Masking method and shaft counting device with masking function

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for masking a fault at a count point arranged between a first track section and a second track section adjacent thereto by means of a masking method, in which virtual track sections spanning the first and second track sections are taken into account. According to the invention, in the aspect of the method, the masking method is required to be activated in advance, the activation of the masking method requires, after the actual first and second track sections have been reset, to confirm that the train has passed through the two track sections and to confirm that the virtual track section is free by the passage of the train, and in the case of pre-activation of the masking method, the virtual track section is free by the passage of the train. When the monitoring of the virtual track section confirms that the virtual track section is idle but the count point is considered to be disturbed due to its output conflicting information or no information, the masking of the failure of the count point is carried out and the masking of the failure is terminated if the failure of the count point lasts longer than a predetermined maximum disturbance duration.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a masking method and a wheel count device with masking function; such a method and device are applied in the field of railway technology for monitoring railway track facilities. BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention specifically relates to a method for masking a fault of a counting point arranged between a first track section and a second track section adjoining the first track section in the context of a masking method, wherein a virtual track section spanning the first and the second track section is taken into account in the context of the masking method. Such a method is known from the German patent document EP 0 739 802 B1. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem addressed by the present invention is to improve the method of the type described.

[0004] The above technical problem is solved according to the invention by a method for masking a fault of a counting point using a masking method.

[0005] According to the invention it is provided that the masking method needs to be activated in advance, wherein the activation of the masking method requires that after a reset of the actual first and second track sections, a complete passage of a train through these two track sections is confirmed and the virtual track section is proven to be free by the passage of the train, wherein in the case of a pre-activated masking method, when the monitoring of the virtual track section proves the virtual track section to be free but the counting point is considered to be disturbed due to its output of conflicting information or no information, masking of a fault of the counting point is carried out and if the fault of the counting point lasts longer than a predetermined maximum disturbance time, the masking of the fault is terminated.

[0006] The basic advantage of the method according to the application is that, by virtue of the activation of the passage-based fault masking according to the application in combination with the temporal limitation of the fault masking, the operating safety is significantly improved compared to conventional masking methods, since the masking is initiated or released only after the functionality of the participating counting points has been checked and, for example in the case of axle counters, is terminated autonomously as soon as the duration of the masking is identified as problematic (since it is too long for a mere temporary disturbance). Most disturbances which are not critical are triggered by external inputs of strong electromagnetic fields (which are produced, for example, by arcs in the range of the current collector of a rail vehicle, for example when adjusting the current collector); such disturbances usually last a very short time and are in the range of a few seconds, so that they do not pose a threat to the operation of the railway installation. In contrast, an untrustworthy counting point reporting which persists for a significantly longer time indicates a serious safety problem (since, for example, the counting point is actually out of order or a rail vehicle which is unknown to the signal control center actually passes the counting point, in which case the duration of the passage through the counting point is usually significantly longer than the fault caused by the arc. By virtue of the required pre-activation according to the application in combination with the temporal limitation of the masking upon primary verification of the functionality of the counting points, the problems for the operating safety which can be caused by rail vehicles which are unknown to the signal control center, by trains of unknown identity or by faulty counting points are significantly reduced.

[0007] It is considered advantageous if, in the event of a persistent fault masking, the actual track sections are considered to be free and are reported as free to the outside.

[0008] When the duration of the disturbance of the counting point exceeds a predetermined maximum disturbance duration, the actual track sections are preferably reported as occupied to the outside. The maximum disturbance duration is preferably between 4 seconds and 20 seconds, so that, for example, the above-mentioned disturbances caused by arcs can be screened.

[0009] In the case where the disturbance ends during the masking, the internal occupancy assumption (Besetz-tannahme) of the actual first and / or second track sections triggered by the disturbance is preferably reset by internally defining the actual track sections involved as free.

[0010] The reset of the actual first and / or second track sections preferably comprises, in the case of a section-dependent first counter reading error involving the actual first track section and / or a section-dependent second counter reading error involving the actual second track section triggered by the disturbance, a correction of the section-dependent counter reading involved, for example to zero.

