4270results about "Railway traffic control systems" patented technology

A rail communication system includes: a communication management device capable of being communicatively coupled with a conductive pathway that extends along a track; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with a rail vehicle that travels along the track and with the conductive pathway, the communication management device and the on-board communication device configured to communicate a data signal between each other through the conductive pathway, where the data signal includes network data. A method for communicating with rail vehicles includes: coupling a vehicle management device with a conductive pathway that extends alongside a track; and coupling an on-board communication device disposed on a rail vehicle that travels along the track with the conductive pathway; where the communication management device and the on-board communication device communicate a data signal that includes network data through the conductive pathway.

A communication system includes a first wireless communication device disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other. The communication system also includes a controller configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and operatively connected with the first wireless communication device in order to control operations of the device. The controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and an onboard communication mode. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode, the device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode, the device is configured to communicate local data signals between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system.

A cellular radio network system and method for communicating with at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal is provided. The at least one mobile gateway terminal is configured to communicate a network service for one or more user mobile terminals on-board the vehicle. A plurality of network cells provide cellular radio network coverage along a route of the vehicle. Each network cell is dedicated for communication with the at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal so as to allow communication between the at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal and a core network of the cellular radio network.

A train control system includes positioning systems at the end of the train and at the front of the train, allowing the conductor or engineer to unambiguously determine that no cars of the train have become detached. The positioning system at the end of the train is also used to verify that the entire train has cleared a block. This information can be relayed to a dispatcher, thereby eliminating the need for trackside sensing equipment. A control unit prevents the train from moving without an authorization that includes the train's current position.

A method and system for tracking a rail car having an on-board communication system including a location determining system and a transceiver for receiving and transmitting rail car data. The communication system including a processor responsive to an executable program for enabling operation of the transceiver to transmit rail car data during a reporting event and having a memory for storing data and instructions. The processor memory includes a remotely addressable software database accessible by the executable program for establishing a reporting event in response to at least one of a selected time, a change in geographical location, an extended time in a geographical location, an approach to a specified geographical location, a coupling / decoupling of the rail car with a particular locomotive and a command to report. The rail car includes an AEI reader attached to the rail car for reading AEI tags on other rail vehicles passing by the reader, the reader being in communication with the rail car message system for transmitting data indicating at least a location of the other rail vehicles.

A collision warning and avoidance system which comprising an integrated on-board Train Navigation Unit (3) and a GPS Interface Subsystem to locate a train. The system includes a GPS (2) location signal, at least one fixed transponder station (31) and a calibrated, rectified transponder identification subsystem for scanning the track based transponders for override of train controls in the event of a collision risk and further comprising a database of all transponders, their location and the track ID on which they are located. Data and information are computer processed and analysed in neural networks in one train to identify, rank, and evaluate collision hazards.

A system for determining the sources of delay of a transportation mean includes a wayside sub-system, a locomotive sub-system, a railcar sub-system, a a yard sub-system, a schedule sub-system, a monitoring and diagnostic sub-system and a management sub-system. Real-time collected data from the sub-systems are compared to a standard data set to identify problem areas without human intervention. Utilizing a list of top problem areas, transportation means managers are able to identify corrective actions to eliminate or minimize the sources of problem areas. In addition, customers or users of specific transportation means are able to properly select the appropriate transportation means.

Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.

A safety system for providing early warning notifications to an authorized track worker performing official duties along a rail road network is disclosed herein. The safety system determines the position of the authorized worker and determines an estimated time to collision between the authorized track worker and an approaching rail vehicle. The result of the safety system is that the track worker has enough time and sufficiently accurate warning that will enable the track worker to move to a point of safety so as to remain unharmed by the approaching rail vehicle.

