System and method for supervising indoor and outdoor consistency of turnout

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of railway transportation safety control, and particularly relates to a system and method for monitoring whether an indoor control signal of a turnout is consistent with an outdoor actual position or not in real time. The system comprises an indoor state acquisition module, an outdoor state acquisition module, an operation comparison module and a result output display module. According to the invention, by monitoring the consistency of the indoor representation and the outdoor actual position of the turnout in real time, the inconsistency caused by human errors, equipment faults and the like can be found in time, and the alarm is triggered immediately, so that the interlocking system is effectively prevented from being controlled based on error information. In addition, the system also adopts a redundant architecture which comprises double sets of independent acquisition boards, operation units and output boards, and realizes automatic switching of main and standby devices in combination with a handshake protocol, so that the system can still run stably when a single point of fault occurs, and the availability and reliability of the system are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of railway transportation safety control technology, and in particular relates to a system and method for real-time monitoring of whether the indoor control signal of a turnout is consistent with its actual outdoor position. Background Technology

[0002] Turnouts are critical line switching devices in railways and urban rail transit, and their correct positioning directly affects train operation safety. Currently, the interlocking system of the signaling system determines the turnout position by collecting the status of indoor indicator relays (position indicator relays DBJ and reverse indicator relays FBJ, using safety relays). At the same time, although the fully electronic interlocking system has eliminated the traditional safety relays, it usually uses miniature relays inside its circuit board to reflect the turnout position and arrange routes and control signal displays accordingly.

[0003] However, existing technology has a major safety hazard: the indoor display of the turnout may not match its actual outdoor location, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the "track turnout" refers to a turnout in a tunnel or railway track that is currently in the "reverse position." The positioning indicator relay in the signal equipment room is engaged (correctly, the reverse position indicator relay is engaged), causing the interlocking system to register the engaged state of the positioning indicator relay. This results in the outdoor turnout's open position being opposite to the position registered by the indoor interlocking system. Consequently, the interlocking system will arrange the route according to the registered turnout position. Simultaneously, the train automatic monitoring system, also deriving its turnout position from the interlocking system, displays a turnout position opposite to the actual outdoor turnout position without any alarm. This phenomenon completely evades technical and system detection, making it a difficult-to-detect anomaly. This inconsistency can be caused by various reasons, but regardless of the cause, it will lead the interlocking system to control based on erroneous information. Since the system itself cannot recognize this error, it can easily trigger major accidents such as train derailment, collisions, or even serious accidents. Examples include the 1997 Rongjiawan Station catastrophic railway accident on the Beijing-Guangzhou line and the 2021 Nanjing Metro derailment accident. Currently, the operations department mainly relies on management methods (such as double-checking after maintenance) to prevent such risks. However, this method depends on manual labor and is prone to negligence and misjudgment, lacking reliable technical supervision methods.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses a track turnout orientation safety detection system, which uses information comparison between a camera and an interlocking unit to determine the turnout status, achieving rapid and accurate turnout status monitoring and timely alarm, reducing safety hazards and economic losses.

[0005] However, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 moves with the train and can only monitor the current line, and the onboard camera has limited ability to judge switches.

[0006] Patent document 1: Chinese invention patent with publication number CN114179866A and publication date of 2022-03-15. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a system for monitoring the indoor and outdoor consistency of turnouts. This system can continuously and reliably monitor the indoor and outdoor positional consistency of turnouts at close range, and can be expanded to monitor the indoor and outdoor positional consistency of multiple turnouts.

[0008] The second objective of this invention is to provide a method for monitoring this system.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is: a system for monitoring the consistency between the indoor and outdoor surfaces of a turnout, comprising:

[0010] The indoor status acquisition module is used to acquire the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relays of signal equipment in order to obtain the indoor indicator information of the turnouts.

[0011] The outdoor status acquisition module is used to acquire the actual physical location information of the outdoor switch machine;

[0012] The calculation and comparison module is connected to the indoor status acquisition module and the outdoor status acquisition module. It is used to receive indoor display information and outdoor actual location information, compare the two in real time, determine whether the indoor and outdoor locations are consistent, and generate the corresponding judgment result.

[0013] The result output display module communicates with the calculation and comparison module to receive the judgment results and display them visually on the display panel in the vehicle control room. When the judgment results are inconsistent, an alarm indication is triggered.

[0014] A further preferred technical solution is that the system adopts a redundant architecture, wherein:

[0015] The indoor status acquisition module includes two independent switch quantity acquisition boards, which respectively acquire different spare contacts of the same group of turnout representation relays;

[0016] The calculation and comparison module includes two independent calculation units. Each calculation unit is simultaneously connected to two sets of switch quantity acquisition boards and the outdoor status acquisition module to receive data in parallel, compare and judge, and send the results to the signal interlocking system.

[0017] The result output display module includes two independent switch output boards. Each switch output board receives the judgment results from the two sets of calculation units and drives the indicator lights on the display panel.

[0018] Among them, the two sets of arithmetic units monitor and automatically switch between master and backup through a handshake protocol, and the output contacts of the two sets of switch output boards are connected in parallel to control the same group of indicator lights.

[0019] A further preferred technical solution is that the data exchange between the switch quantity acquisition board and the arithmetic unit, and between the arithmetic unit and the switch quantity output board, is carried out through a serial communication protocol.

[0020] A further preferred technical solution is that the outdoor status acquisition module includes a camera installed inside the switch machine, used to capture images of the switch machine indicating the notch and / or locking block and locking tongue;

[0021] Image recognition processing is performed by the image recognition unit built into the calculation and comparison module or the outdoor status acquisition module. It determines whether the turnout is in the correct or reverse position by recognizing the status of the notch and / or locking block and locking tongue.

