JP6846209B2 - Railroad crossing control system and railway control system using optical cable - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for detecting a train or the like using an optical fiber sensing technique, and particularly detects a train position by using an optical fiber cable laid along a railroad crossing (hereinafter, simply an optical cable) and is a railway-related facility (hereinafter, simply an optical cable). Related to technologies that are effective for use in railroad crossing control systems and railway control systems that have the function of controlling railroad crossing equipment and trains.

Railroad crossings are equipped with a railroad crossing control device that detects when a train is approaching and sounds an alarm or activates a railroad crossing barrier.
Currently, in a railroad crossing security system, a configuration in which one railroad crossing control device independently controls one railroad crossing security facility is generally adopted. The railroad crossing security equipment is provided with a start point controller and an end point controller, and when the start point controller detects the approach of a train, the railroad crossing control device activates equipment such as an alarm and a barrier. Then, when the end point controller detects the passage of the train, the railroad crossing control device releases the operation of the alarm and the railroad crossing barrier.

On the other hand, a technique has been proposed in which a plurality of railroad crossing control devices provided on the same line are connected by a communication network and used for railroad crossing control. For example, in Patent Document 1, a railroad crossing control device acquires train tracking information via a communication network, whereby even if a starting point controller or the like fails, the railroad crossing is not shut off when a train enters. It is to avoid no alarm.

Japanese Patent No. 4966622 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-863 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-140130 JP-A-2007-226440

In conventional railroad crossing security equipment, start point controllers and end point controllers are composed of electronic components, and may break down due to natural phenomena such as lightning, rainfall, and snowfall. According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, even if the starting point controller or the like fails, it is possible to avoid the non-blocking and no alarm of the railroad crossing when the train enters. However, when lightning occurs, the communication network itself may go down, so that the technology of Patent Document 1 cannot sufficiently cope with a failure due to lightning, and there is a risk of malfunction due to electromagnetic noise.

In addition, some conventional railroad crossing control devices detect the approach of trains by passing a detection current through the rails and short-circuiting the rails with the axles of the train. There is a problem that it is not possible to detect that a traveling work vehicle is approaching.
Furthermore, in the conventional railroad crossing security equipment, the operation end timing is delayed due to the restriction of the installation location of the end point controller, the warning period becomes unnecessarily long, and it causes inconvenience to cars and pedestrians crossing the railroad crossing road. There is a problem of becoming.

Further, conventionally, an obstacle detection device including a laser light emitter and a light receiver is provided at a railroad crossing in order to detect an obstacle invading the railroad crossing when a train approaches. As an invention relating to an obstacle detection device for a railroad crossing, for example, there are those described in Patent Documents 2 and 3.
However, since the conventional obstacle detection device consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver has a narrow detection range, it is necessary to provide a plurality of obstacle detection devices at various angles at a large railroad crossing, which increases the cost. Since there are restrictions on the installation location, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine the installation position.

Further, 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 4. 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.

Here, it is conceivable to detect the position of the train including the train length by using an optical fiber vibration sensor as used in the intrusion monitoring device or the like described in Patent Document 4, but the railway track Has a very wide monitoring range, reaching several tens of kilometers. When laying an optical fiber vibration sensor over such a wide range to detect the train position, the conventional general optical cable laying method in which an optical cable is simply laid along a track can detect 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 approaching, passing, and intrusion of obstacles of a train without causing a significant increase in cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a railroad crossing control system and a railroad control system having high lightning resistance and resistance to electromagnetic noise.
Another object of the present invention is to be able to detect an insulated traveling work vehicle without affecting railroad crossing control.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to the present application is
An optical cable laid near a railroad crossing on a railroad track,
Light detecting means for detecting the scattered light of the light source and in the optical cable to emit a laser beam to the connected optical cables to the optical cable,
A frequency analyzing means for frequency analyzing the optical signal that the light detecting means detects,
A railroad crossing control system including a control means for detecting a train position based on a signal from the frequency analysis means and controlling a railroad crossing facility.
The optical cable
At the train passing point where you want to start the operation of the railroad crossing equipment and the train passing point where you want to end the operation of the railroad crossing equipment, one of the divisions determined in relation to the resolution of the optical device crosses the track at two points. It is arranged in a loop,
further,
A train passing point where you want to start the operation of the railroad crossing equipment for a train traveling in the first direction and a train passing point where you want to end the operation of the railroad crossing equipment for a train traveling in the second direction opposite to the first direction. The first loop formed to cross the orbit with
Cross the track at a train passing point where the operation of the railroad crossing equipment is desired to be started for the train traveling in the second direction and at a train passing point where the operation of the railroad crossing equipment is desired to be terminated for the train traveling in the first direction. With the second loop formed like
Arranged to include
A small loop formed by overlapping the first loop and the second loop surrounds a railroad crossing .

