RU214769U1 - Telematics block of the telematics system for monitoring the operation of freight cars - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to railway transport, namely to the telematics unit, which is part of the system for remote monitoring of the state of wagons. The technical result of the utility model is a further reduction in energy consumption when organizing the transmission and reception of information about the state and location of the car while ensuring the quality of communication due to the design features of the solution. The technical result is achieved by using a telematics unit of a telematics system for monitoring the operation of freight cars, which contains the first microcontroller connected to a GSM cellular communication module, a GLONASS/GPS global navigation satellite systems module, a memory unit, an accelerometer, an autonomous power source, a real-time clock, while the first microcontroller is connected via a data transmission bus to the second microcontroller, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module, configured to be connected via wireless communication with a similar microcontroller with a Bluetooth module, connected via data transmission buses to the wagon condition monitoring sensors. 2 w.p. f-ly, 1 ill.

Description

The utility model relates to railway transport, namely to the telematics unit, which is part of the system for remote monitoring of the state of wagons, which can be used on freight rolling stock of all types in order to control the location of a freight wagon, automated removal, registration, storage and transmission of data through channels mobile cellular telemetry information on a number of technical indicators, as well as the detection of shock loads, including excess ones, on a freight car.

The telematics unit of the telematics system is a central unit designed to receive information from control sensors installed on each car, as well as store and transmit the information received further to the server for making management decisions.

Modern rolling stock (especially freight) can be several hundred meters long. Therefore, the organization of communication between the telematics unit and the information collection module, which includes sensors for monitoring the state of the car, involves the use of high-power information transceiver modules, which during long-term operation can overheat and fail with the need for urgent replacement.

From the prior art, a telematics unit of a system for remote monitoring of the state of wagons is known (RF patent No. transfer of received information to the server. At the same time, the microcontroller is configured to connect with a geolocation module for receiving data from the GLONASS/GPS satellite system, a GSM cellular communication module, an accelerometer, a real-time clock, a memory unit, and an autonomous power source.

A significant disadvantage of such a telematics unit is the need to connect a separate high-power RF communication module to its microcontroller, which involves the use of a bulky and powerful autonomous power source, which overheats especially in summer and in climatic zones with high temperatures. In this case, failures in the operation of the telematics unit may occur, which leads to delays in the transmission and reception of data on the state of the car. The use of a radio frequency communication module of insufficient power can affect the formation of a weak signal for transmitting and receiving information and the loss of data on the state of the car necessary for analysis, which can adversely affect the safety of freight traffic.

A telematics unit is known, which is part of a device for monitoring the condition of axle boxes of wheelsets of freight train cars (patent of the Russian Federation No. Bluetooth 4.0, which provides reception, storage and transmission of information with the microcontroller of the box and the server. At the same time, the microcontroller is configured to be connected to a memory unit, an autonomous power source.

The Bluetooth communication module of the Bluetooth 4.0 version is a module with lower energy consumption than in the case of using a radio frequency module, which allows you to establish a zone of reliable signal reception over long distances, reduce the weight and size of the battery used, and also use the freed power to connect additional equipment about the status of cars freight train.

However, such a Bluetooth communication module is a separate ready-made module, in which, along with integrated circuits fixed by soldering on a textolite base, other attached elements (DC-DC converters, passive elements, antennas, protective screens, etc.) are used, providing the presence of additional communication lines between them, which makes the power consumption for transceiving information still increased.

The technical problem of this utility model is the creation of a telematics unit of a telematics system for monitoring the operation of freight cars, which allows you to timely obtain the necessary information about the state of the car and its location for making management decisions and reducing the risk of emergency situations.

The technical result of the utility model is a further reduction in energy consumption when organizing the transmission and reception of information about the state and location of the car while ensuring the quality of communication due to the design features of the solution.

The technical result is achieved by using a telematics unit of a telematics system for monitoring the operation of freight cars, which contains the first microcontroller connected to a GSM cellular communication module, a GLONASS/GPS global navigation satellite systems module, a memory unit, an accelerometer, an autonomous power source, a real-time clock, while the first microcontroller is connected via a data transmission bus to the second microcontroller, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module, configured to be connected via wireless communication with a similar microcontroller with a Bluetooth module, connected via data transmission buses to the wagon condition monitoring sensors.