[0022] A further preferred technical solution is that the outdoor status acquisition module also includes a switch machine position acquisition board installed in the switch machine cable box, which is used to detect the position of the automatic switch in the switch machine to determine whether the turnout is in the correct or reverse position.

[0023] A further preferred technical solution is as follows: the method for obtaining real physical location information is:

[0024] When the image recognition processing result matches the recognition result of the acquisition board, the result is the actual outdoor location information;

[0025] When the image recognition processing result is inconsistent with the result of the switch machine position acquisition board, the acquisition board recognition result is the actual outdoor position information;

[0026] The image recognition processing results were not displayed; the recognition results from the acquisition board were the actual outdoor location information.

[0027] The results from the switch machine position acquisition board were not displayed; the image recognition processing results showed the actual outdoor position information.

[0028] A further preferred technical solution is that the display panel of the result output display module is the integrated backup panel of the station control room, and the visualization display method includes the control indicator lights being on, off, flashing, or flashing alternately.

[0029] A further preferred technical solution is that the judgment result includes at least one of the following:

[0030] When the indoor and outdoor positions are consistent, it is in normal condition, and the corresponding positioning indicator or reverse position indicator will remain on.

[0031] When the indoor and outdoor positions are inconsistent, an alarm is triggered, and the positioning indicator and the reverse position indicator flash alternately at a preset frequency.

[0032] When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls while the outdoor actual position is normal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will flash slowly to indicate a circuit fault.

[0033] When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls, and the actual outdoor position is abnormal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will be turned off to indicate a switch machine malfunction.

[0034] A further preferred technical solution is that when the outdoor status acquisition module malfunctions and cannot transmit the actual outdoor location information, the calculation unit uses the information from the automatic switch opener to replace the internal image information of the switch to determine the current actual position of the switch.

[0035] A further preferred technical solution is as follows: when the communication link between the indoor and outdoor areas fails and the internal image information and automatic switch information of the switch machine cannot be obtained, the calculation and comparison module performs downgrade processing and only displays the result of the control of the indoor display information to the output display module.

[0036] A further preferred technical solution is that when the calculation and comparison module performs degradation processing, the calculation unit simultaneously generates a system-level fault alarm.

[0037] A method for monitoring the consistency of turnouts indoor and outdoor based on any of the above systems includes:

[0038] The signal acquisition equipment obtains the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relay to acquire indoor indication information;

[0039] Obtain the actual physical location information of the internal display components of the outdoor switch machine, thereby obtaining the actual outdoor location information;

[0040] The indoor display information is compared with the actual outdoor location information in real time to determine whether they are consistent;

[0041] The comparison and judgment results are sent to the display panel in the vehicle control room for visual display and alarm.

[0042] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0043] 1. This invention uses image recognition technology or the position of the idle contact of an automatic switch to monitor the consistency between the actual outdoor position of the turnout and the indoor display in real time. It can promptly detect inconsistencies caused by human error, equipment failure, etc., and immediately trigger an alarm. This effectively avoids the interlocking system from controlling based on erroneous information, thereby preventing accidents such as train derailment, train slippage, or collision. It solves the risk of negligence that exists in existing technologies that rely on manual verification.

[0044] 2. The system of this invention adopts a redundant architecture, including two independent sets of acquisition boards, processing units, and output boards. Key components, including acquisition contacts, communication links, and indicator light controls, are all redundantly configured, and automatic switching between primary and backup is achieved in conjunction with a handshake protocol, ensuring that the system can still operate stably in the event of a single point of failure, greatly improving the availability and reliability of the system.

[0045] 3. The output of the system of the present invention is displayed intuitively on the integrated backup panel (IBP) in the vehicle control room in the form of indicator lights, including constant light, flashing light, alternating flashing light, etc. Different lighting modes correspond to normal, inconsistent, circuit fault or switch machine fault, etc., which makes it easy for staff to quickly identify the type and location of the problem and guide emergency handling.

[0046] 4. In the system of the present invention, when the outdoor acquisition module fails, the system can automatically degrade and display only the indoor information, while triggering a system-level alarm to ensure that the basic monitoring function is not interrupted, thereby improving the adaptability and continuity of the system.

[0047] 5. The system of the present invention can be easily expanded to monitor multiple sets of turnouts and switch machines by adding acquisition channels and output channels, and is suitable for large stations or complex line scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0049] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the inconsistency between the indoor and outdoor positions of turnouts in existing technologies.

[0050] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the connection relationships between the various units in the station's integrated control room, signal equipment room, and track area according to the present invention.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the redundancy architecture of the system of this invention.

[0052] Figure 4 A diagram illustrating the results in a visual display format.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a system structure diagram of Example 1.

[0054] Figure 6 This is a wiring diagram for the digital input acquisition board.

[0055] Figure 7 This is a wiring diagram for arithmetic unit A.

[0056] Figure 8 This is a wiring diagram for the arithmetic unit B.

[0057] Figure 9 This is a wiring diagram for the switch output board. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The background technology is further described below:

[0059] A turnout is a track connection device that allows locomotives and rolling stock to switch from one track to another. It is also one of the weakest links in the track and is typically installed extensively in stations and marshalling yards. By installing turnouts, the track's throughput capacity can be fully utilized, for example, enabling trains to turn around (change direction) at the terminal station and change tracks while traveling in the depot. To control the turnouts, an indoor interlocking system needs to collect the real-time position data of the outdoor turnouts and issue turnout switching commands to control them. Therefore, the accuracy of the turnout position data collection is crucial.