[0011] In the case of repeated occurrence of interference events, if the time interval between successive interference events is shorter than a predetermined separation time, it is preferably regarded as belonging to the same above-mentioned interference, the length of which is compared with the predetermined maximum interference time. In the latter case, the occurrence of the first interference event is preferably regarded as the beginning of the interference. The separation time can take account of the delay or transmission delay between the counting point and the axle counting device connected thereto, in order to avoid a single error event being detected several times by the axle counting device or being misinterpreted as a multiple error event as a result of the delay; the separation time is preferably a maximum of 5 seconds.

[0012] The method is preferably carried out by an axle counting device which is connected at the input to a counting point arranged between a first track section and a second track section adjoining the same, and at the output to a superior device, and which masks a fault of the counting point with respect to the superior device in such a way that the actual track sections are reported as free with respect to the superior device even if the counting point is faulty. The superior device is preferably a signal console.

[0013] In the case where the interference ends during the masking, the axle counting device preferably corrects the internal occupancy assumption of the actual first and / or second track sections triggered by the interference in such a way that the actual track sections concerned are defined internally as free.

[0014] In the context of the correction of the internal occupancy assumption, the axle counting device preferably overcomes the first counter reading error relating to the actual first track section and / or the second counter reading error relating to the actual second track section triggered by the interference by correcting the relevant counter reading, in particular by setting it to zero.

[0015] The two actual track sections are bounded externally by further counting points. In this case, the axle counting device is preferably also connected to these further counting points and, after resetting of the actual first and second track sections, also initiates the preactivation of the masking method when the train passage through the virtual track section is confirmed by the reporting of counting events provided by the further counting points.

[0016] The resetting of the actual first and second track sections is preferably carried out in accordance with an external command of the superior device, i.e. a command of a further device different from the axle counting device.

[0017] The application also relates to an axle counting device having at least one input interface for connection to a counting point arranged between a first track section and a second track section adjoining the same and for connection to further counting points which bound the two actual track sections externally, and having at least one output interface for connection to a superior device. In this axle counting device, it is provided in accordance with the application that the axle counting device is designed to carry out the above-mentioned method.

[0018] With regard to the advantages of the axle counting device according to the application and the advantageous design of the axle counting device according to the application, reference is made to the above explanations relating to the method according to the application and the advantageous design thereof.

[0019] Advantageously, the axle counting device comprises a computing device and a memory, in which a control program module is stored, which is designed to execute the above-mentioned method when executed by the computing device.

[0020] Advantageously, the control program module comprises a counting module, which detects the counting reports of the counting points and determines the section-related counter readings for the two actual track sections and the virtual track section, respectively.

[0021] Advantageously, the control program module comprises a reset module, which, upon receipt of a command from the signal console to reset the control commands of the two actual track sections, sets the counter readings corresponding to the two actual track sections to zero by sending a command to set to zero to the counting module.

[0022] Advantageously, the control program module comprises a monitoring module, which, after resetting the counter readings corresponding to the two actual track sections initiated by the signal console, monitors the counting point reports of the counting points to determine whether a complete passage event (as described above) has occurred; in addition, the monitoring module preferably sets the counter reading corresponding to the virtual track section to zero by a command to set to zero and activates the masking method by an activation command upon detection of such a passage event.

[0023] Advantageously, the control program module comprises a masking module, which, upon receipt of an activation command, executes the above-mentioned masking method. If, for example, a second counting point fails (as described above), the masking module preferably masks this failure with respect to the signal console by continuing to report the actual track sections as free via the corresponding signal console reports. If the failure situation ends before the maximum disturbance duration has expired, the masking module preferably sends a reset command to the counting module for setting the counter readings of the two actual track sections to zero and for restoring the masking method to its initial state of activation, i.e. to the state in which it was activated by the monitoring module; otherwise, the masking module preferably ends the masking and sends the actual track sections as occupied reports via the signal console reports and / or sends disturbance reports to the signal console via the signal console reports. If the masking method is not activated, the masking module preferably directly transmits the counter readings of the actual track sections and / or the resulting occupied and / or free reports for the corresponding track sections in the scope of the signal console reports. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] The application is further explained below on the basis of embodiments, in which exemplary:

[0025] Figure 1An embodiment of a railway track facility equipped with an embodiment of an axle counting device according to the present application is shown,

[0026] Figures 2-5 An embodiment of an axle counting device according to Figure 1 is shown during an exemplary operation, wherein embodiments for a method according to the present application are explained with reference to the figures,

[0027] Figures 6-9 A preferred embodiment variant of an axle counting device according to Figures 1 to 5 is shown in more detail, wherein different operating phases of the axle counting device are shown,

[0028] Figure 10 An additional railway track facility equipped with an embodiment of an axle counting device according to the present application, for example an axle counting device according to Figures 6 to 9 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] For the sake of brevity, the same reference signs are always used in the figures for identical or similar components.

