Methods for deterring people from track areas and systems for this purpose

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of protecting track areas from unauthorized access. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a device for deterring people from the vicinity of rails, tracks, and track systems using high voltage. The inventive method for deterring people from track areas is characterized in that a pulsed high voltage is introduced into an electrical conductor located in the track area, so that a person feels pain upon contact with the conductor and leaves the area of ​​the electrical conductor. The system according to the invention for deterring people from track areas is characterized in that it comprises a device for generating pulsed high voltage, as well as a device for transmitting the same into an electrical conductor located in the track area.

Description

Introduction

[0001] The invention relates to the field of protecting track areas from unauthorized access. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a system for deterring people from the vicinity of rails, tracks, and track systems using high voltage. State of the art and disadvantages

[0002] It is well known that the presence of unauthorized persons in railway track areas is highly problematic in two respects. On the one hand, these individuals endanger themselves; fatal accidents involving contact with passing trains are a frequent consequence of failing to maintain a safe minimum distance. On the other hand, the mere awareness of an unauthorized person on or even in the track often leads to disruptions in train operations for a train driver (e.g., very slow speeds or precautionary emergency stops), which can even result in a temporary suspension of service.

[0003] Besides fences and other barriers, which involve construction work and are not always feasible, acoustic methods are also known. These methods use very unpleasant sounds to drive away people near the facility being protected. However, such devices can be heard even at a considerable distance, which is not inherently harmful, causing an undesirable disturbance to uninvolved parties. This is the case even if the sounds are only activated when needed, for example, when a person is detected by a proximity sensor or similar device.

[0004] Solutions for protecting railway tracks using electric fences are also known from the literature. These require an additional power supply and also involve corresponding construction work. Problem of the invention and solution

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a method and a device which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0006] The method and the device are intended to reduce the probability of a person being on or in the track without having to make costly structural changes or additions to the tracks, and without disturbing uninvolved third parties through the operation of the invention.

[0007] The problem is solved by a method according to claim 1 and a system according to dependent claim 8. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the respective dependent claims, the following description, and the figures. Description

[0008] First, the method according to the invention is described. This is followed by a description of the system according to the invention.

[0009] This method is used to deter people from railway tracks, preventing them from being endangered by passing trains, as well as disruption to train traffic caused by slow-moving or even stopped trains. The method involves applying a pulsed high voltage to an electrical conductor located in the track area, causing pain upon contact and prompting a person to leave the area.

[0010] The pulsed high voltage is selected in such a way that any health risk to the person is excluded, but at the same time leads to a certain sensation of pain when touching the conductor, so that the person automatically moves away from the area of ​​the conductor and thus from the track system.

[0011] According to the invention, the pulsed high voltage is introduced into at least one rail of the track. Preferably, the introduction actually takes place in both rails, whereby the rails must be electrically insulated from the ground and at their ends in the track section to be protected. The rails must necessarily allow the return flow of the traction and heating current of an (electrically operated) train via suitable devices (frequency filter, low-pass filter, dual-current transformer). The high-voltage pulses can also be superimposed on the return current.

[0012] Since today the interference-sensitive track circuits used to detect a train for a signaling system are often replaced by axle counters, the described principle of a pulsed high voltage can be applied without interfering with the signaling technology.

[0013] The advantage of this design lies in the absence of any structural changes, since rails are an integral and always present part of a track system.

[0014] The invention thus avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art. Depending on the specific design, structural modifications or additions to the track system can be completely dispensed with, so that the method can be applied to virtually any track system. Furthermore, practically no noise is produced during application, so that uninvolved third parties are not disturbed by the use of the method.

[0015] Various embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below.

[0016] In one embodiment, the energy required to generate the pulsed high voltage is drawn from the overhead line voltage via a converter. It is clear that this is only possible on electrified sections of track. The advantage of this embodiment is that a virtually unlimited energy supply is available, which can be used to apply the method according to the invention.

[0017] In another embodiment, the energy required to generate the pulsed high voltage is supplied by a rail vehicle in the train (in particular a locomotive, control car, or multiple unit). This embodiment is particularly suitable for non-electrified sections of track, but can also be used on electrified lines.

[0018] If the line is electrified or if electric traction or heating energy is used in the train, and the return current flow in the rails is not ensured during the injection of pulsed high voltage, then, before entering isolated track sections where pulsed high voltage is intended to be injected into the rail, the train's main switch (preferably automatically) must first be opened (disconnected from the overhead line) to prevent current from flowing from the overhead line into the rails. The train, electrically isolated from the overhead line, then generates the high-voltage pulses from an internal energy storage device (battery). This battery can be recharged via the overhead line when the inventive method is paused.

[0019] In another embodiment, the pulsed high voltage is also generated and transmitted to the electrical conductor in the rail vehicle. This means that not only the energy supply but also the generation of the desired voltage takes place within the vehicle. Such an embodiment is particularly useful for non-electrified lines.