[0060] In a normal interlocking system, the relationship between turnouts is as follows: outdoor turnouts are in the open position, and indoor turnouts are displayed in the open position; when outdoor turnouts are in the reverse position, indoor turnouts are displayed in the reverse position. In an abnormal interlocking system, the relationship between turnouts is as follows: outdoor turnouts are in the open position, and indoor turnouts are displayed in the reverse position; or outdoor turnouts are in the reverse position, and indoor turnouts are displayed in the open position.

[0061] Currently, there is no effective way to completely solve this problem using existing signaling system technology. Railway operators often try to eliminate such safety hazards by improving personnel management. This involves having outdoor and indoor personnel work together to verify the consistency of turnout information during operations that affect turnout indication, such as switch machine replacement, wiring / cable installation / removal, and rectifier box replacement. While this method can detect errors in a timely manner, it also carries the risk of human negligence and misjudgment. There is currently no technical means to prevent this problem.

[0062] The current turnout accidents can be divided into two types: first, the outdoor indicator is intentionally blocked, causing the interlocking system to always collect a false turnout indication regardless of the turnout's switching method; second, the functional verification was not performed after an error in the switch machine's disconnection and reconnection operation. The technical phenomena resulting from these two types of accidents include... Figure 1 As shown: "Track turnout" refers to a turnout in a tunnel or railway track that is currently in the "reverse position". The positioning indicator relay in the signal equipment room is engaged (the correct one should be the reverse position indicator relay), causing the interlocking system to acquire the engaged state of the positioning indicator relay. This results in the outdoor turnout being in the opposite position to the position acquired by the indoor interlocking system. Consequently, the interlocking system will arrange the route according to the acquired turnout position. At the same time, the train automatic monitoring system also obtains the turnout position from the interlocking system, and the displayed turnout position is opposite to the actual outdoor turnout position, without any alarm. This phenomenon completely evades technical and system detection, making it a difficult-to-detect abnormal state.

[0063] This embodiment of the invention integrates the actual location of the outdoor switch machine and the location of the switch machine collected by the indoor interlocking system, and performs real-time calculation and comparison. When the two sets of information are inconsistent, an alarm is issued in a timely manner, which can remind railway personnel to intervene and handle the situation in a timely manner, thus preventing major railway traffic accidents.

[0064] A system for monitoring the consistency between the interior and exterior of a turnout includes:

[0065] The indoor status acquisition module is used to acquire the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relays of signal equipment in order to obtain the indoor indicator information of the turnouts.

[0066] The outdoor status acquisition module is used to obtain the actual physical location information of the switch machine;

[0067] The calculation and comparison module is connected to the indoor status acquisition module and the outdoor status acquisition module. It is used to receive indoor display information and outdoor actual location information, compare the two in real time, determine whether the indoor and outdoor locations are consistent, and generate the corresponding judgment result.

[0068] The result output display module communicates with the calculation and comparison module to receive the judgment results and display them visually on the display panel in the vehicle control room. When the judgment results are inconsistent, an alarm indication is triggered.

[0069] Among them, reference Figure 2 The indoor status acquisition module corresponds to the "relay status acquisition" section in the signal equipment room. This module includes two independent switch quantity acquisition boards (Switch Quantity Acquisition Board A and Switch Quantity Acquisition Board B), each with multiple acquisition channels. The switch quantity acquisition boards are connected via hardwired to the unused contacts of the turnout indication relays in the signal equipment room. These contacts are synchronized with but completely independent of the relay body's operation, serving as the switch quantity sources for Switch Quantity Acquisition Board A and Switch Quantity Acquisition Board B, respectively. By acquiring the on / off states of the contacts, the switch quantity acquisition boards convert the indoor indication information of the turnout into digital signals and connect to the calculation and comparison module to upload the acquired data in real time.

[0070] The outdoor status acquisition module is used to obtain the actual outdoor location information of the outdoor switch machine. This module is mainly implemented through two optional or parallel technical means, including an image recognition-based scheme and a contact acquisition-based scheme.

[0071] The calculation and comparison module consists of two independent calculation units (Calculation Unit A and Calculation Unit B), deployed in the signal equipment room. Each calculation unit receives relay status information from the indoor status acquisition module and actual turnout position information from the outdoor status acquisition module via a network interface. The calculation unit executes real-time comparison logic: for each turnout, it compares the indoor status information (from relay contacts) with the outdoor actual position information at the same time. If they match (e.g., the relay engagement state corresponds to the switch machine position), the indoor and outdoor positions are considered consistent; if they do not match (e.g., the relay indicates a position while the switch machine is actually in the reverse position), they are considered inconsistent. Calculation Unit A and Calculation Unit B act as primary and backup units, monitoring each other's status via a protocol. When the primary calculation unit fails, the backup unit automatically becomes the primary unit, ensuring continuous system operation. Furthermore, the calculation unit also executes fault handling logic, such as isolating a faulty acquisition board and using data from a healthy board when the acquisition board fails.

[0072] The result output display module corresponds to the "lighting unit" on the IBP panel (integrated backup panel) in the station's integrated control room. This module includes two independent switch output boards (switch output board A and switch output board B), each equipped with multiple miniature relays, each corresponding to an LED indicator on the IBP panel. The calculation and comparison module sends the judgment results (such as consistency, inconsistency, circuit fault, etc.) to the switch output boards via serial communication protocol. The switch output boards drive the miniature relays, controlling the lighting circuit of the LEDs on the IBP panel through the relay contacts, achieving visual display. The display modes include different LED lighting behaviors to indicate indoor and outdoor consistency, indoor and outdoor inconsistency, and circuit faults. Furthermore, the relay contacts of the two switch output boards are connected in parallel to the same LED to ensure normal display function in the event of a single board failure, improving availability.

