US3808426A - Electromagnetic signalling system - Google Patents

Electromagnetic signalling system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3808426A
US3808426A US00249584A US24958472A US3808426A US 3808426 A US3808426 A US 3808426A US 00249584 A US00249584 A US 00249584A US 24958472 A US24958472 A US 24958472A US 3808426 A US3808426 A US 3808426A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
signalling
vehicle
transmitter
trackway
transmission
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00249584A
Inventor
M Birkin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British Railways Board
Original Assignee
British Railways Board
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Railways Board filed Critical British Railways Board
Priority to US00249584A priority Critical patent/US3808426A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3808426A publication Critical patent/US3808426A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L3/00—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
    • B61L3/02—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control
    • B61L3/08—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically
    • B61L3/12—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using radio waves
    • B61L3/125—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using radio waves using short-range radio transmission

Definitions

  • a signalling system comprises a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a transmitter is arranged in each of said sections and 52] US. Cl.
  • a receiver is positioned on the vehicle and is arranged to receive the transmission from [56] Ref renc Cit d each of the transmitters, means being provided to en- UNITED STATES PATENTS able said receiver to pick out only the signalling information from-the transmitter relating to the particular 3,539,924 I 1/1970 Daskalakis et al 325/51 Signalling Section in which the vehicle is travelling.
  • the present invention relates to an electromagnetic signalling system.
  • a signalling system comprising a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a transmitter being arranged in each of said sections and adapted to transmit signalling information to a vehicle travelling on the trackway.
  • a receiver is positioned on the vehicle and arranged to receive the transmission from each of said transmitters, means being provided to enable said receiver to pick out only the signalling information from the transmitter relating to the particular signalling section in which the vehicle is travelling.
  • the invention has particular application to tracked vehicles such as railway trains but can equally be applied to non-tracked vehicles.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a railway signalling system.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter and a receiver
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a railway signalling system constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • a train travels on a trackway 11 which is divided into'sequential signalling sections 12 and 13.
  • a signal which indicates to the train whether it is permitted to enter that sectionof the track.
  • this signal is in the form of a directional S.H.F. or other form of microwave transmitter 15, for example incorporating a Gunn diode, which is modulated by the signalling information and also by information corresponding to the signal identity.
  • the transmission from the transmitter 15 is picked up by a receiver 16 on the train and the information con tained in the signal transmission is acted upon.
  • a transponder 17 is positioned adjacent the track 11 at the beginning of each signalling section.
  • This transponder can be either an active or a passive device of known type e.g., as described in British Pat. Nos. 1,187,130 or 1,068,145. and contains coded information relating to the identity of the signal ahead. This information is transmitted to a suitable receiver on the train as it passes.
  • Conventional colour light signals 18 may also be provided at each signal to provide a visual indication corresponding to the information being transmitted by the transmitter 15.
  • each transponder l7 comprises a coded number, in binary digital form, which uniquely identifies the transponder.
  • Each transponder 17 will transmit a different number from all the other transponders along a given stretch of railway track.
  • each of the transmitters l5 also train borne a coded identified number which corresponds to the number given to the equipment by the preceding transponder 17.
  • the traiborne equipment only acts upon the information contained in the telegram if the coded identity of the telegram corresponds exactly with the coded identity of the transponder which has just been passed.
  • the object of using a uniquely, identified transponder 'to enable the train borne equipment to pick out the appropriate transmission, is to prevent the equipment from acting upon information contained in the telegram from a transmitter 15 in the vicinity, which relates either to another track or another signalling section some way in the distance, and which does not relate to the next signalling section to be traversed by the vehicle.
  • FIG. 2 shows the transmitter 15 and receiver 16 in more detail.
  • a command signal to be transmitted is fed in digital form into a modulator 19 which is connected to a microwave power generator 20.
  • This command signal is preferably in the form of a digitally coded signal derived from a read-only memory store, the appropriate memory being activated in dependence upon the information, such as signal aspect, to be transmitted to the train.
  • An appropriate circuit arrangement is described in the specification of Birkin US, Pat. application No. 188,065 filed Oct. 12, 1971, for Improvements Relating to Track to Train Communication Systems?
  • the F.M. output from the generator 20 is fed to a transmitting antenna 21 from which the signal is transmitted in the form of a continuously repeated telegram.
  • the receiver 16 comprises an antenna 22 which feeds into a mixer circuit 23.
  • a local oscillator 24 operating at a fixed frequency also feeds into the mixer 23.
  • the signal from the mixer is amplified in an amplifier 25 passed to an F .M. limiter and detector circuit 26.
  • This circuit 26 detects the coded digital information contained in the transmitted signal and actuates an appropriate output or outputs to perform the necessary control functions in dependence upon the information contained in the signal.
  • a suitable detector and control circuit is described in Birkin US. Pat. application No. 214,889 filed Jan. 3, 1972, for Improved Signalling System.
  • the train may be in a position to receive a transmission from more than one transmitter 15. Normally as the transmission. would be line of sight the nearest transmitter 15 facing the train gives the strongest carrier level and would be captured and used by the train. If however this transmission is further in the distance the identity of the signal would not match that given to the train by the transponder l7 and a safe failure would be declared.
  • An essential feature of the ability to capture the transmission is the use of constant amplitude modula- .tion such as phase or frequency modulation, (angle modulation.)
  • signal transmitted by the transmitter is divided into two sequentially transmitted sections, each relating to one of the two lines 11a or 11b and each of which includes a coded portion which corresponds to the identity of the transponder 17a or 17b for that particular line.
  • the receiving equipment on the train picks out the information relative to the running line which it was traversing. 4
  • the transmitter 15 and the receiver 16 each be in the form of a combined transmitter and receiver. in this way.
  • information such as vehicle identity, vehicle speed etc can be transmitted by the transmitter on the vehicle and picked up by the receiver on the signal 14 and passed to a suitable information display in a signal box for example.
  • a signalling system comprising a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a directional radio transmitter arranged in each of said sections, each said transmitter being operative to effect a transmission containing signalling information including an address to a vehicle travelling on the trackway, a radio receiver positioned on said vehicle and arranged to receive the transmission from each of said radio transmitters, and localized means positioned adjacent the trackway for providing to the vehicle address information uniquely identifying the transmission which relates to the particular signalling section located in advance of that in which the vehicle is travelling, thereby to enable said receiver to pick out only the J signalling information contained in that transmission.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)

