JP6842929B2 - Railway control system using optical cable - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a detection technique for trains and the like using an optical fiber sensing technique, and particularly detects a train using an optical fiber cable (hereinafter, simply an optical cable) laid along a track and is used for railway-related equipment (including a train). ) Is related to effective technology for railway control systems equipped with a function to control.

Conventionally, in railroad tracks, in order to control traffic lights and turning machines and to secure the distance between trains, every fixed distance (several hundred meters to several kilometers; the station yard may be several tens of meters). There is a device called a track circuit that detects the presence or absence of a train by passing a detection current through the rails divided into) and short-circuiting the rails with the axle of the train.
In addition, when controlling a traffic light or a rolling machine based on a signal from a track circuit, the operation of the traffic light is controlled, and the rolling machine is locked so that the rolling machine does not switch while the train is in progress. An interlocking device is provided as a security device that gives a certain chain relationship between the operation of the turning machine and the traffic light so that another course that interferes with the course in which the train is in progress is not constructed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-62513 JP-A-2007-226440

The track circuit requires individual installation work and maintenance work as ground equipment. All of these are tasks that require detailed work within the train spacing and construction limits, require complicated processes, and can be dangerous. Further, since the track circuit is an electric system, there is a problem that it is vulnerable to electromagnetic noise such as lightning and inundation.

Therefore, in a system that interlocks and controls a signal and a rolling machine based on a signal from a track circuit, train operation is designed so that the train operation is not hindered even if the track circuit or the like breaks down. Inventions relating to management devices have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 performs extremely complicated control, and requires an expensive control system, which causes a problem of increasing the cost. In addition, it is not possible to avoid the failure of the track circuit, which is the cause in the first place.

On the other hand, as an invention for detecting the position of an object using an optical fiber vibration sensor, for example, there is an invention described in Patent Document 2. The present invention relates to an optical fiber intrusion monitoring device, and is an optical fiber vibration sensor including two light sources having different wavelengths and two types of light receiving units that detect interference light of the optical fiber corresponding to the two light sources. A detection device is provided. The present invention is characterized in that the cutting and cutting position of the optical cable for the vibration sensor can be detected by accommodating the optical fiber for detecting the cutting of the optical cable in the optical cable for the vibration sensor.

It is conceivable to detect the position of the train including the train length by using the optical fiber vibration sensor used in the intrusion monitoring device or the like described in Patent Document 2, but the monitoring range of the railway track is very large. It is wide and extends for several tens of kilometers. When the optical fiber vibration sensor is laid in such a wide range to detect the train position, the conventional general optical cable laying method in which the optical cable is simply laid along the track is detected by several meters (for example, 5 m to 10 m). There is a problem that an error occurs.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect the position of a train without using a track circuit without causing a significant cost increase. The purpose is to provide a railway control system that can be used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a railway control system having high resistance to electromagnetic noise.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of detecting an abnormality in railway equipment without attaching a sensor vulnerable to electromagnetic noise or inundation to existing railway equipment such as a turning machine.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to the present application is
Optical cables laid along the railroad track and
A light source connected to the optical cable and emitting a laser beam to the optical cable, a photodetecting means for detecting scattered light in the optical cable, and a light detecting means.
A frequency analyzing means for frequency analyzing the optical signal that the light detecting means detects,
A control means for detecting the presence of an object based on a signal from the frequency analysis means, and a control means.
In a railway control system equipped with
The optical cable is arranged so as to form a multiple loop surrounding the object in a region where the presence of the object is to be detected in the railway track.

According to the railway control system configured as described above, the position of the object is detected more accurately because the multiple loops of the optical cable are formed so as to surround the area where the position of the object such as a train is to be detected. be able to. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a track circuit for detecting trains and optical cables can be obtained at a relatively low cost, a system that can accurately detect the position of an object without causing a significant cost increase is constructed. can do. Moreover, since no electric signal is used, the resistance to electromagnetic noise can be improved.

Here, preferably, the railway track is a single track track.
The multiple loop is configured to surround the track next to the platform in the station yard and the turnouts provided at the entrance and exit of the station yard.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not a train exists on each track of the station yard, and it is possible to detect whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the turnout. In addition, it is possible to detect an abnormality in railway equipment without attaching a sensor that is vulnerable to electromagnetic noise or inundation to railway equipment such as a rolling machine.