[0030] Figure 1 A first actual track section GA1 of a railway track facility 10 and a second actual track section GA2 adjoining thereto are shown. The first track section GA1 is delimited by a first counting point ZP1 and a second counting point ZP2; the second track section GA2 is delimited by the second counting point ZP2 and a third counting point ZP3. The second counting point ZP2 is thus arranged between the first track section GA1 and the second track section GA2 and separates or rather connects them. The counting points ZP1 to ZP3 are generally designed to detect a passage event and output a corresponding counting point message ZPM.

[0031] The counting points ZP1 to ZP3 are connected with an axle counting device 20, which evaluates the counting point messages ZPM of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3 and determines an occupancy or free state of the track sections by evaluating the counting point messages ZPM. For example, the axle counting device 20 can form a section-dependent counter reading ZS for each of the two track sections GA1 and GA2 on the basis of the counting point messages ZPM of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3, which represents the number of rail vehicle axles located in the respective track section GA1 and / or GA2: if the section-dependent counter reading ZS is zero, the respective track section GA1 is regarded as free; if, in contrast, the counter reading ZS is non-zero, the respective track section GA1 is regarded as not free or occupied.

[0032] According to Figure 1The axis counting device 20 also monitors the occupancy status of the virtual track segment VGA that spans the two track segments GA1 and GA2. The status of the virtual track segment (i.e., occupied or idle) is determined by the axis counting device 20 based on the count point reports ZPM provided by the first count point ZP1 and the third count point ZP3, i.e., independent of the count point report ZPM of the second count point ZP2. The count point reports of the first count point ZP1 and the third count point ZP3 define the counter reading ZS, which represents the number of axes located within the virtual track segment VGA.

[0033] The detection of passage events and the counting of wheels / axles, the generation of corresponding count point reports ZPM, and the determination of section-related counter readings ZS are all known, and prior art is cited in this regard, especially the patent literature mentioned at the beginning.

[0034] The count point reports ZPM for count points ZP1 to ZP3 can be, for example, event reports that separately report each passage event; alternatively, count points ZP1 to ZP3 can be specified to detect passage events by incrementing or decrementing the internal count point counter readings and transmitting those counter readings to the axle counting device 20. The design of the count point reports ZPM is not critical if the axle counting device 20 can determine the segment-related counter readings ZS based on the count point reports ZPM and thereby determine the occupancy status of the actual and virtual track segments GA1, GA2, and VGA.

[0035] There is a possibility that one of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3 may fail, or may be temporarily affected by external influences and fail to output a counting point report ZPM, or output an incorrect counting point report ZPM. In order to prevent incorrect counting point reports ZPM from ZP1 to ZP3 from directly or carelessly causing corresponding reports to be sent to the upstream device (e.g., signal control console 30) of the axis counting device 20, the axis counting device 20 is designed to perform a masking method, thereby hiding the counting point failure relative to the signal control console 30 for a limited time.

[0036] according to Figure 1 The axis counting device 20 is designed for fault masking such that the masking method needs to be pre-activated, and furthermore, the masking method is interrupted when the fault condition exceeds the predetermined maximum interference duration Tmax. The following example illustrates the operation of the axis counting device 20 with respect to the masking method, taking the second counting point ZP2 as an example of a fault or interference that provides an incorrect counting point report ZPM.

[0037] According to Figure 1 In the axle counting device 20, the pre-activation of the masking method requires two conditions: first, the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 are reset on the signal control console side, and then the complete train passage is achieved through the virtual track section VGA.

[0038] Figure 1The time point tl is shown at which a reset command SB from the signal console 30 reaches the axle counter device 20 and the axle counter device 20 internally resets the track sections GA1 and GA2 by setting the section-dependent counter readings ZS for the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 to zero. The virtual track section VGA is not yet affected by the reset, so that its counter reading has not yet been set to zero and still holds the default value DW; the reset of the virtual track section VGA is carried out only when the axle counter device 20 can confirm a complete train passage from the counting point reports ZPM of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3, thereby confirming the signal console-side forced reset of the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 in content and the correct functioning of the counting points independently of the axle counter device 20.

