EP2599683B1 - Device and method for signalling a train - Google Patents

Description

• un système de signalisation embarqué du type ERTMS, propre à recevoir et à traiter des données de signalisation et propre à mettre en oeuvre un logiciel d'activation d'au moins un module national de signalisation, ledit logiciel comportant des groupes d'instructions pour l'activation du ou de chaque module national de signalisation, chaque groupe d'instructions étant relatif à un et un seul module national de signalisation, ledit logiciel comportant en outre une instruction de test de présence d'un groupe d'instructions donné ;
• au moins une borne de sortie pour des signaux de commande, propre à être reliée au train ;
• des moyens de protection et de raccordement électrique ;
• au moins un module national de signalisation électriquement connecté par les moyens de protection et de raccordement électrique au système de signalisation embarqué du type ERTMS, le ou chaque module de signalisation étant caractéristique d'au moins un pays et étant propre, lorsqu'il est activé, à traiter des données nationales adressées au train par le réseau de signalisation en vigueur dans ledit pays.

The present invention relates to a signaling device of a train comprising:

• an ERTMS-type onboard signaling system capable of receiving and processing signaling data and capable of implementing activation software for at least one national signaling module, said software comprising groups of instructions for activating the or each national signaling module, each group of instructions being relative to one and only one national signaling module, said software further comprising a presence test instruction of a given group of instructions;
• at least one output terminal for control signals adapted to be connected to the train;
• means of protection and electrical connection;
• at least one national signaling module electrically connected by the protection and electrical connection means to the ERTMS type on-board signaling system, the or each signaling module being characteristic of at least one country and being clean when it is activated , to process national data addressed to the train by the signaling network in force in said country.

Such signaling devices already exist. They generally comprise an ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) type of on-board signaling system, located in an electrical cabinet on a train and connected to national signaling modules. The onboard signaling system is adapted to receive signaling data and to implement activation software of the or each national signaling module.

The onboard ERTMS signaling system has two main functions: a first function of use of the ERTMS signaling network, when the train is running on railway lines equipped with such a network, and a second activation function of the national modules. signal when the train is traveling on railway lines not equipped with the ERTMS signaling network. The entire signaling device is approved before the installation of said device on board a train, the number of national signaling modules that includes the device being fixed at the time of installation and approval.

Such a device is particularly suitable for use on freight trains that regularly cross several different countries. It ensures the interoperability of the train signaling system, whatever the country crossed.

However, in the case of adding a national signaling module to the device after putting it into service on board a train, a new approval of the entire device is necessary, which generates additional costs.

The document EP 2 279 926 discloses a train for which it is possible to replace one national signaling module with another. A configuration module makes it possible to configure the train according to a configuration selected among a plurality of previously authorized configurations, a configuration being the association of a national signaling module and the corresponding configuration code. Activation information is transmitted through the ERTMS component of the installation to the configuration module which is then able to verify that the signaling to be activated corresponds to an authorized configuration, and, if so, selects the corresponding configuration and configure the train. This makes it possible to configure the train without having to approve the train each time it modifies the national signaling modules that it embeds.

The object of the invention is to propose a signaling device such that no new type approval of the device is necessary when adding to the installed device a national signaling module.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a signaling device according to the claims.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un dispositif de signalisation selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est un organigramme d'un procédé de signalisation d'un train propre à mettre en oeuvre le dispositif de signalisation selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est un organigramme d'un procédé de constitution et de validation à bord d'un train du dispositif de signalisation selon l'invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique d'un dispositif de signalisation selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention.

These features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view of a signaling device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 2 is a flowchart of a signaling method of a train clean to implement the signaling device according to the invention,
• the figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for constituting and validating on board a train of the signaling device according to the invention, and
• the figure 4 is a schematic view of a signaling device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

On the figure 1 a signaling device 10 according to a first embodiment is installed on board a train and comprises an output terminal of a display signal 11, protection and electrical connection means, an output terminal of a control signal 13 and an on-board signaling system of the ERTMS 14 type, implementing a software 16 advantageously implanted therein.

As a variant, the software 16 is implanted in the signaling device 10, in a separate architecture of the ERTMS 14 type of onboard signaling system.

The output terminal 11 is adapted to be connected to any means of display of information messages installed on board the train, such as a display screen for example and the output terminal 13 is adapted to connect the system of ERTMS-type onboard signaling 14 to at least one device for measuring distance and speed, this device being permanently installed in the train.

In this example, the protection and electrical connection means are an electrical cabinet 17.

The electrical cabinet 17 encloses a French signaling module 18, a Belgian signaling module 20 and a Dutch signaling module 22. It also contains a reserved slot 23, adapted to receive a possible Italian signaling module 26. It also includes electrical connection plugs 24 for the electrical connection of the signaling modules 18, 20 and 22 to the on-board signaling system ERTMS type 14. Finally, it comprises an electrical connection plug 25 for the electrical connection of a possible Italian signaling module 26 to the on-board signaling system ERTMS type 14.

Each national signaling module 18, 20, 22, 26 is adapted to be connected to an antenna 27, 28, 29, 30 for receiving national signaling data relating to the signaling network in force in the country corresponding to said module 18, 20 , 22, 26.