[0073] Furthermore, the outdoor status acquisition module includes a camera installed inside the switch machine, used to capture images of the switch machine's notch and / or locking block and latch to obtain image information, and to process the image information to obtain image recognition processing results.

[0074] The cameras are specifically installed to capture images of the mechanical components that directly reflect the true position of the turnout. The specific targets for these images include:

[0075] Switch machine gap image: The position of the gap (aligned with the positioning mark or reverse mark) directly indicates the locking status of the turnout.

[0076] Locking block image: Whether the locking block extends and falls into the locking iron is a key indicator for determining whether the turnout is truly locked in a certain position.

[0077] Locking tongue image: The state of the locking tongue is also used to confirm the mechanical locking status of the turnout.

[0078] By capturing images of these key components, the actual physical location of the switch machine can be accurately determined. For example, when the camera simultaneously captures images showing that the positioning notch is accurately aligned and the locking block on the positioning side is extended (or the locking tongue is in the locked state), it can be determined that the switch machine is in the positioning position; conversely, when the camera captures images showing that the reversing notch is accurately aligned and the locking block on the reversing side is extended, it is determined that the switch machine is in the reversing position.

[0079] Furthermore, the outdoor status acquisition module also includes a switch machine position acquisition board, which is used to connect to the spare contacts on the automatic opening and closing device inside the outdoor switch machine to obtain the acquisition board's recognition results.

[0080] The switch machine position acquisition board is a parallel and direct electrical signal acquisition method in the outdoor status acquisition module, used to enhance the reliability of the outdoor status acquisition system. The switch machine position acquisition board is typically installed in the turnout trackside box in the track area. The switch machine itself has a switch group used to connect the switch machine's operating circuit and indication circuit, and has several reserved spare contacts. These spare contacts operate synchronously with the contacts in the switch machine used to connect the indication circuit. These contacts can be designated as switch machine positioning identification contacts and switch machine reversing position identification contacts, respectively. The switch machine position identification contacts are used to detect the current true position of the switch machine. By adding an acquisition board to the existing turnout trackside box of each switch machine, the acquisition board collects the switch machine position identification contacts, thereby obtaining the true physical position of the turnout, i.e., "reversed" or "positioned".

[0081] When the switch machine's positioning identification contact closes, it can be determined that the switch machine is in the correct position; when the switch machine's reverse position identification contact closes, it can be determined that the switch machine is in the reverse position. The acquisition board transmits this position information to the turnout monitoring system via the turnout monitoring system's transmission link, or directly to the processing unit via the turnout monitoring system's transmission link, whereby the processing unit processes the actual physical position information of each switch machine.

[0082] Furthermore, the method for obtaining the real physical location information is as follows:

[0083] When the image recognition processing result is consistent with the recognition result of the acquisition board, the result is the actual outdoor location information;

[0084] When the image recognition processing result is inconsistent with the result of the switch machine position acquisition board, the recognition result of the acquisition board shall be the actual outdoor position information;

[0085] The image recognition processing result is not displayed; the recognition result of the acquisition board is the actual outdoor location information.

[0086] The results of the switch machine position acquisition board were not displayed, and the image recognition processing results were the actual outdoor position information.

[0087] The turnout monitoring system obtains the actual physical location of the switch machine from two sources: one is by capturing images of the gap, locking block, and locking tongue through a camera inside the switch machine to determine the actual physical location; the other is by determining the actual physical location of the switch machine through the unused contacts of the switch group inside the switch machine. When both sources of information are available simultaneously, the calculation unit prioritizes the actual physical location of the switch machine collected by the switch machine position acquisition board and uses the actual physical location of the switch machine collected by the camera as a secondary source. If the camera fails to collect the actual physical location of the switch machine, then the actual physical location of the switch machine collected by the acquisition board will be prioritized.

[0088] Furthermore, the image recognition processing is performed by the image recognition unit built into the calculation comparison module or the outdoor status acquisition module, and the turnout is determined to be in the correct or reverse position by recognizing the state of the notch and / or locking block and locking tongue.

[0089] Depending on the system configuration, the specific entity executing the image recognition processing function can be implemented in one of the following two ways:

[0090] Method 1: Image recognition is performed by the computation and comparison module. In this method, the existing turnout monitoring system may only have image acquisition and transmission functions. In this case, the outdoor status acquisition module (i.e., the turnout monitoring system) sends the raw image data (representing the gap, locking block / latch) captured by the camera directly to the computation and comparison module (computation unit) inside the signal equipment room via a network (such as a network cable). The computation unit runs dedicated image recognition algorithm software. This software analyzes the received images in real time, automatically determining whether the gap is aligned and whether the locking block / latch is in the correct extended or retracted state through pattern recognition, feature extraction, and other technologies, thus outputting a logical judgment result indicating whether the turnout is in "positioned" or "reversed" position. This method fully utilizes the computing power of the computation unit without requiring modification to the front-end acquisition equipment.

[0091] Method 2: Performed by the image recognition unit built into the outdoor status acquisition module. In this method, the turnout monitoring system itself is upgraded, integrating a built-in image recognition unit (e.g., a smart camera with processing capabilities or a processor embedded in the system). The image recognition task is then completed either outdoors or within the turnout monitoring system. The images captured by the camera are first processed locally by the image recognition unit to identify the switch machine's position (position / reverse). Then, the outdoor status acquisition module no longer transmits massive amounts of image data; instead, it sends the identified results (such as codes or flags) to the calculation and comparison module. This method reduces communication bandwidth and the processing load on the calculation unit. Regardless of the method used, the ultimate goal is to provide the calculation and comparison module with accurate "actual outdoor position information" for consistency comparison with the status of the indicator relays acquired indoors. Both methods, based on existing technology, achieve reliable and automatic determination of the actual outdoor position of the turnout, replacing the traditional method relying on manual on-site verification, and providing a crucial data foundation for image recognition processing.

