bulb lamp current to the proper function of the same.

Likewise, a significant (personal) risk typically also result from the process of lamp replacement, because here often in the dark, poor weather conditions and sometimes under considerable time pressure must be worked. Especially in mountainous areas, the accesses to the light signals are sometimes quite exposed, for example on viaducts or before and after tunnels. Due to the increasing automation of the control and interlocking technology are Nowadays, many stations are no longer occupied, resulting in the event of a disruption that the distances to repair the defect are longer and thereby both the control period resp. the delay minutes increase as well as the costs for the elimination of the disturbance increase.

In US 2004/0070519 A1 "Compact light emitting diode retrofit lamp and method for traffic signal lights" is a signal light disclosed in which incandescent bulbs are replaced by LED bulbs. In this case, Fresnel lenses are used for optical adjustment. The LED bulbs already contain their own energy supply.

Due to the significantly longer life of LED bulbs and due to the fact that the filament light bulbs will disappear completely from the market in the medium to long term, is therefore increasingly transferred to equipment / retrofit of new or existing signal systems to use LED bulbs. These LED bulbs often have a greater number of individual LEDs arranged in an array that are collectively lit to indicate a signal term. The failure of a single LED or a small number of individual LEDs can hardly fall due to the large number of points of light weight, which is why in addition to the incandescent lamps increased life of the LED and the system error rate is significantly lower.

However, the problem with retrofitting existing signals is that the new LED bulbs are not compatible with the incandescent bulbs and therefore usually incur high costs for the creation of new signals and at least partially scrap the existing signal structure. It should also be borne in mind that the connection from the interlocking, and to a large extent relay interrupters, affects the replacement of filament lamp by LED lamp due to the very different characteristics of filament lamp and LED lamp not tolerated problem free. Especially the relay interlockings are comparatively precisely matched to the characteristics of the previously used filament lamps to meet safety statements of quality SIL4 can. However, interventions in the control unit-side control hardware are very complex and costly, so that this boundary condition can become the co-criterion for replacing filament lamps with LED lamps.

• a) eine Anzahl von Leuchtmitteln, insbesondere LED-Leuchten, mit einer Leistungsversorgungsschnittstelle, wobei die Anzahl von Leuchtmitteln zur Erzielung einer der Glühlampe analogen Leuchtstärke weniger elektrische Leistung benötigt als die zu ersetzende Glühlampe;
• b) eine stellwerkseitige Schnittstelle zum Bezug von elektrischer Leistung aus dem Stellwerk;
• c) ein Interface-Modul, das zwischen die stellwerkseitige Schnittstelle und die Spannungsversorgungsschnittstelle geschaltet ist, wobei das Interface-Modul
• c1) eine Steuerlogik umfasst, welche eine signalbegriffs- und/oder tageszeitabhängige Kennlinie der zu ersetzenden Glühlampe kennt und die Leistungsabgabe an die Leistungsversorgungsschnittstelle in Abhängigkeit von dem gewählten Signalbegriff und/oder der Tageszeit steuert;
• c2) einen Spannungsmesser umfasst, der die an der stellwerkseitigen Schnittstelle anliegende Spannung misst und an die Steuerlogik übermittelt;
• c3) einen Leistungsaufnehmer umfasst, der von der Steuerlogik in Abhängigkeit von der gemessenen Spannung so gesteuert wird, dass die an der stellwerkseitigen Schnittstelle aufgenommene Leistung die Kennlinie der zu ersetzenden Glühlampe nachbildet und dabei die überschüssige Leistung an einem Lastwiderstand in Wärme umsetzt.