In this case, the first microcontroller is connected to a GSM cellular communication module, a GLONASS/GPS global navigation satellite systems module, a memory unit, an accelerometer, an autonomous power source, and a real-time clock via standard data transmission buses.

Also, the first microcontroller is configured to connect via standard data transmission buses to an RFID device for reading and transmitting data from the telematics unit to integrated stations for automated receipt and diagnostics of rolling stock at marshalling yards.

The nRF52832 microcontroller is used as the second microcontroller, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module. Alternatively, the nRF52810 microcontroller can also be used.

For microcontrollers of this type, the Bluetooth antenna is made topologically on the area of the surface conductive layer of the printed circuit board.

The microcontroller based on the nRF52832 chip has high performance, high communication speed, a large number of peripheral devices, minimal power consumption and an operating frequency range of 2360-2500 MHz (for example, the Internet resource https://russianblogs.com/article/7496883468/, viewed on 15.07 .2022). In this case, a wireless connection channel is implemented, which significantly minimizes power consumption compared to using separate ready-made Bluetooth modules, as is the case with the closest analogue.

Using this microcontroller between the telematics unit and the information collection module, it is possible to organize a Bluetooth version 5.3 connection.

Thus, the telematics unit ensures the receipt of information from sensors that control the state of the freight car, and the transmission via a communication channel (GSM) of a complete array of data in a universal (standardized) format to an external server for their subsequent integration, storage, processing and use in a convenient format. The telematics unit binds the registered data on the state of the car to world time and positioning (current coordinates) determined from the signals of the global navigation satellite systems GLONASS/GPS. At the same time, the telematics unit operates smoothly with low power consumption and high-quality communication between sensors and the server.

The telematic system for monitoring the operation of freight cars shown in the figure contains the inventive telematics unit 1 and the information collection module 2 connected to it via Bluetooth wireless communication.

The inventive telematics unit 1 contains the first microcontroller 3 connected via standard data buses (for example, RS-485) with the second microcontroller 4, integrally including the Bluetooth module 5.

In this case, the first microcontroller 3 is connected via standard data buses to a GSM 6 cellular communication module, a GLONASS/GPS 7 global navigation satellite systems module, a memory unit 8, an accelerometer 9, an autonomous power source 10, a real-time clock 11, and an RFID device. 12.

The second microcontroller 4, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module 5, is wirelessly connected to a similar Bluetooth module 13 built into the microcontroller 14, which is part of the information collection module 2. Sensors for monitoring the state of the car are connected to this microcontroller 14 via standard data transmission buses. 15, as well as a memory block 16 and an autonomous power supply 17.

The microcontroller 3 of the telematics unit 1 provides control of the geolocation of a freight car (using the GLONASS/GPS 7 global navigation satellite systems module), detection of shock loads on a freight car (using an accelerometer 9), transmission via communication channels to an external server of telemetry data on the state of the car with reference to world time (via GSM 6 cellular communication module and real time clock 11). In the absence of cellular communication, the accumulation of data occurs in the memory block 8 with the subsequent transmission of data when the connection is restored.

In the design of the telematics unit 1, a three-axis accelerometer 9 of the LIS3DH type is used, which makes it possible to register the values of accelerations in the longitudinal direction, vertical and lateral accelerations under external influence on a freight car.

Through the use of the accelerometer 9 control:

- improper operation of freight cars in the process of collision of cars during shunting operations, including when disbanding from marshalling yards;

- monitoring of the condition of wheel pairs of freight car bogies with major wheel defects (slider, chipping, etc.) during operation is also carried out.

The accelerometer 9 is located inside the telematics unit 1 - on the board, which is provided with sealing isolation (encapsulation) of all its elements without exception from the external environment by means of filling with a compound.