[0092] Furthermore, the system employs a redundant architecture, in which:

[0093] The indoor status acquisition module includes two independent switch quantity acquisition boards, which respectively acquire different spare contacts of the same group of turnout representation relays;

[0094] The calculation and comparison module includes two independent calculation units. Each calculation unit is simultaneously connected to two sets of switch quantity acquisition boards and the outdoor status acquisition module to receive data in parallel, compare and judge, and send the results to the signal interlocking system.

[0095] The result output display module includes two independent switch output boards. Each switch output board receives the judgment results from the two sets of calculation units and drives the indicator lights on the display panel.

[0096] Among them, the two sets of arithmetic units monitor and automatically switch between master and backup through a handshake protocol, and the output contacts of the two sets of switch output boards are connected in parallel to control the same group of indicator lights.

[0097] Among them, reference Figure 3 Under normal conditions, any processing unit receives information from two switch input boards in real time and compares the results collected by the two switch input boards (e.g., ...). Figure 3(The arrows connect switch quantity acquisition board A and switch quantity acquisition board B to processing unit A). If the acquisition results from both channels are consistent, the processing unit determines that the acquired information is correct. When either switch quantity acquisition board fails, and neither the main nor backup processing unit can receive the information pushed by that switch quantity acquisition board, the main or backup processing unit isolates that board from the network and issues an alarm. The main or backup processing unit then normally receives and processes the acquisition information from the other healthy switch quantity acquisition board, continuing to maintain the availability of the system.

[0098] The arithmetic unit uses a Linux operating environment to prevent intrusion by viruses and other malicious software. Under normal circumstances, the main arithmetic unit simultaneously sends LED lighting commands to both switch output boards (e.g., ...). Figure 3 The intermediate calculation unit A connects to the switch output board A and the switch output board B (arrows indicate this connection). The standby calculation unit only performs hot standby and does not generate lighting commands. The relay contacts of the switch output board A and the switch output board B are connected in parallel to control the same LED. When any switch output board or any relay on the switch output board fails, the LED on the IBP panel can still be controlled normally, improving the overall availability of the system.

[0099] The primary and backup computing units send handshake protocol messages to each other every 100ms (e.g., ...). Figure 3 (The wavy line between arithmetic unit A and arithmetic unit B) When the standby arithmetic unit does not receive a handshake acknowledgment from the master arithmetic unit, the standby arithmetic unit will determine that the master arithmetic unit is faulty and will automatically become the master arithmetic unit. Because the standby arithmetic unit also receives the data collected by the digital input board in real time before the upgrade, it can directly replace the original master arithmetic unit to send the light-on command to the digital output board (e.g., ...). Figure 3 The intermediate processing unit B connects to the switch output board A and switch output board B (as indicated by the arrow). Simultaneously, the main processing unit sends commands to a set of relays controlling the power supply of the processing units on the switch output board, causing the faulty unit to power off and restart. The restart strategy involves attempting three times at 60-second intervals until a successful restart is achieved and a normal handshake confirmation is received. After this restart, the unit will act as a backup unit, thus completing the system's self-repair mechanism and further improving availability.

[0100] The signal interlocking system employs a dual-system (A / B) two-out-of-two redundancy architecture. The main processing unit simultaneously sends judgment results to both interlocking system A and interlocking system B. Interlocking systems A and B then compare the information sent from the main processing unit. Under normal circumstances, interlocking systems A and B receive the same information simultaneously. If one link fails (one of the two interlocking systems fails to receive information), the interlocking system uses the information from the normal link as its information source. Furthermore, if any processing unit fails, the backup processing unit automatically becomes the primary unit and also simultaneously sends judgment results to both interlocking systems A and B (e.g., ...). Figure 3The arrow connecting the intermediate operation unit B to the interlocking system A and the interlocking system B does not interfere with or affect the normal operation of the interlocking system.

[0101] The key redundancy measure in the result output display module is that the miniature relay contacts of the two sets of switch output boards are connected in parallel to the same set of indicator lights, forming hardware redundancy. For example, the positioning indicator light of turnout #1 is simultaneously controlled by the corresponding relays of switch output board A and switch output board B. Under normal conditions, the main processing unit sends the lighting command to both sets of output boards simultaneously. When either set of output boards or its relays fails, the other set of output boards can still drive the indicator lights normally, ensuring that the display function is not interrupted. In addition, the processing unit monitors the status of the output boards. If a communication abnormality is detected, the fault is recorded and an alarm is triggered, but the system can still maintain operation through the healthy output board.

[0102] Furthermore, the digital input board and the processing unit, as well as the processing unit and the digital output board, exchange data via a serial communication protocol.

[0103] Furthermore, the display panel of the result output display module is the integrated backup panel of the station control room, and the visualization display methods include the control indicator lights being on, off, flashing, or flashing alternately.

[0104] The output display module's display panel is specifically a comprehensive backup panel, or IBP panel, located in the subway station's control room. The IBP panel is a critical emergency device within the control room, equipped with various emergency control buttons and status indicator lights. This allows station staff to perform emergency monitoring and manual intervention on critical equipment in case of main equipment server or human-machine interface failures. Integrating the display function for indoor and outdoor consistency monitoring of turnout positions into the IBP panel perfectly aligns with its backup function. Turnout information is displayed on the signal panel of the IBP panel. Each switch machine has a corresponding set of indicator lights (typically including green and yellow LEDs) on the panel. This design allows operators to directly and intuitively obtain key turnout status information from a familiar and important emergency operation panel, especially receiving timely alarm prompts in case of anomalies.

