RU2696046C1 - System for automated control of locomotive speed in approach zone with unguarded and non-serviced crossings - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of railway automation to control the speed of a locomotive in the approach zone with unguarded and non-serviced crossings. System includes a memory unit in which a digital route map is stored with the crossing elevations and control points in the approaching section, automatic speed control program, GLONASS/GPS satellite radio navigation system equipment, by means of which determining current track ordinate and speed, control unit generating control signal for train braking system actuator, at that, the traffic safety function through the crossing is fully realized on the locomotive by means of the control unit by means of the automated speed reduction in the approach to moving to the safe level approach based on the use of the track ordinate and the speed determined using the GLONASS/GPS equipment, supplying an automatic sound signal to the crossing, checking driver's vigilance control and switching to semi-automatic mode of locomotive maintenance in the zone of line visibility of crossing, which provides the driver with the possibility of taking final situational decision in the crossing area based on the actual situation.

EFFECT: higher safety of movement on unguarded and non-serviced crossings.

1 cl, 2 dwg

Description

Automated speed control system for a locomotive in a proximity zone with unguarded and maintenance-free crossings

The proposed system relates to the field of railway transport and can be used as part of an integrated locomotive safety device in a rolling stock locomotive.

The prior art safe locomotive integrated complex (patent for invention RU 2474507 C2 IPC B61L 25/04, published: 02/10/2013). It provides for the function of automatic aiming service braking in front of the place of an obstacle (moving, border of a block section, etc.). This function is implemented based on the use of information about the current speed and the ordinate of the train in the automatic braking zone, which comes from a locomotive electromechanical sensor of track and speed. In addition, the system includes: a computer for automatic braking control and a central processor module. The system calculator provides calculation of the programmed curve of automatic speed control in the approach zone with an obstacle, taking into account the plan and track profile in this zone and the wheel-rail adhesion coefficient. In the module of the central processor, the actual train speed is compared with the program speed in a given ordinate of the track in the zone of convergence with the obstacle. If an unacceptable deviation between the actual and program speed is detected, one of two commands is generated in the central processor module: the emergency braking command or the service braking command, which are further processed by the actuators of the locomotive braking system.

The satellite navigation system module with an electronic path map is also part of a secure locomotive integrated complex. Information on the measured radio navigation and navigation parameters obtained using this module is actually used only to indicate the fact of following the ordinates of objects that are recorded in the electronic map on the operator’s scoreboard, as well as to evaluate the current time when monitoring the executed movement schedule. Information from the output of the satellite navigation system module is not used in the process of automatically controlling the speed of movement in the zone of approach to the obstacle.

Thus, the disadvantages of this complex are:

- GLONASS / GPS equipment (i.e. satellite navigation system module) are not actually used in the process of automatic speed control and assessment of the automatic braking zone;

- the high cost of serial equipment of locomotives (as of now, 1500 out of 16,000 locomotive units are equipped with the BLOCK system).

A technical solution is known - a collision avoidance device for trains and similar transport systems (patent for invention RU 2 333 860 C2 MPK B61L 27/00, published: 09/20/2008), in which an automatic sound signal is sent from the train to the level crossing to alert about approaching by train. The invention comprises a central processor device in the form of a control and control unit, a receiver with a satellite antenna for receiving signals from the GPS global positioning system, an interface of a locomotive crew of the required power and range with a directional antenna and an input / output system, a brake engaging device associated with a brake mechanism for locomotive speed control, a message display device having means for audio and / or visual alarm, and a power system, preferably with consisting of a battery and a transformer, all units and devices of the system are functionally interconnected.

This technical solution involves the installation of collision avoidance devices in a locomotive and brake car, as well as the installation of a collision avoidance device at a level crossing. The collision avoidance function is implemented through the interaction of these devices over the air with the transmission of the necessary control commands to the executive part of the brake system of the train. The signal receiver of the GPS satellite navigation system with an antenna is used to obtain information about the executed traffic schedule, the actual distance between the locomotives of different trains and if locomotive movements are detected along the same path, then this information is used to automatically alert drivers of a dangerous situation and automatically turn on the braking .

The disadvantage of this technical solution is that it is supposed to use additional collision avoidance devices at guarded and unguarded crossings, which leads to additional irrational costs for maintenance of infrastructure facilities at crossings.

The signal-monitoring complex of the railway crossing is known (patent for utility model of the Russian Federation No. 119 314, IPC B61L 29/00, published: 08/20/2012). The complex consists of a warning sign, video cameras and supports of horizontal red lights, with additionally installed vertical yellow and green lights as obstacle warning and monitoring devices from the side of the road. The complex ensures traffic safety through moving by increasing the vigilance of vehicle drivers.

The disadvantages are: a high degree of influence of the subjective factor on the safety of movement on moving; the impossibility of automating the control of the speed of rolling stock when approaching a move; the cost of installing and maintaining the supports of traffic lights at unguarded and maintenance-free crossings.

A known system for protecting railroad crossings (patent for utility model of the Russian Federation No. 134889, IPC B61L 29/00, published: 11/27/2013). The system consists of traffic lights, a system of electromechanical obstacles, an obstacle detection unit, a locomotive voice informer, a floor loudspeaker, a travel box and a video camera.

The disadvantages are: the cost of moving equipment with a system of monitoring and blocking devices and track sensors, the inability to prevent severe consequences when leaving a motor vehicle for a crossing with traffic jams; the inability to implement automatic speed control of rolling stock in the area approaching the move; a high degree of influence of the subjective factor on the safety of movement on moving.

