GB2403053A

GB2403053A - Closed track warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2403053A
Application number: GB0314241A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Winder
Original assignee: DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP UK Ltd
Current assignee: DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-18
Filing date: 2003-06-18
Publication date: 2004-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-18
Also published as: GB2403053B; GB0314241D0

Abstract

A railway track section protection and warning device (as shown in drawing RPE/Sheet 1) is mounted each end of the section of railway line being protected. The protection and warning devices are remotely controlled via a transmitter/receiver arrangement (or other suitable or practicable mode of communication that can be operated within the railway environs) to switch the protection and warning devices on and off Signals are also continuously passed back to the remote control unit so that the safe protection of work site (s) can be continuously monitored. A power source supplies power to the protection and warning devices. The protection and warning device automatically gives a signal to any train passing the location of the equipment suitable to automatically stop any such train that passes when the equipment is switched on.

Description

Title: Remotely controlled device/equipment for the marking of railway

line sections temporarily taken out of use for the purposes of carrying out engineering work or other activity Subject: A solution for the provision of a remotely controlled device that can be used to mark the limits of control of railway line or lines when there is a need to prevent trains running on the line or lines to enable engineers or other workers to undertake tasks in a safe environment. The introduction of such a device will considerably increase the amount of productive time that railway engineer's or other

Introduction:

This paper sets out the principles of how remotely operated temporarily placed or permanently fixed devices/equipment can be used. This solution brings about a safety enhancement to the physical activity of setting down indications at each end of railway line or lines that require to prevent the inadvertent passage of a train into the area of work or other activity on or about the railway line.

Background:

Railways are usually worked upon to maintain, enhance, examine, etc at times when it is not required to be used to operate train services. This time available in heavily used freight and urban rail routes is often constrained to a small number of hours, making the effective time for asset maintenance and replacement very limited. The economic cost of plant, materials and manpower does require the time when the line or lines are taken out of use to be maximised physical work and not eroded at the commencement and termination of the period when the railway is closed for work to be undertaken.

Until such time that all railways decide to undertake protection of work areas using the normal signals on the line, a far more effective means of protecting the personnel who have to work on the lines should be found.

Safety risks do exist with the activity of placing equipment to mark the limits of line or lines closures.

These risks include placing the protection equipment on the wrong line (usually during the hours of darkness) and the risks of injury of personnel undertaking this activity through slipping, tripping or falling in particular.

Brief description of functionality and essential technical features (And associated drawings RPE/sheet 1 and RPE/sheet 2 The design needs to incorporate the following À Lamps on the device(s)/equipment,g ' that when switched off do not, reflect from the headlight beam of passing trains to the extent that they: give an impression to a train driver that they are switched on.

À Robust device(s)/equipment pugs i, 2 3) that can withstand adequate physical impact and have fixing arrangements that withstand the rigours of a normal operational railway (vibration, wind movement, etc).

À The device(s)/equipment Begs i, 2 3) must be designed to allow the installation to be retained in position on the railway line whilst normal traffic passes and not to interfere with normal operation of other electrical circuits or equipment associated with railway operation such as "Track Circuit Block Signalling" systems. ; À The functionality of the device(s)/equipment dogs l, 2 3) must comply with all relevant Standards that appertain to the activity of protecting the; railway line or lines when it is necessary to prevent train movements on that line or lines to undertake engineering work or other activity.

À Continuous remote monitoring (via a suitable communication method that ' meets the requirements of any standard appertaining to such i device/equipment).

À The protection device(s)/equipment (Figs I, 2 &: 3) will be designed to incorporate use on more than one line at the same time should it be necessary to protect multiple lines, each line having an incorporated unique identity and be able to be switched on and off line by line where necessary.

À Design must be, as far as practicable, be able to withstand being tampered with.

À Device(s)/equipment Wigs l, 2 3) must be able to be installed on different designs of track and railway line layouts.

À The design should include a facility to allow it to be switched off remotely for the purpose of permitting railway machinery and trains specifically required for engineering work that are required and planned to enter and/or exit the area designated for the purpose of carrying out Engineering work or other activity.

À The units/equipment F'gs a) must be limited to a weight suitable for manual handling into and out of position.

À The protection and warning device also provide visual and audible warning to any train driver approaching or passing on the same line as the location of the equipment.

À The device(s)/equipment will include a method of preventing operation by an unauthorised person other than the designated user.

À Connecting cable arrangements to connect between parts of the device(s) /equipment (Figs I, 3) shall be suitable for passing through/across tracks without being affected/damaged by passing trains and be able to be connected and disconnected to/from the device(s)/equipment with ease.

À The equipment should be designed to enable it to operate for a duration of time that meets normal and routine periods of railway line closure for the purpose of undertaking engineering or other work or other activity.

À The equipment should be designed to maximise reliability as a prime requisite (for all lamp arrangements and all power supplies) À Any requirement for the device(s)/equipment (Fig 2) to contain audible warning equipment must comply with any standard appertaining to that functionality.

À It is also desirable that the device(s)/equipment (Figs) include the capability of being able to transmit a stop signal to any train passing any limit of line closure without permission. The movement of a train in this manner will be stopped by incorporating equipment capable of detecting movement.

Note: Items shown as Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 could also be manufactured into a smaller number of individual components/units if practicable by combining them into one of the following combinations: À Fig 1, Fig 2 and Fig 3 combined À Fig 1 and Fig 2 combined À Fig I and Fig 3 combined À Fig 2 and Fig 3 combined

Claims

The Claims This design arrangement is unique. This is because: Remotely

controlled The operation of the protection and warning devices include a remote operation facility Fig ' to switch the devices on and off automatically and thus permit the control of the section of railway line to be taken from another location. This remote control arrangement will also allow any temporary switching offer on of the equipment as required. The remote control of the devices is made secure by unique electronic identification with permanent protecting communication arrangement to alert the operator to any malfunction.

À Permanently or temporarily left in place (with the normal operation of the railway! The position of the devices that make up the assembly as stated in the above claim are designed so as to allow the passage of trains in normal operation and do not require the equipment to be removed when more than one work period will be required.

À Track to train automatic train stop activation The Protection and warning device is designed, as stated in the above claim, to include the arrangement that allows for an automatic stop signal to any train that may pass over the protection and warning device (Fig.2) in order to prevent loss of damage to property, life or limb.

i INVESTOR) r''ffty.lV S Application No: GB 0314241.1 Examiner: Tony Davies Claims searched: - Date of search: 12 May 2004 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X US 6323785 ( NICKELL ET AL) See whole document especially the optical and audible display unit shown in figure 3.

X GB 367005 ( HAHN) See whole document especially the figure.

X JP 2001039304 A ( KAMUSA) See abstract and figures.

X US 5907294 ( WELTE ET AL) See whole document especially the mechanical sensors shown in figures 2-6 and the optical and audible alarms identified in figure 1.

X US 3167282 ( HURSH ET AL) See whole document especially figure 1.

X JP 2002053042 A ( HIGASHI) See abstract and figures.

X GB 322197 ( NEALE) See whole document especially the automatic train braking system found in page 3, lines 5-7.

Cate vies g X Document indicating lack of novelly or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art Y Document indicating lack of inventive step If combined P Documentpubhshed on oratterthe declared priontydate but before the with one or more other documents of same category fthng date of this invention & Member of the same patent family E Patent document pubhshcd on or aRer, but with priority date carher than, the Thug date of this apphcation

Field of Search:

Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified m the following areas of the UKCW: l | G4Q l Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC7: l I B61L The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of tints search report: An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry