WO2006021977A1

WO2006021977A1 - New collision prevention mechanism for railway vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2006021977A1
Application number: PCT/IN2005/000284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Prasanta Ray
Original assignee: Prasanta Ray
Priority date: 2004-08-27
Filing date: 2005-08-25
Publication date: 2006-03-02

Abstract

An improved system for prevention of collision between at least one risky object (1 ) or risky spot (2) and at least one railbound vehicle and/or between vehicles is disclosed comprising a microprocessor, a sensor, transmitter/receiver and warning means on every vehicle and ever risky spot (2). Each vehicle, each segment of a monitorable railway track and each risky spo (2) is assigned a vehicle identifier, segment identifier (ABCD4321 , ABFG1234, PQRS7777 and/or risky spot identifier (SPZZ6006), respectively. The sensors register the segmen identifiers (ABCD4321 , ABFG1234, PQRS7777) and/or risky spot identifiers (SPZZ6006 which are converted and stored in the microprocessors as coordinates. Coordinate data ar continuously compared to stored reference data within the microprocessor and continuousl exchanged over wireless transmission/receiver means between vehicles and/or betwee vehicles and risky spots (2). When the comparison of data indicates a probability of collisio between vehicles or between vehicles and risky spots (2), warning means and/or brakin means are automatically activated on the vehicles.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a collision prevention system for railway vehicles. The invention more particularly relates to an improved collision prevention system for railway vehicles having a high resolution to distinguish between the proximally disposed segments of a railway track. —

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art signaling systeiηs used as a collision prevention mechanism for railway vehicles basically operate- on the transmission and reception of positional data by the vehicles where the positional data is generated via the use of artificial earth satellite systems constituting of a global positioning system (GPS). These prior art devices suffer from the problem of insufficient resolution leading to an inability to distinguish between the railway tracks situated in close proximity to one another.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved collision prevention system having a high resolution, which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved collision prevention system having a high resolution which incorporates the vehicle identifiers so as enable identification of the vehicles approaching probability of collision. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved collision prevention system having a high resolution, which additionally incorporates supplementary device to enable wireless transmission of data when line-of-sight wireless transmission of the system assumes an ineffective or inefficient mode.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved collision prevention system having a high resolution in which the microprocessor whether belonging to a vehicle, a risky object, and a risky spot being operable to- automatically and continually convert the data representing locations and movement of the vehicles on railway track into three-dimensional geographical coordinates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly there is provided in one aspect of the invention an improved system for prevention of collision between vehicles and/or between the vehicles, the system having high resolution to distinguish between atleast two proximally disposed segments of a monitorable railway track, the vehicles comprising every moving or stationary tram, trolley, locomotive, carriage and / or other vehicles . on the track, the monitorable railway track comprising a plurality of segments including free end and closed free loop segments, the atleast one risky spot includes buffer and loco shed, each vehicle, segment and risky spot being respectively assigned a vehicle identifier, segment and /or marker identifier, and object or spot identifier, the system comprising a microprocessor, a sensor, a transmitter, a receiver and a warning means each disposed on every vehicle and every risky object whether moving, stationery and/or having probability of arrival within a striking range of a monitorable railway track, the sensors being enabled to register marker identifiers and the object or spot identifiers and to transfer the data for storage in respective microprocessors memory, the microprocessors being operable to receive data of co-ordinates representing marker identifier and objects or spot identifier, process, store and periodically output the processed data, the microprocessors having memory pre-stored with reference data representing collision probability circumstances; the transmitters being operable to receive the processed data outputted from the microprocessors and record the time of transmission; the receivers on receipt of data relating to the marker identifiers, object or spot identifiers from the transmitters adaptable to record the time of data arrival and retransmit the data to the pre-stored reference data for further processing including comparing with the pre-stored reference data and outputting the data relating to the comparison; the warning means being activatable when the microprocessors outputs signals indicating probability of collision between the vehicles or between a vehicle and a risky object; and a braking means disposed on every vehicles being activatable when the microprocessors output signal indicating a near-certain probability of collision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

Fig. 1 - shows an exemplary railway network indicating plurality of segments including free end and closed free loop segments.

Fig. 2 - shows a railway network indicating risky object, risky spot, segment identifiers, object identifiers and marker identifies according to the invention. DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally comprises in carrying-out the following method steps :

- Continuously and automatically registering of three-dimensional geographical co-ordinates, referred to hereinafter as 'co-ordinates', of every train, trolley, locomotive, carriage or any other vehicle, referred to hereinafter as Vehicle' - moving and stationary - on a given railway network, via sensing, by atleast one sensing apparatus disposed aboard such vehicle, of data carried by plurality of markers placed alongside atleast one track of the railway network, such data represents, or is convertible to, the aforesaid co-ordinates;

- Identifying objects, referred to hereinafter as Visky objects', such as a buffer at the end of a railway track, and spots, referred to hereinafter as Yisky spots', such as a loco shed that does not permit ready entry of vehicles, that are considered to be risky from the point of view of a possible collision of vehicles with such risky objects;

- Continuously and automatically communicating via lines or wireless, of data representing the co-ordinates of the vehicles, the risky objects and the risky spots, among the vehicles, the risky objects and the risky spots;

- Continuously and automatically processing of such data representing co¬ ordinates of the vehicles, the risky objects and the risky spots, by the apparatus disposed aboard the vehicles, in the risky objects, and at the risky spots. The processed data represent the locations and movements of such vehicles.