A system for supervising and controlling the movement of a railway vehicle is provided, wherein a plurality of wayside controller units are each distributed to a plurality of wayside controller locations by a multi-access carrier, such as a fiber LAN or IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, for instance, such that supervisory and control operations may be communicated between each of the wayside controller units with a multi-access protocol on the multi-access carrier. The present invention replaces the use of a serial-link protocol for point-to-point communication with a multi-access protocol on a multi-access carrier. In a preferred embodiment, a computer-based control system may be connected through the multi-access carrier, so that communication is achieved solely with multi-access protocols. Related art Centralized traffic control (CTC) functions may be eliminated from a global services (GS) block of the central office (CO) and implemented as Distributed Traffic Control functions that are distributed to the wayside controller units.

The invention discloses a CBTC (communication-based train control) system based on train-train communication. The CBTC system comprises an intelligent train monitoring ITS system, an object controller, a train management platform TMC, a data communication system DCS and an intelligent vehicle-mounted controller IVOC arranged on every train. The CBTC system disclosed in the invention can reduce the ground device and cancel the ground ATP, interlocking and other devices; the IVOC can autonomously calculate the movement license and plan the driving path through information interaction with the IVOC, OC and ITS systems of front and back trains; the ITS system can automatically generate the train running control information based on the site condition to lighten the work load of an operation dispatcher, and promote the operation efficiency and service level, and send to the IVOC; The TMC acquires the limiting-velocity information of the line and sends to every train on the line, thus the safe protection of the train is realized.

A train integrity network system comprises bogie units which monitor critical parameters relating to the condition of bogie components and the rail track they are travelling on, an onboard server which controls the bogie units and a wireless network which enables communication between the server and the bogie units. Each bogie unit is powered by an electrical generator which utilises the rotation of the bogie wheels and has a processor which compares the critical parameters against defined standards in order to issue alerts to the train driver. The wireless network utilises master / slave base band role switching, has store-and-forward nodes which convey quasi real time data to the server and utilises frequency hopping modes.

A distributed power train (10) communications system for sending and receiving signals between a lead locomotive (14) and remote locomotives (12A / 12B / 12C) in the train (10). A lead (14) initiated message is received by at least the remote locomotive (12A / 12B) nearest to the lead unit (14). The receiving remote unit (12A / 12B) retransmits the message for receiving by the next remote unit (12C) in the train. Thus the message leapfrogs down the train from the lead unit (14) to the remote units (12A / 12B / 12C). When the last remote unit (the nth remote unit) (12C) receives the message, the last remote (12C) transmits a status or other response message to the lead unit's message. The status message is received at the (n-1)th remote unit (12A / 12B), which appends its status message and transmits the combined status messages toward the lead unit (14). Each successive remote unit receives the status messages of the other remote units and appends its status message, until the concatenated status message reaches the lead unit (14).

A method is provided for detecting broken rail, track continuity, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railroad vehicle traveling in fixed-block territory equipped with an AC track code wayside signal system or cab signal overlay system, and a communications link. This method, when used as an integral part of a communications-based train control (CBTC) or positive train control (PTC) system, allows immediate, automatic detection of broken rail, track occupancies, or open turnouts ahead of or behind a train in an occupied block. It also facilitates true moving-block or virtual block CBTC or PTC, thereby enabling higher efficiency and track utilization.

A model train and layout control system based on on-board sound and locomotive modules, new signaling methods, bi-directional communication, environmental sound, turnout control, train location methods, computer interaction and accessory control, by adding components to existing technology. AC power signal waveforms are variously altered to convey digital command words.

A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.

Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.

A method and an apparatus for an on-board train control device are provided, and are based on converting speed codes received from wayside cab-signaling devices into movement authority limits. The device determines the train location independent of the wayside train detection system, and generates and enforces stopping profiles based on said movement authority limits.

To emulate the 3D visual acuity of an individual track-walker, matched pairs of cameras (which simulate our human eyes) are mounted on a moving vehicle above the tracks. The cameras are mounted both transversely and longitudinally, to create 3D images in two orthogonal orientations, which helps to eliminate visual voids. The location and orientation of each pair of cameras is determined by its specific task, in the present case: (i) to examine each left or right rail for anomalies (two pairs), and (ii) to examine every tie for damage (at least one pair). The camera pairs enable measurements such as defect depth and track width variations. The images are compressed in real time for local storage or high-speed transmission for remote display. The basic arrangement of cameras can be amplified or modified as necessary to circumstances.