[0020] In another embodiment, the pulsed high voltage is generated and transmitted to the electrical conductor in a stationary device, typically located at the edge of the track. The power supply can be provided, if available, by the overhead contact line or via a connection to the city's power grid, each followed by voltage conversion and pulsation generation. The advantage of this embodiment lies in the elimination of the need for structural modifications to the rail vehicle.

[0021] This design is particularly advantageous when only specific, usually rather short, sections of track, such as residential areas, playgrounds, platform areas, common shortcuts, or unfenced healthcare facilities, need to be protected. In these cases, protection must be permanently limited to a specific location.

[0022] In one embodiment, the pulsed high voltage is permanently introduced into the electrical conductor. This means that—regardless of the presence of a rail vehicle—it is ensured that no persons are in the track area. In this way, a "learning effect" occurs, leading people (e.g., children playing) to generally avoid the vicinity of railway tracks—regardless of whether a train is approaching or not. Thus, even those track systems where the inventive method is not used are indirectly "protected." Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous in the situations described above (stationary installation, short section of track requiring permanent protection).

[0023] In another embodiment, the pulsed high voltage is only introduced into the electrical conductor when an unauthorized person is detected in the track area. Detection can be automatic (camera, sensors, motion detectors, etc.) or triggered manually by the train driver, either directly (using a push button) or indirectly (as a result of an emergency stop). In all cases, the process "waits" for its situation-dependent application. This saves energy, as the process is only used when needed, and protects the components required for its implementation.

[0024] Preferably, the voltage applied for deterrence is between 2 kV and 15 kV, more preferably between 10 ± 0.5 kV. Each pulse lasts between 0.05 and 100 ms, more preferably between 0.1 and 0.3 ms. The pause between successive pulses is preferably between 0.1 s and 10 s, and particularly preferably between 1 ± 0.5 s.

[0025] It is also conceivable that the voltage level, pulse duration, and pulse interval can be varied. If a person is detected on the electrical conductor (e.g., by a camera, or due to the resulting changes in voltage upon contact), the voltage can be gradually increased, the pulse duration lengthened, and / or the pulse interval decreased to enhance the deterrent effect.

[0026] The insulation properties of the rail relative to the ground are generally not constant along a track. This leads, with constant parameters, particularly regarding the level of the pulsed high voltage, to either an insufficient and therefore ineffective effect, or an excessive and thus potentially dangerous effect when a person touches the electrical conductor. Therefore, according to another embodiment, the insulation properties of the rail relative to the ground are first determined experimentally and stored in a digital map. To adjust the level of the pulsed high voltage as needed, this map – in conjunction with the position of the rail vehicle, which can be easily determined via GPS – can be used to continuously adjust the level of the pulsed high voltage along the track in order to achieve the optimal deterrent effect without endangering the health of people.

[0027] The invention also relates to a system for deterring people from track areas. The system is characterized in that it comprises a device for generating pulsed high voltage and a device for transmitting the same voltage into an electrical conductor located in the track area. Thus, the system is particularly suitable for implementing the inventive method described above.

[0028] Depending on the specific embodiment, the system can effectively deter people from the track area without any structural modifications to the track layout, and it does not produce any acoustic disturbances. Furthermore, reference is made to the explanations above, which also apply analogously to the system according to the invention.

[0029] In one embodiment, the device for generating pulsed high voltage and the device for transmitting it into the electrical conductor are arranged in a rail vehicle. This means that the energy for operating the system is derived from the overhead lines, a power converter (e.g., a diesel generator), or onboard energy storage devices (e.g., batteries), depending on the existing electrification of the track. Structural modifications to the track are not necessary (except for ensuring that the rails are insulated from the ground and at the rail ends within the safety zone boundary) and a device for the return of traction and heating current (while simultaneously isolating the pulsed high voltage).

[0030] In this case, it is advantageous that the device for transmitting the pulsed high voltage to the rails includes copper wire brushes, which can be lowered as needed. This means that whenever the pulsed high voltage is to be used for deterrence, the brushes establish an electrical contact between the high-voltage source and the rail. If an overhead line is present and the traction current return line is interrupted, the train's main switch must first be opened automatically to prevent current from flowing from the overhead line into the rails (so). During operation of the system according to the invention, the energy required for this must come from a buffer storage device (battery). Therefore, this embodiment of the system is only suitable for on-demand use, not for continuous use throughout the entire journey.

[0031] Alternatively, the system comprises a stationary device for generating the pulsed high voltage and transmitting it into the electrical conductor. Such a stationary device can also be operated permanently, as the problem described above does not exist in this case.

[0032] In one embodiment, the system comprises the electrical conductor in the form of one or both rails of the track. As mentioned above, this embodiment is applicable if these rails have sufficient insulation from earth and in the longitudinal direction at the boundaries of the protected area. Character description

[0033] The invention is explained below using figures as examples. Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system according to the invention.