Each national signaling module 18, 20, 22, 26 is then clean, when activated, to receive and process these national signaling data addressed to the train and then to send, via the output terminal 11, data of display to a display means installed on the train.

In the exemplary embodiment, each national signaling module 18, 20, 22, 26 is thus able to receive and process signaling data relating to a single country.

As a variant, each national signaling module is able to receive and process signaling data relating to several countries.

The electrical cabinet 17 comprises as many electrical connection plugs 24, 25 as national signaling modules 18, 20, 22, 26 installed or can be installed.

The on-board signaling system of ERTMS type 14, hereinafter referred to as ERTMS system document 14, is able to be connected to a reception antenna 31 signaling data relating to the ERTMS signaling network, and data relating to transitions between signaling systems.

The antenna 31 is adapted to receive data transmitted by ground-mounted beacons or by transmitters using the GSM-R communication standard.

The ERTMS system 14 is then able to receive and process this signaling data and to allow the train to use an ERTMS type signaling network.

Software 16 includes a group of instructions 32 for French signaling, a group of instructions 33 for Belgian signaling, and a group of instructions 34 for Dutch signaling. The software 16 also includes a group of instructions 35 for Italian signaling, even if the Italian signaling module 26 is not connected. The software 16 further comprises a presence test instruction of a given group of instructions.

The groups of instructions 32, 33, 34, 35 are adapted to be implemented by the ERTMS system 14.

Each group of instructions 32, 33, 34, 35 comprises in particular a detection instruction of the corresponding national signaling module, an activation instruction of the module, as well as a module deactivation instruction.

The software 16 executes instructions among the instruction groups that it comprises.

By executing the instructions for detection, activation and deactivation of modules, the software 16 is thus able in particular to detect the presence or the absence of a national signaling module 18, 20, 22, 26, and to activate or deactivate disable each national signaling module 18, 20, 22, 26, as explained in the following.

By executing the presence test instruction of a given group of instructions, the software 16 is further able to determine whether it comprises within it a group of instructions corresponding to a national signaling module that a user tells him to add to the signaling device 10.

The detection, activation and deactivation steps of the national signaling modules 18, 20, 22, 26 of the device 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. figure 2 .

In step 36, the ERTMS system 14 is initialized. This step is performed for example when putting into gear the train on which the signaling device 10 is installed.

During this step 36, detection is performed by the software 16 to detect the national signaling modules installed within the signaling device 10. The software 16 executes a detection instruction from each group instructions it contains. In the example of the figure 1 , the software 16 executes a detection instruction of a French signaling module, a detection instruction of a Belgian signaling module, a detection instruction of a Dutch signaling module, and a detection instruction of a module Italian signaling. At the end of this test the French signaling module 18, the Belgian signaling module 20 and the Dutch signaling module 22 are detected and declared present by the software 16. The Italian signaling module 26 is not detected and is declared absent.

The train driver then selects the signaling network corresponding to the initial section that the train will start to run. This selection is made for example by means of a man-machine interface connected to software 16. The signaling network selected by the driver becomes the signaling network in progress in software 16.

In the following step 38, the train moves and uses a given signaling network, which corresponds to the current signaling network in the software 16. The ERTMS system 14 receives signaling data delivered by beacons fixed to the ground or by GSM-R communication channel. This signaling data is received by the data receiving antenna 31. If the current signaling network is a national signaling network, the instruction group 32, 33, 34 or 35 corresponding to the current signaling network is implemented by the ERTMS system 14.

For example, beacons are located at border crossings between countries or around railway stations. The transmitted signaling data comprise, for example, information of a planned transition between the current signaling network and a future signaling network, information giving the nature of the future signaling network, as well as distance information to to make the transition between the signaling networks effective.

After reception of this signaling data by the ERTMS system 14, a test is performed in the next step 40 by the software 16 to know if the future signaling network is an ERTMS type signaling network.

If, in step 40, the software 16 determines that the future signaling network is an ERTMS type signaling network, the national signaling module corresponding to the current signaling network is deactivated in step 41 by the software 16. The software 16 then activates in step 42 the ERTMS system 14, then the signaling data reception step 38 is implemented again.

If, in step 40, the software 16 determines that the future signaling network is not an ERTMS type signaling network, a test is performed in step 43 by the software 16 to know if the future signaling network corresponds to one of the national signaling modules detected in step 36.

If, at step 43, the future signaling network does not correspond to one of the signaling networks associated with the national signaling modules detected in step 36, a signal for displaying a message of rollback is sent to step 44 at the output terminal 11. The step 38 of signaling data reception is then implemented.

If, in step 43, the future signaling network corresponds to one of the signaling networks associated with the national signaling modules detected during step 36, the software 16 deactivates at step 41 the national module signaling signal corresponding to the current signaling network. The software 16 then activates in step 42 the only national signaling module concerned. Step 38 of signaling data reception is then implemented.

Steps 38 to 44 of this signaling method are carried out continuously, as long as the train is running.

