JP3458210B2 - Ground probe with self-diagnosis function - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function of a ground element installed in a track of a railroad track, and more particularly to a ground element with a self-diagnosis function for detecting a decrease in resonance frequency and Q value of a ground element resonance circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ground train is an automatic train stop device (AT
S), an automatic train controller (ATC), an automatic train driver (ATO), or a ground device such as an in-vehicle alarm. Each of these devices is composed of a part on the ground (ground device) that indicates the condition of the ground signal and a part on the vehicle (on-board device) that picks up the ground condition on the vehicle and performs a required operation.

The on-board device includes an on-board child that transmits at a constant frequency. Fig. 5 shows the structure of the ATS ground element. In FIG. 5, the ground element 1 includes a first resonance circuit 2 including a tuning coil L and a capacitor C1, or a second resonance circuit 3 including a tuning coil L and capacitors C1 and C2. The first resonance circuit 2 and the second resonance circuit 3 are switched by a switch. The switch is the contact QR1 of the ground control relay QR.

When the contact QR1 is off (falls), the first resonance circuit 2 is formed and resonates at 123 kHz, and when the contact QR1 is on (elevation), the second resonance circuit is formed and 103 kHz. Resonate. Second resonance circuit 3
Is linked to the progress (blue) of the ground traffic signal,
Even when the train passes over the ground element 1 having the z resonance circuit, the on-board device 19 of the train does not perform any operation.

On the other hand, the first resonance circuit 2 is interlocked with the stop (red) indication of the ground signal, and when the train passes over the ground element 1 having the first resonance circuit 2, the on-board device ( Car child)
When 19 is electromagnetically coupled to the ground element 1, the oscillation frequency of the on-board device 19 is 123 kHz at 123 kHz due to the Ziehen phenomenon.
The frequency is changed to Hz, and a relay (not shown) operates to automatically apply a brake to stop the train.

[0006] As for the ground element used for other purposes,
The operation is basically the same, only the control device of the on-board device is different. In this way, the ground element plays an important role in train operation, and in order to make the ground element sensitive to the specific frequency transmitted from the car, the resonance frequency of the ground element is kept at a regular frequency and the Q value is Must be kept above the standard value.

Conventionally, the Q value of the resonance frequency of the ground element has been measured using a ground element tester. The ground tester is a portable device composed of two parts, a measuring coil and a main body. When using it, an operator puts the band of the case accommodating the main body on his shoulder, carries the measuring coil in his hand, and carries it to the installation site of the ground wire in the railroad track. The legs of the robot were erected and placed on the ground element, and the main body and the coil were connected by a cable to measure the Q value of the resonance frequency of the ground element.

[0008]

By the way, the main body of the above ground child tester is about 30 cm wide, 15 cm deep, 40 cm high and weighs 11 kg. Carrying such a heavy object on the shoulder to the measurement site is a heavy burden on the worker, and at the time of measurement work, after installing the measurement coil on the ground element, separately from the installation location of the main body Must be secured near it.

Further, the work of connecting the main body and the measuring coil with a cable is not always easy, and a considerable amount of labor and time are required for preparation before starting the measurement.
Conventionally, in order to eliminate such drawbacks, downsizing and weight saving of the ground tester have been promoted. Certainly, the size and weight of the ground-element tester will certainly reduce the burden on the shoulders of workers, but as long as a portable ground-element tester is used, carry the ground-element tester with you. It is necessary to visit the site regularly or irregularly to perform measurement work.

This work is no exception even in a severe cold region. As long as the ground wire is installed in the railroad track,
You have to go to the installation site and measure the electrical characteristics. The work of going to the installation site and measuring its electrical characteristics is not only a problem that the burden on the operator is heavy because it is a work in extremely cold areas, and work on the railway track is a risk of railway accidents. .