- Continuously and automatically communicating to the operators and/or controllers of such vehicles, the data representing the locations and

₅ movements of the vehicles;

- activating an alarm mechanism provided abroad such vehicles, and / or on or in risky objects, and / or at risky spots when a probability of collision of one vehicle with another vehicle, or with a risky object, or unauthorized arrival of a vehicle at a risky spot, is reckoned by the apparatus disposed

¹⁰ and / or disposed on objects / spots, aboard such vehicles; and

- activating alarm mechanism, including braking mechanisms, aboard such vehicle or vehicles, and /or on or in risky objects and/or at risky spots, so as to bring the aforesaid vehicle or vehicles to a quick halt When a probability of collision is reckoned to be near-certain.

o g The various elements of a preferred embodiment of the invention are described below with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 that provide schematic illustrations.

A given railway network basically comprises a plurality of segments, each segment being a free length of track between two successive points of its. ₀ contact with another track or other tracks. If the segment has one end free, the segment comprises a free length between such free end and the first point of its contact with another track, reckoned from the free end. A closed free loop is a segment in itself, starting and terminating at the same point. In figure 1, AC, BC,, DD, EF, GH, BI, D, JK are a plurality of segments with AB, EF and GH having one end free, DD being a closed loop segment, and D representing three different, segments. Also shown in Figure 2 are a risky object (1), being a buffer at the end of a track, and a risky spot (2) being a loco shed.

Each segment is assigned a segment identifier (ABCD4321, ABFG 1234, PQRS. 7777). But it can be in any form, including alphabets, numerals, figures, symbols or other objects or shapes, including codes such as barcodes, or in any combination of these, or in any other form, such that such identifier is capable of being registered or sensed by optical, audio mechanical, electric, electro¬ mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic, and electronic sensing means.

Each risky object (1) and risky spot (2) is assigned an object identifier (OBXY 9090) and spot identifier (SPZZ 6006) respectively. ,

Along its entire length, each segment has a series of markers assigned with marker identifiers, integrated with, or built into, or fixed to, or inlaid QΓ embedded in, or adjacently disposed to each other being separated by intervals of length; such markers are referred to hereinafter as "markers'. Each marker is capable of being registered or sensed by the sensing means. Examples of a marker identifiers are ABCD 43210003, ABCD 43210002, ABCD 43210001, which is formed by the concatenation of the segment identifier, and a serial number beginning with 0001 for the first marker at one extremity of the segment and increasing by a fixed increment, e.g., 1, for each successive marker, till the other extremity of the segment. Figure 2 is an illustration of the arrangement of markers and marker identifiers, object identifiers and spot identifiers.

Each vehicle is provided with following components operable as under :

A microprocessor or computer, capable of receiving and processing data, and storing and outputting such data and the processed data. The microprocessor or computer has software that includes data that represents circumstances and situations where a collision or an unauthorized arrival, is considered probable with different degrees of probability, including a near-certainty, and also the data that is used to convert identifiers, not representing co-ordinates into co- ordinates.

A sensor, capable of registering or sensing the marker identifier (ABCD 43210001) of a marker, as it touches or passes it, and sending such marker identifier to the memory and/or storage of the microprocessor or computer, and/or a transmitter, aboard the vehicle.

A transmitter capable of transmitting, via wireless or lines such as wires cables, fibres or rails, data from the memory or storage of the microprocessor or computer, or from the sensor, over a range, referred to hereinafter as ^Λthe striking range', which is the range over which vigilance is considered necessary from the point of view of risk of collision between vehicles or between a vehicle and a risky object (1), or risk of unauthorized arrival of vehicles at a risky spot (2). A receiver capable of receiving, via wireless or lines such as wires, cables, fibres or rails, transmissions from transmitters, as aforesaid and described below, within the aforesaid striking range.

An alarm mechanism.

An automatic braking mechanism that, when activated, brings the vehicle to a quick halt.

The risky objects, the risky spots are simultaneously provided with identical and compatable components to those disposed on the vehicles. Further, a device of terrestrial relays and/or boosters and/or repeaters, and/or similar devices, and/or an artificial earth or a set of artificial earth satellites, that enables wireless transmissions from the transmitters to reach receivers over the aforesaid striking range, if and when line-of-sight wireless transmission and reception is not possible or is inefficient is provided.

The operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, described hereinabove is illustrated hereinbelow:

When the sensor aboard a vehicle - moving or stationary - touches or goes past a marker, it registers its marker identifier and stores it in the microprocessor's or computer's memory and/or storage. If the vehicle is stationary to start with, its operator either moves it past a marker before making it stationary, to allow its sensor to register the marker's identifier, or has the nearest marker's identifier otherwise entered in the microprocessor's or computer memory and/or storage. Also, if the marker identifiers do not represents co-ordinates, then the software converts such marker identifiers into such co-ordinates and stores such co¬ ordinates in the microprocessor's or computer's memory and/or storage,

On receipt of a marker identifier, the vehicle's microprocessor or computer sends it, or the corresponding co-ordinates, to its transmitter, and continues to send it at intervals of time, till it receives a new marker identifier. The same process with all the subsequent new marker identifier, is repeated. Thus, a stationary vehicle's transmitter too keeps on receiving marker identifiers, or the corresponding co-ordinates, at intervals of time. Every time the microprocessor or computer so sends a marker identifier or co-ordinates to the transmitter, it records the exact time it is sent,

The microprocessors or computers disposed in one of the risky objects and in the risky spots keep on sending to the respective transmitters, at intervals of time, the identifiers or co-ordinates of such risky objects and risky spots. The transmitters, record the exact time of every data being sent,

Every time a transmitter, whether belonging to a vehicle or a risky object or a risky spot, receives a marker identifier or an object identifier or a spot identifier or co-ordinates, it instantly transmits the same over the striking range. Thus, all transmitters on the railway network go on transmitting marker identifiers, object identifiers, location identifiers or co-ordinates, continuously at intervals of time,

Every time a receiver, whether belonging to a vehicle or a risky object or a risky spot, receives transmission of an identifier or co-ordinates from any transmitter, it sends it to the microprocessor of the concerned vehicle or object or spot; the exact time of receipt is also recorded. If the reception is of an identifier that does not represent co-ordinates, the microprocessor or computer converts it to co¬ ordinates. If the reception is in an encrypted form, the microprocessor or computer decrypts it.

The microprocessor or computers, aboard the vehicles, and on or in risky- objects, and at risky spots, process the data of co-ordinates, originating in such vehicles and the risky objects and the risky spots, and originating in other vehicles and the risky objects and the risky spots, into data representing the locations and movements of vehicles. Such data is used, via audio, visual, audio- visual, and robotic, modes to carry-out the under mentioned activities :-

- to carry-out the steps of informing, alerting, signaling the operators or controllers of the vehicles at risky objects or risky spots or elsewhere, of, impending collisions and impending unauthorized arrival of vehicles at risky spots;

- to activate the automatic braking systems disposed aboard the vehicles, or on the risky objects, and or at the risky spots, to bring the vehicles, reckoned to be having a near-certainty, of a collision with another vehicle or a risky object, unauthorized arrival at risky spots, to a quick halt; and

- to enable monitoring and recording of movements of the vehicles on the network, either in real-time or later.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention a vehicle identifier can be additionally incorporated and operated as under: each vehicle is assigned a vehicle identifier;

such vehicle identifier is stored in the memory and/or storage of the microprocessor or computer disposed aboard the vehicle,

the transmitter aboard the vehicle transmits such vehicle identifier simultaneously with the marker identifiers. This enables the generation and use, not only of the data representing the locations and movements of the vehicles as such, but also of the data indicating the identities of the vehicles. The identities of the risky objects and the risky spots, are available from their identifiers.

Claims

WE CLAIM

1. An improved system for prevention of collision between atleast one risky spot and atleast one vehicle, and/or between the vehicles, the system , having high resolution to distinguish between atleast two proximally disposed segments of a monitorable railway track, the vehicles comprising - every moving or stationary tram, trolley, locomotive, carriage and / or other vehicles on the track, the monitorable railway track comprising a plurality of segments including free end and closed free loop segments, the atleast one risky spot includes buffer and loco shed, each vehicle, segment and risky spot being respectively assigned a vehicle identifier, segment and / or marker identifier, and object or spot identifier, the system comprising:

- a microprocessor, a sensor, a transmitter, a receiver and a warning means each disposed on every vehicle and every risky object whether moving, stationery and/or having probability of arrival within a striking range of a monitorable railway track, the sensors being enabled to register marker identifiers and the object or spot identifiers and to transfer the data for storage in respective microprocessors memory;

- the microprocessors being operable to receive data of co-ordinates representing marker identifier and objects or spot identifier, process, store and periodically output the processed data, the microprocessors having memory pre-stored with reference data representing collision probability circumstances; - the transmitters being operable to receive the processed data outputted from the microprocessors and record the time of transmission; the receivers on receipt of data relating to the marker identifiers, object or spot identifiers from the transmitters adaptable to record the time of data

₅ arrival and retransmit the data to the pre-stored reference data for further processing including comparing with the pre-stored reference data and outputting the data relating to the comparison;

- the warning means being activatable when the microprocessors outputs signals indicating probability of collision between the vehicles or between

₁₀ a vehicle and a risky object; and

- a braking means disposed on every vehicles being activatable when the microprocessors output signal indicating a near-certain probability of collision.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessors are 5 operable to convert marker identifiers and object or spot identifiers into respective co-ordinates.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vehicle identifier assigned to atleast one vehicle is stored in the memory of the microprocessor disposed on the atleast one vehicle.

o 4. An improved system for prevention of collision as substantially described herein and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.