Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L27/00—Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
  • B61L27/20—Trackside control of safe travel of vehicle or train, e.g. braking curve calculation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L21/00—Station blocking between signal boxes in one yard
  • B61L21/10—Arrangements for trains which are closely following one another
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L23/00—Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
  • B61L23/08—Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for controlling traffic in one direction only
  • B61L23/14—Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for controlling traffic in one direction only automatically operated
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L27/00—Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
  • B61L27/40—Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L1/00—Devices along the route controlled by interaction with the vehicle or train
  • B61L1/16—Devices for counting axles; Devices for counting vehicles

Definitions

• the invention relates to a rail vehicle system with a track section, a rail vehicle, and a control device within which ghost train detection is carried out.
• the invention also relates to a method for operating a rail vehicle system.
• the invention also relates to a specific use of ghost train detection.
• the invention can thus relate to the technical field of rail vehicles, in particular with regard to ghost train detection.
• a rail vehicle system which in particular includes tracks and rail vehicles
• a rail vehicle system has a (central) control device (e.g. signal box, control center, etc.) which knows the positions of the rail vehicles on the tracks. These positions can be continuously verified using sensors along the tracks, in particular axle counters and beacons.
• a hidden train or ghost train is located directly in front of or directly behind the rail vehicle.
• ghost train detection can be carried out as follows: for ghost train detection forward ("sieving in front"), a localized rail vehicle (whose position is known) drives towards the boundary of a track section reported as "free” (e.g. by means of an axle counter). As soon as the train front is closer than the length of the shortest vehicle (possible in the system) (minus the overhang on one side), the ghost train detection process can begin. If no occupancy has been detected in the subsequent track section (e.g. by means of the axle counter) within the longest possible reaction time (e.g. via the track vacancy detection system, signal box and train protection system), and the train front has not yet passed the boundary of the track section, the ghost train detection is successful. This excludes the possibility of a vehicle whose position is not recorded, is located on the track section in front of the rail vehicle.
• An analogous process can be used conventionally for ghost train detection ("sieving at rear") to exclude the possibility of a vehicle with an unknown position being behind the rail vehicle.
• the rail vehicle passes the boundary of the track section and moves away from the boundary. If the first track section is reported as "free", the end of the rail vehicle must be closer to the boundary than the vehicle length relevant for ghost train detection. If this is the case, it is excluded that a vehicle whose position is not recorded is behind the rail vehicle and ghost train detection is then successful.
• a (method of) using a ghost train detection in a high-speed mode is described when a short vehicle with an undetectable position with respect to a track section satisfies a (specific) deployment criterion, in order to thereby increase the travel speed of a rail vehicle at (during) the ghost train detection.
• the term "ghost train” can be understood to mean a rail vehicle whose existence on the track system (in the system) is not known on the track side, for example on the control center or signal box side, and which is therefore also unknown to the rail vehicles traveling in the rail vehicle system.
• the term “ghost train detection” can refer to an established method with which a rail vehicle (in particular by means of a control device) can be used to determine, essentially automatically, whether a ghost train is on the track section to be traveled in the forward/backward direction.
• a rail vehicle in particular by means of a control device
• the rail vehicle drives slowly towards the track section so that a potential ghost train would be "pushed" over the next axle counter and would thus be detected. If the rail vehicle is traveling too fast, it will itself be detected by the axle counter and the ghost train may not. Due to the relatively long processing time for detection (at least several seconds), a particularly slow driving speed of the rail vehicle is forced for short vehicles during ghost train detection.
• control device can refer in particular to a device which is set up to carry out a ghost train detection as described above.
• the control device can be implemented by means of a computer or one or more processors. While the control device is designed as a control unit in one example, the control device in another example can have two or more units which are also spatially separated from one another. In a In one example, the control device is part of the rail vehicle, while in another example the control device is operated at least partially outside the rail vehicle, e.g. as part of the track monitoring. Preferably, the control device is set up to carry out the ghost train detection in at least two modes, namely a normal mode and a high-speed mode.
• control device can be set up to switch between these modes.
• the switch can be based on an application criterion.
• the application criterion can be evaluated (automatically or manually by an operator) and the appropriate mode for the ghost train detection can be selected based on the evaluation.
• the term "state” can be understood in particular as a status of the track section that is monitored by the monitoring device.
• the state can be defined as “free” if the monitoring device does not detect a (rail) vehicle driving into the track section.
• the monitoring device can be an axle counter that identifies an incoming rail vehicle based on the number of axles passing by.
• the state can be defined as "occupied” if the monitoring device detects a (rail) vehicle driving into the track section.
• other states can be possible, e.g. "disturbed”.
• short vehicle can be understood to mean a (rail) vehicle whose position (location) within the rail vehicle system or track sections is not recorded. While a rail vehicle control system usually determines the position of the If the position of a short vehicle is unknown (e.g. using axle counters, beacons, etc.), the position of a short vehicle may be unknown. Accordingly, this vehicle may be located as a ghost train in a section of track.
• the term "short” can be seen relatively in this context.
• a short vehicle may have a length that is at most half (in particular at most a quarter) of the length of a normal rail vehicle in the system.
• the short vehicle may be a maintenance vehicle.
• the short vehicle may only have one unit (e.g. only one wagon). If the short vehicle is not designed as a train, it can be viewed as a unit in itself.
• deployment criterion can be understood to mean a criterion that is indicative of the use of a short vehicle (see above) in the rail vehicle system.
• the use of one or more short vehicles can be regulated in a certain way. For example, certain times can be specified at which the short vehicle may/can be in use. Additionally or alternatively, certain (local) areas can be specified in which the short vehicle may/can be in use.