Through the use of sensors 15 connected to the microcontroller 14 as part of the information collection module 2, the following is monitored:

- exceeding the standard indicator for carrying capacity (overload);

- heating of the axlebox housing, heating of the cassette-type bearing housing or adapter;

- pressure in the brake system (brake cylinder, reserve tank);

- control of devices for draining cargo from the boiler of a tank car (tank container);

- position of the zone of increased risk of failures in the side frame of the freight car bogie (based on the registration of increased stresses in these zones when the bogie moves under the car as part of the train);

- unauthorized opening of a closed type car;

- derailment of a freight car (notification of a derailment of a freight car).

In the telematics unit 1, an RFID device 12 is used to read and transmit data from the telematics unit to integrated stations for automated receipt and diagnostics of rolling stock at marshalling yards. When an event occurs: "exceeding the threshold value of acceleration built into the technical solution of the accelerometer" in the RFID device 12, the event parameters are stored. The classification of the stored data is made as follows: "0" - operation of a freight car under standard conditions; "1" - operation of a freight car with a deviation from the established standards.

The diagnostic data transmitted from the telematics unit 1 to the integrated stations for automated reception and diagnostics of rolling stock at marshalling yards contains:

- inventory number of the freight car;

- criterion for evaluating diagnostic data ("0" or "1");

- attitude to the transmitted diagnostic data (impact loads on the freight car; deviation from the monitoring parameters of the parameters required by the customer, including monitoring the technical condition of the freight car - with the expansion of functional tasks during the operation of the telematics system).

The telematics system, containing the telematics unit 1 and the information collection module 2, can be located on the body, the frame of the freight car, as well as on the bogies of the freight cars.

The telematics system is in an energy-saving mode during operation. In the event of excessive shock loads on a freight car during operation, the telematics system is automatically switched on and the cycle of collecting, storing (in the absence of a GSM cellular connection) and transmitting data to the server is started. Registration of data on loads on a freight car that occurs during operation is performed when threshold values are reached. At the same time, the security and protection of data transmission is ensured using means of end-to-end data encryption.

The microcontrollers 3 and 4 of the telematics unit 1 provide for the possibility of rebooting (hardware reset and restart) and remote updating of the firmware by a command received via the GSM mobile cellular communication channel. The same possibility of rebooting and updating the software is provided for the microcontroller 14 of the information collection module 2.

During operation, the telematics system, which includes the claimed telematics unit 1, performs the following functions:

- control of the movement and location of a freight car / tank container (with the accumulation of a data archive if it is impossible to transfer them in the absence of cellular communication with the telematics system and subsequent data transmission when cellular communication with the telematics system is restored);

- monitoring of operations in terms of improper operation of a freight car / tank container (with the accumulation of a data archive if it is impossible to transfer them in the absence of cellular communication with the telematics system and subsequent data transmission when cellular communication with the telematics system is restored);

- control of shock effects on a freight car/tank container (during shunting operations, loading and unloading operations with tank containers);

- monitoring the state of a freight car according to the parameters taken from the sensors connected to the information collection module;

- collection and transmission of data, with reference to world time, in order to further control the actual mileage of a freight car and analyze recorded events.

At the same time, due to the use of the second microcontroller 4 as part of the telematics unit 1 with a built-in Bluetooth module 5, as well as the microcontroller 14 with a built-in Bluetooth module 13 as part of the information collection module 2, it is possible to wirelessly connect at a sufficient distance in the absence of “line-of-sight” conditions and significantly lower power consumption.

Thus, the claimed utility model significantly expands the functionality of both the telematics unit and the telematics system for monitoring the state of a freight car.

Claims (3)

1. The telematics unit of the telematics system for monitoring the operation of freight cars, characterized in that it contains the first microcontroller connected to a GSM cellular communication module, a module for global navigation satellite systems GLONASS / GPS, a memory unit, an accelerometer, an autonomous power source, a real-time clock, while the first microcontroller is connected via a data transmission bus to the second microcontroller, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module, configured to be connected via wireless communication with a similar microcontroller with a Bluetooth module, connected via data transmission buses to the wagon condition monitoring sensors. 2. The telematics unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second microcontroller, which integrally includes a Bluetooth module, is based on the nRF52832 chip. 3. The telematics unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to connect via standard data buses with an RFID device for reading and transmitting data from the telematics unit to integrated stations for automated receipt and diagnostics of rolling stock at marshalling yards.

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