For this purpose, the international patent application WO 2012/076313 A1 a device for the realization of a replacement of an incandescent lamp by a more energy-saving light source for a light signal in rail-bound traffic, which is included in an interlocking safety monitoring ready. This device comprises the following components:

• a) a number of lighting means, in particular LED lights, with a power supply interface, wherein the number of lighting means for obtaining a luminous intensity analogous to the incandescent lamp requires less electrical power than the incandescent lamp to be replaced;
• b) an interface-side interface for the purchase of electrical power from the interlocking;
• c) an interface module, which is connected between the interface-side interface and the power supply interface, wherein the interface module
• c1) comprises a control logic which knows a signal concept and / or time of day dependent characteristic of the bulb to be replaced and controls the power output to the power supply interface in dependence on the selected signal term and / or the time of day;
• c2) comprises a voltmeter which measures the voltage applied to the inter-processor interface and transmits it to the control logic;
• c3) comprises a power sensor, which is controlled by the control logic in dependence on the measured voltage such that the power received at the inter-processor interface matches the characteristic of the one to be replaced Imitating incandescent lamp while converting the excess power at a load resistor into heat.

Not infrequently, this load resistor is housed directly in the housing of the light source (signal lantern) to ensure a compact design. However, this has the consequence that the components heat up inside the housing. This heat, which is usually emitted close to the bulb to the environment, affects the life of the bulb, the LED bulb, negative. This effect is further enhanced because even the lamp itself during normal operation converts a portion of the electrical energy into heat, which also has a negative effect on the life.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for realizing a replacement of a filament lamp by a more energy-saving bulbs for a light signal in rail traffic, which is included in an interlocking safety monitoring indicate, in which the available at the light signal Power surplus can be used as possible with advantage for the life of the lamp.

1. a) eine Anzahl von Leuchtmitteln, insbesondere LED-Leuchten, mit einer Leistungsversorgungsschnittstelle, wobei die Anzahl von Leuchtmitteln zur Erzielung einer der Glühlampe analogen Leuchtstärke weniger elektrische Leistung benötigt als die zu ersetzende Glühlampe;
2. b) eine stellwerkseitige Schnittstelle zum Bezug von elektrischer Leistung seitens des Stellwerks;
3. c) ein Interface-Modul, das zwischen die stellwerkseitige Schnittstelle und die Spannungsversorgungsschnittstelle geschaltet ist, wobei das Interface-Modul:
   • c1) eine Steuerlogik umfasst, welche eine signalbegriffs- und/oder tageszeitabhängige Kennlinie der zu ersetzenden Glühlampe kennt und die Leistungsabgabe an die Leistungsversorgungsschnittstelle in Abhängigkeit von dem gewählten Signalbegriff und/oder der Tageszeit steuert;
   • c2) einen Spannungsmesser umfasst, der die an der stellwerkseitigen Schnittstelle anliegende Spannung misst und an die Steuerlogik übermittelt;
   • c3) einen als Peltier-Element ausgestalteten Leistungsaufnehmer, der thermisch mit der Anzahl von Leuchtmitteln gekoppelt ist, umfasst, der von der Steuerlogik in Abhängigkeit von der gemessenen Spannung so gesteuert wird, dass die an der stellwerkseitigen Schnittstelle aufgenommene Leistung die Kennlinie der zu ersetzenden Glühlampe nachbildet.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device and a method according to the patent claims 1 and 4, respectively. In detail are provided:

1. a) a number of lighting means, in particular LED lights, with a power supply interface, wherein the number of lighting means for obtaining a luminous intensity analogous to the incandescent lamp requires less electrical power than the incandescent lamp to be replaced;
2. b) an interlocking interface for the purchase of electrical power from the interlocking;
3. c) an interface module, which is connected between the interface-side interface and the power supply interface, wherein the interface module:
   • c1) comprises a control logic which knows a signal concept and / or time of day dependent characteristic of the bulb to be replaced and controls the power output to the power supply interface in dependence on the selected signal term and / or the time of day;
   • c2) comprises a voltmeter which measures the voltage applied to the inter-processor interface and transmits it to the control logic;
   • c3) comprises a power pickup configured as a Peltier element which is thermally coupled to the number of bulbs, which is controlled by the control logic in dependence on the measured voltage such that the power consumed at the inter-cell interface matches the characteristic curve of the bulb to be replaced replicates.