[0105] The IBP panel in the vehicle control room has two result output channels: switch output board A and switch output board B. The two switch output boards are completely independent in hardware structure. Each switch output board receives output results from two processing units via a serial communication protocol. Each switch output board has several miniature relays, each corresponding to a specific indicator light on the IBP panel. Controlling these miniature relays illuminates the indicator lights and changes their illumination mode. The wiring between the miniature relays on the two switch output boards and the indicator lights on the IBP panel is in parallel. This design ensures that if one switch output board or a relay on one of its boards fails, the normal function of the IBP panel indicator lights is not affected, thus improving availability.

[0106] Operational units A and B respectively send six different results for each switch machine—"position judgment result, reverse position judgment result, consistency mismatch result, positioning circuit fault, reverse position circuit fault, and switch machine fault with outdoor unlocking"—to the signal interlocking system via data communication. The interlocking system's host computer and the ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) system display the indoor and outdoor consistency judgment results for the switches, and provide alarms for other states besides "consistent" results, further reminding relevant personnel to ensure safety. Furthermore, the judgment result includes at least one of the following:

[0107] When the indoor and outdoor positions are consistent, it is in normal condition, and the corresponding positioning indicator or reverse position indicator will remain on.

[0108] When the indoor and outdoor positions are inconsistent, an alarm is triggered, and the positioning indicator and the reverse position indicator flash alternately at a preset frequency.

[0109] When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls while the outdoor actual position is normal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will flash slowly to indicate a circuit fault.

[0110] When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls, and the actual outdoor position is abnormal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will be turned off to indicate a mechanical fault.

[0111] The visual display is achieved by controlling the LED indicator lights on the IBP panel through various lighting modes via the switch output board in the result output display module. These include on, off, flashing, or alternating flashing, each mode carrying a specific status or alarm meaning. The specific implementation is as follows:

[0112] Light illumination (stable illumination): When the calculation and comparison module determines that the indoor and outdoor positions of the turnout are consistent, it controls the corresponding LED light to illuminate stably. When the position is determined to be in the same position and consistent, it controls the green LED light to illuminate stably. When the position is determined to be in the opposite position and consistent, it controls the yellow LED light to illuminate stably.

[0113] Alternating flashing: When the calculation and comparison module determines that the indoor and outdoor positions of the turnout are inconsistent, an alarm indication is triggered. At this time, the switch output board controls the green and yellow LED lights corresponding to the turnout to light up rapidly and alternately at an interval of 500ms, forming a strong visual warning and reminding the train operators to intervene immediately.

[0114] Flashing (single light): Used to assist in determining the fault location. When it is determined that the turnout indicator relay has fallen (disconnected) but the actual position of the switch machine is correct and not unlocked (e.g., a positioning circuit fault), the corresponding green LED (positioning) or yellow LED (reverse) will flash at a frequency of 1 second, indicating that the fault may be located in the indoor circuit section. This flashing mode provides critical fault location assistance information for emergency repair personnel.

[0115] Light extinguishing: When it is determined that the turnout indicator relay has fallen and the switch machine has been internally unlocked (no correct indicator notch, locking block / lock tongue not in the locked position), the corresponding green or yellow LED light will be extinguished. This state also indicates a turnout malfunction, but combined with the status of the outdoor switch machine, it can help determine whether the fault is related to the switch machine or mechanical moving parts.

[0116] Furthermore, when the outdoor status acquisition module malfunctions and cannot transmit the outdoor switch machine position information, the calculation and comparison module performs a downgrade process, and only controls the output display module to display the results based on the indoor display information.

[0117] The degradation process is automatically triggered when specific fault conditions are met. These fault conditions refer to the inability of the calculation and comparison modules (i.e., calculation unit A and calculation unit B) to receive valid information from the outdoor status acquisition module (i.e., the turnout monitoring system). Specifically, these conditions may include the following:

[0118] The camera inside the switch machine malfunctioned, resulting in no image data output.

[0119] A malfunction in the image processing unit or communication network of the turnout monitoring system caused a data stream interruption.

[0120] The network connection between the computing unit and the turnout monitoring system was interrupted.

[0121] The processing unit did not receive any valid data packets or periodic signals from the turnout monitoring system within a preset time period (e.g., three consecutive communication cycles).

[0122] When the processing unit detects any of the above conditions, it determines that the outdoor status acquisition module has malfunctioned and immediately initiates the degradation processing procedure. Once the degradation condition is triggered, the processing comparison module will execute the following degradation processing logic:

[0123] Function Degradation: The arithmetic unit suspends the execution of the core "indoor-outdoor position consistency comparison" function. Since the actual outdoor position information of the turnout cannot be obtained, the system no longer generates "consistent" or "inconsistent" judgment results.

[0124] Display reference switching: The system is downgraded to control the result output display module (LED indicators on the IBP panel) solely based on the "indoor indication information" (i.e., the engagement status of the turnout indication relays DBJ / FBJ) provided by the indoor status acquisition module. The display logic is simplified as follows:

[0125] When the positioning indicator relay (DBJ) of a turnout is activated, the corresponding green LED on the control panel will light up stably.

[0126] When the reverse position indicator relay (FBJ) of a turnout is activated, the corresponding yellow LED on the control panel will light up stably.

[0127] When the position and reverse indicator relays of a turnout are both dropped, the corresponding green and yellow LEDs on the control IBP panel will turn off.

[0128] Furthermore, after the arithmetic comparison module performs degradation processing, the arithmetic unit simultaneously generates a system-level fault alarm.

