US3408646A - System for localizing trains along a track - Google Patents

System for localizing trains along a track Download PDF

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Publication number
US3408646A
US3408646A US637187A US63718767A US3408646A US 3408646 A US3408646 A US 3408646A US 637187 A US637187 A US 637187A US 63718767 A US63718767 A US 63718767A US 3408646 A US3408646 A US 3408646A
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United States
Prior art keywords
track
train
along
wave
frequency
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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
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US637187A
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English (en)
Inventor
Simon Jean-Claude
Broussaud Georges Jean
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Thales SA
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CSF Compagnie Generale de Telegraphie sans Fil SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
    • H01Q1/3208—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
    • H01Q1/3225—Cooperation with the rails or the road
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L25/00—Recording or indicating positions or identities of vehicles or trains or setting of track apparatus
    • B61L25/02—Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains
    • B61L25/021—Measuring and recording of train speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L25/00—Recording or indicating positions or identities of vehicles or trains or setting of track apparatus
    • B61L25/02—Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains
    • B61L25/026—Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L3/00—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
    • B61L3/02—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control
    • B61L3/08—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically
    • B61L3/12—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using radio waves
    • B61L3/125—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control simultaneous mechanical and electrical control controlling electrically using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using radio waves using short-range radio transmission
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P3/00—Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type
    • H01P3/16—Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to safety systems for controlling the train traflic along a track.
  • the conventional solution of this problem consists in defining track sections and providing signalling devices for preventing collisions, for example by preventing that two trains may -be simultaneously in the same section.
  • This solution is no longer appropriate, in view of the rising traflic density, which necessitates an increase in the speed, the frequency and the length of trains which are permitted to run along the same track. It is also subject to atmospherics which can affect the interpretation of signals optically transmitted to the driver.
  • a modern solution of problems of detection and telemetering is provided by radar systems.
  • most of radar systems are based on the angular detection of targets by means of a highly directional antenna radiating into space. This is obviously superfluous for locating trains running along a track and it is suitable to use the track itself for guiding the radioelectric control signals.
  • railway rails have a geometry which lends itself badly for guiding electromagnetic waves. This results in the use of complex transmission lines for guiding the waves parallel to the track.
  • a system for locating trains of cars along a track comprising a dielectric wave guide, extending along said track, for receiving ultra-high frequency wave energy from said cars and propagating said energy as a surface wave and reflector means spaced along said track for reflecting said energy towards said cars.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a carriage moving along a track
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the principle of the system according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the track equipped with responders
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the radioelectric locating system
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing
  • FIG. '6 shows in elevation a first device for exciting ultra-high frequency Waves
  • FIG. 7 is an end view of a second device for exciting ultra-high frequency waves
  • FIG. 8 is a transverse section of one embodiment of a responder
  • FIG. 9 is an end view of a third embodiment of a device for exciting ultra-high frequency waves.
  • FIG. 10 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 9.
  • FIG. 1 shows a track 1 of a special type along which moves a carriage 2, only the outline of which has been drawn.
  • the track 1 has the form of a horizontal T shaped concrete beam having a base EFGH.
  • the carriage 2 floats on this track, being supported there upon on a cushion of air.
  • the construction may be modified to comprise rails and wheels adapted to roll the carriage 2 along the track 1.
  • a part of the track 1 behaves after the manner of a dielectric waveguide with the axis 0z, having in the plane xoy a predetermined transverse cross-section ABCD.
  • this crosssection is formed by the vertical arm of the concrete beam 1.
  • excitation means 3 are provided, which are coupled to the track 1, serving as a waveguide, in order to excite therein a surface wave, progressing parallel to o z.