In this way, it is possible with the device and the method to insert an LED bulb as a replacement for a filament lamp so in the light signal that in the interlocking it is taken no notice. The voltage measurement helps to equalize the power consumption of the entire device with the switched LED bulbs of the power consumption of the conventional filament lamp. Since the control logic has precise knowledge of the various situation-specific characteristics of the filament lamp to be replaced, it is possible to be able to understand the characteristic at the interlocking interface with sufficiently small time constants to a supposed error response in the interlocking, in particular in a very sensitive to currents relay relay, safe to exclude. Thanks to the Peltier element, the power surplus can be used to extract heat in the Peltier element itself by the power consumption of the environment on the one hand, so in particular the LED bulb at least partially to remove the heat loss, and this sufficient on the other side thermally removed from the LED bulbs as heat to the surroundings, for example the metallic housing of the light signal. Thus, on the side of the LED illuminant, a life-enhancing effect of the cooling effect cooling effect can be achieved, which is achieved only by the available surplus power.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the number of light sources and the power sensor can be arranged in a common housing, so that a compact design is possible. The usually metallic outer wall of the housing can be used concretely for heat dissipation of the Peltier element, while the cooling side is thermally associated with the lamps.

In addition, it can be provided that the Peltier element is designed so that cooled or heated air can be guided into the housing via controllable air ducts. Thus, it is possible to condition the housing of the light signal in some way, if the particular with regard to setting optimum operating conditions for the lamps should be advantageous. In this case, small fans can be arranged in the air ducts, which can be operated controllable. If the temperature in the housing is too high, the cooling channel can be activated and, if the temperature is too low, the hot air duct.

• Figur 1 in schematischer Darstellung eine Serienschaltung eines Interface-Moduls für die Ansteuerung eines LED-Leuchtmittels aus herkömmlichen Relaisstellwerken gemäss der WO 2012/076313 A1 ; und
• Figur 2 in schematischer Darstellung das Prinzip der Messkette mit Rückführung, nach welchem das Interface-Modul arbeitet und ein Peltier-Element ansteuert.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention would be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, for example. Showing:

• FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a series connection of an interface module for controlling an LED bulb from conventional relay interlocking according to the WO 2012/076313 A1 ; and
• FIG. 2 in a schematic representation the principle of Measuring chain with feedback, after which the interface module operates and controls a Peltier element.

The basic functionality of an LED signaling device is the optical signaling for the railway driver. The requirements of the approval must be interpreted correctly and the valid applicable standards and, if applicable, specifications of the operator for light intensity, emission characteristics, color location of the emitted light and other parameters and properties to be met.

In order to produce compatibility with an incandescent lamp, the electrical parameters and, in some cases, the mechanical parameters of the actual illuminant must match. For the realization of an interface module IM from a 40V / 20W incandescent lamp to currently a 12V / 10W LED, it is crucial to know the function for adjusting the lamp currents as well as the voltage curve u = f (t) of the filament lamp. The tolerances from the side of a (relay) interlocking as well as the environmental influences play an important role.

• Elektrische Schnittstelle 8 zum Stellwerk 4 (40V AC Schnittstelle oder AC gleichgerichtet)
• Elektrische Schnittstelle zum LED-Lichtpunkt 10 (12V/10W Schnittstelle)
• Mechanische Schnittstelle (Montage Ort, Montageart etc.)
• Diagnose bzw. Projektierungsschnittstelle.

This in FIG. 1 interface module IM shown has at least three interfaces to the overall system interlocking 4 and signal lamps 12 (here LED bulbs):

• Electrical interface 8 to the interlocking 4 (40V AC interface or rectified AC)
• Electrical interface to the LED light point 10 (12V / 10W interface)
• Mechanical interface (installation location, mounting method, etc.)
• Diagnostics or configuration interface.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a series connection of an essential to the invention interface module IM for controlling an LED bulb 12 from conventional relay interlocks 4. The interface module IM is advantageously located directly on the LED bulbs 12 and is interposed in a track cable 14 from the interlocking 4 to the LED bulb 12.