• the deployment criterion can be determined based on these deployment regulations. For example, the deployment criterion can be met if it is certain or at least highly likely that no short vehicle is in use (in the relevant track section).
• the deployment criterion can not be met, for example, if it is certain or at least probable that a short vehicle is in use.
• the deployment criterion can be supplemented by measurements. For example, a depot for short vehicles could use sensors to detect whether a short vehicle has left the depot or returned again.
• the invention can be based in particular on the idea that ghost train detection in a rail vehicle system can be carried out efficiently and reliably when switching to a special high-speed mode which allows ghost train detection at increased speed, the condition for the high-speed mode being that an operating criterion with regard to short, undetected vehicles is met.
• control device is further configured to, if the deployment criterion is not met, carry out the ghost train detection in a Normal mode at normal speed.
• This can have the advantage of being able to switch flexibly between at least two modes. If the deployment criterion is not met, this must take into account the fact that short vehicles are being used on the relevant track section. Accordingly, it can be useful in this case to use the slow and safe normal mode. Switching between the modes based on the deployment criterion can enable particularly dynamic and efficient operation.
• the criterion for using the short vehicle has a predetermined time and/or a predetermined time period. This can have the advantage that the use of the short vehicle is limited in time in a defined manner, and outside of this time period, efficient and safe ghost train detection in high-speed mode is possible.
• the predetermined time has night-time operation. This can have the advantage that smooth, fast operation is possible during the day (especially at peak times), when there are a particularly large number of rail vehicles on the move. If there is a little "less going on” at night, ghost train detection can then be carried out at a slower speed in normal mode.
• the criterion for the use of the short vehicle has a predetermined local area. This can have the advantage that the use of the short vehicle is spatially limited in a defined manner, and outside this area an efficient and safe ghost train detection is possible in high-speed mode.
• the predetermined local area has a depot operation.
• This can have the advantage that smooth, fast operation is possible in the passenger transport area or the main line (particularly at peak times), when a particularly large number of rail vehicles are on the move.
• ghost train detection can then be carried out at a slower speed in normal mode.
• the length of the short vehicle is half or less, in particular a quarter or less, more particularly an eighth or less, more particularly a sixteenth or less, shorter than the length of the rail vehicle (in particular the length of the shortest passenger train in the rail vehicle system).
• a short vehicle would lead to a particularly slow driving speed when detecting ghost trains (see above). It can therefore be advantageous not to have to take such vehicles into account when detecting ghost trains.
• the rail vehicle system comprises: a plurality of rail vehicles.
• the length of the short vehicle is half or less, in particular a quarter or less, further in particular an eighth or less, further in particular a sixteenth or less, shorter than an average of the lengths of the plurality of rail vehicles in the rail vehicle system.
• the short vehicle has exactly one vehicle unit, in particular exactly one wagon.
• vehicle unit in this context can refer to a wagon of a rail vehicle, but also, if the vehicle is not constructed from wagons, the vehicle itself. This can be the case, for example, with certain maintenance vehicles.
• the short vehicle is a maintenance vehicle.
• Such vehicles can be used frequently in rail vehicle systems, although they are often not detected by the system monitoring system. Accordingly, a service vehicle can be left standing or forgotten on the track after a deployment, thus representing a ghost train. Even routine deployments can lead to a risk to safety in the rail vehicle system.
• This can make ghost train detection indispensable, although the shortness of the maintenance vehicles can force an extremely slow travel speed when detecting ghost trains. As described above, however, this can be overcome by a high-speed mode that is linked to a deployment criterion relating to the maintenance vehicles.
• the method further comprises: switching between the high-speed mode and a normal mode at reduced speed, in particular if the deployment criterion is not met (see description above).
• the method further comprises: performing a moving-block mode after the ghost train detection was carried out.
• This can have the advantage that the described procedure can be efficiently implemented in modern rail vehicle systems. In this mode, the trains determine the location of their tail end themselves and send it quasi-continuously to the following train. This automatic procedure can therefore particularly benefit from fast and reliable ghost train detection.
• the method further comprises: carrying out the fast mode during the day and/or outside a depot area, and/or carrying out the normal mode at night and/or within a depot area.
• the balance between fast ghost train detection and efficient maintenance can be optimized in such particularly flexible, adaptable modes.
• short vehicles are only used in certain areas (operational criterion). If the short vehicles only operate in a limited area (e.g. only in the depot), then it is possible to set the vehicle length used for ghost train detection (so-called “sieving train length") to the small value only in this area. In other areas, the vehicle length is selected based on the (longer) trains operating there. This increases the speed for ghost train detection in these areas. This would mean, for example, that "sieving" can only be done at a very low speed in the depot, but on the main line (or the passenger transport area) a higher driving speed is possible for ghost train detection.
• a default sieving train length is defined which all vehicles taken into account.
• a further (long) vehicle length (“sieving train length") is defined, which takes into account all vehicles that run in a certain area (eg main line).
• a further area eg depot
• a further (shorter) vehicle length can be defined.
• short vehicles are only used at certain times (operation criterion). If the short vehicles only run at certain times (e.g. only at night), the vehicle length for ghost train detection can only be set to the value caused by the short vehicles at times when the short vehicles are running. Outside of the times when the short vehicles are running, a longer vehicle length is used that is not influenced by the short vehicles. If the short vehicles only run at night, for example, then the lower speed for ghost train detection (in normal mode) only needs to be used at night when there is either no operation or only reduced operation.
• the vehicle length for ghost train detection in a system can depend on both the time and the location, and can also be switched manually (e.g. by the ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) operator).
• ATS Automatic Train Supervision

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (4)

• 2022
  • 2022-12-22 EP EP22215882.6A patent/EP4389559A1/fr active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-12-21 CN CN202311768881.7A patent/CN118238875A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

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