Abstract

A signalling system comprises a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a transmitter is arranged in each of said sections and transmits signalling information to a vehicle travelling on the trackway, a receiver is positioned on the vehicle and is arranged to receive the transmission from each of the transmitters, means being provided to enable said receiver to pick out only the signalling information from the transmitter relating to the particular signalling section in which the vehicle is travelling.

Description

[ Apr. 30, 1974 ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALLIN SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Birkin, Michael 8., Derby, England [73] Assignee: British Railways Board, London,
England [22] Filed: May 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,584
Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Libman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Elliott I. Pollock 57 ABSTRACT A signalling system comprises a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a transmitter is arranged in each of said sections and 52] US. Cl. 246/30, 325/51 transmits signalling informatidn to a vehicle travelling [58] Field of Search 246/30; 325/52, 51 on the trackway, a receiver is positioned on the vehicle and is arranged to receive the transmission from [56] Ref renc Cit d each of the transmitters, means being provided to en- UNITED STATES PATENTS able said receiver to pick out only the signalling information from-the transmitter relating to the particular 3,539,924 I 1/1970 Daskalakis et al 325/51 Signalling Section in which the vehicle is travelling.
FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 721,323 4/1942 Germany 246/30 3 Chums 3 Drawmg TRANSMITTERS l5 /5 75 TRANSMITTER /0 5 7 RECEIVER 6 RAcKwAY 1 2 1" 9 TRANSPONDER TRANSPONDER I J; 7 I
73 T/RANSPONDER ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALLING SYSTEM The present invention relates to an electromagnetic signalling system.
Present methods of automatic train control involve the use of signalling loops in the forms of conductors laid adjacent the rails of the railway track and which pass infonnation to the train via an inductive pickup mounted on the train. These conductor loops are expensive, interfere with track maintenance and are vulnerable to damage by either accident or vandalism.
According to the present invention there is provided a signalling system comprising a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a transmitter being arranged in each of said sections and adapted to transmit signalling information to a vehicle travelling on the trackway. A receiver is positioned on the vehicle and arranged to receive the transmission from each of said transmitters, means being provided to enable said receiver to pick out only the signalling information from the transmitter relating to the particular signalling section in which the vehicle is travelling.
The invention has particular application to tracked vehicles such as railway trains but can equally be applied to non-tracked vehicles.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a railway signalling system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter and a receiver,
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a railway signalling system constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
- As shown in FIG. 1 a train travels on a trackway 11 which is divided into'sequential signalling sections 12 and 13. At the beginning of each signallingsection is positioned a signal which indicates to the train whether it is permitted to enter that sectionof the track. In the present invention this signal is in the form of a directional S.H.F. or other form of microwave transmitter 15, for example incorporating a Gunn diode, which is modulated by the signalling information and also by information corresponding to the signal identity.
The transmission from the transmitter 15 is picked up by a receiver 16 on the train and the information con tained in the signal transmission is acted upon.
A transponder 17 is positioned adjacent the track 11 at the beginning of each signalling section. This transponder can be either an active or a passive device of known type e.g., as described in British Pat. Nos. 1,187,130 or 1,068,145. and contains coded information relating to the identity of the signal ahead. This information is transmitted to a suitable receiver on the train as it passes.
Conventional colour light signals 18 may also be provided at each signal to provide a visual indication corresponding to the information being transmitted by the transmitter 15.
The information passed to the train borne equipment by each transponder l7, comprisesa coded number, in binary digital form, which uniquely identifies the transponder. Each transponder 17 will transmit a different number from all the other transponders along a given stretch of railway track. The messages, or telegrams,
