EP0749883B1 - A control system for railroad track switches - Google Patents

A control system for railroad track switches Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0749883B1
EP0749883B1 EP96109889A EP96109889A EP0749883B1 EP 0749883 B1 EP0749883 B1 EP 0749883B1 EP 96109889 A EP96109889 A EP 96109889A EP 96109889 A EP96109889 A EP 96109889A EP 0749883 B1 EP0749883 B1 EP 0749883B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reactive means
contact position
frequency
power line
measuring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96109889A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0749883A2 (en
EP0749883A3 (en
Inventor
Domenico Elena
Giovanni Rinaldi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi Rail STS SpA
Original Assignee
Ansaldobreda SpA
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Publication date
Application filed by Ansaldobreda SpA filed Critical Ansaldobreda SpA
Publication of EP0749883A2 publication Critical patent/EP0749883A2/en
Publication of EP0749883A3 publication Critical patent/EP0749883A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0749883B1 publication Critical patent/EP0749883B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L5/00—Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals
    • B61L5/10—Locking mechanisms for points; Means for indicating the setting of points
    • B61L5/107—Locking mechanisms for points; Means for indicating the setting of points electrical control of points position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L7/00—Remote control of local operating means for points, signals, or track-mounted scotch-blocks
    • B61L7/06—Remote control of local operating means for points, signals, or track-mounted scotch-blocks using electrical transmission