The figure 3 illustrates a method for constituting and validating on board a train of the signaling device 10.

In its initial configuration, the device 10 is designed and manufactured in step 47 according to the illustration of FIG. figure 1 that is to say, it comprises French, Belgian and Dutch signaling modules 18, a reserved space 23 capable of accommodating an Italian signaling module 26, and groups of instructions for French signaling 32, Belgian 33, Dutch 34 and Italian 35.

In step 48, the device 10 thus manufactured is the subject of an approval. The approval relates to the electrical cabinet 17 and its contents, as well as to the ERTMS system 14 and the software 16. A certificate of approval of the device 10 is issued at the end of this step 48.

In the next step 50, the device 10 is installed on board the train. At the end of this step 50, a certificate of installation of the device 10 is issued and the train is put into service. The device having been designed and manufactured according to the illustration of the figure 1 the train is then able to use railway lines equipped with French, Belgian and Dutch signaling networks, as well as railway lines equipped with the ERTMS signaling network.

In step 51, the train is in service and runs on a rail network.

If the owner of the train equipped with the signaling device 10 wishes, during a step 52, to add to the device 10 a national signaling module, for example a national Italian signaling module 26, the train is put out of service and the National signaling module 26 is installed in step 53 within the device 10. The national signaling module 26 is installed in the reserved space 23 of the electrical cabinet 17 provided for this purpose.

An installation certificate, corresponding to this installation of the new national signaling module 26, is established at the end of this step 53.

The presence test instruction of a given group of instructions is then executed in step 54 by the software 16 to know if a group of instructions corresponding to the added national signaling module is present within the software 16.

In the example of the device 10 as illustrated in FIG. figure 1 after the addition of the Italian signaling module 26, the test performed by the software 16 in the step 54 is positive because a group of instructions 35 corresponding to the Italian signaling module 26 is present within the software 16. Conversely , after adding for example a Spanish signaling module, the test performed by the software 16 in step 54 is negative because no group of instructions corresponding to the Spanish signaling module is present in the software 16.

If, in step 54, a group of instructions corresponding to the added national signaling module is present in the software 16, step 51 is implemented again. The train is then able to be put back into service in this configuration, without further approval. No certificate of approval is then established at the end of this step 54.

If, in step 54, no group of instructions corresponding to the added national signaling module is present in the software 16, the group of instructions corresponding to said module is loaded in step 55 in the software 16. A new homologation of the whole of the newly constituted signaling device 10 is then carried out in step 56, prior to any recommissioning of the train. A new homologation certificate, corresponding to this new configuration of the device 10, is established at the end of this step 56. The step 51 is then put into operation and the train is able to be put back into service in this configuration.

It is thus conceivable that for a certain number of national signaling modules previously defined in the software 16 and not initially installed within the device 10, the subsequent addition of said modules does not require re-homologating the entire device 10 newly constituted .

The figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention for which elements similar to the first embodiment, described above, are identified by identical references, and are therefore not described again.

According to this second embodiment, the ERTMS system 14 is advantageously located within the electrical cabinet 17. The signaling device 10 according to this second embodiment being fully integrated within a single housing, it occupies a larger surface area. weak than the device 10 according to the first embodiment.

The operation of this second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment with regard to the device 10, the signaling method implementing the device 10, and the method of constituting and validating the device 10. The operation of this second embodiment is therefore not described again.

Claims (4)

1. Signalling device (10) for a train, comprising:

   - an on-board signalling system (14) of the ERTMS type, capable of receiving and processing signalling data and capable of implementing software (16) for activating at least one national signalling module (18, 20, 22), said software (16) comprising groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) for the activation of the or each national signalling module (18, 20, 22), each group of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) relating to a single national signalling module (18, 20, 22, 26), said software (16) further comprising an instruction for testing the presence of a given group of instructions;

   - at least one output terminal (11, 13) for control signals, which output terminal is capable of being connected to the train;

   - electrical connection and protection means, the electrical connection and protection means being an electrical cabinet (17);

   - at least one national signalling module (18, 20, 22) electrically connected by the electrical connection and protection means (17) to the on-board signalling system (14) of the ERTMS type, the or each signalling module (18, 20, 22) being characteristic of at least one country and being capable, when activated, of processing national data addressed to the train by the signalling network in force in said country;

   characterised in that the electrical connection and protection means (17) comprise at least one empty slot (23) capable of receiving and electrically connecting another national signalling module (26), and the number of groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35), each corresponding to a national signalling module (18, 20, 22, 26), is strictly greater than the number of national signalling modules (18, 20, 22) comprised in the electrical connection and protection means (17),
   and in that the on-board signalling system (14) of the ERTMS type is located within the electrical connection and protection means (17).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each group of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) comprises an instruction for detection of the corresponding national signalling module (18, 20, 22, 26), the software (16) being capable, by executing those instructions, of detecting the national signalling modules (18, 20, 22) installed within the signalling device (10).
3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the software (16) is installed within the on-board signalling system (14) of the ERTMS type.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the software (16) comprises a test instruction capable of determining whether the signalling data received by the on-board signalling system (14) correspond to an ERTMS signalling network.

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