issued to the receiving equipment carried by the train by each of the transmitters l5 also train borne a coded identified number which corresponds to the number given to the equipment by the preceding transponder 17. The traiborne equipment only acts upon the information contained in the telegram if the coded identity of the telegram corresponds exactly with the coded identity of the transponder which has just been passed.
. The object of using a uniquely, identified transponder 'to enable the train borne equipment to pick out the appropriate transmission, is to prevent the equipment from acting upon information contained in the telegram from a transmitter 15 in the vicinity, which relates either to another track or another signalling section some way in the distance, and which does not relate to the next signalling section to be traversed by the vehicle.
FIG. 2 shows the transmitter 15 and receiver 16 in more detail. In the transmitter 15, a command signal to be transmitted is fed in digital form into a modulator 19 which is connected to a microwave power generator 20. This command signal is preferably in the form of a digitally coded signal derived from a read-only memory store, the appropriate memory being activated in dependence upon the information, such as signal aspect, to be transmitted to the train. An appropriate circuit arrangement is described in the specification of Birkin US, Pat. application No. 188,065 filed Oct. 12, 1971, for Improvements Relating to Track to Train Communication Systems? The F.M. output from the generator 20 is fed to a transmitting antenna 21 from which the signal is transmitted in the form of a continuously repeated telegram.
The receiver 16 comprises an antenna 22 which feeds into a mixer circuit 23. A local oscillator 24 operating at a fixed frequency also feeds into the mixer 23. The signal from the mixer is amplified in an amplifier 25 passed to an F .M. limiter and detector circuit 26. This circuit 26 detects the coded digital information contained in the transmitted signal and actuates an appropriate output or outputs to perform the necessary control functions in dependence upon the information contained in the signal. A suitable detector and control circuit is described in Birkin US. Pat. application No. 214,889 filed Jan. 3, 1972, for Improved Signalling System.
As shown in the drawing, the train may be in a position to receive a transmission from more than one transmitter 15. Normally as the transmission. would be line of sight the nearest transmitter 15 facing the train gives the strongest carrier level and would be captured and used by the train. If however this transmission is further in the distance the identity of the signal would not match that given to the train by the transponder l7 and a safe failure would be declared.
An essential feature of the ability to capture the transmission is the use of constant amplitude modula- .tion such as phase or frequency modulation, (angle modulation.)
receiving equipment (similar to 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2) signal transmitted by the transmitter is divided into two sequentially transmitted sections, each relating to one of the two lines 11a or 11b and each of which includes a coded portion which corresponds to the identity of the transponder 17a or 17b for that particular line. The receiving equipment on the train picks out the information relative to the running line which it was traversing. 4
As an extension of the system just described, it would be possible for the transmitter 15 and the receiver 16 to each be in the form of a combined transmitter and receiver. in this way. information such as vehicle identity, vehicle speed etc can be transmitted by the transmitter on the vehicle and picked up by the receiver on the signal 14 and passed to a suitable information display in a signal box for example.
I claim:
1. A signalling system comprising a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a directional radio transmitter arranged in each of said sections, each said transmitter being operative to effect a transmission containing signalling information including an address to a vehicle travelling on the trackway, a radio receiver positioned on said vehicle and arranged to receive the transmission from each of said radio transmitters, and localized means positioned adjacent the trackway for providing to the vehicle address information uniquely identifying the transmission which relates to the particular signalling section located in advance of that in which the vehicle is travelling, thereby to enable said receiver to pick out only the J signalling information contained in that transmission.
2. A signalling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein 7 sequentially.