According to the railroad crossing control system configured as described above, since a section of the optical cable corresponding to the resolution of the optical device is arranged so as to cross the track at the point where the position of the train is to be detected, the resolution of the optical device Even if there is an error based on the above, it is possible to detect that the train has passed the point where the railroad crossing alarm or the barrier is activated or the point where the operation is stopped regardless of the error. In addition, the optimum alarm start point and alarm end point can be set and detected for the train traveling in the up direction and the train traveling in the down direction, respectively, so that the alarm period becomes unnecessarily long. It can be avoided.

In addition, since optical cables can be obtained at a relatively low cost, it is possible to construct a system that can accurately detect the position of a train without causing a significant increase in cost. Moreover, since no electric wire is used, the lightning resistance and the resistance to electromagnetic noise can be improved.
Further, the present invention is a method of detecting a train position by detecting vibration, and in order to detect a train position, it is necessary to pass an electric current or put an electric signal on a rail like a railroad crossing controller or a track circuit. In addition, since the rails are not short-circuited by an axle or the like, it is possible to detect an insulated traveling work vehicle without affecting railroad crossing control.

According to the above configuration, since one loop crosses the track at two points, compared with the case of crossing the track in one place, vibration of the railway equipment present inside the trains and loops passing through the point Can be detected more accurately.

Further , according to such a configuration, a small loop in which two loops overlap is formed so as to surround the railroad crossing, so that it is possible to detect the presence of an obstacle in the railroad crossing when the train is approaching, and the front of the railroad crossing. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of an accident by changing the traffic light of the above to a stop indication.

Further, preferably, the railroad crossing control system configured as described above and a higher-level control device capable of transmitting control information to the train traveling on the railway track are provided.
The host control device is configured to generate and transmit the control information based on the detection information from the control means of the railroad crossing control system.
According to such a configuration, appropriate control information can be sent to a train approaching a railroad crossing according to the situation of the railroad crossing. For example, a railroad crossing alarm or a barrier is out of order or an obstacle is present in the railroad crossing. The speed of the train (including the stop) can be controlled when there is a train, which can prevent the occurrence of an accident.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the approach, passage and intrusion of obstacles of a train without causing a significant increase in cost, and to realize a railroad crossing control system having high lightning resistance and resistance to electromagnetic noise. be able to. Further, there is an effect that the vehicle for insulated traveling work can be detected without affecting the railroad crossing control.

(A) is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of the entire railway control system including railroad crossing control using an optical cable according to the present invention, (B) is a loop configuration explanatory diagram showing a part of (A) enlarged, (C). ) Is a diagram showing another arrangement example of the optical cable. It is a system configuration diagram which shows the configuration example of the railroad crossing control system using an optical cable. It is a system configuration diagram which shows the configuration example of the train control system using the train position information detected by the railroad crossing control system using the optical cable of FIG. A second embodiment of a railway control system using an optical cable according to the present invention is shown, where (A) is an overall system configuration diagram and (B) is a configuration diagram of a main part of the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a railway control system including railroad crossing control using an optical cable according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of the entire railway control system having a train position detection function using an optical cable.
In the railway control system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, one optical cable 11 is laid along the track 12 from the station 10A to another station B or the like, and the optical cable 11 is , The down warning section L1 in front of the turnout 13 and the railroad crossing 30, the up warning section L2, and the like, are laid while forming loops 11a, 11b, and 11c at places where train entry is desired to be detected. In FIG. 1, the traffic lights are designated by the reference numerals 14a and 14b.

At one end of the optical cable 11, as shown in FIG. 1A, a light source that emits laser light to the core of the optical fiber constituting the optical cable 11 and an optical time for detecting scattered light in the core. An optical device (optical device) 21 equipped with an optical detector such as a region reflectometer (OTDR) 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 a vibration caused by the passage of a train, an abnormality of a railroad equipment, or an obstacle. It is configured to determine whether or not.

As described above, the optical cable 11 is laid so as to form a loop at the position where the passage of the train is to be detected. In the case of the method of detecting the change in the scattered light due to the vibration of the optical fiber, the length of the optical fiber is used. This is because the distance at which vibration is generated can be measured in units of several meters, that is, the resolution is several meters, although it depends on the thickness of the sheath and the performance of the detector.
In the present embodiment, the optical cable 11 is divided along the length direction by a length corresponding to the above resolution, and one of the divisions is substantially orthogonal to the track at a point (about a kilometer) where the passage of a train is to be detected. A loop is formed by arranging the optical cables so as to cross in the opposite direction and arranging the optical cables so as to cross the orbit in the opposite direction at a slightly returned point. Specifically, when the length of the above division is N and the width of the orbit is M (M <N), as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the orbit is crossed within the range of one division, and the division is divided in the middle of the orbit. It may be arranged while adjusting so that is not changed.

