Early warning system applied to railway line terminal

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of early warning system applied to railway line terminal, and the system is mainly composed of audible and visual alarm, distance detection module and control module;Among them, distance detection module is responsible for real-time detection between locomotive and the distance of line terminal, and generates corresponding distance signal and sends to control module;Control module then according to the real-time distance signal, controls audible and visual alarm to execute hierarchical early warning operation.The utility model passes through the modular design and hierarchical early warning mechanism above, effectively solve the problem that the lack of dynamic, adaptive hierarchical early warning capability generally exists in existing shunting operation, significantly improve the early warning reliability and system sustained operation ability under severe weather and complex environment, to provide stable, accurate technical support for the shunting safety of railway line terminal area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of railway transportation safety technology, and in particular to an early warning system applied to railway line terminals. Background Technology

[0002] The railway line terminus, as the end of the track, is a critical safety point for preventing locomotive and rolling stock collisions during shunting operations. Currently, protection at this location mainly relies on fixed stop signs and the driver's active visual observation. This static and singular warning method is fundamentally passive. In actual operation, especially at night, in adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or heavy fog, or when visibility is obstructed by curves or obstacles, the driver's visibility and reaction time are significantly reduced. This creates significant blind spots in the existing protection system, making it highly susceptible to serious accidents such as derailments and collisions due to delayed detection or misjudgment.

[0003] Furthermore, existing warning systems lack dynamic early warning capabilities, failing to detect the actual distance of the locomotive approaching the terminal in real time and accurately, thus hindering the automatic implementation of tiered warnings ranging from mild to severe. This deficiency prevents drivers from intuitively and promptly perceiving the approach of danger and the urgency of the situation, making it difficult to make the most effective braking decisions at critical moments. In effect, this results in the loss of a valuable window of opportunity for effective intervention before an accident occurs. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model provides an early warning system for railway line terminals, aiming to solve key technical problems such as the lack of dynamic hierarchical early warning capabilities and insufficient reliability under harsh conditions in existing shunting operations.

[0005] An early warning system for railway line terminals includes: an audible and visual alarm, a distance detection module, and a control module; wherein the distance detection module is configured to: detect the real-time distance between the locomotive and the railway line terminal, and generate a distance signal characterizing the real-time distance to be output to the control module; the control module is configured to: control the audible and visual alarm to perform graded audible and visual early warning operations based on the real-time distance characterized by the distance signal.

[0006] Optionally, the early warning system further includes a solar power supply module and a signal status detection module; wherein, the signal status detection module is configured to detect the light color status of the railway shunting signal and generate a status signal representing the light color status, which is then output to the control module; the control module is further configured to control the solar power supply module to supply power to the audible and visual alarm and the distance detection module when the status signal represents a preset light color status that allows operation.

[0007] Optionally, the signal status detection module is connected to the railway shunting signal circuit via an opto-isolation relay.

[0008] Optionally, the solar power supply module includes a solar panel, an energy storage battery, and a charge / discharge controller; wherein, the output terminal of the solar panel is connected to the charging input terminal of the charge / discharge controller; the energy storage battery is connected to the battery terminal of the charge / discharge controller; and the output terminal of the charge / discharge controller constitutes the power supply output of the solar power supply module.

[0009] Optionally, the early warning system further includes: a backup power module; wherein the backup power module includes a voltage detection circuit, an automatic switching circuit, and an AC adapter; the input terminal of the voltage detection circuit is connected in parallel with the energy storage battery to monitor the voltage of the energy storage battery; the AC input terminal of the AC adapter is connected to an external power grid; the voltage detection circuit is configured to output a switching control signal to the automatic switching circuit when the voltage of the energy storage battery is lower than a preset undervoltage threshold; the automatic switching circuit is configured to switch the power supply input of the audible and visual alarm and the distance detection module from the energy storage battery to the DC output terminal of the AC adapter based on the switching control signal.

[0010] Optionally, the graded sound and light warning operation includes: when the real-time distance is less than or equal to a first preset distance, controlling the LED display screen to display the real-time distance and controlling the buzzer to sound at a preset frequency; when the real-time distance is less than or equal to a second preset distance, controlling the LED display screen to flash red light and controlling the buzzer to sound continuously; wherein, the first preset distance is greater than the second preset distance.

[0011] Optionally, the first preset distance is 50 meters and the second preset distance is 10 meters.

[0012] Optionally, the early warning system further includes a wireless communication module; wherein the wireless communication module is configured to transmit the early warning information corresponding to the graded audible and visual early warning operation to the driver's cab of the locomotive.