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a control system for railroad track switches.
  • Railroad track switches are known to be movable, by an electric motor, between a first limit of travel position, wherein an input track segment of the switch communicates with a first output track segment, and a second limit of travel position, so that the input track segment communicates with a second output track segment.
  • the electric motors used for such railroad switches are of the direct current type and are generally provided with. a first excitation winding and a second excitation winding. Such electric motors, therefore, are powered by means of a three-pole cable comprising a common wire and two conductors, capable of supplying either first or second winding, respectively, to select the direction of rotation of the motor itself.
  • Such railroad switches are further provided with an electromechanical position sensor, capable of detecting the disposition of the switch, namely, in either first or second position.
  • the Russian patent application SU 1090608 A discloses such a system.
  • a position sensor of the known type can comprise a pair of wiping contacts, operated by a mobile member of the switch and capable of moving between a first contact position and a second contact position.
  • the wiping contacts In the first contact position (corresponding to the first limit of the switch of travel position), the wiping contacts connect a first pair of input terminals to a first pair of output terminals, while in the second position (corresponding to the second limit of the switch of travel. position) the wiping contacts connect a second pair of input terminals to a second pair of output terminals.
  • the position sensor receives, at its input, a pair of direct voltage (for example, equal to 48 volts) wires and is provided with a first and a second output wire. Voltage polarity on the first and second output wires is inverted, according to whether the wiping contact finds itself in either first or second contact position. Therefore, it is possible to trace back the position of the switch on the basis of the polarity on the first and second output wires;
  • each railroad track switch is connected to a control station through a bundle of cables, comprising at least the three-pole cable, supplying the motor, and four wires for the position sensor.
  • Aim of the present invention is the embodiment of a control system for railroad track switches, which may overcome the drawbacks of the known systems.
  • a control system for railroad track switches wherein a central control station 4 controls a peripheral station 6, coupled with a switch 8 of the known type (schematically shown).
  • Switch 8 is activated by an electric motor 10 of peripheral station 6 and is capable of moving between a first limit of travel position (shown in full lines), wherein an input track section 8a of switch 8 communicates with a first output track section 8b, and a second limit of travel position (shown in dashed lines), so that input track section 8a communicates with a second output track section 8c.
  • Electric motor 10 is of the direct current type and is provided with a first excitation winding 12 and a second excitation winding 13.
  • the direction of rotation of motor 10 is selected on the basis of powered winding 12,13.
  • said first winding 12 is fitted with a first terminal, connected to an input terminal 15 of station 6 through a limit switch 15a, and a second terminal, communicating with a first supply input 10a of motor 10.
  • Second winding 13 is fitted with a first terminal, connected to an input terminal 16 of station 6 through a limit switch 16a, and a second terminal, communicating with said first input 10a of motor 10.
  • Motor 10 is further provided with a second supply input 10b, communicating with an input terminal 17 of station 6.
  • Railroad switch 8 is further provided with an electromechanical position sensor 20, capable of measuring whether switch 8 is located in either first or second position.
  • Device 20 comprises a pair of wiping contacts 23a, 23b (schematically shown), operated by a mobile member (not shown) of switch 8, and capable of moving from a first contact position to a second contact position.
  • wiping contacts 23a, 23b connect a first pair of input terminals 30a, 30b to a first pair of output terminals 31a, 31b
  • wiping contacts 23a, 23b connect a second pair of input terminals 26a, 26b to a second pair of output terminals 27a, 27b.
  • Input terminal 16 of station 6 is connected to terminal 26a by a power line 35, input terminal 15 is connected to terminal 30b by a power line 36 and input terminal 17 is connected to terminals 26b, 30a by a power line 37.
  • input terminals 27a, 27b are connected to the terminals of a capacitor 40, having a capacitance value C 2
  • input terminals 31a, 31b are connected to the terminals of a capacitor 41, having a capacitance value C 1 .
  • Central station 4 comprises a decoupling transformer 43, provided with a primary winding 44, powered by an electronic processing circuit 46, and a secondary winding 48, first output terminal 48a whereof being connected to an output terminal 50 of station 4.
  • Secondary winding 48 is fitted with a second output terminal 48b, connected to a first terminal of a winding 54, comprising a second terminal, connected to an input terminal 56 of station 4 through a separating switch 56a.
  • Winding 54 is magnetically coupled with a winding 58, cooperating (in the manner described hereinafter) with circuit 46.
  • Winding 54 has an inductance value equal to L 1 .
  • Second output terminal 48b of winding 48 is further connected to a first terminal of a winding 60, a second terminal whereof is connected to an output terminal 62 of station 4 through a separating switch 62a.
  • Winding 60 is magnetically coupled with a winding 61, cooperating (in the manner described hereinafter) with circuit 46.
  • Winding 60 has an inductance value equal to L 2 .
  • Peripheral station 6 is connected to the central station by means of a three-pole cable 66 (schematically shown), comprising three wires 70, 71 and 72, extending between terminals 56 and 15, 50 and 17 and 62 and. 16, respectively.
  • a three-pole cable 66 (schematically shown), comprising three wires 70, 71 and 72, extending between terminals 56 and 15, 50 and 17 and 62 and. 16, respectively.
  • Central station 4 is further provided with a power supply 75, comprising a common (negative) main G, communicating with terminal 50, and capable of alternatively supplying either terminal 56 or terminal 62, through respective (positive) power mains A 1 , A 2 , with a voltage (for example, +144 volts) for powering motor 10.
  • a power supply 75 comprising a common (negative) main G, communicating with terminal 50, and capable of alternatively supplying either terminal 56 or terminal 62, through respective (positive) power mains A 1 , A 2 , with a voltage (for example, +144 volts) for powering motor 10.
  • separating switches 56a, 62a are kept open by uncoupling windings 54,60 of power supply 75. As shall be described later on, during measuring of position of the switch (detailed hereinafter), separating switches 56a, 62a are kept closed.
  • circuit 46 (or power supply 75), further to controlling opening of switches 56a, 62a, supplies an output terminal of station 4 (for example, output terminal 56) with a direct supply voltage, which is supplied to a winding of motor 10 (for example, winding 12).
