EP0057632B1 - Control method for a train with automatic operation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a railway vehicle running in automatic driving on a railway track shared in transmission zones, possibly independent of the cantons defined for the track circuits (at least, when these are of the “ without joint ”).

• - sur la voie, pour chaque zone de transmission d'informations :
  • un générateur de signaux alternatifs à une fréquence déterminée qui constitue la fréquence porteuse des informations à transmettre auxvéhi- cules, cette fréquence étant choisie à l'extérieur des bandes de fréquences utilisées dans les circuits de voie,
  • un modulateur de ces signaux,
  • un organe de commande du modulateur de manière que ces signaux soient modulés en fonction des informations à transmettre,
  • au moins une spire conductrice isolée disposée en forme de cadre entre les deux files de rails, près de l'extrémité aval de la zone de transmission d'informations,
  • un transformateur adaptateur d'impédance et de séparation de circuits dont le primaire reçoit les signaux modulés et dont le secondaire est relié aux bornes de la spire en forme de cadre,
  • deux circuits résonnants, accordés sur la fréquence porteuse, branchés entre les deux files de rails, l'un à l'extrémité aval et l'autre à l'extrémité amont de la zone de transmission d'informations, - à bord de chaque véhicule, des moyens de réception accordés sur la fréquence porteuse des informations. Le procédé de contrôle selon l'invention, met en oeuvre un tel dispositif qui, outre ses fonctions de transmission d'informations, présente l'avantage de permettre la détection d'un véhicule circulant dans une zone de transmission déterminée par l'adjonction d'un nombre limité de composants.

The device for transmitting information via the rails of a track intended for railway vehicles traveling on this track is known, described in French patent 2431 409. This device comprises:

• - on the track, for each information transmission zone:
  • an alternating signal generator at a determined frequency which constitutes the carrier frequency of the information to be transmitted to the vehicles, this frequency being chosen outside the frequency bands used in the track circuits,
  • a modulator of these signals,
  • a modulator control unit so that these signals are modulated as a function of the information to be transmitted,
  • at least one insulated conductive turn arranged in the form of a frame between the two rows of rails, near the downstream end of the information transmission zone,
  • a transformer for impedance and separation of circuits whose primary receives the modulated signals and whose secondary is connected to the terminals of the turn in the form of a frame,
  • two resonant circuits, tuned to the carrier frequency, connected between the two rows of rails, one at the downstream end and the other at the upstream end of the information transmission area, - on board each vehicle , means of reception granted on the carrier frequency of the information. The control method according to the invention uses such a device which, in addition to its information transmission functions, has the advantage of allowing the detection of a vehicle traveling in a transmission zone determined by the addition of 'a limited number of components.

According to the invention, the receiver, on board the rail vehicle is connected to a voltage variation detector allowing it to precisely detect its passage over the transverse elements of the conductive turn disposed between the two rows of rails; in addition, a transmitter tuned to a second frequency is also on board and is arranged so as to induce a current in the rows of rails and, consequently, in the conductive turn so as to cause variations in the voltage induced in the turn , two other resonant circuits tuned to this second frequency being connected between the two rows of rails together with the first two. The variations in the alternating supply voltage of the turn further constitute negative redundant information of the presence of a vehicle on the transmission zone.

This method has the particular advantage of using existing devices and superimposed on conventional track circuits. In addition, it makes it possible to ensure, on board the vehicle, the necessary corrections to the odometers whose accuracy is required in automatic piloting, and to deliver, to the central control station, information making it possible to locate any vehicle at any time on one lane, with redundant information, which is very important if we want to reduce the distance between each vehicle. The invention will be better understood and other objects, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment given without limitation and to which a drawing board is attached .

Figures 1 and 2 schematically represent a device implementing the method according to the invention, device respectively installed on the ground and on board the railway vehicle.

Referring now to the figures, the direction of travel of the railway vehicles on the rails 1 and 2 of the railway track is indicated by the arrow 3.

Independently of the cantons defined for the track circuits used in particular for the manual control of railway vehicles, if the track circuits are of the “jointless” type or inside the cantons if the track circuits are of the “jointed” type, information transmission zones are defined by a succession of shunts 4, 5 constituted by conventional resonant circuits, tuned to the frequencies used for transmission and control, frequencies which will be chosen outside the frequency bands used for the circuits of way.