[0013] Optionally, the early warning system further includes a video monitoring module; wherein the control module is further configured to activate the video monitoring module to record the shunting operation process of the locomotive within the terminal range of the railway line.

[0014] In summary, the early warning system of this utility model mainly consists of an audible and visual alarm, a distance detection module, and a control module. The distance detection module is responsible for detecting the distance between the locomotive and the track terminal in real time and generating a corresponding distance signal, which is then sent to the control module. The control module, based on this real-time distance signal, controls the audible and visual alarm to perform tiered early warning operations. Through the aforementioned modular design and tiered early warning mechanism, this utility model effectively solves the problem of the lack of dynamic, adaptive tiered early warning capabilities commonly found in existing shunting operations. It significantly improves the reliability of early warnings and the system's continuous operation capability in severe weather and complex environments, thus providing stable and accurate technical support for shunting safety in railway line terminal areas.

[0015] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of this utility model. In order to better understand the technical means disclosed herein and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this utility model are described below. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the early warning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the solar power supply module in the early warning system of this utility model embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the backup power module in the early warning system of this utility model embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of the early warning system according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this specification, the technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this specification, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0022] One embodiment of this utility model provides an early warning system applied to railway line terminals. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the early warning system, which mainly includes: an audible and visual alarm 11, a distance detection module 12, and a control module 13. The distance detection module 12 is responsible for detecting the actual distance between the locomotive and the railway line terminal in real time, and converting the detected distance data into electrical signals for transmission to the control module 13. The control module 13, as the decision-making center of the early warning system, receives its own continuous power supply and is used to continuously analyze the received distance signals and control the audible and visual alarm 11 to perform corresponding early warning operations according to a preset algorithm.

[0023] In this embodiment, the warning system employs a tiered warning mechanism. Specifically, the audible and visual alarm 11 includes an LED display screen and a buzzer. When the control module 13 determines that the actual distance between the locomotive and the terminal is less than or equal to 50 meters, it activates the first-level warning mode. At this time, the LED display screen dynamically displays the real-time changing distance value, while the buzzer emits intermittent sounds at a specific frequency. This warning method can attract the driver's attention without causing excessive tension. When the actual distance is further reduced to within 10 meters, the control module 13 automatically upgrades to the second-level warning mode. The LED display screen immediately switches to a red flashing state, and the buzzer also turns into a continuous sound, conveying emergency warning information to the driver through this strong combination of sound and light. The advantage of this tiered warning design is that it establishes a warning system that gradually strengthens as the risk level increases. Within a relatively safe distance range, the system provides accurate distance information and appropriate warnings, giving the driver ample time to adjust and prepare. When entering a dangerous distance, the system ensures that the warning information can be perceived immediately through strong visual and auditory stimuli. This progressive early warning strategy effectively overcomes the problems of warning fatigue or slow response that are easily caused by traditional single early warning methods, and significantly improves the efficiency and reliability of human-computer interaction.

[0024] In summary, this embodiment, through the innovative combination of modular design and a hierarchical early warning mechanism, not only solves the technical problems of limited and unresponsive early warning methods in traditional shunting operations, but also establishes a complete and reliable protection system for operational safety in railway line terminal areas through intelligent distance perception and differentiated warning output. This design considers various working conditions in actual operations while fully taking into account ergonomic principles, ensuring that early warning information is delivered to operators in the most effective way, thereby significantly improving the safety level and operational efficiency of railway shunting operations.

[0025] Specifically, the early warning system in this embodiment further integrates a solar power supply module 14 and a signal status detection module 15. The addition of these two functional modules significantly improves the system's intelligence and reliability. The signal status detection module 15 establishes a connection with the existing shunting signal system of the railway through a sensing circuit, accurately identifying changes in the signal light color status and transmitting the detected status signal representing the light color status to the control module 13 for processing. Correspondingly, after receiving the status signal, the control module 13 will control the solar power supply module 14 to supply power to other modules in the early warning system, including the audible and visual alarm 11 and the distance detection module 12, when the status signal represents a preset light color status that allows operation (usually white). From a safety perspective, this interlocking mechanism ensures that the early warning system is only activated when shunting operations are actually needed, effectively avoiding false alarms during non-operational periods, and also greatly reducing the system's standby power consumption, reflecting the energy-saving and environmentally friendly design concept. In terms of energy supply, the solar power supply module 14 adopts green energy technology, converting light energy into electrical energy through high-efficiency solar panels, and scientifically managing the energy storage battery in conjunction with an intelligent charge and discharge controller. This power supply method not only achieves energy self-sufficiency but also frees the system from dependence on the traditional power grid, making it particularly suitable for deployment at the ends of railway lines in remote areas. Even under severe weather conditions, the energy storage batteries ensure continuous and stable system operation, while the intelligent power management system ensures the most efficient use of electrical energy.

