GB2485189A - Device for controlling traffic crossing a rail junction - Google Patents

Abstract

A solid state device for controlling traffic crossing a rail junction in accordance with predetermined traffic schedules having means 6 to enable a specific schedule to be selected from a variety of available schedules. The means 6 are further adapted to allow remote maintenance, programming, re-programming, monitoring and or repair of the traffic schedules. The device is fully compatible with existing external circuitry or support systems 1 and enables new schedules to be uploaded by connecting an electronic data storage means. In addition, the device allows traffic schedules to be remotely changed, altered or varied to increase flexibility. In the specific embodiment the device generates output signals that imitate an existing photocell and contact bar arrangement. The device may be a solid state device. The schedules or time tables may be uploaded by electronic means which may include a detachable or portable memory device or an associated network.

Description

Device for controlling traffic crossing a rail junction The present invention relates to a device for controlling traffic crossing a junction, and particularly, but not exclusively, a rail junction.

Rail junction control is essential to rail networks as junction capacity limits network capacity. Thus, methods and devices to efficiently control traffic crossing junctions have been developed. These include improvement to signalling methods, use of different types of junction and automatisation of junction control according to standardised schedules or timetables.

GB836625 is an apparatus for the automatic control of railway traffic at junctions. The device described therein is adapted to automatically control the signalling of trains through a controlled area taking into account a predetermined timetable or schedule and real time. The timetable is read from a sheet, typically made of plastic and having a plurality of lines of punched openings which provide the required schedule information for each train sequentially. The sheet is loaded onto a machine having two spools and further having fingers which are aligned and interact with the openings on the plastic sheet so that if an opening is present a circuit will be made whereas if there are no openings opposite a specific finger, the plastic sheet will prevent a circuit from being made. The resulting combination of circuits will then be used as an output which results in a code readable by the signalling system which sets a route for the train. Once a given train has been directed through the junction, the machine will roll the plastic sheet and move to the next line on the plastic sheet which represents the next scheduled train. In use, each sheet includes a seven-day timetable; thus, sheets need only be changed when non-standard timetables are required, for example Bank Holidays and special events or when engineering works are taking place. However, the system often requires onsite intervention as the sheets typically become skewed or out of sync after passage of a train. The apparatus relies on compressed air and electrical supplies. The air supply is used to power a cylinder which causes the fingers to locate contacts and create a circuit when required; whereas the electrical supply is used to power a motor adapted to roll the plastic sheet and light an incandescent bulb, which bulb is used for ensuring the plastic sheet has rolled correctly and for providing an electrical signal to monitor the presence of openings on the sheet.

Although it was created in the late 1950s, the above system remains in use in the London Underground; nevertheless, changes in sheet materials, skewed sheets, increase in train frequency, blown lamps, extension of the lines, frequent upgrade work and other factors, such as signalling problems, result in poor performance. In fact, these devices cause severe problems; specifically they require habitual repair or supervision by an engineer or technician when they fail. Typically, the engineer or technician will be working at a different site or on a different project but will be forced to interrupt his work to solve any problems that arise. Further, the cost of replacing consistently failing units is significant. As London's underground network is currently being upgraded, closures are now more common and each closure currently requires two site interventions per device, the first to allow new or altered timetable to be loaded onto the programme machine and the second to replace this with the standard

timetable.

The present invention aims to provide a reliable device to replace the above programme machine in interlocking machine rooms. Further, the present invention aims to be fully compatible with the present controlling system.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for controlling traffic crossing a rail junction in accordance to a selected one of a range of predetermined schedules wherein the device includes means to enable selection of a desired schedule, which means are adapted to allow maintenance, programming, re-programming, monitoring and repair to be performed remotely, said device allowing the selected predetermined schedule to be changed, altered or varied to increase flexibility in the selected schedule.

