Transfer device for a rail vehicle, sensor apparatus, bogie, rail vehicle and method for operating a transfer device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023785735
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-10-04
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-13
AI Technical Summary
Current rail vehicle maintenance systems are inefficient due to the complexity of connecting sensors to the car body, leading to increased maintenance time and costs, and the need for separate cables creates potential sources of error and susceptibility to external influences.
A transfer device with a coupling unit on the bogie that uses multiplexing to connect sensors to an electronic device, reducing the number of cables needed and allowing for bidirectional data transfer, which simplifies maintenance and enhances data security by eliminating separate connecting lines and potential error sources.
This solution reduces maintenance time and costs by simplifying the coupling process, improving data transfer reliability, and enabling real-time diagnosis of critical components, thereby extending the life cycle of rail vehicles and reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] Transfer device for a rail vehicle, sensor device, bogie, rail vehicle and method for operating a transfer device
[0003] The present approach relates to a transfer device for a rail vehicle having a car body with an electronic device and a bogie, a sensor device, a bogie, a rail vehicle and a method for operating a transfer device.
[0004] Digitalization is considered a key factor in significantly reducing the life cycle costs of rail vehicles. Condition monitoring and the resulting condition-based maintenance can extend maintenance cycles and allow components to be replaced only when absolutely necessary.
[0005] Electronic systems are now installed in the car body that collect and store important operating data from components or subsystems, such as doors or air conditioning systems, and make it available to the operator for analysis via mobile communications, Wi-Fi, or other data transmission technologies. Such systems also transmit diagnostic messages to enable advance planning of maintenance on expensive train components.
[0006] Against this background, the object of the present approach is to provide an improved transfer device for a rail vehicle having a car body with an electronic device and a bogie, an improved sensor device, an improved bogie, an improved rail vehicle and an improved method for operating a transfer device.
[0007] This problem is solved by a transfer device, a sensor device, a bogie, a rail vehicle, and a method according to the main claims. The advantages achieved with the presented approach include, for example, a reduction in the number of required components or cables, which also simplifies maintenance of the rail vehicle. For example, the bogie and car body can be more easily coupled or decoupled, which also reduces maintenance time and thus further costs. Furthermore, a possibility is created for carrying out data transfers reliably and functionally safely, as well as for extending the vehicle lifecycle.
[0008] A transfer device for a rail vehicle is presented, comprising a car body with an electronic device and a bogie. The transfer device comprises a coupling unit that can be arranged on the bogie and has a plurality of sensor interfaces, wherein each of the sensor interfaces can be electrically connected to a respective sensor for detecting an operating variable of the bogie. Furthermore, the coupling unit has a further interface that can be connected to the electronic device, wherein the coupling unit is configured to transfer operating variables of the sensors obtained via the sensor interfaces to the electronic device via the further interface using a multiplexing method.
[0009] A rail vehicle can, for example, be a passenger train or a freight train. The electronic device can, for example, be in the form of a control unit, which can be implemented as part of a vehicle control system of the rail vehicle. The bogie can also be referred to as the running gear of the rail vehicle. The transfer device can function as an adapter. The coupling unit can advantageously be arranged on the bogie side and formed as an interface between the bogie, in particular the sensors arranged on the bogie, and the car body. The coupling unit can advantageously be designed to process the operating variables of the sensors before transfer and thereby, for example, to obtain a data bundle that can, for example, be compressed. For example, corresponding information can be collected before being transferred to the electronic device.The sensors can typically be installed in the bogie area, for example, for measuring temperature, acceleration, or forces. The transfer can also be bidirectional, whereby transfer reliability can be improved by the presented approach. This means that, for example, for safety-relevant components of the rail vehicle, such as a brake, a correct and reliable transfer of the relevant information can be carried out as operating variables. Alternatively, this can be implemented in an adjustable manner, allowing selection of which operating variables should be transferred and with which transfer reliability. This enables a reliable transfer of data.By eliminating the need for separate connecting cables to connect the sensors to the car body, the number of coupling points, for example the cable connections required between the bogie and the car body, can be kept to a minimum, thus minimizing the number of potential sources of error. This also reduces the time required for maintenance, for example, because only one connection needs to be broken. Susceptibility to external influences such as weather conditions, corrosion, high acting forces, vibrations or impacts can also be kept to a minimum. For example, monitoring of the transfer can also be enabled, so that any errors that occur can be detected and identified promptly. For example, the location of the error can be determined. The electronic device can be used additionally for this purpose, for example.The coupling unit can, for example, be designed as a multiplexer, allowing the multiplexing process to be implemented using spatial multiplexing, frequency and wavelength multiplexing, time multiplexing, or code division multiplexing. The coupling unit, as the interface between the bogie and the car body, advantageously allows for appropriate response to obsolescence, as occurring errors can be directly detected and, for example, classified.