[0026] In practical applications, the signal status detection module 15 can be connected to the railway shunting signal circuit via an opto-isolation relay. As a mature electrical isolation device, the opto-isolation relay achieves complete electrical isolation between input and output through internal light-emitting devices and photosensitive elements. This design makes the signal detection circuit and the signal control circuit electrically independent, forming a reliable isolation barrier. The advantage of this connection method is its ability to effectively cope with the special electromagnetic environment of railway sites. Railway line terminals are typically located in complex electromagnetic environments, and various electrical equipment generates strong electromagnetic interference during operation. Traditional direct electrical connections are easily affected by this interference. The application of opto-isolation technology fundamentally blocks the propagation path of interference signals, ensuring the purity and accuracy of the status detection signal. When the light color status of the railway shunting signal changes, the detection module can quickly and accurately capture this change and transmit the corresponding status signal to the control module 13 without distortion. In addition to anti-interference capabilities, this connection method also provides important overvoltage protection. During operation, the railway signal circuit may generate instantaneous voltage surges. If these voltage surges are directly transmitted to the core circuit of the early warning system, they may cause component damage or system failure. The high insulation strength of opto-isolation relays can effectively block the intrusion of these dangerous voltages, providing a reliable protection barrier for the downstream control modules and signal processing circuits.

[0027] Figure 2 The structure of the solar power module 14 is shown, including a solar panel 141, a charge / discharge controller 142, and an energy storage battery 143. The output of the solar panel 141 is connected to the charging input of the charge / discharge controller 142; the energy storage battery 143 is connected to the battery terminal of the charge / discharge controller 142; and the output of the charge / discharge controller 142 constitutes the power output of the solar power module. This power supply structure intelligently manages the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy through the charge / discharge controller 142, achieving autonomous energy recycling. This not only significantly reduces the system's dependence on the external power grid, enabling the early warning system to be deployed at remote line terminals without mains power supply, but also effectively solves the technical problem of unstable power supply under conditions such as day-night cycles and rainy weather through the buffering effect of the energy storage battery 143 and the management of the charge / discharge controller 142. This ensures the continuous and reliable operation of the early warning system under all-weather conditions and extends the service life of the energy storage battery 143, comprehensively improving the system's environmental adaptability and deployment flexibility from the energy supply perspective.

[0028] In addition, the early warning system in this embodiment is also equipped with a backup power module 16. Figure 3The diagram shows the structure of the backup power module 16, which includes a voltage detection circuit 161, an automatic switching circuit 162, and an AC adapter 163. The voltage detection circuit 161 is connected in parallel to the energy storage battery 143 in the solar power module to continuously monitor the voltage changes of the battery. The AC input terminal of the AC adapter is connected to the standard power grid along the railway line as a backup energy input. When the voltage detection circuit 161 detects that the voltage of the energy storage battery 143 is lower than the preset undervoltage threshold, it will immediately send a switching control signal to the automatic switching circuit 162. The automatic switching circuit 162 then starts the switching, smoothly transitioning the power input of other modules in the early warning system (such as the audible and visual alarm 11 and the distance detection module 12) from the energy storage battery 143 to the DC output terminal of the AC adapter 163. This power management architecture constructs a dual-protection system that integrates solar power and grid power. Through real-time and accurate voltage monitoring and a rapid-response automatic switching mechanism, it can seamlessly switch between different power sources when the energy storage battery 143 suffers severe power shortages due to continuous rainy weather. This fundamentally solves the risk of power outages that may occur with a single solar power system under extreme weather conditions, ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the early warning system under various harsh operating conditions. This intelligent power backup solution not only provides reliable energy redundancy for railway terminal safety early warning but also significantly reduces the system failure rate caused by power supply problems through a comprehensive power management system. From the system architecture level, it further enhances the environmental adaptability, operational stability, and practical value of the entire early warning solution.