Also, preferably, the railroad track is a double track track.
The multiple loop surrounds a plurality of track tracks next to the platform in the station yard and turnouts provided at the entrance and exit of the station yard, and at least two optical cables beside each of the plurality of track tracks. Is formed so that
According to such a configuration, the multiple loop can detect whether or not a train exists on each track even in the station yard of a double track line, and whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the turnout as a railway facility. Whether or not it can be detected.

Further, preferably, the control means drives and controls the electric railway equipment arranged along the railway track according to the train position detected based on the signal from the frequency analysis means. To.
According to this configuration, the position of the train can be detected by laying an optical cable without providing a track circuit, so that the railway equipment can be appropriately controlled according to the position of the train without causing a significant cost increase. At the same time, it is possible to realize a railway control system with high resistance to electromagnetic noise.

Further, preferably, the optical cable is arranged so that a child loop having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the multiple loop and surrounding the turnout is formed.
According to such a configuration, since the vibration can be detected by the child loop, it is possible to more accurately detect the abnormality of the turning machine and the abnormality of the turnout portion constituting the turnout. In addition, it is not necessary to attach a sensor vulnerable to electromagnetic noise or inundation to the turnout that wants to detect the presence or absence of abnormality.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the position of a train without using a track circuit and to realize a railway control system having high resistance to electromagnetic noise without causing a significant increase in cost. In addition, there is an effect that an abnormality in the railway equipment can be detected without attaching a sensor vulnerable to electromagnetic noise or inundation to the existing railway equipment such as a turning machine.

(A) is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of the entire system when a railway control system having a detection function for a train or the like using an optical cable according to the present invention is applied to a single track line, and (B) is one in (A). It is a block diagram which shows the part (inside the station yard) enlarged. Is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a railway control system using train position information detected by the detection function of a train or the like shown in FIG. 1 (A). It is a system block diagram which shows the configuration example of the railroad control system when the optical cable is divided into each station. (A) is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example when a railway control system having a detection function for a train or the like using an optical cable according to the present invention is applied to a double track line, and (B) is a modification of the embodiment of (A). It is a system block diagram which shows an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement example of the optical cable in another embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a railway control system having a detection function for trains and the like using an optical cable according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 (A) is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of the entire railway control system when the present invention is applied to a single-track local line, and FIG. 1 (B) is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of equipment in a station yard. .. In addition, in FIG. 1, it will be described with the right direction as the end point.

In the railway control system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, one optical cable 11 is laid along the track 12 and the optical cable is laid over a plurality of stations 10A-10B-10C. The eleven is laid while forming loops 11a, 11b ... At arbitrary points between the stations 10A, 10B, 10C and the stations.
Then, at one end of the optical cable 11, such as a light source that emits laser light to the core of the optical fiber constituting the optical cable 11 and an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) that detects scattered light in the core. An optical device (optical device) 21 provided with a light detector is connected.

In this embodiment, an OTDR capable of detecting Rayleigh scattered light in an optical fiber is used as an optical detector, and when vibration is applied, a minute deformation (distortion) occurs and the scattered light changes accordingly. An optical fiber is used as a vibration sensor to detect, and the detected optical signal is processed by the frequency analysis unit 22, so that the vibration detected by the optical fiber is caused by an abnormality in equipment such as a train passing or rolling machine. It is configured to determine if it exists.

The analysis result by the frequency analysis unit 22 is passed to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 refers to the result to determine the train position and the like, displays the train position information and equipment abnormality information on the display unit, and goes to another station. It is configured to transmit train position information via communication means. The station staff may contact other stations by telephone for train location information.
The frequency analysis unit 22 can be constructed by a program and an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (central processing unit) that executes the program. Although not shown, the control unit 30 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (central processing unit) and a data storage device such as a ROM (read-only memory) and a RAM (random access memory).

Next, how to lay the optical cable 11 and form a loop at each station will be described. In the single-track local line, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), an ascending track 12A and a descending track 12B are provided across the station platform 17, and the track 12A and 12B are located on the descending side. The end portion and the end portion on the ascending side are connected to the single-track orbit 12C in the downward direction and the single-track orbit 12D in the ascending direction via the turnouts 13a and 13b.
The loop 11a (or 11b, 11c) at each station of the optical cable 11 is laid along one track 12C, then orbits around the station platform 17 and track lines 12A and 12B twice, and then the other track 12D. It is laid in the direction of other stations along the track 12D.