  • Motor 10 therefore, rotates in a first direction of rotation (for example, clockwise) and switch 8 shifts towards a limit of travel position (for example, towards the first limit of travel position).
  • limit switch 15a (schematically shown) is actuated and motor 10 stops.
  • the pair of wiping contacts 23a, 23b causes terminals 30a, 30b to be electrically connected to terminals 31a, 31b and capacitor 41 is inserted between power lines 71 and 70.
  • circuit 46 further to controlling closing of separating switches 56a, 62a, supplies to transformer 43 an excitation signal S, comprising alternating first pluralities of impulses with frequency f 1 and second pluralities of impulses with frequency f 2 (FSK).
  • Frequency f 1 is substantially equal to the resonance frequency of an L C circuit (inductive capacitive), comprising the series of a capacitor with capacitance C 1 and of a coil with inductance L 1
  • frequency f 2 is substantially equal to the resonance frequency of an L C circuit, comprises the series capacitor with capacitance C 2 and coil with inductance L 2 .
  • the output of the signal with frequency f 1 therefore, corresponds to the presence, on coil 54, of a voltage peak V ris1 , which is transmitted by inductor 54 to winding 58 and, consequently, measured by circuit 46.
  • Mesh M 4 has an impedance Z b , with a different value from Z 1 ; such impedance Z b does not take on a minimum value for frequency f 1 and frequency f 2 .
  • circuit 46 positions contacts 23a, 23b in the first contact position.
  • Circuit 46 further measures whether voltage on winding 60 (inductance value equal to L 2 ) is substantially equivalent to that on secondary winding 48; indeed, should said voltage be different, in particular, null circuit 46 would measure the break from Mesh M 4 , caused, for example, by cable 72 becoming uncoupled.
  • Measuring of wiping contacts 23a, 23b (and, consequently, of switch 8) contact position is therefore carried out by voltage measuring on windings 54, 60 (and, consequently, on windings 58, 61, coupled thereto) and, if a voltage peak is measured on winding 58, in connection with the output of the signal having frequency f 1 , switch 8 is positioned in the first limit of travel position. Besides, if voltage on winding 60 is substantially similar to that on winding 48, no break is measured along cable 66.
  • circuit 46 controls opening of separating switches 56a, 62a and supplies the output of station 4 (for example, output 62) with a direct supply voltage, which is supplied to a winding of motor 10 (for example, winding 13).
  • Motor 10 therefore, rotates in a second direction of rotation (for example, anticlockwise) and switch 8 shifts towards a limit of travel position, for example, towards the second limit of travel position.
  • limit switch 16a Upon its reaching the second limit of travel position, limit switch 16a is actuated and motor 10 stops. In such a position, the pair of wiping contacts 23a, 23b causes terminals 26a, 26b to be electrically connected to terminals 27a, 27b and capacitor 40 is inserted between power lines 71 and 72.
  • Switches 56a, 62a are then closed and signal S is supplied to Mesh M 2 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2b), consisting of inductor 60 and capacitor 40, and to Mesh M 1 (in dashed lines), consisting of inductor 54, winding 48, winding 12 and motor 10.
  • Mesh M 2 has an impedance Z 2 , substantially determined by the series capacitor 40 (having capacitance value equal to C 2 ) inductor 60 (having inductance value equal to L 2 ); such impedance Z 2 takes on a minimum value in connection with frequency f 2 and Mesh M 2 resounds at frequency f 2 .
  • the output of the signal with frequency f 2 therefore, corresponds to the presence, on coil 60, of a voltage peak V ris2 , which is transmitted to winding 61 and measured by circuit 46.
  • Mesh M 1 has an impedance Z a , which does not take on a minimum value for frequency f 1 and frequency f 2 .
  • circuit 46 positions contacts 23a, 23b in the second contact position.
  • Circuit 46 further measures whether voltage on winding 54 (inductance value equal to L 1 ) is substantially equivalent to that on secondary winding 48; indeed, should said voltage be different, in particular, null, circuit 46 would measure the break from Mesh M 1 , caused, for example, by cable 70 becoming uncoupled.
  • System 1 is further capable of measuring any coupling/assembling error of three-pole line 66.
  • the system according to the present invention clearly overcomes the drawbacks connected with the known systems, in that the position of the switch is measured without the aid of any further line, other than three-pole line 66, and extending between position sensor 20 and station 4.
  • the signals required for positioning the switch are transmitted directly through three-pole line 66.
  • System 1 could be provided with two resistors R 1 and R 2 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1), located on power lines 36 and 35, respectively.
  • Such resistors R 1 , R 2 are capable of limiting load current of capacitors 41, 40 during powering of motor 10 by power supply 75.
  • resistors R 1 , R 2 have a further, important function, in that they regulate the resonance voltage peak value on windings 54, 60.
  • the voltage value on windings 54,60 substantially depends (since capacitance and inductance contributions become null) on the resistive characteristics of the resonant circuit which, in turn, depend on the resistance of cable 66.
  • each line 36, 35 there can be further connected in series a respective capacitor Cx and Cy (said capacitor Cx, Cy is therefore connected in series, with respect to respective resistor R 1 , R 2 , if present).
  • the position sensor is further capable of short-circuiting, with respect to each other, free input terminals 26a, 26b and 30a, 30b, i.e., such input terminals, as are not connected to output terminals 27a, 27b and 31a, 31b through wiping contacts 23a, 23b.
  • capacitor Cy is located between lines 71 and 72.
  • capacitor Cy is such, that it can behave as a short circuit for frequencies f 1 and f 2 ; in so doing, motor 10 is "disconnected" from Mesh M 4 , so that impedance Z b thereof only depends on the inductance of windings 60 and 48.
  • capacitor Cx is located between lines 71 and
  • capacitor Cx is such, that it can behave as a short circuit for frequencies f 1 and f 2 ; in so doing, motor 10 is "disconnected" from Mesh M 1 , so that impedance Z a thereof only depends on the inductance of windings 54 and 48.
  • Uncoupling of motor 10 from Mesh M 3 , M 1 allows for measuring, without interferences and noises, caused by the transfer function of the motor, the voltage on winding 48, in order to verify continuity of cable 46.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)
EP96109889A 1995-06-20 1996-06-19 A control system for railroad track switches Expired - Lifetime EP0749883B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO950512 1995-06-20
IT95TO000512A IT1276422B1 (it) 1995-06-20 1995-06-20 Sistema di controllo di scambio ferroviario.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0749883A2 EP0749883A2 (en) 1996-12-27
EP0749883A3 EP0749883A3 (en) 1998-01-07
EP0749883B1 true EP0749883B1 (en) 2003-03-05