[0029] Furthermore, the early warning system in this embodiment innovatively integrates a wireless communication module 17. Based on a railway-specific wireless communication protocol, this module can transmit complete early warning information corresponding to graded audible and visual early warning operations to the locomotive's cab in real time. This design establishes a stable data link between the terminal early warning system and the locomotive's cab, constructing a three-dimensional early warning information transmission network. This effectively solves the key problem that traditional railway line terminal local early warnings may suffer from delayed driver perception or information omissions due to environmental noise interference, blind spots, or severe weather. The wireless communication module 17 can directly send a complete early warning dataset, including real-time accurate distance, current warning level, and recommended operational measures, to the intelligent display terminal in the cab via encrypted transmission, ensuring that the driver receives accurate and intuitive early warning information immediately. This information transmission method overcomes the limitations of traditional audible and visual alarms in terms of spatial propagation distance and environmental impact, significantly improving the reliability and timeliness of early warning information transmission. More importantly, it realizes a shift in the early warning mode from relying on the driver's "passive perception" to the system's "active push." In actual operation, this dual early warning and protection mechanism provides drivers with more reaction time and scientific decision-making basis, enabling locomotive operators to take appropriate deceleration or braking measures in a timely manner in complex and ever-changing operating environments.

[0030] Furthermore, the early warning system in this embodiment also includes a video monitoring module 18; wherein, the control module is further configured to activate the video monitoring module 18 to record the shunting operation process of the locomotive within the terminal range of the railway line. This design, by organically combining video monitoring with a hierarchical early warning system, constructs a complete safety protection system integrating real-time early warning and process recording: the video monitoring module 18 is activated synchronously when the early warning system is triggered, completely recording the entire operation process of the locomotive from approaching the warning area to stopping. This not only provides objective and continuous on-site video evidence for the investigation of possible safety accidents, effectively solving the problem of difficulty in determining responsibility caused by the lack of process recording in traditional early warning systems; at the same time, the recorded operation video can also be used for subsequent operation specification analysis, driver operation evaluation, and safety training optimization, providing data support for improving the overall shunting operation quality. This functional expansion upgrades the system from a simple real-time early warning to a safety management platform with multiple functions of early warning, recording, analysis, and traceability, significantly enhancing the systematicness and integrity of railway terminal operation safety management, and providing important technical support for building a comprehensive railway transportation safety assurance system.

[0031] Figure 4This example illustrates the workflow of the early warning system in this embodiment. The workflow begins with the system initialization phase, where the solar power module first completes a self-test and establishes a stable power supply. Subsequently, the signal status detection module continuously monitors the light status of the shunting signals. The system only fully activates the distance detection module when the signal displays a white light indicating permitted operation, continuously detecting the real-time distance between the locomotive and the terminal using millimeter-wave radar. When the locomotive is detected entering the first warning range of 50 meters, the system immediately triggers a level one alarm. At this time, the LED display dynamically displays the real-time changing distance value, and a buzzer emits intermittent sounds at a frequency of 1Hz. If the locomotive continues to approach to the second warning range of 10 meters... Upon reaching the warning area, the system automatically escalates to a Level 2 alarm, the LED display switches to a flashing red mode, and the buzzer begins a continuous blare, creating a strong visual and auditory warning. When the locomotive leaves the warning area, the system automatically delays entering standby mode. During this time, the power management module continuously monitors the light intensity. When sufficient light is available, solar charging is initiated, and the system re-enters standby mode once the energy storage battery reaches the threshold. If the signal light changes from white to another state during operation, the system immediately cuts off the power and returns to standby mode, thus achieving safe interlocking control with the signal system. This complete workflow ensures the intelligent response and reliable operation of the warning system throughout the entire shunting operation.

[0032] In summary, the reason this invention effectively solves the problem of the lack of dynamic hierarchical early warning capabilities in existing shunting operations is because it adopts a hardware early warning architecture based on real-time distance detection: the distance detection module continuously acquires locomotive position data through millimeter-wave radar, while the control module responds to different distance thresholds through preset hardware circuits, driving the audible and visual alarms to execute differentiated early warning actions. This purely hardware-based detection-judgment-response mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust the early warning intensity according to the actual position of the locomotive, thus achieving true dynamic hierarchical early warning. Simultaneously, the system establishes an independent energy security system through the collaborative work of the solar power module and the backup power module, ensuring continuous and stable operation even under adverse weather conditions; while the use of components such as opto-isolation relays improves the system's anti-interference capability in complex electromagnetic environments from a physical perspective. This end-to-end hardware optimization from detection and control to power supply frees the system from dependence on manual judgment and the external power grid, thus providing a reliable guarantee for shunting operations to adapt to complex environments.