[0039] In Figure 1 The time point tl is shown at which a reset command SB from the signal console 30 reaches the axle counter device 20 and the axle counter device 20 internally resets the track sections GA1 and GA2 by setting the section-dependent counter readings ZS for the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 to zero. The virtual track section VGA is not yet affected by the reset, so that its counter reading has not yet been set to zero and still holds the default value DW; the reset of the virtual track section VGA is carried out only when the axle counter device 20 can confirm a complete train passage from the counting point reports ZPM of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3, thereby confirming the signal console-side forced reset of the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 in content and the correct functioning of the counting points independently of the axle counter device 20.

[0040] Figure 2 A later second time point t = t2 (t2 > tl) is shown at which the axle counter device 20 can confirm a complete train passage of the track vehicle 50 from the counting point reports ZPM of the counting points ZP1 to ZP3, thereby confirming the signal console-side forced reset of the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 in content. The axle counter device 20 considers the virtual track section VGA free after the train passage, sets the counter status ZS of the virtual track section to zero and activates the masking method. In the view according to Figure 2 It is assumed in the view according to Fig. 2, for example, that the counting points ZP1 to ZP3 are still functioning properly and that the section-dependent counter readings ZS are therefore zero.

[0041] Figure 3 A later third time point t = t3 (t3 > t2) is shown at which an error of the second counting point ZP2 occurs; it is assumed here, for example, that an electromagnetic field is externally injected, for example due to an electric arc in the adjacent track area, which causes the second counting point ZP2 to report a passage event that did not actually occur. The section-dependent counter readings ZS for the two actual track sections GA1 and GA2 are therefore no longer zero, but in the example described are "-1" and "+1". In contrast, the counter reading ZS for the virtual track section VGA remains zero, since the first counting point ZP1 and the third counting point ZP3 are functioning properly and do not signal a passage event.

[0042] In this situation, the axle counting device 20 performs a masking action against the erroneous behavior of the second counting point ZP2 by continuing to report the two actual track sections GA1 and GA2 as idle relative to the signal control console 30 via the signal control console report ZM. Furthermore, the axle counting device 20 starts measuring and observing the further counting point report ZPM of the second counting point ZP2.

[0043] Figure 4 The later fourth time point t=t4 (t4>t3) is shown, which falls within the predetermined maximum disturbance duration Tmax after the start of time measurement, i.e., it satisfies:

[0044] t4-t3 < Tmax.

[0045] The maximum interference duration Tmax is preferably in the range of 4 to 20 seconds.

[0046] In accordance with Figure 4 In the example, for instance, after a false count report is received at time t3 for the second count point ZP2, no further false count report ZPM is sent to the shaft counting device 20 for a predetermined separation time Tmin (Tmin < Tmax). The separation time Tmin is preferably in the range of 2 to 10 seconds.

[0047] As the separation time Tmin ends (time point t4 = t3 + Tmin), the shaft counting device 20 considers that the second counting point ZP2 is no longer disturbed, so the segment-related counter reading ZS can be reset, that is, the actual track segments GA1 and GA2 can be internally defined as idle or internally reset.

[0048] After the internal reset of the counter readings for actual track sections GA1 and GA2, they reached [the target value] again. Figure 2 The state shown is such that the masking method is active and can be used to mask errors in subsequent count points at later times.

[0049] Figure 5 Showing from Figure 3 Another scenario starting from the state shown, that is, different from... Figure 4 The example scenario shown occurs at a later fifth time point, t5.

[0050] t5 = t3 + Tmax,

[0051] And the specific situation is that the second counting point ZP2 is... Figure 3 As shown, after the second time point t2, the erroneous count point reports ZPM continue to be sent at time intervals shorter than the separation duration Tmin, and the maximum interference duration Tmax has ended.

[0052] The axis counting device 20 terminates the masking method as the maximum interference duration Tmax ends and reports to the signal control console 30 via the signal control console ZM, indicating that the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 can no longer be considered idle, i.e., they must be considered occupied; for example, the signal control console ZM can transmit an occupation signal B for the actual track sections GA1 and GA2.

[0053] Figure 6 Showing the target based on Figures 1 to 5 This is a component of an embodiment example of the axis counting device 20. The axis counting device 20 includes a computing device 200 and a memory 210. The memory 210 stores a control program module SPM, which, when executed by the computing device 200, controls the operation of the axis counting device 20 and thereby also determines the aforementioned masking method.