Further, even when a failure or other abnormal situation occurs in the ground element due to an unexpected situation, the abnormal situation cannot be detected unless the ground element is measured on site. In this way, there is no choice but to say that there is a problem in the system itself, in which the grounding element tester is brought to the installation site of the grounding element and measured by the worker.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grounding element with a self-diagnosis function which constantly monitors the grounding element and automatically outputs failure information to the outside when the function is deteriorated.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in a grounding element with a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention, a grounding element with a self-diagnosis function having a self-diagnosis circuit and a failure detection unit is provided. The diagnostic circuit constantly monitors the resonance frequency and Q value of the resonance circuit built in the ground element, and automatically outputs the failure detection signal of the ground element when the resonance frequency or Q value of the resonance circuit falls below the reference value. Is a sweep
Sweep frequency oscillation with frequency oscillation section and failure detection section
Part, the sweep frequency including the resonance frequency of the ground element resonance circuit
The sweep frequency is applied repeatedly to the ground element resonance circuit.
The number of oscillators is such that the ground contact control relay contacts are lifted or dropped.
No matter what, the power is supplied through the power circuit of the ground control relay.
The resonance frequency of the ground element is
Outputs a match signal with the vibration frequency to the failure detection unit to detect failures
The part in advance sets the voltage level of the coincidence signal as the lower limit value.
Based on the voltage level of the match signal compared to the specified reference value.
Output a fault detection signal of the ground element when the value falls below the standard value.
It is a thing.

[0014]

[0015]

Further, the failure detection section has a comparator and a failure detection output circuit, and the coincidence signal of the sweep frequency output from the ground element resonance circuit and the resonance frequency of the ground element is converted into a voltage signal. Converted and input to the comparator,
The comparator compares the voltage level of the resonance frequency of the ground resonance circuit with a predetermined reference voltage, and when the voltage value of the coincidence signal exceeds the reference voltage, outputs it as a normal detection signal and outputs a failure detection output circuit. When the normal detection signal is not inputted, it is judged that the resonance frequency of the ground element or the value of the Q value is below the reference value, and the function deterioration of the ground element is externally output.

Further, the ground element has a first resonance circuit linked to the stop signal of the ground signal and a second resonance circuit linked to the progress signal of the ground signal.
The frequency detector oscillates a frequency in a band including the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit and the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit of the ground element, and the failure detection unit outputs the signal of the sweep frequency output from the ground element resonance circuit. And the resonance frequency signal of the ground element
Of the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit or the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit is individually compared with a predetermined reference value as a lower limit value, and when the coincidence signal is below the reference value, the ground signal The function deterioration of the first resonance circuit or the second resonance circuit is output to the outside.

Further, the failure detecting section has an amplifier, and the amplifier selectively amplifies the resonance frequency of the ground element resonance circuit. The signal of the sweep frequency thus selectively amplified and the resonance frequency of the ground element are provided. The coincidence signal is converted into a voltage signal and input to the comparator.

Further, the sweep frequency oscillating section and the ground element resonance circuit are coupled with each other with high impedance so that the malfunction of the self-diagnosis circuit does not affect the function of the ground element.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention applied to an ATS ground element will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an ATS grounding device with a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an ATS ground element 1 according to the present invention has a self-diagnosis circuit 4.
The self-diagnosis circuit 4 monitors the resonance frequency and Q value of the resonance circuit built in the ground element 1 when the ATS ground element 1 displays the train progress and the train stop, and the resonance frequency fluctuates, or When the Q value falls below a predetermined reference value, a failure detection signal of the ground element 1 is output as failure information, and it comprises a sweep frequency oscillation section 5 and a failure detection section 6.

The sweep frequency oscillating section 5 repeatedly applies a sweep frequency including the resonance frequency of the ground element resonance circuit to the ground element 1. The ground element 1 outputs a coincidence signal of the sweep frequency generated by the sweep frequency oscillation section 5 and the resonance frequency of the ground element 1 to the failure detection section 6. The failure detection unit 6 is a reference voltage indicating a predetermined reference value (for example, 85 or less) with a voltage level value of a match signal between the sweep frequency output from the ground element 1 and the resonance frequency of the ground element as a lower limit value. Compared to
The failure information of the ground element 1 is output when the voltage level of the coincidence signal falls below the reference voltage.