[0033] The above is an exemplary description of the early warning system of this embodiment. It should be noted that the early warning system of this embodiment essentially achieves its technical effect through innovation and optimization of the hardware architecture. Its improvements are entirely based on the reconfiguration of physical modules and the specialized design of hardware circuits, without involving any improvements to computer programs or algorithms. Specifically, the early warning system introduces dedicated hardware components such as a millimeter-wave radar ranging module, opto-isolated relays, a solar power supply module, and a backup power supply module, constructing a complete signal detection, energy management, and early warning execution system at the physical level: the distance detection module achieves accurate ranging based on the physical characteristics of radar waves; the signal status detection module achieves electrical isolation and signal acquisition through opto-isolated circuits; the power supply system forms a redundant power supply network through solar panels, energy storage batteries, and automatic switching circuits; and the audible and visual alarms achieve tiered early warning output through hardware drive circuits. The collaborative work between these hardware modules relies entirely on circuit connections and electrical signal interaction, forming a closed-loop control system that does not depend on software programs, thereby ensuring system reliability while achieving pure hardware-level architectural innovation.

[0034] Specifically, the aforementioned control module, as the core decision-making unit of the system, can be implemented using a hardware architecture based on existing industrial-grade programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or dedicated microcontroller units (MCUs), such as Siemens S7-1200 series PLCs or STMicroelectronics STM32F4 series high-performance MCUs. These hardware platforms have multiple digital and analog input / output interfaces, high-precision timers, and hardware comparators, enabling real-time response and tiered warning output to distance signals through internal hard-wired logic circuits without relying on software programs. The control module, through its integrated voltage comparator, timer, and drive circuits, directly triggers the corresponding audible and visual alarm output states based on the analog or digital signals input from the distance detection module. The entire process can be completed using the existing capabilities of the hardware circuitry, without the need for upper-level software intervention or modifications to the underlying code.

[0035] In the embodiments provided by this utility model, it should be understood that the disclosed circuits can be implemented in other ways. For example, the circuit embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another circuit, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, or indirect coupling or communication connection of circuits or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0036] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that if the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left" and "right" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the position or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An early warning system applied to railway line terminals, characterized in that, include: Audible and visual alarm, distance detection module and control module; The distance detection module is configured to detect the real-time distance between the locomotive and the railway line terminal, and generate a distance signal representing the real-time distance to be output to the control module; the control module is configured to control the audible and visual alarm to perform graded audible and visual early warning operations based on the real-time distance represented by the distance signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Solar power supply module and signal status detection module; The signal status detection module is configured to detect the light color status of the railway shunting signal and generate a status signal representing the light color status, which is then output to the control module. The control module is further configured to control the solar power supply module to supply power to the audible and visual alarm and the distance detection module when the status signal represents a preset light color status that allows operation.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The signal status detection module is connected to the railway shunting signal circuit via an opto-isolation relay.

4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The solar power supply module includes a solar panel, an energy storage battery, and a charge / discharge controller; The output terminal of the solar panel is connected to the charging input terminal of the charge-discharge controller; the energy storage battery is connected to the battery terminal of the charge-discharge controller; and the output terminal of the charge-discharge controller constitutes the power supply output of the solar power module.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: Backup power module; The backup power module includes a voltage detection circuit, an automatic switching circuit, and an AC adapter. The input of the voltage detection circuit is connected in parallel with the energy storage battery to monitor the voltage of the energy storage battery. The AC input of the AC adapter is connected to an external power grid. The voltage detection circuit is configured to output a switching control signal to the automatic switching circuit when the voltage of the energy storage battery is lower than a preset undervoltage threshold. The automatic switching circuit is configured to switch the power supply input of the audible and visual alarm and the distance detection module from the energy storage battery to the DC output of the AC adapter based on the switching control signal.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The audible and visual alarm includes an LED display screen and a buzzer; the tiered audible and visual early warning operation includes: When the real-time distance is less than or equal to the first preset distance, the LED display screen is controlled to show the real-time distance, and the buzzer is controlled to sound at a preset frequency. When the real-time distance is less than or equal to the second preset distance, the LED display screen is controlled to flash red light, and the buzzer is controlled to sound continuously. Wherein, the first preset distance is greater than the second preset distance.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The tiered audio-visual early warning operation includes: The first preset distance is 50 meters, and the second preset distance is 10 meters.

8. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: Wireless communication module; The wireless communication module is configured to transmit the warning information corresponding to the graded audible and visual warning operation to the driver's cab of the locomotive.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Video surveillance module; The control module is also configured to: activate the video monitoring module to record the shunting operation process of the locomotive within the terminal range of the railway line.

10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance detection module is a millimeter-wave radar ranging module.

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