Mobile train steering

Details Mobile train steering Mobile train steering

1999-10-22

2001-06-26

Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)

Railway switches and signals

Cab signal or train control

Magnetic rail

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250590

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of mobile train steering of a rail vehicle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As a rail vehicle or train approaches a signal box with an automatic control function, the control route for passage, which is customary at the following signal box, is set automatically for this train. This form of automatic control operation can be initiated or discontinued by the station master. However, no higher level of automation is possible with this type of operation because the signal box does not know the identity of the train.
In one form of operation with a comparatively high degree of automation, a train steering is provided that is either integrated centrally into a control center or installed in a decentralized location near a signal box. Route tracking and route information for the specific train number are needed as the basis for the train steering. Thus, at the correct time, the train steering can set the intended route according to the schedule. In contrast with automatic control operation, the train steering in the selection of the route may be limited to the arrival if the train trip ends at the following train station. In addition, fault processing, e.g., in the form of an alternate track, may optionally be incorporated into the train steering. This form of operation of the central or decentralized train steering is based on previous signal box technology.
SUMMARY
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of mobile train steering with a high degree of automation.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a route is determined on the basis of a schedule assigned to the rail vehicle and its train number, with a route request being made at the vehicle end as a function of instantaneous vehicle data.
The mobile train steering may be part of mobile control and instrumentation technology which is accommodated in a vehicle device or as additional intelligence to the vehicle device in the rail vehicle. The mobile control and instrumentation technology utilizes an existing mobile communications system and existing display and operating equipment in the engineer's cab.
In mobile train steering, the rail vehicle is self-locating and knows its own identity. Therefore, the route intended for this rail vehicle according to the schedule can be set at the proper time. The prerequisite is the existence of a scheduled route in the vehicle device of the rail vehicle. That schedule or any schedule can be loaded section by section, for example, into the mobile train steering at the vehicle end by radio transmission during a trip or immediately before the start of a trip. As an alternative, the entire period schedule of the rail vehicle can be loaded promptly before a schedule change. By entering the train number into the vehicle device, the latter then automatically selects the proper schedule from all the schedules.
On the condition that the basic functionality and train security function are already present on the rail vehicle, the mobile train steering is merely an extra module at the vehicle end in addition to the pre-existing functionality. On the basis of the train number and the schedule, any particularities with regard to the route request, e.g., a stop of a few minutes, in addition to the route are determined. The time of the route request is preferably determined on the basis of the velocity and the location of the rail vehicle, so that the route request can be output at the latest possible time.
The advantages achieved with the present invention include, for example, the fact that the train steering is distributed among multiple vehicle devices by this mobile train steering in addition to achieving an especially high degree of automation in contrast with a central train steering, so this system is especially fail-safe. Thus, in the event of a failure of one vehicle device, only the corresponding rail vehicle is affected by the failure. Furthermore, in a failure of the control center, train operation can be maintained without disruption for a considerable period of time. In addition, due to the distribution of the train steering, the especially great complexity of the entire train steering system can be controlled comparatively easily, with the additions and changes being limited to easily handled subsystems. Furthermore, with mobile train steering, the computer load required for general train steering is distributed among a plurality of devices.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5487516 (1996-01-01), Murata et al.
patent: 5893043 (1999-04-01), Moehlenbrink et al.
patent: 5924653 (1999-07-01), Pedersen et al.
patent: 195 29 374 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 0 164 302 (1985-12-01), None
patent: WO 96/06766 (1996-03-01), None
Database WPI, Section PQ, Week 9626, XP002066209 & JP 08 104 234 A (Tokai Ryokyaku Tetusdo KK) (no date).

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