When the train passes through the turnouts 13a and 13b or enters the track lines 12A and 12B, vibration is generated. Therefore, if the optical cable 11 is laid as described above, the train can be trained by the optical fiber sensing technology as described above. The position of can be detected. A smaller loop may be formed so as to surround the turnouts 13a and 13b. As a result, when an abnormality occurs in the turnouts 13a and 13b, it can be detected.

In the present embodiment, the turnouts 13a and 13b use a type called a spring point (rolling machine) that changes to the reverse position by the running force of the train and returns to the localization by the restoring force of the spring. Therefore, a power source and a device for generating a control signal are unnecessary. As the turnouts 13a and 13b, an electric type turning machine that operates an operation can or a lock can by a motor may be used. In that case, a small loop is formed around the turnouts 13a and 13b. This makes it possible to detect abnormalities in the motor and the like. Since an electric type rolling machine is more likely to cause abnormalities than a purely mechanical turning machine that does not have a power source, it is extremely effective to form a small loop around the turning machine. is there.

As shown in FIG. 1B, by laying the optical cable 11 so as to form a double loop, the position of the train can be detected more accurately than in the case of the single loop. The loop may be triple or more instead of double.
As described above, by forming loops 11a, 11b, 11c so as to surround the station platform 17 and the track tracks 12A, 12B of the upper and lower lines at each station 10A, 10B, 10C, the control unit 30 can be used on a single-track local line. , It is possible to accurately grasp the approach and advance of trains to each station, prohibit other trains from entering the section between stations where trains are already running, or go to the station where the preceding train is stopped. Blockage control can be implemented to prevent subsequent trains from entering.

Further, in the section between stations, the approximate position can be grasped by the optical cable, and by providing the loops 11d and 11e, the approximate position of the train in the section between stations can be grasped more reliably. Furthermore, by setting the diameter of the loops 11d and 11e between the stations in the orbit direction to the same size as the length of the train, the entire loop detects vibration for a short time when the entire train enters the loop. So you can know exactly that the train is in that position.

FIG. 2 shows a railway control system in which a system having a detection function for trains and the like using the optical fiber sensor is applied to a line provided with a turning machine, a traffic light, and an interlocking device for controlling them at each station. The configuration is shown.
In the system shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 30 connected to the frequency analysis unit 22 that analyzes the scattered light from the optical cable 11 determines the position of the train based on the signal from the frequency analysis unit 22, and is interlocked with the conventional one. Instead of the device, the turnouts 13a and 13b are configured to drive and control the turning machines 15a and 15b and the signals 14a and 14b. The turning machine in the present embodiment is an electric turning machine provided with a drive source such as a motor.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical cables 11A, 11B, 11C are laid so as to divide the optical cable into each station and surround each station with double loops 11a, 11b, 11c, and the optical cables 11A, 11B, 11C are laid. An optical device 21 having a light source and a photodetector, a frequency analysis unit 22 and a control unit 30 may be provided for each to control the turning machines 15a and 15b and the signals 14a and 14b at each station. Good.
When the control unit 30 controls the rolling machines 15a, 15b and the traffic lights 14a, 14b ... At each station, a signal line for transmitting the control signal may be provided as in the conventional case, but each control is performed from the control unit 30. It may be configured to wirelessly transmit control information to the target device.

Next, a configuration example of a railway control system having a detection function for trains and the like when the present invention is applied to a double-track line will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in the present embodiment, the optical cables 11A and 11B are arranged along the ascending orbital 12A and the descending orbital 12B, respectively, and in the station yard, the optical cable 11A is the descending orbital 12B. The loop 11f is formed so as to include the track and track 12C inside. Further, the optical cable 11B is arranged so as to form a loop 11g so as to include the ascending track 12A and the track 12C inside. An optical device (21) and a frequency analysis unit (22) can be arranged and connected to the optical cables 11A and 11B at the ends on the same side.