  • FIG. 2 shows the front of a train 21 and the rear of a train 22, which precedes the former one.
  • the train 21 is equipped with an ultra-high frequency system 4, adapted to transmit and to receive locating signals via antennae 3, connected to the vertical arm of the runway ,1.
  • the transmitted waves suffer a total reflection, when their incidence 0 is greater than the critical angle 0,, given by sin 0 m where 1 is the index of the environment surrounding the guide.
  • a surface wave can be formed about the dielectric guide and may progress along o z with a phase velocity v given by the formula:
  • the dielectric guide for propagating with low attenuation a surface wave which remains confined within the immediate vicinity of the track 1. If the surface wave encounters during its progression along the track a conducting obstacle, such as the rear of the train 22, the electromagnetic energy is reflected in the same wave mode towards the train 21 which receives a delayed echo in response to the incident wave train. The guiding of the wave is still effective if the guide is slightly curved.
  • the modes capable of being propagated in the form of surface waves about a dielectric waveguide may be mentioned the mode TM shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; it is also possible to excite a TE mode or a hybrid TEM mode.
  • one branch of the track 1 is used as dielectric guide.
  • the permittivity of the concrete used being three times as high as that of air, and the losses remaining small at the intended frequencies, it can be shown that, with a carrier frequency of 300 to 500 mc./s., a beam one metre high and 40 cm. thick can transmit a surface wave having a linear attenuation of a.
  • FIG. 3 shows, in elevation, a track 1 and two trains 21 and 22 moving one behind the other from the left to the right.
  • responder beacons 5 At regular intervals P (for example, of one kilo metre), responder beacons 5 have been incorporated into the track, which, on interrogation by the locating system mounted on board the train 21, transmit according to a predetermined code a surface wave directed towards this system.
  • the beacons p, p+1, p+2, p+i p-l-k are interrogated one after the other by the radioelectric system mounted on board the train 21, and if no train 22 is between it and the train 21, the beacons 5 supply k-l-l coded information items, which enable the radioelectric system of locating instantaneously the exact position of the train 21.
  • the train 22 masks the (p+i)th beacon 5
  • the surface wave coming from the train 21 is reflected by the train 22 without interrogating the following beacons; the telemetering system of the train 21 receives 1 coherent information items instead of k+1 and it may be concluded that there is an obstacle or that there is a failure in the operation of the beacons, which necessitates anyway the stopping of the train 21.
  • FIG. 4 an embodiment is shown of a block diagram of the radioelectric system according to the invention.
  • the dielectric guide 1 is connected to an antenna 3, comprising for example an array of radiating elements and phase shifting means, for excitating a surface wave propagating towards the right and for picking up the wave propagating in the opposite direction.
  • an antenna 3 comprising for example an array of radiating elements and phase shifting means, for excitating a surface wave propagating towards the right and for picking up the wave propagating in the opposite direction.
  • a surface wave TM can be excited the electrical and magnetic vectors of which are shown in FIG. 1.
  • the antenna 3 is coupled through a directional coupler 6 to an ultra-high frequency transmitter 7 and to an ultra-high frequency receiver 8; the transmitter 7 is modulated by a modulator 10 which causes a frequency modulation in the shape of symmetrical saw-teeth.
  • the output of the receiver 8 feeds bandpass filters 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 which separate, in accordance with their respective frequencies, the different locating signals collected by the antenna 3.
  • the locating signals transmitted by the filters 11, 12 and 13 are compared in a telemetering system 16 according to the law of modulation provided by the modulator 10, in order to determine their respective propagation times. These times are then compared between themselves by means of a correlator 17 which supplies the indication of the position z,, of the vehicle carrying the radioelectric system.
  • a differentiator 18, connected to the output of the correlator 17 gives the absolute velocity v of the train.
  • the filter 14 transmits directly to a detector 19 a fixed echo 7 produced by means of a resonant cavity 9, a socalled echo-box, permanently connected to the output of the transmitter 7. This makes it possible to control permanently the operation of the transmit-receive assembly.
  • the filtre 15 transmits an echo caused by the reflection from an obstacle 22, located at any distance z in front of the transmitting vehicle 21; this echo is mixed with a signal transmitted by the antenna 3 in a mixer 23, which supplies a signal whose frequency is proportional to this distance.
  • a frequency discriminator 24 converts this measuring signal into the distance Z which is applied to a differentiator 25 to supply the relative speed v of the transmitting vehicle 21 relative to the obstacle 22.
  • the information z 2,, v v and 'y are finally applied to a circuit 26 which ensures the control of the propulsion unit of the train 21.
  • FIG. 5 shows at (a) the variation as a function of the time of the frequency of the signal transmitted by the radioelectric system of FIG. 4.