Known electrical complex for preventing emergencies at level crossings (patent for utility model of the Russian Federation No. 94202, IPC B61L 29/00, published: 05/20/2010). The complex consists of video cameras with a noise reduction image processing unit for fixing the presence (absence) of an obstacle at the crossing and for estimating the expected time of entry of the vehicle to the crossing, the control unit for the crossing signaling, the registration unit of the train to determine the speed of the train and the expected time of its arrival a situation analysis unit in which the degree of danger of the current situation in the crossing zone and the transmitter is assessed. In addition, the complex is supplemented with locomotive devices: a signal receiver from the moving part, three warning light indicators (green - moving is free, yellow - speed reduction is recommended and red - emergency braking before moving) and an emergency registration unit.

The disadvantages are: technical complexity and the high cost of the complex, which makes it inappropriate to use it on uncooled and maintenance-free crossings; insufficient traffic safety in the crossing area, both for vehicles and rolling stock; the high impact of the subjective factor on traffic safety in the moving zone; lack of a function for automating the process of regulating the speed of a train in a section approaching a move.

From the presented utility models, it follows that these methods and methods of ensuring safety at level crossings have a number of common drawbacks: a high degree of influence of the subjective factor on road safety at level crossings; lack of automation function for regulating the speed of rolling stock when approaching a move; high costs for the installation and maintenance of additional devices and systems at unguarded and maintenance-free crossings.

The closest technical solutions selected as a prototype used the latter (patent for a utility model of the Russian Federation No. 134889, IPC B61L 29/00, published: 11.27.2013), because it contains the principle of transferring primary responsibility for the process of controlling speed in the zone moving from the path to the locomotive. This can potentially be used to reduce the cost of equipment for unguarded crossings and at the same time to automate the process of traffic regulation in the crossing zone with a decrease in the degree of influence of the subjective factor on traffic safety in unguarded and unattended crossings.

The objective of the proposed system for automated control of the speed of a locomotive in the proximity zone with unguarded and unattended crossings is to ensure traffic safety at unregulated and unattended crossings, by automatically reducing the speed of the rolling stock in the area approaching the move, depending on the current situation at the crossing, without installing on relocation of additional devices through the use of satellite radio navigation system.

The specified problem is solved as follows.

The system of automated speed control of a locomotive in a proximity zone with unprotected and unattended crossings includes a memory block that stores a digital track map with coordinates of crossings and control points at the approach to moving level, a program for automatic speed control, and GLONASS satellite radio navigation system equipment / GPS, with the help of which the current directional ordinate and speed are determined, and a control unit that generates an analog control signal for the actuator ISM of the brake system of the train; the function of ensuring the safety of movement through the crossing is fully implemented on the locomotive through the control unit by automatically reducing the speed in the area approaching the crossing to a safe level based on the use of the track ordinate and speed determined using GLONASS / GPS equipment; an automatic sound signal is used in the direction of moving, checking the vigilance control of the driver, and switching to a semi-automatic mode of maintaining the locomotive in the line of sight of the move, taking into account the actual situation at the crossing and making a final situational decision by the driver in the moving zone.

The proposed system is illustrated by drawings.

In FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the sequential operation of an automated speed control system. In FIG. 1 is indicated: 1) - a digital map of the route, including 1.1 - travel ordinates of crossings, virtual obstruction lights and levels of recommended speeds; 2) GPS navigation receiver - GLONASS, which includes 2.1 current track ordinates of the train and its current speed; 3) auto-driving system; 4) speed control program; 5) control unit; 6) sound signal (whistle); 7) locomotive driver; 8) vigilance control; 9) brake system; 10) locomotive engine.

In FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the movement of a locomotive to move with a graph of the change in the speed of the rolling stock. In FIG. 2 indicated: - current track ordinate of the rolling stock; - initial ordinate of the rolling stock; - - zone of approach with moving; - - the line of sight of the move; schedule for controlling the speed of rolling stock under the influence of automation and the driver; speed control options, depending on the situation at the crossroads.

Infrastructure objects and railway tracks, as well as proximity zones with level crossings and control points for speed control and reduction are transferred to a digital map of track 1, which is stored in the memory block of the automatic speed control system 3. The current track ordinate of the train and its speed are estimated in continuous time from using the equipment of the satellite radio navigation system GLONASS 2. The control unit 5 of the system evaluates the current location of the train, its speed and makes a decision about the beginning and windows AANII automatic braking of the train, and the driver is performed notification of the need to intervene in the process of conducting a train by running driver alertness monitoring device 8 with automatic feed horn 6 (1 long whistle) towards moving vehicles to alert drivers. The driver 7 is entrusted with making the final decision about the beginning of an increase in speed when moving, or about the need for braking before moving by means of service braking at the end of an automatic decrease in speed before moving to a safe level. Thus, the function of ensuring traffic safety is transferred from moving devices to a locomotive with automation of automatic reduction of speed before moving and with the possibility of final control of the situation at moving by the driver.

The system of automated control of the speed of a locomotive in the zone of proximity with unguarded and maintenance-free crossings is mathematically tested and graphically expressed in the application for mathematical and engineering calculations Mathcad.

As a result of the application of the automated locomotive speed reduction system, traffic safety is ensured at level crossings, an increase in throughput at unguarded and unattended crossings, and a reduction in the severity of the consequences of traffic accidents at level crossings.

Claims (1)

The system of automated speed control of a locomotive in a proximity zone with unprotected and maintenance-free crossings, including a memory block that stores a digital map of the track, with ordinates of crossings and control points at the approaching level, a program for automatic speed control, equipment of the GLONASS satellite radio navigation system / GPS, with the help of which the current directional ordinate and speed are determined, and a control unit that generates an analog control signal for the actuator train brake system an automatic sound signal in the direction of moving, checking the vigilance control of the driver and the transition to a semi-automatic mode of conducting a locomotive in the area pit visibility of moving based on the actual situation on the move and making a final decision of situational machinist in the moving area.

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