• Spannungs- und Leistungsmessung für alle möglichen Kurvenformen
• in Abhängigkeit der Spannungsmessung muss durch eine funktionale Verknüpfung im Interface-Modul IM eine ohmsche Last (variabel) dazugeschaltet werden

The required replica of the UI characteristic of the previously used 40V incandescent lamp is a must, because before the characteristic can be reproduced by the interface module IM, the voltage must be able to be detected as a real effective value (such as filament lamp). The challenges for the characteristic simulation are:

• Voltage and power measurement for all possible waveforms
• Depending on the voltage measurement, a resistive load (variable) must be added via a functional link in the interface module IM

The reproduction of the dynamic characteristic is an important necessary component of the substitution of LED electronics in the relay interlockings 4. It is particularly significant that the inrush current (starting current increase of the cold lamp) for the proper functioning (tightening the serially operated in the lamp current path relay with switching of the contacts) (train protection relay ZU or ZK relay) is required.

The replica of the so-called "dynamic characteristic curve" is a very demanding task, because it has to be monitored relatively accurately due to the safety-related short response times of the control unit's monitoring.

The current balance (power balance) achieved with the interface module IM also allows a series connection of several interface modules. The accuracy to be achieved is less than ± 3-5% due to the series voltage. When the interface module IM is switched on for the first time, an identical large current of a light bulb is generated. This guarantees for example in the case of Domino signal boxes from Siemens Schweiz AG that all series-connected relay coils tighten correctly.

The power balancer used in the interface module IM can be simplified as a control element. In detail, the interface module IM has an EMC protection 22 and a control logic 24, to which a module for internal voltage conditioning 28, a TRMS voltage measurement 30, an inrush current 32, a module 34 for monitoring operation and energy balancers 36 are coupled. A PWM power driver 21 receives its control data from the control logic 24 and an automatic shutdown 26. Further, a service and configuration interface 18 and a current interface 38 and a luminous flux monitoring 40 for the LED lamp 12 are provided.

The voltage of the interface module IM can be represented as a current source with fixed parallel resistors and a variable resistor (power balance with PWM). The power loss of the fixed loads (electronics ie FPGA or CPU, power consumption of the LED, etc) are simulated by resistors. The power balancer varies in the equivalent circuit, the power loss by a change in resistance. $$P\left(I\right)=\mathit{const}=I^2*R=I^2*\frac{1}{\frac{1}{\mathit{Ploss}}+\frac{1}{R\_\mathit{electronics}}+\frac{1}{R\_\mathit{LED}}}$$

The formula above gives the power consumption / power balance. In order to be able to configure the power consumption for the LED type of construction used, a service or configuration interface is provided. This interface makes it possible to operate LED's with the appropriate type of power source (eg 1000mA, 500mA, 350mA etc.). When high-efficiency LEDs are activated, the resulting larger unused lead from the power balance becomes recognized and used at a corresponding Peltier element 20 for generating associated with the LED bulb 12 cooling power. FIG. 2 shows such a schematic arrangement of the Peltier element 20 in a light signal housing 42. The realization of the power consumption by the Peltier element 20 is mainly determined by the speed of the required change. In order to keep oscillation tendencies in the lighting system as small as possible, the power consumption of the Peltier element 20 is realized with PWM and a change interval of about 10 to 50 ms. In the graphic representation of FIG. 2 the Peltier element 20 is arranged in the light signal housing 42, wherein a cooling side 20a of the Peltier element 20 is arranged in the refrigerated coupled to the LED light source 12, while a heat side 20b is arranged thermally coupled to the outside of the light signal housing 42.

The power measurement of the interface module IM is highly dependent on the accuracy of the input voltage measurement. If the input voltage can be measured with sufficient accuracy, the interface module IM switches the load control function reliably using PWM or similar methods.