[0054] The control program module SPM includes a counting module 211. The counting module detects the counting points ZP1 to ZP3, reports the counting points to ZPM, and determines the segment-related counter readings ZS for the two actual track segments GA1 and GA2 and the virtual track segment VGA.

[0055] The control program module SPM includes a reset module 212, which, upon receiving a command from the signal control console 30 to reset the control commands SB for the two actual track sections GA1 and GA2, sets the corresponding counter readings ZS for these two actual track sections GA1 and GA2 to zero. This is done by sending the zeroing command NSB1 to the counting module 211 (see...). Figure 7 ).

[0056] The control program module SPM also includes a monitoring module 213. After resetting the counter readings ZS assigned to the two actual track sections GA1 and GA2, the monitoring module monitors the count points ZP1 to ZP3 and reports whether a complete passage event has occurred in the ZPM, as described above. Figure 2 Furthermore, after detecting such a passage event, the monitoring module 213 sets the counter reading ZS allocated to the virtual track segment VGA to zero via the command NSB2 (set to zero) and activates the command AB (see...). Figure 8 ) Activate the masking method.

[0057] The control program module SPM also includes a masking module 214, which executes the masking method described above upon receiving the activation command AB. For example, if a fault occurs at the second counting point ZP2 (as described above)... Figure 3 The masking module 214 masks the fault relative to the signal control console 30 by continuing to report the actual track section as idle through the corresponding signal control console report ZM.

[0058] If the fault condition ends before the maximum disturbance duration Tmax expires, the masking module 214 sends a reset command RS (see Figure 9 ) to the counting module 211 for internally setting the counter readings of the two actual track sections to zero and for restoring the masking method again to its initial state of activation, i.e. to the state in which it is activated by the monitoring module 213 (see Figure 8 ); otherwise, the masking module 214 ends the masking and sends the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 as occupancy reports to the signal control console 30 via the signal control console report ZM and / or sends a disturbance report to the signal control console 30 via the signal control console report ZM.

[0059] If the masking method is not activated, the masking module 214 directly transmits the counter readings ZS of the actual track sections GA1 and GA2 and / or the occupancy and / or the free reports for the respective track sections resulting therefrom in the scope of the signal control console report ZM.

[0060] The above explanations in connection with Figures 1 to 5 also apply to the axle counting device 20 according to Figures 6 to 9 .

[0061] The two actual track sections GA1 and GA2 can also be externally delimited by further counting points ZP4 and ZP5, so that more complex track topologies can be detected, as shown in Figure 10 . In this case, the axle counting device 20 can be connected with these further counting points. The axle counting device 20 preferably activates the pre-activation of the masking method when it can confirm the passage of a train through the virtual track section VGA after the reset of the first and second actual track sections GA1 and GA2 according to the counting point reports ZPM provided by the further counting points ZP4 and ZP5.

[0062] The above explanations in connection with Figures 1 to 9 also apply to the device topology according to Figure 10 .

[0063] Finally, it should be mentioned that the features of all the above embodiments can be combined with each other in any way to form further other embodiments of the present application.

[0064] Furthermore, all the features of the dependent claims can be combined with each respective independent claim separately and can be combined separately or with one or more other dependent claims, respectively, to obtain further other embodiments.