Claims (3)

1. A signalling system comprising a trackway which is divided into a plurality of sequential signalling sections, a directional radio transmitter arranged in each of said sections, each said transmitter being operative to effect a transmission containing signalling information including an address to a vehicle travelling on the trackway, a radio receiver positioned on said vehicle and arranged to receive the transmission from each of said radio transmitters, and localized means positioned adjacent the trackway for providing to the vehicle address information uniquely identifying the transmission which relates to the particular signalling section located in advance of that in which the vehicle is travelling, thereby to enable said receiver to pick out only the signalling information contained in that transmission.
2. A signalling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said localized means is a transponder.
3. A signalling system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the trackway is divided in each signalling section into two or more adjacent tracks each providing a path for a vehicle, a single radio transmitter being provided to transmit signalling information for each of said tracks sequentially.
US00249584A 1972-05-02 1972-05-02 Electromagnetic signalling system Expired - Lifetime US3808426A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00249584A US3808426A (en) 1972-05-02 1972-05-02 Electromagnetic signalling system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00249584A US3808426A (en) 1972-05-02 1972-05-02 Electromagnetic signalling system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3808426A true US3808426A (en) 1974-04-30

Family

ID=22944139

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00249584A Expired - Lifetime US3808426A (en) 1972-05-02 1972-05-02 Electromagnetic signalling system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3808426A (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2380929A1 (en) * 1977-02-22 1978-09-15 Siemens Ag DEVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION BETWEEN A CENTRAL CONNECTED TO A TRACK, IN PARTICULAR BY RAILWAY, AND VEHICLES TRAVELING ON THE TRACK
FR2640569A1 (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-22 Matra Transport Control transfer device for automatically controlled transport installation
EP0375553A1 (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-27 Matra Transport Transport system with an automatic vehicle movement control
GB2283873A (en) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-17 Telia Ab Railway communication and positioning system
US5461292A (en) * 1994-07-18 1995-10-24 Zondlo; Robert Remote controlled guidance system for working vehicle
US20080051969A1 (en) * 2006-08-25 2008-02-28 Alstom Transport Sa Vehicle regulated-control device with trimmed precision
US20150256232A1 (en) * 2012-09-20 2015-09-10 Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. Method for selection of received telegram in train wireless communications system

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE721323C (en) * 1941-01-10 1942-06-05 Aeg Device for monitoring the train movement by means of high frequency
US3539924A (en) * 1967-10-12 1970-11-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Zoned mobile radio telephone system

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE721323C (en) * 1941-01-10 1942-06-05 Aeg Device for monitoring the train movement by means of high frequency
US3539924A (en) * 1967-10-12 1970-11-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Zoned mobile radio telephone system

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2380929A1 (en) * 1977-02-22 1978-09-15 Siemens Ag DEVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION BETWEEN A CENTRAL CONNECTED TO A TRACK, IN PARTICULAR BY RAILWAY, AND VEHICLES TRAVELING ON THE TRACK
FR2640569A1 (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-22 Matra Transport Control transfer device for automatically controlled transport installation
EP0375553A1 (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-27 Matra Transport Transport system with an automatic vehicle movement control
GB2283873A (en) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-17 Telia Ab Railway communication and positioning system
GB2283873B (en) * 1993-11-08 1997-09-03 Telia Ab A communication and positioning system for use in a tracked trasportation system
US5461292A (en) * 1994-07-18 1995-10-24 Zondlo; Robert Remote controlled guidance system for working vehicle
US20080051969A1 (en) * 2006-08-25 2008-02-28 Alstom Transport Sa Vehicle regulated-control device with trimmed precision
US8224511B2 (en) 2006-08-25 2012-07-17 Alstom Transport Sa Vehicle regulated-control device with trimmed precision
US20150256232A1 (en) * 2012-09-20 2015-09-10 Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. Method for selection of received telegram in train wireless communications system
US9419690B2 (en) * 2012-09-20 2016-08-16 Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. Method for selection of received telegram in train wireless communications system

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1186741A (en) Intermittent facility for transmitting information between a guideway and vehicles moving along this guideway
US3888437A (en) Vehicle control systems
US3937432A (en) Train control
US3964024A (en) Transponder for an automatic vehicle identification system
EP0341826B1 (en) A railway signalling system
US5415369A (en) Railroad in-cab signaling with automatic train stop enforcement utilizing radio frequency digital transmissions
US3805056A (en) Vehicle program control systems
US3700886A (en) Communication systems between a trackway and vehicles
US4296400A (en) Installation for control of a traffic light system by vehicles having an automatic location determination
US3740549A (en) Remote signaling system for train control
US3808426A (en) Electromagnetic signalling system
US4742460A (en) Vehicle protection system
US3774025A (en) Vehicle control system
KR101472992B1 (en) Route control system and the method of electronic blocking type with train model in the Nearsurface-LRT
US2636113A (en) Fixed route vehicular location and communicating system
US3544788A (en) Position indication and control system for rail vehicle
US3787679A (en) Train communication system
EP0479529A2 (en) Vehicle control system
US3532877A (en) Railway track signalling system
GB1260315A (en) High frequency track circuits for railroads at track switches and crossovers
US2641688A (en) Radio echo pulse system for vehicles following a fixed route
GB2248512A (en) Vehicle control system
GB1485420A (en) Vehicular transportation system
US3868575A (en) Limited-range radiocommunication system with direction-indicating signaling means
GB1337088A (en) Moving object automatic operation system