FIG. 2 shows a specific circuit configuration. In FIG. 2, the ATS ground element 1 applied to the present invention is the same as the ATS ground element shown in FIG. That is, the tuning coil L
A first resonance circuit 2 formed of a capacitor C1, a tuning coil L, and a second resonance circuit 3 formed of capacitors C1 and C2. The second resonance circuit 3 is the ground control relay Q
When the contact point QR1 is switched by the contact point QR1 of R and the contact point QR1 is dropped, the first resonance circuit 2 is formed and 123 kH
When resonating at z and the contact QR1 is in abrupt position, the second resonance circuit 3 is configured and resonates at 103 kHz. In the following description, the ground contact of the ground control relay QR is referred to as QR1.
U and the drop contact are distinguished as QR1D.

The first resonance circuit 2 is linked to the stop (red) indication of the ground signal, and the second resonance circuit 3 is linked to the progress (blue) indication of the ground signal. Therefore, 123
When the train passes over the ground element 1 having a resonance circuit of kHz, the on-board device operates the brake to stop the train, but the ground element 1 having the resonance circuit of 103 kHz is formed.
Even if a train passes above, the train's on-board device does not perform any operation. The sweep frequency oscillator 5 comprises a sweep oscillator 7 and a voltage controlled oscillator 8.

The sweep oscillator 7 has a triangular sweep pulse P1.
To oscillate, and in this example, + 7.9V and +
An example is shown in which a sweep pulse P1 that continuously and repeatedly changes at a cycle of 700 ms is oscillated within a bandwidth of 4.3 V. The voltage-controlled oscillator 8 is controlled by the sweep wave emitted from the sweep oscillator 7, and within a bandwidth of +7.9 V and +4.3 V, a sweep frequency that continuously and repeatedly changes between 80 kHz and 150 kHz at a cycle of 700 ms. Is oscillated and the signal P2 of the sweep frequency is supplied to the resonance circuit of the ground element 1.

In this example, the set oscillation frequency bandwidth 80 kHz to 150 kHz includes the resonance frequency 123 kHz of the first resonance circuit 2 and the resonance frequency 103 kHz of the second resonance circuit 3, which are the resonance frequencies of the ground element 1. It is set in the range. In the present invention, from the resonance circuit 2 or 3 of the ground element 1, the sweep frequency signal P2 supplied from the voltage-controlled oscillator 8 and the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit 2 of the ground element 123 kHz or the second resonance Circuit 3
The coincidence signal with the resonance frequency of 103 kHz is the failure detection unit 6
Is output to.

The failure detection unit 6 has a comparator 9 and a failure detection output circuit 10. A match signal P3 between the sweep frequency signal and the resonance frequency 123 kHz of the first resonance circuit 2 or the resonance frequency 103 kHz of the second resonance circuit 3 which is the resonance frequency signal of the ground element 1 is first amplified by the amplifier 11. Then, the voltage level converter 12 converts the voltage signal into a voltage signal, which is input to the comparator 9 by switching the contact (enhancement contact QR1U or falling contact QR1D) of the ground control relay QR, and individually set to a predetermined reference. Is compared to the value.

The amplifier 11 selectively amplifies the resonance frequency of the ground resonance circuit. Therefore, in this embodiment, the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit 2 is 123 k.
Hz or the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit 3 103 kHz
Are selectively amplified. As a result, the sweep frequency signal and
The coincidence signal P3 with the resonance frequency 123 kHz of the first resonance circuit 2 or the resonance frequency 103 kHz of the second resonance circuit 3 which is the signal of the resonance frequency of the ground element 1 is selectively amplified, and the matching frequency P3 The coincidence signal between the signal and the resonance frequency of the ground element is converted into a voltage signal and input to the comparator 9.

The comparator 9 includes a first comparator 9A for comparing the voltage level of the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit 2 of the ground element 1 with a reference voltage, and a voltage level of the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit 3. And a second comparator 9B for comparing the reference signal with a predetermined reference voltage.
3 is input to the first comparator 9A through the lifting contact QR1U of the ground child control relay QR, and to the second comparator 9B, the falling contact QR1 of the ground child control relay QR.
Input through D.

The reference voltage is a voltage that determines a predetermined reference value as the lower limit value, and each comparator 9
At A and 9B, the match signal is compared to the reference voltage,
When the voltage value of the coincidence signal exceeds the reference voltage, it is output as a normal detection signal, and the failure detection output circuit 10 is further output from the OR circuit 13 through the mono multivibrator 14.
Entered in. Matching signal P input to the comparator 9
As shown in FIG. 3, 3 is a pulse signal including two pulses having a magnitude proportional to the voltage level of the resonance frequency during, for example, 700 ms.