As described above, by arranging the optical cables so as to form a plurality of loops at each station, when focusing on one track, two optical cables are always arranged next to the track. As a result, the position of the train can be detected more reliably, and the reliability is improved.
Also in FIG. 4A, the control unit (30) connected to the frequency analysis unit (22) that analyzes the scattered light from the optical cables 11A and 11B is the train based on the signal from the frequency analysis unit (22). It is configured to determine the position and drive and control the turnouts 13a to 13f and the traffic lights 14a to 14f.

FIG. 4B shows a modified example of this embodiment.
In the modified example of FIG. 4B, child loops 11h1 to 11h6 having a small diameter are provided in a part of the loops 11f and 11g of FIG. 4A so as to surround the turnouts 13a to 13f. Since the optical fiber used in the above embodiment is a vibration detection type, the vibration changes when an abnormality occurs in the turnout or the turnout of the turnouts 13a to 13f. Therefore, the frequency analysis unit (22) There is an advantage that the occurrence of an abnormality can be detected by analyzing the vibration pattern.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, an optical cable 11 having a double loop 11i formed so as to surround a railroad crossing is laid. In the present embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the alarm device 18 or the breaker 19 arranged at the railroad crossing, the vibration changes. Therefore, the frequency analysis unit (22) analyzes the vibration pattern to detect the occurrence of an abnormality in the device. Can be detected. Further, even when an obstacle such as an automobile exists in the railroad crossing for a predetermined time or longer, it can be detected. Moreover, since the double loop is provided at the place to be detected, there is an advantage that more accurate detection can be performed.
When an obstacle existing in the railroad crossing for a predetermined time or longer is detected, the control unit 30 can control to switch the traffic lights 14g and 14h provided in front of the railroad crossing to the stop indication.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and modifications can be made. For example, in the above modification, a case where a child loop of an optical cable is formed so as to surround a turnout to detect the occurrence of an abnormality has been described. However, a child loop of an optical cable is provided in a railroad crossing to detect an abnormality in equipment in the railroad crossing. It may be configured so that it can be detected individually.
Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a double track in which different optical cables 12A and 12B are laid on the up line and the down line, respectively, has been described, but one optical cable is provided between the up line and the down line. It may be arranged in the space of the above, and at each station, it may be laid while forming a double loop so as to surround each platform and the track with one optical cable.

10 Station 11 Optical cable 11a, 11b, 11c Loop 12 Orbit 13a, 13b Turnout 14 Signal 15a, 15b Rolling machine 17 Station platform 21 Optical device (photodetector)
22 Frequency analysis unit 30 Control unit

Claims (4)

Optical cables laid along the railroad track of a single track and
A light source connected to the optical cable and emitting a laser beam to the optical cable, a photodetecting means for detecting scattered light in the optical cable, and a light detecting means.
A frequency analyzing means for frequency analyzing the optical signal that the light detecting means detects,
A control means for detecting the presence of an object based on a signal from the frequency analysis means, and a control means.
It is a railway control system equipped with
The optical cable is arranged so as to form a multiple loop surrounding the object in a region where the presence of the object is to be detected in the railway track .
The multiple loop is a railway control system characterized in that it is formed so as to surround a track next to a platform in a station yard and turnouts provided at entrances and exits in the station yard. Optical cables laid along the railroad track of the double track and
A light source connected to the optical cable and emitting a laser beam to the optical cable, a photodetecting means for detecting scattered light in the optical cable, and a light detecting means.
A frequency analyzing means for frequency analyzing the optical signal that the light detecting means detects,
A control means for detecting the presence of an object based on a signal from the frequency analysis means, and a control means.
It is a railway control system equipped with
The optical cable is arranged so as to form a multiple loop surrounding the object in a region where the presence of the object is to be detected in the railway track .
The multiple loop surrounds a plurality of track tracks next to the platform in the station yard and turnouts provided at the entrance and exit of the station yard, and at least two optical cables beside each of the plurality of track tracks. A railroad control system characterized in that it is formed to exist. The control means is configured to drive and control electric railway equipment arranged along the railway track according to a train position detected based on a signal from the frequency analysis means. The railway control system according to claim 1 or 2. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical cable is arranged so that a child loop having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the multiple loop and surrounding the turnout is formed. Railroad control system.

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