[0010] According to one embodiment, the further interface can be wired or wireless. Wired can mean, for example, that the coupling unit can be connected to the electronic device via at least one cable. A cable can be implemented as a single electrical and mechanical line. For example, when the transfer device is in the operational state, the cable can be connected to the coupling unit at a first end and to the electronic device at a second end opposite the first end. In the case of a wireless connection, the further interface can be implemented, for example, as a radio interface, so that the coupling unit can be implemented, for example, as a transmitter and the electronic device as a receiver, or vice versa.
[0011] The coupling unit can have a memory device for storing the operating variables. The memory device can be integrated into the coupling unit, for example, or alternatively, it can be implemented as a memory card or a black box. This allows the operating variables to be accessed later, for example, during maintenance.
[0012] Furthermore, the coupling unit can have an energy interface that can be connected to an energy storage device for storing electrical energy. The energy storage device can be used, for example, to wake up the coupling unit when it is in sleep mode. For example, the energy storage device can be designed as a battery. Thus, energy stored in the energy storage device can advantageously be actively drawn. The electrical energy can, for example, be designed to electrically supply consumers arranged on the bogie. The electrical energy can be drawn, for example, for sensors on the bogie, for data storage, processing of operating variables, or, for example, for a drive of the rail vehicle.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the coupling unit can have an electronic bogie identification of the bogie and be configured to transfer the bogie identification via the additional interface. For example, the bogie identification can be transferred individually or with the associated operating variables as a bundle. This advantageously allows for direct response to error detection, since it is not necessary to first determine where the error occurred. For example, a swap from a standard-gauge to a broad-gauge bogie can be detected or identified as soon as it is coupled to the car body.According to one embodiment, the coupling unit can be configured to reliably receive device variables from the electronic device via the additional interface, to compare the read-in operating variables with the received device variables to obtain a comparison result, and to determine bogie information using the comparison result. This advantageously makes it easier to determine when maintenance is necessary, which in turn can save costs. Furthermore, wear and tear on components can be determined by constantly comparing the variables from the car body and the bogie. For example, additional data can also be acquired and read in at a later time, and taken into account additionally or alternatively.The comparison result can, for example, trigger reactions in the car body, such as providing an information signal to, for example, a train driver or a central location.
[0014] The coupling unit can be configured to determine operating data using the operating variables and transfer it via the additional interface. This enables diagnostics directly in the bogie, without, for example, having to interact with an existing control unit. Furthermore, the proposed approach allows a bandwidth for data transfer to be set or adjusted, for example, to transfer a correspondingly small or a correspondingly large amount of data.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the sensor device may comprise a transfer device according to one of the preceding claims and the plurality of sensors for detecting the operating variables, wherein the plurality of sensors may be electrically coupled to the coupling unit via the plurality of sensor interfaces.
[0016] The sensors can, for example, be differently shaped or shaped to record different operating variables of the rail vehicle. Such operating variables can, for example, relate to the condition of the vehicle's brakes and also to other safety-critical components of the rail vehicle. Furthermore, the sensors can also record operating variables of other components of the vehicle. The sensors can, for example, each be individually coupled to the coupling unit, so that, for example, all operating variables and thus sensor signals converge in the coupling unit. For example, the operating variables can be processed or at least pre-processed in the coupling unit.
[0017] Furthermore, a bogie for a rail vehicle is presented, which has a sensor device in a previously mentioned variant. In this case, the coupling unit is arranged on the bogie.
[0018] Furthermore, a rail vehicle is presented, which has a car body with an electronic device and a bogie. Advantageously, the rail vehicle can be designed as a passenger train or a freight train.