The failure behavior of the interface module IM simulates the behavior of the incandescent lamp as well and reliably as possible. The switch-on behavior also reliably bridges the failure simulation. The inertia is achieved with good repeatability. The failure behavior can be simulated on the one hand by a reactivatable fuse or by a targeted load shedding.

On the cooling side of the Peltier element 20a is cooled directly in close proximity to the LED bulb. The heat dissipation is not easy to realize and will, according to the experience of many years of hardware projects mostly underestimated. In order to achieve a sufficiently good convection, as large an area as possible is used. A viable solution here is the use of the existing metal housing 42 of the signal lamp to distribute the heat.

The achievement of cooling power for the LED bulbs 12 is shown here by means of a Peltier element 20. In principle, however, it would also be possible to use other coolants, such as an absorber circuit, a compressor circuit, or similar coolants, as are known, for example, for refrigerators, for cooling the illuminant.

Claims (6)

1. Device for realising a replacement of a bulb by means of an energy-saving illuminant (12) for a light signal in a rail bound traffic, included in an interlocking-wise security monitoring, comprising:

   a) a number of illuminants (12), particularly LED lamps with a power supply interface (10), with the number of illuminants (12) requiring less electrical power than the bulb to be replaced (2) for generating a luminous emittance analogous to the bulb;

   b) an interlocking-wise interface (8) to receive electrical power on the side of the interlocking system (4);

   c) an interface module (IM) connected between the interlocking-wise interface (8) and the power supply interface (10), with the interface module (IM):

   c1) comprising a control logic (24) knowing a signal aspect and/or a characteristic line depending on the time of the day of the bulb to be replaced and that controls the power output to the power supply interface (10) depending on the chosen signal aspect and/or the time of the day;

   c2) comprising a voltmeter (30), measuring the voltage adjacent to the interlocking-wise interface (8) and transferring it to the control logic (24);

   c3) comprising a power consumption device (20) shaped as a Peltier element that is thermally coupled to the number of illuminants and is controlled by the control logic dependent on the measured voltage in a way that the voltage absorbed at the interlocking-wise interface (8) reproduces the characteristic curve of the bulb to be replaced.
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the number of illuminants (12) and the power consumption device (20) are arranged in a common enclosure.
3. Device according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the Peltier element is shaped in a way that air chilled or heated by means of controllable air channels is insertable into the enclosure.
4. Method for realising a replacement of a bulb by means of an energy-saving illuminant (12) for a light signal in a rail bound traffic, included in an interlocking-wise security monitoring, comprising:

   a) providing a number of illuminants (12), particularly LED lamps with a power supply interface (10), with the number of illuminants (12) requiring less electrical power than the bulb to be replaced (2) for generating a luminous emittance analogous to the bulb;

   b) installing an interlocking-wise interface (8) to receive electrical power on the side of the interlocking system (4) ;

   c) providing an interface module (IM) connected between the interlocking-wise interface (8) and the power supply interface (10), with the interface module (IM):

   c1) comprising a control logic (24) knowing a signal aspect and/or a characteristic line depending on the time of the day of the bulb to be replaced and that controls the power output to the power supply interface (10) depending on the chosen signal aspect and/or the time of the day;

   c2) comprising a voltmeter (30), measuring the voltage adjacent to the interlocking-wise interface (8) and transferring it to the control logic (24);

   c3) comprising a power consumption device (20) shaped as a Peltier element that is thermally coupled to the number of illuminants and is controlled by the control logic dependent on the measured voltage in a way that the voltage absorbed at the interlocking-wise interface (8) reproduces the characteristic curve of the bulb to be replaced.
5. Method according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the number of illuminants (12) and the power consumption device (20) are arranged in a common enclosure.
6. Device according to claim 5,
   characterized in that
   the Peltier element is shaped in a way that air chilled or heated by means of controllable air channels is insertable into the enclosure.

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