When the voltage level of the match signal P3 is equal to or higher than the reference voltage, a signal is output from the comparator 9, but when the voltage level of the match signal input to the comparator 9 is equal to or lower than the reference voltage, the signal from the comparator 9 is output. Is not output.

The coincidence signal P output from the comparator 9
3 (pulse signal) is input to the mono-multivibrator 14, which converts the pulse signal output from the comparator 9 into a rectangular wave, and the rectangular wave is used as the normal detection signal P4 to detect the failure detection output circuit 10 To enter.

When the normal detection signal is not input to the failure detection output circuit 10, either the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit fluctuates or the Q value of the resonance frequency of the ground element falls below the reference value. The output circuit 10 determines that the function of the ground element 1 has deteriorated, and the first
The resonance circuit 2 or the second resonance circuit 3 of which the function of the resonance circuit has deteriorated is specified and the fault of the ground element is externally output.

In the present invention, the power supply circuit 15 of the existing ground child control relay QR is used as the power supply for the self-diagnosis circuit 4. However, as shown in FIG. 5, in the ground element 1, the power source circuit 15 of the ground element control relay QR is provided with the contact HR1 of the power source relay and the contact point HR1 of the power source relay.
Power is supplied to the ground control relay QR.

Therefore, when the contact HR1 of the power supply relay falls, the power supply circuit 15 of the ground control relay QR
As it is cut off, the ground control relay QR
Power cannot be supplied to the self-diagnosis circuit 4 by using the power supply circuit 15 of FIG.

Therefore, in the present invention, a circuit structure is used which can supply power to the self-diagnosis circuit 4 when the contact of the power relay is lifted or dropped. In FIG. 4, the self-diagnosis circuit 4 is connected to the power supply circuit 15 of the ground child control relay QR in parallel with the ground child control relay QR via the bridge diode 16.

Also, the wiring on the positive terminal B24 side of the power supply circuit,
Connect the power relay contacts (first
The contact point HR1 and the second contact point HR2) are connected, and the up-contact point HR1U of the first contact point HR1 of the power relay is the positive terminal B of the power source.
24, and the up-contact HR2U of the second contact HR2 is connected to the negative terminal C24 of the power supply.

In the present invention, the drop contact HR1D of the first contact HR1 of the power relay is further connected to the negative terminal C24 of the power supply.
And the drop contact HR2D of the second contact HR2 is connected to the positive terminal B24 of the power supply. The ground element control relay QR is energized through the diode 17 in the forward direction.

Therefore, when the power relay is operated, the ground contact control relay QR is operated by the upper contacts HR1U and HR2U of the first contact HR1 and the second contact HR2 thereof.
A power supply circuit is configured in the self-diagnosis circuit 4. Conversely, when the power relay is cut off, the first contact HR of the power relay
Drop contacts HR1D, HR2D of the first and second contacts HR2
Although the power supply circuit of the self-diagnosis circuit 4 is configured by the above, the diode 17 is in the reverse direction and power is not supplied to the ground child control relay QR.

As a result, when the first resonance circuit 2 and the second resonance circuit 3 of the ground element 1 are in operation, that is, in both the stop indication and the progress indication of the signal, the resonance frequency or the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is always present. The Q value can be monitored.