[0034] In the only Fig.Figure 1 shows a rough schematic representation of an embodiment of the system according to the invention. Electrical energy is conducted from an overhead contact line 1 into the interior of a rail vehicle 2 via a pantograph. A converter 3 is located inside the vehicle and can be disconnected from the overhead contact line 1 by means of a main switch 4. When disconnected from the overhead contact line, the converter 3 can be powered by a battery 11.

[0035] The converter 3 provides a pulsed high voltage at a suitable level to a device for transmitting the pulsed high voltage to the rails 5. This device includes retractable copper wire brushes 6 as needed. In the retracted position, these brushes contact the rails 5 (only one copper wire brush 6 is shown). These brushes transmit the pulsed high voltage to the rails 5, which are used as the electrical conductor in the track area. In the drawing, the device for transmitting the pulsed high voltage, in the form of a copper wire brush 6, is shown to the side of the wheel for clarity; for reasons of the railway-specific clearance profile, it will preferably be arranged in front of or behind the wheel in the wheel area.

[0036] To allow the traction and heating current to be dissipated, the wheelset 7 is connected to earth 10 via the insulated rails 5 and a suitable device 9 for returning low-frequency traction and heating current to earth 10 and isolating the pulsed high voltage for interference suppression against earth 10 (frequency filter, low-pass filter, dual-current transformer). Insulating joints (not shown) are used for isolation, dividing the rails longitudinally into electrically isolated sections. The device 9 allows the low-frequency traction and heating current to pass to earth, unlike the pulsed high voltage of the interference suppression device.

[0037] If, in the track section to be protected and its insulated rails, a return of the traction and heating current is not possible while simultaneously applying the high-voltage pulses of the deterrent device, the main switch 4 is opened immediately before entering this track section. If persons near the track are to be deterred, the copper wire brush 6 is lowered. The energy required to operate the converter 3 is then supplied by a battery 11. This can then be charged via the overhead line 1 when the system according to the invention is not in use (the electrical components required for this purpose are not shown).

[0038] The pulsed high voltage on the rails 5 does not flow towards earth 10 due to the insulation provided by the electrically non-conductive sleeper 8, but propagates along the rails 5 in both directions. Thus, the desired effect is achieved even at greater distances (e.g., 1 km) behind and, in particular, in front of the rail vehicle 2. The positioning of the insulated rail joints (not shown) must appropriately limit the protected track area. For example, insulated rail joints in the direction of travel immediately behind level crossings prevent people from being endangered while crossing behind the train after the level crossing has been cleared and the deterrent device has been activated.

[0039] If an unauthorized person (not shown) now contacts a rail 5 as the rail vehicle 2 approaches, and the system according to the invention is activated (automatically or manually), the person will experience a pain due to the pulsed high voltage, which is not harmful to health but is certainly unpleasant, causing them to immediately move away from the rail 5 and leave the track area. Reference symbol list 1 Overhead line 2 Rail vehicle 3 inverters 4 main switches 5 rail 6 copper wire brushes 7 wheelset 8 Threshold 9. Setup 10 Earth 11 Battery

Claims

Method for deterring persons from track areas, wherein a pulsed high voltage is introduced into an electrical conductor located in the track area, such that a person feels pain upon contact with the conductor and leaves the area of ​​the electrical conductor, characterized in that the pulsed high voltage is introduced into at least one rail (5) of the track. Method according to claim 1, wherein the energy required to generate the pulsed high voltage is taken from the overhead line voltage via a converter (3) or provided by a rail vehicle (2). Method according to claim 2, wherein the generation of the pulsed high voltage and its transmission into the electrical conductor in the rail vehicle (2) takes place. Method according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the pulsed high voltage and its transmission into the electrical conductor takes place in a stationary device. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the introduction of the pulsed high voltage into the electrical conductor takes place permanently, or only upon detection of an unauthorized person in the track area. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage is between 2 kV and 15 kV, and wherein each pulse lasts between 0.1 and 0.3 ms, and wherein the pause between successive pulses is 1 ± 0.5 s. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation properties of the rails (5) relative to the earth (10) are determined experimentally and stored in a digital map for the purpose of adjusting the level of the pulsed high voltage as required. System for deterring persons from track areas, comprising a device for generating pulsed high voltage and a device for transmitting the same into an electrical conductor located in the track area, characterized in that the system comprises the electrical conductor in the form of the rails (5) of the track. System according to claim 8, wherein the device for generating pulsed high voltage and the device for transmitting the same into the electrical conductor are arranged in a rail vehicle (2). System according to claim 9, wherein the device for transmitting the pulsed high voltage to the rails (5) comprises copper wire brushes (6) that can be lowered as required. System according to claim 8, wherein the same comprises a stationary device for generating the pulsed high voltage and transmitting it into the electrical conductor.

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