[0065] List of reference signs

[0066] 10 railway track facility

[0067] 20 axle counting device

[0068] 30 signal console

[0069] 50 rail vehicle

[0070] 200 computing unit

[0071] 210 memory

[0072] 211 counting module

[0073] 212 reset module

[0074] 213 monitoring module

[0075] 214 masking module

[0076] AB activation command

[0077] B occupancy signal

[0078] DW default value

[0079] GA1 actual first track section

[0080] GA2 actual second track section

[0081] NSB1 command to set to zero

[0082] NSB2 command to set to zero

[0083] RS reset command

[0084] SB reset command

[0085] SPM control program module

[0086] t1 point in time

[0087] t2 later second point in time

[0088] t3 later third point in time

[0089] t4 later fourth point in time

[0090] t5 later fifth point in time

[0091] Tmax predetermined maximum disturbance duration

[0092] Tmin predetermined separation duration

[0093] VGA virtual track section

[0094] ZM signal console report

[0095] ZP1-ZP5 counting points

[0096] ZPM counting point report

[0097] ZS counter reading

Claims

1. Method for masking a fault of a counting point (ZP2) using a masking method, the counting point being arranged between a first track section (GA1) and a second track section (GA2) adjoining it, wherein, in which a virtual track section (VGA) is considered which spans the first track section and the second track section (GA1), characterized in that the masking method requires a preactivation, wherein the activation of the masking method requires, after the actual first track section and the second track section (GA1, GA2) have been reset, confirmation that the train has completely passed through these two track sections (GA1, GA2) and that the virtual track section (VGA) is free by the passage of the train, wherein, in the case of preactivation of the masking method, masking of the failure of the counting point (ZP2) is carried out when the monitoring of the virtual track section (VGA) confirms that the virtual track section (VGA) is free, but the counting point (ZP2) is considered to be disturbed because of its output conflicting information or no information, and if the failure of the counting point (ZP2) lasts longer than a predetermined maximum disturbance time (Tmax), the masking of the failure is terminated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that if the failure masking is continued, the actual track sections (GA1, GA2) are considered to be free and reported as free to the outside.

3. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the duration of the disturbance of the counting point (ZP2) exceeds the predetermined maximum disturbance time (Tmax), the actual track sections (GA1, GA2) are reported as occupied to the outside.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case that the disturbance ends during the masking, the disturbance-induced assumption of occupancy in the interior of the actual first track section and / or the second track section is reset by defining the involved actual track sections (GA1, GA2) as free.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the reset of the actual first track section and / or the second track section includes, in the case of a disturbance-induced section-dependent first counter reading error involving the actual first track section (GA1) and / or a section-dependent second counter reading error involving the actual second track section (GA2), a correction of the involved section-dependent counter reading (ZS), in particular a setting to zero.

6. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of repeated disturbance events, if the time interval between the successive disturbance events is shorter than a predetermined separation time (Tmin), the disturbance events are considered to belong to the same disturbance, the time length of which is compared to the predetermined maximum disturbance time (Tmax).

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is carried out by a shaft counting device (20) which is connected at the input to a counting point (ZP2) arranged between a first track section (GA1) and a second track section (GA2) adjoining the first track section (GA1) and at the output to a superior device and masks the failure of the counting point (ZP2) with respect to the superior device in such a way that the actual track sections (GA1, GA2) are reported as free to the superior device even if the counting point (ZP2) is failing.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the superior device is a signal console (30).

9. The method according to one of the above claims 7 to 8, characterized in that in the case where the disturbance ends before the masking period is over, the axle counter device (20) corrects the internal occupancy assumption of the actual first track section and / or the actual second track section triggered by the disturbance in such a way that it internally defines the actual track sections (GAl, GA2) involved as free.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that in the context of the correction of the internal occupancy assumption, the axle counter device (20) overcomes the first counter reading error relating to the actual first track section (GAl) and / or the second counter reading error relating to the actual second track section (GA2) triggered by the disturbance by correcting the associated counter reading (ZS), in particular by setting it to zero.

11. The method according to one of the above claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the two actual track sections (GAl, GA2) are externally bounded by further counting points (ZPl, ZP3-ZP5), and the axle counter device (20) is also connected to these further counting points and initiates the preactivation of the masking method when, after the reset of the actual first and second track sections (GAl, GA2), it has confirmed the passage of a train through the virtual track section (VGA) on the basis of a counting point event report (ZPM) provided by the further counting points.

12. The method according to one of the above claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the reset of the actual first and second track sections (GAl, GA2) is carried out on the basis of an external command of the superior device.

13. An axle counter device (20) with at least one input interface for connection to a counting point (ZP2) arranged between a first track section (GAl) and a second track section (GA2) adjoining it and for connection to further counting points (ZPl, ZP3-ZP5) externally bounding the two actual track sections (GAl, GA2), and with at least one output interface for connection to a superior device, characterized in that wherein the axle counter device (20) is configured to carry out the method according to one of the above claims 1 to 12.

14. The axle counter device (20) according to claim 13, characterized in that the axle counter device (20) comprises a computing device (200) and a memory (210) in which a control program module (SPM) is stored, wherein the control program module (SPM) is configured to carry out the method according to one of the above claims 1 to 12 when executed by the computing device (200).

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