FR2983447A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SIGNALING A TRAIN - Google Patents

Abstract

This method of constitution and validation on board a train of a signaling device, said method comprising: - a step (47) for manufacturing the signaling device comprising at least one national signaling module, as well as groups of instructions for the recognition and activation of the or each national signaling module; a step (53) of adding a supplementary national signaling module within the initially installed signaling device; is characterized in that: - the manufactured signaling device comprises, during its approval, a number of groups of instructions strictly greater than the number of national signaling modules installed; and - after adding the additional national signaling module, if a group of instructions corresponding to the added module is present within the device, the train is put back into service without further approval of the device.

Description

The present invention relates to a train signaling device comprising: an ERTMS-type onboard signaling system capable of receiving and processing signaling data and capable of implementing a signaling device; software for activating 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 module of signaling, said software further comprising a presence test instruction of a given group of instructions; at least one output terminal for control signals, suitable for being connected to the train; protection and electrical connection means; 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 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 of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the number of groups of instructions, each corresponding to a national signaling module, is strictly greater than the number of national signaling modules that comprise the means of protection and electrical connection. According to other embodiments, the signaling device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination: each group of instructions comprises a detection instruction of the corresponding national signaling module, the software being clean, by executing these instructions, to detect the national signaling modules installed within the signaling device; the on-board signaling system of the ERTMS type is located within the means of protection and electrical connection; the software is implemented within the ERTMS type of on-board signaling system; the software comprises a test instruction able to determine whether the signaling data received by the on-board signaling system correspond to an ERTMS signaling network; - The protection and electrical connection means comprise at least one empty location adapted to receive and electrically connect another national signaling module. The subject of the invention is also a process for constituting and validating a train of a signaling device of the aforementioned type on board a train, the method comprising: a step of manufacturing the signaling device comprising at least one national module of signaling, as well as software comprising groups of instructions for the recognition and activation of the or each national signaling module; a step of homologating the signaling device; an installation step on board the train of the approved signaling device; - a stage of commissioning and use of the train; and a step of adding an additional national signaling module within the initially installed signaling device; and characterized in that: - the manufactured signaling device comprises within the software, during its approval, a number of groups of instructions strictly greater than the number of national signaling modules installed; and - after adding the additional national signaling module, if a group of instructions corresponding to the added module is present in the software, the stage of putting into service and using the train is re-performed without further approval of the device. 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: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device signaling device according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a signaling method of a train suitable for implementing the signaling device according to the invention; FIG. flowchart of a method for constituting and validating on board a train of the signaling device according to the invention, and - FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a signaling device according to a second embodiment of the invention. . In FIG. 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, means of protection and electrical connection, a terminal output of a control signal 13 and an ERTMS 14 type of onboard signaling system, implementing a software 16 advantageously implanted within it. 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 ERTMS-type on-board signaling system 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 the 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, display data to a display means installed on board 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 the ERTMS type 14, hereafter called ERTMS system document 14, is able to be connected to an antenna 31 for receiving 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 indicates to him want to add to the signaling device 10. The steps of detection, activation and deactivation of the national signaling modules 18, 20, 22, 26 of the device 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. step 36, the ERTMS system 14 is initialized. This step is performed, for example, when the train on which the signaling device 10 is installed is put into contact. 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 among each group of instructions that it comprises. In the example of FIG. 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 an Italian signaling module. 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 the software 16. The signaling network selected by the driver becomes the signaling network in progress in the software 16. In the following step 38, the train is 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 via GSM-R communication. This signaling data is received by the data receiving antenna 31. If the current signaling network is a national signaling network, the group of instructions 32, 33, 34 or 35 corresponding to the current signaling network is implemented by the ERTMS system 14. The tags are for example 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 find out whether the network of next signaling corresponds to one of the national signaling modules detected in step 36. If, in step 43, the future signaling network does not correspond to one of the signaling networks associated with the modules national signaling signals detected in step 36, a display signal of a roll prohibition message is sent at step 44 to the output terminal 11. The step 38 of receiving signaling data is then put back into work. 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. FIG. 3 illustrates a process 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. that is to say, it comprises French, Belgian, and Dutch signaling modules 18, a reserved space 23 able to accommodate an Italian signaling module 26, and groups of instructions for the French 32, Belgian signaling. , 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. At step 50 following, 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. Since the device has been designed and manufactured according to the illustration of FIG. 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 module national signaling 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 at the 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. 1, after addition of the Italian signaling module 26, the test performed by the software 16 in step 54 is positive because a group of instructions corresponding to the module of FIG. Italian signaling 26 is present in 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, the step 51 is implemented . The train is then able to be put back into service in this configuration, without further approval. No approval certificate 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 within the software 16, the group of instructions corresponding to said module is loaded in step 55 in the software 16. A new approval of the whole of the newly constituted signaling device 10 is then carried out at step 56, prior to any restarting 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 .

FIG. 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 (1)

CLAIMS1.- A signaling device (10) for a train, comprising: an ERTMS-type embedded signaling system (14) adapted to receive and process signaling data and capable of implementing software (16) for activating at least one national signaling module (18, 20, 22), said software (16) comprising groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) for the activation of the or each national module signaling means (18, 20, 22), each group of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) being relative to one and only one national signaling module (18, 20, 22, 26), said software (16) further comprising a presence test instruction of a given group of instructions; - At least one output terminal (11, 13) for control signals, adapted to be connected to the train; protection and electrical connection means (17); at least one national signaling module (18, 20, 22) electrically connected by the protection and electrical connection means (17) to the on-board signaling system (14) of the ERTMS type, the or each signaling module (18, 20, 22) being characteristic of at least one country and being clean, when activated, of processing national data addressed to the train by the signaling network in force in said country; characterized in that the number of groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35), each corresponding to a national signaling module (18, 20, 22, 26), is strictly greater than the number of national signaling modules ( 18, 20, 22) that comprise the protection and electrical connection means (17). 2.- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that each group of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) comprises a detection instruction of the corresponding national signaling module (18, 20, 22, 26), the software ( 16) being clean, by executing these instructions, for detecting the national signaling modules (18, 20, 22) installed within the signaling device (10) 3.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the onboard signaling system (14) of the ERTMS type is located within the protection and electrical connection means (17). 4.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the software (16) is located within the onboard signaling system (14) of the ERTMS type. 5.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the software (16) comprises a test instruction specific to determine whether the signaling data received by the onboard signaling system (14) correspond to an ERTMS signaling network . 6.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the protection and electrical connection means (17) comprise at least one empty location (23) adapted to receive and electrically connect another national signaling module ( 26). 7. A method for constituting and validating on board a train of a signaling device (10) according to claim 1, comprising: a step (47) for manufacturing the signaling device (10) comprising at least one national signaling module (18, 20, 22), as well as software (16) comprising groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) for recognizing and activating the or each national signaling module (18, 20, 22); a step (48) of homologation of the signaling device (10); - a step (50) of installation on board the train of the signaling device (10) approved; a step (51) for putting into service and using the train; and - a step (53) of adding an additional national signaling module (26) within the initially installed signaling device (10); characterized in that: - the signaling device (10) manufactured comprises within the software (16), during its approval, a number of groups of instructions (32, 33, 34, 35) strictly greater than the number of modules national signaling systems (18, 20, 22) installed; and - after adding the additional national signaling module (26), if a group of instructions (35) corresponding to the added module (26) is present in the software (16), the step (51) of setting in service and use of the train is re-performed without further approval of the device (10).