According to the result of examining the case where the detection method and the analysis method selected by the present inventors are applied, when the total length of the optical cable is several km to several tens of km, the resolution, that is, the length N of one section is about 5 m to 10 m. there were. On the other hand, the width of the track is 5 m or less on average even in the double track section, and the above-mentioned cross-sectional arrangement of the optical cable is sufficiently possible. If the optical device and the optical cable to be used are determined, the resolution, that is, the length N of one division is also uniquely determined. Therefore, when the optical cable is arranged, a table showing which division crosses the orbit at which point ( Correspondence table) can be created, and by using this table, it is possible to judge the passage of the train from the vibration analysis result and the information of the classification in which the vibration is detected.

By arranging the optical cable 11 as described above, the resolution of the optical device 21 is several m, and simply laying the optical cable 11 along the trajectory causes an error of several m. According to this, it becomes possible to detect that the train has passed, that is, the position of the train with an accuracy of 1 m or less (several cm to several tens of cm).
Further, when there are two points where it is desired to detect the passage of a train and the two points are relatively close to each other, the loop 11a is arranged by arranging the optical cable 11 so as to cross the track in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other at each point. , 11b, 11c may be formed. This makes it possible to detect the passage of trains at two points by one loop.

At the railroad crossing, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the optical cable 11 crosses the track at each of the down alarm start point S1 and the down alarm end point E1, the up alarm start point S2 and the up alarm end point E2, and loops. Arrange so as to form 11b and 11c. As a result, it is possible to detect that the train has passed each point, and as will be described later, it is possible to determine the timing of the sounding of the railroad crossing alarm, the start of operation of the barrier, and the stop of operation. Further, since it is not necessary to pass a current through the track, the railroad crossing control is not affected, and the position can be detected even in an insulated traveling work vehicle.

Instead of forming a loop with the optical cable 11 at the railroad crossing, as shown in FIG. 1C, the downlink alarm start point S1 and the downlink alarm end point E1, the uplink alarm start point S2 and the uplink alarm end point E2 The optical cable 11 may be laid across the track 12 at each point so as to extend in one direction along the track while meandering. At this time, as described above, if only one section of the optical cable is arranged so as to cross the track (rail), the position of the train (that the train has passed a predetermined point) can be detected with high accuracy. ..

Next, a railroad crossing control system that controls railroad crossing alarms and barriers based on train position information detected by using the optical fiber sensing technology will be described with reference to FIG.
In the railroad crossing control system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the railroad crossing control device 20 provided corresponding to each railroad crossing is provided with the above-mentioned optical device 21 provided with a light source and a photodetector. There is. Then, the frequency analysis unit 22 is connected to the optical device 21, the control unit 23 is connected to the frequency analysis unit 22, and the control unit 23 determines the position of the train based on the signal from the frequency analysis unit 22. , It is configured to drive and control a railroad crossing alarm 31 and a barrier 32. The end of the optical cable 11 may be returned to the railroad crossing control device 20.

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 23 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).
Further, in this embodiment, the loop 11b is formed so that the optical cable 11 crosses the orbit 12 at two points, the downlink alarm start point S1 and the uplink alarm end point E2, and the downlink alarm end point E1 and the uplink alarm start point S2. It is arranged so that the loop 11c is formed so as to cross the orbit 12 at the two points of. As a result, the two loops 11b and the loop 11c overlap at the central railroad crossing 30, thereby forming a small loop so as to surround the railroad crossing.

As described above, when it is detected that vibration is occurring inside the railroad crossing due to the formation of a small loop surrounding the railroad crossing, it is said that an obstacle such as a car has entered the railroad crossing. You can judge. Then, for example, when it is determined that an obstacle has entered the railroad crossing while the alarm is sounding, for example, the control unit 23 stops the traffic lights 14a and 14b arranged in front of the railroad crossing 30. It can be configured to vary as shown.
Further, since the optical fiber sensor of the embodiment to which the Rayleigh method is applied is a vibration detection type and can also detect sound, the railroad crossing alarm 31 can be further provided with a loop surrounding the railroad crossing alarm 31 and the barrier 32. It is also possible to individually detect an abnormality or a failure of the breaker 32.

Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the train position information and abnormality information detected by using the railroad crossing control system described above are transmitted to the train to control the operation of the train.
In this modified example, as shown in FIG. 3, a train operation management device 40 is provided as a higher-level control device for managing train operation, and train position information and abnormality information detected by the railroad crossing control device 20 are used as the train operation management device. It is configured to be able to transmit to 40 by wire or wirelessly.