[0129] Specifically, when the comparison modules (computation units A and B) perform degradation processing because they cannot detect valid images or location information returned by the outdoor status acquisition module (turnout monitoring system), the computation unit will simultaneously generate a system-level fault alarm. This alarm generation is an active logical judgment process. The computation unit has an internal system status monitoring program. When it determines that a switch from "normal comparison mode" to "degraded display mode" is necessary, the monitoring program will immediately identify this event as a fault affecting the complete functionality of the system. Subsequently, the computation unit will encapsulate an alarm data packet containing a specific fault code, the time of fault occurrence, and the affected turnout number.

[0130] The processing unit sends commands to the digital output board via serial port protocol, driving the dedicated system status alarm lights (usually red LEDs) on the IBP panel to illuminate or flash. This conspicuous visual signal can immediately attract the attention of the operator in the control room. Simultaneously, the processing unit can also command the digital output board to control the indicator lights of relevant switches on the IBP panel to display a special alarm mode (e.g., all switch indicator lights flash slowly simultaneously) to indicate that the currently displayed information is data in degraded mode and should be viewed with caution.

[0131] Furthermore, the computing unit can send fault alarm information to the station's centralized alarm system or signal equipment monitoring center in the form of network messages via its network interface. This way, fault information is not limited to the control room; maintenance and dispatching personnel can also obtain it remotely in a timely manner, facilitating maintenance scheduling. In summary, the above-mentioned method for monitoring the consistency between the turnout's interior and exterior includes:

[0132] The signal acquisition equipment obtains the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relay to acquire indoor indication information;

[0133] Obtain the actual physical location information of the internal display components of the outdoor switch machine, thereby obtaining the actual outdoor location information;

[0134] The indoor display information is compared with the actual outdoor location information in real time to determine whether they are consistent;

[0135] The comparison and judgment results are sent to the display panel in the vehicle control room for visual display and alarm.

[0136] Specifically, "collecting indoor display information" corresponds to the function of the system's indoor status acquisition module. "Acquiring actual outdoor location information" corresponds to the function of the system's outdoor status acquisition module. "Real-time comparison and judgment" corresponds to the core function of the system's calculation and comparison module. "Result visualization and alarm" corresponds to the function of the system's result output display module. Through the closed-loop operation of the above steps, this method achieves real-time, automatic, and reliable monitoring of the consistency between the indoor and outdoor locations of the turnout, and can effectively trigger alarms, thereby preventing railway traffic accidents caused by inconsistencies in position.

[0137] The present invention will be specifically illustrated below with reference to embodiments:

[0138] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art can make modifications to this embodiment without contributing any inventive step, but such modifications are protected by patent law as long as they fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0139] Example 1:

[0140] Figure 5This is a system architecture diagram using three switch machines at a certain station as an example. There are a total of three switch machines. The indoor section consists of two digital input acquisition boards, two processing units, two digital output boards, and one switch. The outdoor section consists of one switch and three acquisition boards.

[0141] The two switch quantity acquisition boards are connected to the DBJ (positioning indicator relay) and FBJ (reverse position indicator relay) contacts of each switch machine using hard wires. The number of channels used by the switch quantity acquisition boards is equal to the number of switch quantities to be acquired.

[0142] Two processing units are connected to the switch quantity acquisition board via a serial communication interface, acquiring the code position messages of each switch machine's indicator relay via serial protocol. Two processing units are also connected to the switch quantity output board via a serial communication interface, sending command messages to the switch quantity output board via serial protocol. A network interface is used to connect to the indoor switch, which, along with the outdoor switch, uses optical communication technology to acquire the actual physical location information of the outdoor switch machine. The switch machine position acquisition board is connected via hard wiring to the internal positioning and reversing position identification contacts of the switch machine to acquire the switch machine's switch group status and transmit the actual physical location of the switch machine to the processing units via the outdoor and indoor switches.

[0143] The computing unit connects to the interlocking system via a network interface to send the calculation results of the indoor and outdoor position consistency of the switch machine.

[0144] If applied in a fully electronic interlocking system environment, since the traditional turnout indication relays (DBJ position indication relay and FBJ reverse position indication relay, and safety relays are used) are eliminated, the switch quantity acquisition board can be eliminated. The calculation unit directly obtains the turnout indoor indication information from the interlocking system, compares this information with the outdoor physical location of the switch machine, and then sends the result of the indoor and outdoor consistency calculation of the switch machine back to the interlocking system.

[0145] Two digital output boards are connected in parallel with the positive terminal of the LED on the IBP panel using hard wires. The digital acquisition board uses several miniature relay contacts to connect the LED lighting circuit.

[0146] Figure 6 This is a wiring diagram of the digital input / output board. Any unused contact among the turnout positioning relay and reverse position relay is selected as the data acquisition target. The OV (outlet) is used as the common point to connect the middle contact of the corresponding turnout indicator relay in parallel. Other acquisition points are connected to the front contacts of the corresponding turnout indicator relays. The serial communication interface of the digital input / output board is connected to the processing unit. The wiring methods for digital input / output board A and digital input / output board B are basically the same. Each digital input / output board is distinguished by a unique address DIP switch to identify the station number and address.

[0147] Figure 7This is a wiring diagram of the arithmetic unit A. It connects to the switch quantity acquisition board A via a serial communication interface. Switch quantity acquisition board A and switch quantity acquisition board B are in the same network, and arithmetic unit A can also simultaneously acquire the acquisition code positions of switch quantity acquisition board B. It acquires switch machine status image information from the turnout monitoring system via a network interface, and also acquires the switch machine internal switch contact position information from the outdoor switch machine position acquisition board via a network interface. It connects to switch quantity output boards A and B via serial communication interfaces, and to arithmetic unit B via a network interface. The two arithmetic units communicate via a handshake protocol to monitor the operational health of arithmetic unit B. Finally, it connects to the interlocking system via a network interface to send switch machine position consistency judgment information to the interlocking system.