[0019] Furthermore, a method for operating a transfer device in a previously mentioned variant for a rail vehicle is presented, wherein the method comprises a step of obtaining operating variables via the plurality of sensor interfaces. Each of the sensor interfaces is electrically connectable to a sensor for detecting an operating variable of the bogie. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of transferring the obtained operating variables from the sensors using a multiplexing method to an electronic device via the further interface, which is connectable to the electronic device.
[0020] The process can be implemented or controlled, for example, in a passenger train. The process advantageously enables real-time diagnostics of critical components in the bogie, such as axle bearings, shafts, or brakes, so that the corresponding components can remain in operation for as long as possible without additional maintenance. This can reduce the associated effort and associated maintenance costs. The repeatability of the process advantageously allows for continuous diagnostics, so that suddenly occurring errors and thus potential hazards can be detected immediately.
[0021] Examples of the approach presented here are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the figures. They show:
[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a rail vehicle according to an embodiment;
[0023] Fig. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a transfer device; and
[0024] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a transfer device.
[0025] In the following description of advantageous embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and having a similar effect, whereby a repeated description of these elements is omitted.
[0026] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a rail vehicle 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The rail vehicle 100 is configured, for example, as a train. The rail vehicle 100 comprises a car body 102 with an electronic device 104 and a bogie 106 with a plurality of wheels 110.
[0027] The bogie 106 is designed as the running gear of the rail vehicle 100, in which the wheels 110 are mounted in a frame that can rotate relative to the car body 102 and on which the car body 102 is arranged. The electronic device 104 is designed, for example, as part of a vehicle control system, which is also referred to or can be referred to as a central communications system, for example, of the rail vehicle 100. The bogie 106 has a sensor device 108. The sensor device 108 has a transfer device 112 and a plurality of sensors 114. Of the plurality of sensors 114, each individual sensor 114 is electrically connected to a coupling unit 116 of the transfer device 112 via a plurality of sensor interfaces 118. This means that the coupling unit 116 has the plurality of sensor interfaces 118. The sensors 114 are designed to detect operating variables of the rail vehicle 100.This includes, for example, data relating to a vehicle brake or other components of the rail vehicle 100 and in particular the bogie 106.
[0028] The transfer device 112 has the aforementioned coupling unit 116, which is arranged or can be arranged on the bogie 106. The coupling unit 116 has a plurality of sensor interfaces 118, via which the coupling unit 116 receives the operating variables from the sensors 114. The coupling unit 116 also has a further interface 120, which can be connected to the electronic device 104, and is designed to reliably transfer the received operating variables from the sensors 114 to the electronic device 104 using a multiplexing method via the further interface 120. This means that the coupling unit 116 is designed, for example, as a multiplexer. In the state shown in Fig. 1, the coupling unit 116 is connected to the electronic device 104 via the further interface 120.
[0029] According to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling unit 116 is connected to the plurality of sensors 114 via a plurality of electrical lines 122, while it is coupled to the electronic device 104 via a single interface, the further interface 120. For example, each of the sensors 114 is connected via its own line 122 to an interface 118 of the coupling unit 116 assigned to the respective sensor 114. The further interface 120 is, for example, designed or can be designed to be wired or wireless. Wired means that, for example, at least one cable is laid between the coupling unit 116 and the electronic device 104. Wireless, on the other hand, means that the two electronic devices 116, 104 communicate with each other, for example, via radio, directly or via an intermediary cloud.Regardless of the design of the further interface 120, the coupling unit 116 can be implemented as a transmitter and the electronic device 104 as a receiver, or the coupling unit 116 and the electronic device 104 can both be implemented as transmitting and receiving units. According to one embodiment, the further interface 120 is optionally used to transmit electrical operating energy. For this purpose, the coupling unit 116 and the electronic device 104 are coupled to one another, for example, via induction. A corresponding inductive interface can optionally be used additionally to transmit the operating variables.