The invention provides a CTCS (China train control system)-3 train operation control system, comprising ground equipment and vehicle-mounted equipment. The ground equipment comprises a section control system, a wireless blocking center and a ground wireless communication module, wherein the section control system is used for acquiring and sending track occupancy information and route state information; the wireless blocking center is used for generating train operation permission information and receiving train operation data; and the ground wireless communication module is used for generating ground wireless data and sending the train operation data to the wireless blocking center. The vehicle-mounted equipment comprises a vehicle-mounted wireless communication module and a safety control module, wherein the vehicle-mounted wireless communication module is used for receiving the train operation permission information, generating train wireless data and sending the data in a wireless way; and the safety control module is used for controlling train operation according to the train operation permission information and sending train data. By adopting the CTCS-3 train operation control system provided by the invention, automatic control on train operation is realized.

A method for training an operator to control a powered system is disclosed including operating the powered system with an autonomous controller, and informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs. A system and a computer software code are also disclosed for training the operator to control the powered system.

A train control system, including: a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a first train; and a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a second train; wherein at least one of the control units of the first train and the second train is configured to: (i) receive, at the associated communication device, an authority signal including data sufficient to identify one of the first train and the second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train; (ii) establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication devices of the lead train and the follower train; and (iii) exchange train data between the lead train and the follower train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link. An on-board control unit is also disclosed.

A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.

A train control system includes a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a first train; and a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a second train. At least one of the control units of the first train and the second train is configured to receive, at the associated communication device, an authority signal including data sufficient to identify one of the first train and the second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train, establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication devices of the lead train and the follower train, and exchange train data between the lead train and the follower train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link. An on-board control unit is also disclosed.

An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.

A communication network is described. The network includes communication media and a plurality of network nodes coupled by the communication media. Each of the plurality of network nodes includes a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The first communication channel includes a first physical layer transceiver (PHY device) and the second communication channel includes a second PHY device. The plurality of network nodes are coupled in a dual ring-type topology.

The invention discloses a train tracing running method implemented without secondary railway testing equipment and a communication based train control (CBTC) system. The method comprises the following steps that in the train running process, a vehicle on board controller (VOBC) of a train checks whether an object controller (OC) waiting to set up communication connection exists or not in the front of a present running line; if the OC waiting to set up communication connection exists, a communication setting request is sent to the OC; the state of a present jurisdiction is checked after the OC receives the communication setting request; if the OC confirms that the present jurisdiction is in a normal communication state, responses to identification (ID) information of all communication trains in the jurisdiction of the OC are sent to the train; the VOBC can recognize the ID information of a front train adjacent to the present train according to the ID information of all the communication trains; the VOBC sets up communications with the adjacent front train according to the ID information of the adjacent front train and obtains running state information of the adjacent front train; and according to the running state information of the adjacent front train and the running state information of the present train, movement authority (MA) in the jurisdiction of the OC is obtained so as to trace running of the front train. Efficiency of railway transportation can be improved greatly by means of the train tracing running method.

A train control system includes positioning systems at the end of the train and at the front of the train, allowing the conductor or engineer to unambiguously determine that no cars of the train have become detached. The positioning system at the end of the train is also used to verify that the entire train has cleared a block. This information can be relayed to a dispatcher, thereby eliminating the need for trackside sensing equipment. A control unit prevents the train from moving without an authorization that includes the train's current position.

System, method and program for sensing and controlling spacing between railroad trains. A first train broadcasts its identity and current time of day to an RFID mounted adjacent to a railroad track approximately when the first train reaches the RFID. In response, the RFID records the identity of the first train and the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID. The first train proceeds past the RFID. Subsequently, a second train on the railroad track reaches the RFID and reads from the RFID the identification of the first train and the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID. Based on a comparison to the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID as read from the RFID to a time of day approximately when the second train reached the RFID, a determination is made as to a time-spacing between the first and second trains. If the time-spacing is below a threshold, an operator of the second train may be alerted.