A turn 6 is arranged between the rows of rails 1 and 2 in the immediate vicinity of the downstream shunt. This coil 6 is supplied by a transmitter circuit comprising a generator 7 of alternating signals serving as a carrier wave for the information to be transmitted, connected to a modulator 8. The modulated signals are applied to the coil 6 via a transformer 9 acting as an impedance adapter and circuit breaker.

The turn 6 therefore induces in the rails, an alternating signal which will be received on board the rail vehicle 16 entering the transmission zone, by means of the receiver part of the two transceivers 10 and 11 with which it is provided downstream of its front wheels 12, 13 forming a shunt via the axle 14. The use of two transceivers is advantageous to allow operation in differential mode when receiving, therefore safer, edge. Conversely, the transmitting part of the on-board transceivers 10, 11 continuously transmits an alternating signal which is induced in the rails 1, 2 and, therefore, picked up by the coil 6. An alternating signal generator 15 is onboard at this effect. The operation of the control device is as follows:

When a railway vehicle 16 enters the transmission zone shown, that is to say when its first axle has exceeded the upstream shunts 5, 4 of the zone, its approach is detected, on the one hand positively thanks to the signal emitted by the emitting part of the transceivers 10, 11 on board the vehicle 16. This signal is induced in the turn 6 and is detected and amplified by the amplifier 18 operating in positive logic.

On the other hand, a controlled limitation of the current delivered by the generator to the ground 7, allows, in addition to the protection of the equipment, to drop the supply voltage of the loop when approaching the rail vehicle. A detector 17 connected between the rows of rails to the right of the turn, advantageously uses this property to deliver negative information on the presence of the vehicle.

The combination of these two positive and negative vehicle presence information allows a device on the ground to possibly interrupt the transmission in the transmission block, and to transmit in the downstream block while ensuring the continuity of the transmission for the on-board receivers.

When the head of the rail vehicle 16 passes over each of the transverse parts of the turn 6, the on-board receivers are able to detect them with precision, and allow the rail vehicle to correct its location. Conversely, the passage of the on-board transmitters above the turn allows the device on the ground to accurately detect the position of the rail vehicle. This logical information is transmitted respectively to the ground to a central control station 20, not shown, and, on board, to a local piloting unit 21. With such a method, the information transmitted over a determined area is only valid for the train. traveling in this area since the very presence of the train prevents the signals from spreading behind it. In fact, because there is no possible longitudinal crosstalk, it is possible to use only one frequency on the ground to supply the different turns 6 of the same railroad track. In the context of redundancy of the control information, it is also advantageous to provide, at the tail end of the train, an additional transmitter operating continuously, but the emission of which will only be perceived in the form of a voltage induced in the turn , that during the passage of the tail of said vehicle above the turn. This information, in addition to the various information such as the detection of the approach in the next downstream area, by the two means described above, will in particular provide a redundancy of the signal for releasing the transmission area.

Claims (3)

1. Inherent-safety control method for a train travelling with automatic operation on a permanent way divided into zones for transmission of data bounded by means of shunts (4, 5) tuned to the frequencies used, a conductive loop (6) being arranged between the lines of rails in the vicinity of the downstream shunt of the said zone and inducing alternating signals in the said lines of rails, these signals being modulated in accordance with the data to be transmitted to the said train, which is equipped with a receiver (10, 11) for the said signals induced by the said loop (6), characterised in that a voltage variation detector is connected with the said receiver (10, 11) on board the train, in such a manner as to detect precisely the passing of the said receiver above the transverse elements of the said loop (6), and that the said receiver is associated with a transmitter arranged so as to permanently induce an alternating signal in the rails (1,2) and consequently in the said loop (6), the respective variations in the voltage induced in the said loop (6) and in the supply voltage for the latter constituting respectively positive and negative redundant data of the presence of the said train (16) in the said zone and of its passing over the said loop (6).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the said transmitter and receiver carried on board the said train (16) are two (10, 11) in number, so as to function in a differential reception mode.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that an additional transmitter is situated at the tail of the said train (16) so as to supply redundant release information for the said zone.

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