Preferably, the means is a solid-state device. More preferably, the device is adapted to generate an output signal or signals, which signal or signals imitate the output signal from a contact bar and or a photocell, and further adapted to send the signal or signals to external circuitry to enable the device for controlling traffic crossing a rail junction to be compatible with existing external circuitry.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of memory channels, each of which channels is able to store at least one of said schedules.

In another preferred embodiment, a selected predetermined schedule is uploadable to the device by electronic means. Preferably, the electronic means is a detachable and or portable memory device.

In a preferred embodiment, the device includes means to enable selected predetermined schedules to be combined to further increase flexibility of the scheduling.

Preferably, the device is capable of receiving input data from a network and storing the data. Further, in a preferred embodiment the device is adapted to buffer internal data to account for any time delay experienced while receiving input data.

Unlike the device described in GB836625, the present invention is microcontroller based, i.e. solid state, thus, it is more reliable. Preferably the microcontroller used is a PlC microcontroller. Further, the present invention increases functionality and reduces loads on air and electrical supplies.

Moreover, the device according to the present invention is fully compatible and interchangeable with the existing system, therefore, it responds to the same input, including power supply, and output signals. The only alteration needed to install the present invention on the existing equipment is a single change to the wiring loom, which remains fully compatible after the change is made.

Advantageously, the device according to the present invention is remotely controllable; thus, it allows technicians and engineers to quickly implement changes and monitor the system from wherever they are based. This is a significant improvement as it means they do not need to leave a site on which they are working to investigate potential problems with the signalling control apparatus. Further, as the device is remotely controllable and includes a plurality of memory channels, schedules and other information can be uploaded, altered, monitored, replaced or deleted while the traffic control system is in use.

Current machines require both air and electrical supplies; eliminating the need for air supply reduces the amount of maintenance needed. Further, as the power required by the previous programme machine is not insignificant, reducing energy consumption would be beneficial financially and environmentally.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following figures.

Figure 1 is an side top view of the prior art device and the wiring loom to which

the prior art device is connected.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the prior art device.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device of the present invention connected to a standard housing Figure 4 shows the user interlace of the device described in the present invention.

Figure 5 is a high-level diagram of the device of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 the prior art device is formed by a substantially box-shaped housing 1, typically a metallic alloy, which housing I comprises at least two projections 2, 3 extending laterally on opposite sides of the lower portion of the box-shaped housing 1. The projections include openings to secure the housing I when it is connected to the wiring loom box 4. The housing is adapted to enclose the electrical components of the device. The underside of the housing (not shown) has a plurality of plugs adapted to be connected to the wiring loom. These plugs are standard Jones plugs and ensure the housing is only placed over and connected to the wiring loom box 4 via 4x12-way Jones sockets, the machine having the male version of the plug. The top part of the device has two spools and a row of fingers aligned over a sheet having a plurality of openings arranged in a sequential manner to provide timetable information.

Referring to Figure 2, a contact bar holds all the fingers, i.e. electrical contacts, against the timetable roll to determine if there are holes or openings in the material. If an opening is present on the contact point of a specific finger, the finger cooperates with the opening so that so that a circuit between the finger and a contact is created.

Conversely, if there is no opening on the contact point of a specific finger, the plastic sheet will prevent a circuit from being made. The precise combination of circuits made is used as an output signal which allows the signalling system to set a route and a timetable for a train. Subsequently, the fingers are released from the roll to allow the sheet to be rolled or stepped. If this step were omitted, the sheet would be ripped by the fingers as it is rolled on to the next line of data. Once the roll is in the correct position to read the next line of data the fingers are pushed back against the timetable.

In other words, once the fingers are released, the sheet is rolled and the fingers are re-aligned with the next horizontal line, which contains the information for the next train.