Further, the train operation management device 40 includes a wireless communication unit 41 and a control unit 42 that wirelessly transmit and receive data to and from the train. Similarly, the train 50 is equipped with a vehicle upper device including a wireless communication unit 51 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 41 on the train operation management device 40 side and a control unit 52 that controls the speed of the train and the like. Has been done.
As a result, the train operation management device 40 sends a stop command to the train approaching the railroad crossing when an abnormality occurs, based on the train position information and the abnormality occurrence information from the railroad crossing control device 20, and stops. It is possible to improve the safety of train operation.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is also applied to a system that controls a train based on train position information detected by using the above-mentioned optical fiber sensing technique.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, one optical cable 11 is laid along the track 12 between a plurality of stations 10A-10B-10C, and the optical cable 11 is installed between stations. It is arranged so as to form a loop 11a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the optical cable 11 crosses the orbit and forms a local loop 11a at two points A and B between stations separated by a predetermined distance L0 from each other. An optical cable 11 is arranged.

Further, an optical device 21A and a frequency analysis unit 22A are provided at the station 10A, which is the starting end of the optical cable 11, and the detected train position information is transmitted to the train operation management device 40 as a higher-level control device for managing the train operation. It is configured in. Further, at the railroad crossing 30, a railroad crossing control system having loops 11b and 11c of optical cables and a railroad crossing control device 20 is installed as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, and train position information and abnormality information acquired by the railroad crossing control device 20 are also obtained. It is transmitted to the train operation management device 40. The train operation management device 40 includes a wireless communication unit 41 and a control unit 42 that wirelessly transmit and receive data between the wireless communication unit 51 and the train 50 including the control unit 52.

Further, in the present embodiment, the train operation management device 40 is based on the time required for the train to pass the distance L0 between two points detected by using the loop 11a of the optical cable 11 shown in FIG. 4 (B). Can calculate the speed of the train and create stop course information when sending a stop command to the train 50.
Further, the train operation management device 40 determines the length of the train based on the time required for the train to pass the distance L0 between two points detected by using the loop 11a and the duration of vibration at one of the points. It is possible to calculate the L3, accurately grasp the distance between the preceding train (last) and the following train (head), and create stop course information when a stop command is sent.
In the conventional wireless train control system, since there is no means for grasping the length of the train, the length of the train is treated uniformly and the distance between trains is calculated and controlled. Train control can be performed by creating accurate stop course information.

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, when laying an optical cable along a track, instead of laying the optical cable so that a predetermined part (section) of the optical cable crosses the track at a predetermined point in advance, first lay the optical cable without worrying about the section of the optical cable, and then lay the optical cable. In addition, measurement may be performed to acquire the relationship between each division of the optical cable and the distance of the crossing point, and a correspondence table (table) to be used in the control device may be created.
Further, in the above embodiment, it has been described that the optical cable is arranged so as to cross the orbit in a direction substantially orthogonal to the orbit, but in relation to the allowable error, the optical cable is arranged at an angle such as 45 degrees (hereinafter, for example, 30 degrees). It may be arranged so as to intersect and cross.

10 Station 11 Optical cable 12 Track 13 Turnout 14 Traffic light 20 Railroad crossing control device 21 Optical device 22 Frequency analysis unit 30 Railroad crossing 40 Train operation management device (upper control device)
50 trains

Claims (2)

An optical cable laid near a railroad crossing on a railroad track,
Light detecting means for detecting the scattered light of the light source and in the optical cable to emit a laser beam to the connected optical cables to the optical cable,
A frequency analyzing means for frequency analyzing the optical signal that the light detecting means detects,
A railroad crossing control system including a control means for detecting a train position based on a signal from the frequency analysis means and controlling a railroad crossing facility.
The optical cable
At the train passing point where you want to start the operation of the railroad crossing equipment and the train passing point where you want to end the operation of the railroad crossing equipment, one of the divisions determined in relation to the resolution of the optical device crosses the track at two points. It is arranged in a loop,
further,
A train passing point where you want to start the operation of the railroad crossing equipment for a train traveling in the first direction and a train passing point where you want to end the operation of the railroad crossing equipment for a train traveling in the second direction opposite to the first direction. The first loop formed to cross the orbit with
Cross the track at a train passing point where the operation of the railroad crossing equipment is desired to be started for the train traveling in the second direction and at a train passing point where the operation of the railroad crossing equipment is desired to be terminated for the train traveling in the first direction. With the second loop formed like
Arranged to include
A railroad crossing control system characterized in that a small loop formed by overlapping the first loop and the second loop surrounds a railroad crossing location. The railroad crossing control system according to claim 1 and a higher-level control device capable of transmitting control information to a train traveling on the railway track are provided.
The upper control device is a railway control system characterized in that the control information is generated and transmitted based on the detection information from the control means of the railroad crossing control system.

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