  • the transmission wave is continuous and propagates as a surface Wave along the dielectric guide 1.
  • the wave encounters the beacons 5 which are frequency coded so as to reflect a signal only if its frequency has a certain value.
  • the beacon p responds to the frequency of interrogation f
  • the beacon p+1 responds to the frequency fp-I-l and so on, and the echoes received are Ep, Ep+1, Ep+2 etc., in accordance with the diagrams (b), (c) and (d) in FIG. 5.
  • This echo delayed as a function of the propagation distance, has a frequency modulation delayed relative to that of the transmitted wave.
  • Diagram (e) shows in solid lines the modulation of the received echo and in broken lines that of the transmitted wave and it may be readily seen that the gap A is proportional to the distance 2,- separating the train 21 from the obstacle 22.
  • a second means is provided for locating the obstacle along the track 1.
  • the block diagram shown in FIG. 4 may be modified in many ways. More particularly, the radioelectric system may be pulse modulated. This makes it possible to use in the receiver a compression method which improves the precision in the locating of targets.
  • the beacons may be coded, for retransmitting a pulse train forming a digital position code.
  • FIG. 6 shows in elevation a track 1 and an antenna of the YAGI type, capable of exciting about the vertical arm of the track 1 a surface wave according to the TE mode.
  • the aperture of the antenna 31 must cover the eiiicient section of the surface wave which leads to arrange the antenna on either side of the vertical arm of the track 1.
  • FIG. 7 shows an end view of an antenna with distributed excitation. It comprises an electrode 32 sliding over the top of the track 1 and a pair of electrodes 33, connected electrically.
  • the electrodes 32 and 33 form an excitation line with the axis parallel to the track 1. This line is coupled to a radiating line formed by two dielectric plates 34 which excite the surface wave according to one of the modes TE, TM or TEM.
  • FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically a responder beacon 5 embedded in the track 1. It consists of a radiating element 51 placed into a cavity formed in the wall of the track 1. This element is weakly coupled with the surface wave whose efiicient cross-section surrounds the vertical arm, acting as a dielectric guide.
  • the element 51 is electrically coupled through a directional coupler 52 with a receiver 53 and a transmitter 54 which are both tuned to a predetermined frequency f,,, depending on the rank of the beacon.
  • the receiver 53 controls the retransmission of the same frequency f by the transmitter 54.
  • FIG. 9 shows an end view of a track 1 surmounted by a dielectric guide 100.
  • This arrangement is used where the vertical arm of the beam 1 is unsuitable for guiding the surface wave. This is the case where centimetre waves are used in preference to metre waves.
  • an antenna according to FIG. 10 is used for exciting the surface wave around the guide 100. It comprises an exciter waveguide 104, one end of which is equipped with a dielectric block 103, cut to a wedge in order to obtain a gradual coupling with the efficient section of the wave to be excited around the guide 100.
  • the guide 100 can be formed from a dielectric with low losses at the frequencies used. It may also be formed of a periodic array of conducting obstacles forming an artificial dielectric.
  • a system for locating trains of cars along a track comprising a dielectric wave guide extending along said track for receiving ultrahigh frequency wave energy from said cars and propagating said energy as a surface wave and a plurality of passive responder-beacons spaced long said track and programmed for reflecting received energy towards said cars in accordance with a predetermined code.
  • a transmit-receive system for transmitting from cars ultrahigh frequency energy and for receiving echoes from responder-beacons and obstables in a system as claimed in claim 1 comprising transmitter means for exciting a surface wave along said wave guide in the direction of motion of said cars, receiving means for picking up said surface wave as reflected by said responder-becaons and obstacles ahead of said cars, first metering means, coupled to said receiving means, for measuring the distance from said obstacles to said cars and second metering means, coupled to said receiving means, for determining, from said echoes from said responder-beacons, the position of said cars along said track.
  • a system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for differentiating said position and said distance with respect to time for respectively determining the absolute speed of said cars and the relative speed of said cars with respect to said obstacles.
  • said excitation means comprises an end-fire antenna.
  • said antenna comprises two elements respectively coupled to the two sides of said wave guide.
  • said transmitter means comprise means for frequency modulating said surface wave and said second metering means comprises a plurality of channels respectively tuned to different frequencies respectively corresponding to different responder-beacons.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
US637187A 1966-05-16 1967-05-09 System for localizing trains along a track Expired - Lifetime US3408646A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR61800A FR1494132A (fr) 1966-05-16 1966-05-16 Système radioélectrique de localisation de rames de véhicules circulant sur une piste directrice