As stated above, the prior art apparatus relies on a compressed air supply which powers a cylinder. The cylinder allows the fingers to locate the contacts to create a circuit when required. The apparatus also relies on an electrical supply which powers a motor adapted to rotate the spools and cause the sheet to roll. In addition, the electrical supply lights an incandescent bulb adapted to provide an electrical signal to monitor the presence of openings on the sheet and to ensure the sheet rolls properly.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the present invention, which comprises male plug for a 4x12-way Jones socket. The device further comprises a wire connection from the air valve to a spare pin on the wiring loom, namely 4-way plug and 8-way pin, so that the device can determine whether the air valve is powered. Accordingly, the device is fully compatible with the housing I and can replace the prior art device. The topside of the box-shaped housing includes a user interface which will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 4, the user interface includes displays means 5, typically a screen, which display means 5 provides system information in the event that there is an individual on site. Further, the user interface includes control means 6, which control means is adapted to enable a user to upload, download, alter, change, replace or delete schedules stored in at least one of a plurality of memory channels, fourteen in this embodiment. The control means 6 comprise a plurality of switches that are activated by touch. Alternatively, the control means may comprise a touch-screen.

Referring now to Figure 5, the housing includes a customised power supply board 7, a microcontroller 8, typically a PlC board, and an interface board 9. The customised power supply board 7 is connected to the Jones plugs and a plurality LED lights. The power supply 7 is formed by generic components but has been customised to ensure system compatibility. The power supply is designed to give the correct voltage outputs for the PlC, interface and display board. Further, it supplies power to the photo cell output and comprises adjustment means to set the current output. All voltage supplies are fully isolated from the case and earth to ensure no earths are created on the external power sources. The device further comprises at least two input sockets, for example a USB socket and an RJ45 socket. These sockets are used to connect the device to a network or detachable memory means, which is capable of downloading or uploading information onto said network or detachable memory means.

Further, the device may have an additional input means, such as a standard cable.

The microcontroller 8 is adapted to control operation of the device; specifically, it ensures that the machine loom does not detect any differences between the device of the present invention and the programme machine described in G6836625. In order to do this, the present device is adapted to use the same file format as the prior art device.

Moreover, the device simulates the output signals given by the previous programme machine, i.e. although the present device is solid state and does not include pneumatically operated fingers or a photocell the output signal from the device is adapted to simulate the output signals from these components so that the circuits in the wire loom will not detect that the prior art machine has been replaced with the new device. The interface board 9 is located on the top side of the box-shaped housing and is adapted to allow users to alter timetables and monitor the device in use. It comprises display means 5, generally an LCD screen, and control means 6, typically buttons, switches, multi-touch screen or piezoelectric means.

When a timetable or schedule is loaded onto the device via one of the sockets or a cable, an electric signal is produced to alert the device that junction control is active. In use, the programme machine receives five inputs from the external circuitry, namely, motor feed, brake feed, forward clutch feed reverse clutch feed and air valve feed, the latter being detected by the wire on the 4-way plug 8-way pin. The device uses these inputs to control steps between train slots and generate an output signal if requested. In addition, the device generates an output signal which is sent to the external circuitry to imitate the output signal generated by the prior art device so that the supporting systems (external circuitry). The simulated output signal indicates that the forward photo cell is active, the reverse photo cell is active and that the contact bar should be released.

As the device of the present invention is designed to be fully compatible with the supporting systems of the prior art device, the electronic replacement unit must simulate the above output signal to allow the supporting systems to request the next train because the supporting systems are adapted to ensure that the imaginary contact bar has been released before it rolls the imaginary sheet. Thus, the supporting system is allowed to function normally regardless of whether the device of the present invention or the electromechanical system is connected; if the device of the present invention system is connected the supporting system is prevented from generating an error signal or damaging the imaginary plastic sheet. Further, the PlC microcontroller 9 generates a 30-bit data signal including the time, train number, route and junction type and sends this electronic output to the machine loom which will then receive the output and generate a signal to control the junction in accordance with the information received.

Although the embodiment described herein includes a PlC microcontroller 9, it will be appreciated that this could be replaced by any other type of microcontroller.

Further, the Jones sockets described herein could be replaced by other types of sockets.