Family

ID=11413659

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96109889A Expired - Lifetime EP0749883B1 (en) 1995-06-20 1996-06-19 A control system for railroad track switches

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0749883B1 (it)
IT (1) IT1276422B1 (it)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100439933C (zh) * 2004-06-10 2008-12-03 阿尔卡特公司 识别芯线之间短路的方法和装置
AU2008209302B2 (en) * 2007-01-23 2012-11-15 Vae Eisenbahnsysteme Gmbh Device for the contactless determination of the energy requirements of a point actuating drive

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1990252B1 (en) 2007-05-10 2009-11-25 Alstom Ferroviaria S.P.A. Actuating and monitoring module for operating units of wayside equipment of railway systems or the like
CN115257859B (zh) * 2022-08-24 2024-03-15 中铁第四勘察设计院集团有限公司 一种用于远程控制的道岔转辙控制电路和装置

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB516138A (en) * 1937-07-01 1939-12-22 Ver Eisenbahn Signalwerke Gmbh Improvements in or relating to electric systems for railway signal and point control
CH302004A (de) * 1951-04-12 1954-09-30 Siemens Ag Gleichstrom-Antriebseinrichtung für Weichen und Signale bei Eisenbahnstellwerken.
SU1090608A1 (ru) * 1982-07-20 1984-05-07 Грузинский Ордена Ленина И Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Политехнический Институт Им.В.И.Ленина Устройство дл контрол положени стрелочного перевода
RU2016799C1 (ru) * 1991-03-04 1994-07-30 Вячеслав Васильевич Козлов Устройство для контроля положения железнодорожной стрелки

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100439933C (zh) * 2004-06-10 2008-12-03 阿尔卡特公司 识别芯线之间短路的方法和装置
AU2008209302B2 (en) * 2007-01-23 2012-11-15 Vae Eisenbahnsysteme Gmbh Device for the contactless determination of the energy requirements of a point actuating drive

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0749883A2 (en) 1996-12-27
ITTO950512A0 (it) 1995-06-20
ITTO950512A1 (it) 1996-12-20
EP0749883A3 (en) 1998-01-07
IT1276422B1 (it) 1997-10-31

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