Publications (1)

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US3408646A true US3408646A (en) 1968-10-29

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US637187A Expired - Lifetime US3408646A (en) 1966-05-16 1967-05-09 System for localizing trains along a track

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US (1) US3408646A (cs)
BE (1) BE698502A (cs)
DE (1) DE1591043A1 (cs)
FR (1) FR1494132A (cs)
GB (1) GB1180261A (cs)
NL (1) NL6706787A (cs)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063237A (en) * 1974-02-21 1977-12-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Distance measuring system, particularly for spacing of moving vehicles
US4254418A (en) * 1978-08-23 1981-03-03 Sperry Corporation Collision avoidance system using short pulse signal reflectometry
US4331959A (en) * 1979-05-05 1982-05-25 Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Method and apparatus for detecting a defective object on a lane or track
US4951574A (en) * 1988-05-26 1990-08-28 Daifuku Co., Ltd. Conveyor system using automotive cart
WO2011076512A1 (de) * 2009-12-21 2011-06-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren und einrichtung zum überwachen der vollständigkeit eines spurgebundenen zugverbandes

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE755974R (fr) * 1968-10-23 1971-02-15 Kabel Metallwerke Ghh Ligne haute
FR2180582B1 (cs) * 1972-04-21 1976-01-16 Thomson Csf Fr
FR2648053B2 (fr) * 1989-01-31 1993-01-08 Jouef Ind Dispositif de commande a distance pour une installation de jouet electrique sur circuit
FR2642324B1 (fr) * 1989-01-31 1992-10-30 Jouef Ind Dispositif de commande a distance pour une installation de jouet electrique sur circuit
GB9025504D0 (en) * 1990-11-23 1991-01-09 Mcalpine Kenneth R Speed detector
ITTO20030978A1 (it) * 2003-12-05 2005-06-06 Ansaldo Segnalamento Ferroviario S P A Boa (balise) per segnalazione ferroviaria e metodo di realizzazione della boa stessa.

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR939248A (fr) * 1944-06-27 1948-11-08 Westinghouse Freins & Signaux Perfectionnements aux dispositifs répétiteurs par induction pour système de signalisation de cabine du type à circuit de voie pour chemins de fer et similaires
US2698377A (en) * 1949-02-09 1954-12-28 Rca Corp Railway signaling system for measuring distance between trains
US2702342A (en) * 1948-11-20 1955-02-15 Rca Corp Traffic control by radar
US2716186A (en) * 1949-12-28 1955-08-23 Rca Corp Signalling system
FR1378440A (fr) * 1963-12-13 1964-11-13 Sumitomo Electric Industries Lignes de transmission d'ondes en surface
US3305682A (en) * 1963-07-26 1967-02-21 Gen Electric Ranging system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR939248A (fr) * 1944-06-27 1948-11-08 Westinghouse Freins & Signaux Perfectionnements aux dispositifs répétiteurs par induction pour système de signalisation de cabine du type à circuit de voie pour chemins de fer et similaires
US2702342A (en) * 1948-11-20 1955-02-15 Rca Corp Traffic control by radar
US2698377A (en) * 1949-02-09 1954-12-28 Rca Corp Railway signaling system for measuring distance between trains
US2716186A (en) * 1949-12-28 1955-08-23 Rca Corp Signalling system
US3305682A (en) * 1963-07-26 1967-02-21 Gen Electric Ranging system
FR1378440A (fr) * 1963-12-13 1964-11-13 Sumitomo Electric Industries Lignes de transmission d'ondes en surface

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063237A (en) * 1974-02-21 1977-12-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Distance measuring system, particularly for spacing of moving vehicles
US4254418A (en) * 1978-08-23 1981-03-03 Sperry Corporation Collision avoidance system using short pulse signal reflectometry
US4331959A (en) * 1979-05-05 1982-05-25 Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Method and apparatus for detecting a defective object on a lane or track
US4951574A (en) * 1988-05-26 1990-08-28 Daifuku Co., Ltd. Conveyor system using automotive cart
WO2011076512A1 (de) * 2009-12-21 2011-06-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren und einrichtung zum überwachen der vollständigkeit eines spurgebundenen zugverbandes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE698502A (cs) 1967-11-16
NL6706787A (cs) 1967-11-17
FR1494132A (fr) 1967-09-08
GB1180261A (en) 1970-02-04
DE1591043A1 (de) 1970-04-09

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