[0148] Figure 8 This is a wiring diagram of the arithmetic unit B. It connects to the switch quantity acquisition board B via a serial communication interface. Switch quantity acquisition board B and switch quantity acquisition board A are in the same network, and arithmetic unit B can also simultaneously acquire the acquisition code positions of switch quantity acquisition board A. It acquires switch machine status image information from the turnout monitoring system via a network interface, and also acquires the switch machine internal switch contact position information from the outdoor switch machine position acquisition board via a network interface. It connects to switch quantity output boards A and B via serial communication interfaces, and to arithmetic unit A via a network interface. The two arithmetic units communicate via a handshake protocol to monitor the operational health of arithmetic unit A. Finally, it connects to the interlocking system via a network interface to send switch machine position consistency judgment information to the interlocking system.

[0149] Figure 9 This is a wiring diagram of switch output board A and switch output board B. The two switch output boards are connected to two processing units via serial communication interfaces. Multiple switch output boards are within the same network, and each processing unit is distinguished by a unique address DIP switch. Several miniature relays are distributed on the switch output boards, each representing an output code and corresponding to an LED. The switch output boards receive commands from the processing units, driving the miniature relays to operate. The relay contacts control the LED lighting circuit on the IBP panel, enabling various LED lighting changes. The relay contacts of switch output boards A and B are connected in parallel to control the same LED. This ensures that even if any switch output board or any relay on one of its boards fails, the LEDs on the IBP panel can still be controlled normally, improving the overall system availability.

[0150] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second," "A," "B," etc., are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0151] The above are merely preferred embodiments and technical principles employed in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the consistency between the indoor and outdoor environments of a turnout, characterized in that, include; The indoor status acquisition module is used to acquire the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relay of the signal equipment in order to obtain the indoor indicator information of the turnout. The outdoor status acquisition module is used to obtain the actual physical location information of the switch machine; The calculation and comparison module is communicatively connected to the indoor status acquisition module and the outdoor status acquisition module. It is used to receive the indoor representation information and the outdoor actual location information, compare the two in real time, determine whether the indoor and outdoor locations are consistent, and generate the corresponding judgment result. The result output display module is communicatively connected to the calculation and comparison module. It is used to receive the judgment result and display the judgment result in a visual manner on the display panel in the vehicle control room. When the judgment result is inconsistent, an alarm indication is triggered.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outdoor status acquisition module includes a camera installed inside the switch machine, used to capture images of the switch machine's notch and / or locking block and latch to obtain image information, and to process the image information to obtain image recognition processing results.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outdoor status acquisition module also includes a switch machine position acquisition board, which is used to connect to the spare contacts on the automatic opening and closing device inside the outdoor switch machine to obtain the recognition results of the acquisition board.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method for obtaining the real physical location information is as follows: When the image recognition processing result is consistent with the recognition result of the acquisition board, the result is the actual outdoor location information; When the image recognition processing result is inconsistent with the result of the switch machine position acquisition board, the recognition result of the acquisition board shall be the actual outdoor position information; The image recognition processing result is not displayed; the recognition result of the acquisition board is the actual outdoor location information. The results from the switch machine position acquisition board were not displayed, and the image recognition processing results were the actual outdoor position information.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image recognition processing is performed by the image recognition unit built into the calculation comparison module or the outdoor status acquisition module. The turnout is determined to be in the correct or reverse position by recognizing the state of the notch and / or locking block and locking tongue.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system is implemented using a redundant architecture, wherein: The indoor status acquisition module includes two independent switch quantity acquisition boards, which respectively acquire different spare contacts of the same group of turnout representation relays; The calculation and comparison module includes two independent calculation units. Each calculation unit is simultaneously connected to two sets of switch quantity acquisition boards and the outdoor status acquisition module to receive data in parallel, compare and judge, and send the results to the signal interlocking system. The result output display module includes two independent switch output boards. Each switch output board receives the judgment results from the two sets of calculation units and drives the indicator lights on the display panel. The two sets of computing units monitor and automatically switch between primary and backup units through a handshake protocol, and the output contacts of the two sets of switch output boards are connected in parallel to control the same group of indicator lights.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The judgment result includes at least one of the following: When the indoor and outdoor positions are consistent, it is in normal condition, and the corresponding positioning indicator or reverse position indicator will remain on. When the indoor and outdoor positions are inconsistent, an alarm is triggered, and the positioning indicator and the reverse position indicator flash alternately at a preset frequency. When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls while the outdoor actual position is normal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will flash slowly to indicate a circuit fault. When the indoor indicator relay loses its magnetism and falls, and the actual outdoor position is abnormal, the indicator light at the corresponding position will be turned off to indicate a switch machine malfunction.

8. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the outdoor status acquisition module malfunctions and cannot transmit the actual outdoor location information, the calculation and comparison module performs a downgrade process, controlling the result output and display module to display the result only based on the indoor representation information.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the calculation and comparison module performs the degradation process, the calculation unit simultaneously generates a system-level fault alarm.

10. A method for monitoring the consistency of turnout indoor and outdoor systems based on the system described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, include: The signal acquisition equipment obtains the contact status of the indoor turnout indicator relay to acquire indoor indication information; Obtain the actual physical location information of the internal display components of the outdoor switch machine, thereby obtaining the actual outdoor location information; The indoor display information is compared with the actual outdoor location information in real time to determine whether they are consistent; The comparison and judgment results are sent to the display panel in the vehicle control room for visual display and alarm.

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