Further, in the present invention, a capacitor 18 is interposed in the wiring between the sweep frequency oscillating section 5 and the ground resonance circuit 2 or 3 to couple them with high impedance. The voltage supplied to the self-diagnosis circuit 4 is very weak and is 5 mV ^PP or less except when the ground element 1 is in resonance, but even if a problem occurs in the self-diagnosis circuit 4, the sweep frequency oscillator 5 and Since the wiring between the ground element resonance circuit 2 or 3 is coupled with high impedance, the malfunction of the self-diagnosis circuit 4 does not affect the function of the ground element 1.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ATS ground element having a first resonance circuit linked to a stop signal of a ground signal and a second resonance circuit linked to a progress signal of a ground signal will be described. However, the same can be applied to a grounding element having one or more resonance circuits used for other purposes.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the self-diagnosis function is added to the ground element, it is no longer necessary to bring the ground element tester to the measurement site and perform the measurement as in the conventional case. By constantly monitoring the resonant frequency and the Q value of the resonant circuits of many ground elements installed in the track of the track, and when the deterioration of the function of the ground element is detected, the failure information is automatically output to This has the effect of significantly saving labor for ground measurement management and maintenance in comparison with the conventional method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a signal of each part.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a power supply circuit of a self-diagnosis circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle upper member and a ground member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ground child 2 First resonance circuit 3 Second resonance circuit 4 Self-diagnosis circuit 5 Sweep frequency oscillator 6 Failure detector 7 Sweep oscillator 8 Voltage controlled oscillator 9 (9A, 9B) comparator 10 Failure detection output circuit 11 amplifier 12 Voltage level converter 13 OR circuit 14 Mono multivibrator 15 Power supply circuit for ground control relay 16 bridge diode 17 Diode 18 capacitors 19 On-board equipment

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kenichi Shimura 3-39-15 Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (56) Reference JP-A-8-94687 (JP, A) JP-A-8-91215 (JP, A) JP Flat 10-226335 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B61L 3/12

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A self-diagnosis circuit,With the failure detectorHave
It is a grounding child with self-diagnosis function, The self-diagnosis circuit is the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit built into the ground element.
The wave number and Q value are constantly monitored to check the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit.
Or when the Q value falls below the standard value,
Is automatically output,Sweep frequency oscillator
And a failure detection unit, The sweep frequency oscillator includes the resonance frequency of the ground resonator circuit.
The sweep frequency is repeatedly applied to the ground resonator circuit.
Yes, the sweep frequency oscillator has
Regardless of whether it is dropped or dropped, the power supply for the ground control relay
Powered through the circuit, The ground element resonance circuit has a sweep frequency and a resonance frequency of the ground element.
Output the coincidence signal with The failure detection unit sets the voltage level of the coincidence signal to the lower limit value.
Then, compare the voltage level of the match signal with the predetermined reference value.
When the bell falls below the standard value, the failure detection signal of the ground element is sent.
With a self-diagnosis function characterized by being output
Upper child. 2. The failure detection unit has a comparator and a failure detection output circuit, and the coincidence signal between the sweep frequency signal output from the ground element resonance circuit and the ground element resonance frequency is
It is converted into a voltage signal and input to the comparator.The comparator compares the voltage level of the resonance frequency of the ground resonance circuit with a predetermined reference voltage, and when the voltage value of the match signal exceeds the reference voltage, The normal detection signal is output, and when the normal detection signal is not input, the failure detection output circuit determines that the resonance frequency or Q value of the ground element is below the reference value, and outputs the function deterioration of the ground element to the outside. The ground element with a self-diagnosis function according to claim 1 , wherein the ground element has a self-diagnosis function. 3. The ground element has a first resonance circuit linked to a stop signal of the ground signal and a second resonance circuit linked to a progress signal of the ground signal, and the swept frequency oscillating section comprises: The frequency detector oscillates a frequency in a band including the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit of the ground element and the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit of the ground element, and the failure detection unit outputs the signal of the sweep frequency output from the ground element resonance circuit. And a matching signal of the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit or the resonance frequency of the second resonance circuit, which is a signal of the resonance frequency of the ground element, are individually compared with reference values predetermined as lower limit values, The ATS with a self-diagnosis function according to claim 1, wherein when the coincidence signal falls below a reference value, the deterioration of the function of the first resonance circuit or the second resonance circuit of the ground element is externally output. Ground child. 4. The failure detection unit has an amplifier, and the amplifier selectively amplifies the resonance frequency of the ground element resonance circuit. The signal of the sweep frequency that has been selectively amplified and the resonance frequency of the ground element are provided. coincidence signal, claims, characterized in that it is converted into a voltage signal which is intended to be input to the comparator
The grounding child with the self-diagnosis function described in 2 . 5. The swept frequency oscillating section and the ground resonator circuit are coupled with high impedance so that the malfunction of the self-diagnosis circuit does not affect the function of the ground resonator. A grounding device with the described self-diagnosis function.