[0030] Furthermore, according to one exemplary embodiment, the coupling unit 116 optionally has a storage device 124 for storing the operating variables. According to this exemplary embodiment, the storage device 124 is implemented or can be implemented as an internal storage unit, as a memory card, or, for example, as a black box. Only optionally, the coupling unit 116 has an energy interface 126, which is connected or connectable to an energy storage device 128 for storing electrical energy. For example, the coupling unit 116 receives electrical energy from the electronic device 104 and thereby replenishes the energy storage device 128. This enables, for example, supplying the bogie 106 and the plurality of sensors 114 with electrical energy, or supports, for example, data storage, processing of the operating variables, or driving the train, i.e., the rail vehicle 100.Only optionally can an electronics of the coupling unit 116 be put into a sleep mode, and the energy storage device 128 enables an event-controlled waking of the coupling unit 116.
[0031] According to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling unit 116 has a bogie identification and is configured to transfer the bogie identification to the electronic device 104 via the further interface 120. For this purpose, the coupling unit 116 optionally has a storage device for storing the bogie identification. The bogie identification is transferred to the electronic device 104, for example, individually or in combination with operating variables. The coupling unit 116 is only optionally configured to link the bogie identification to the operating variables. Furthermore, the coupling unit 116 is optionally configured to reliably receive device variables from the electronic device 104 via the further interface 120.The read-in operating variables are compared, for example, with the device variables to obtain a comparison result and to determine bogie information using the comparison result. The bogie information relates, for example, to a maintenance time for individual components of the bogie 106 or to a condition of corresponding vehicle components. For example, a reaction is triggered in the car body 102 using the comparison result, such as the output of a maintenance signal. Only optionally are these data permanently compared with one another and supplemented, for example, with additional data. Furthermore, it is possible for the coupling unit 116 to determine operating data using the operating variables, which it transfers to the electronic device 104 via the further interface.This makes it possible, for example, to perform diagnostics directly in the bogie 106 without requiring intelligence, such as a control unit, in the car body 102. This preprocessing, for example in the form of mathematical or analytical preprocessing, further enables a reduction in data volume. Furthermore, the bandwidth for transferring the corresponding data packets can be adjusted.
[0032] In other words, the transfer device 112 represents a bogie connector. The transfer device 112 is designed, for example, to function as a broadband, highly flexible, highly secure, and simultaneously compact data transmission system between the car body 102 and the bogie 106 of the rail vehicle 100. Optionally, the transfer device 112 is also used to supply power to the bogie 106.
[0033] The transfer device 112 is therefore designed to establish a connection between the car body 102 and the bogie 106 as an electronic connector. According to one embodiment, one or more electronically and mechanically shielded individual cables are used for the connection, which, for example, begin in the bogie 106 and end in the car body 102. Alternatively, the transfer device 112 has the previously described wireless connection between both vehicle parts 102, 106. A bandwidth for the data transmission is optionally adjustable, so that, for example, a high bandwidth is set when a large amount of operating variables is to be transferred and a low bandwidth is set when small amounts of information are to be transferred. The operating variables are, for example, collected and transferred bidirectionally.Data transfer is possible, for example, at different security levels, thus preventing, for example, tampering with the data transmission. Furthermore, the data can be stored as operating variables in the storage device and processed before transfer. Only optionally can the transfer device 112 be coupled to a GPS sensor and is thus capable of storing the location of the bogie 106 or making it available to the car body 102. This simplifies the identification of the bogie 106. According to this exemplary embodiment, the electronics of the transfer device 112 can also be converted from a sleep mode to an operating mode and vice versa, which is achieved, for example, using an event-controlled wake-up, optionally using the energy storage device 128.In addition, the transfer device 112 is optionally shaped to transfer energy from the car body 102 to the bogie 106.
[0034] Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 200 for operating a transfer device. The method 200 can be implemented, for example, for a transfer device as described in Fig. 1. The method 200 comprises a step 202 of obtaining operating variables via a plurality of sensor interfaces, each of the sensor interfaces being electrically connectable to a sensor for detecting an operating variable of the bogie, and a step 204 of transferring the obtained operating variables from the sensors using a multiplexing method to an electronic device via a further interface that is connectable to the electronic device.
[0035] The method steps presented here can be repeated and carried out in a different order than that described. Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a transfer device 112. The transfer device 112 is designed to control or carry out a method for operating a transfer device 112, as described, for example, in Fig. 2. The transfer device 112 corresponds to or is similar to the transfer device 112 described in Fig. 1. The coupling unit 116 is designed to receive the operating variables 300, for example as sensor data, via a plurality of sensor interfaces 118, wherein each of the sensor interfaces 118 is electrically connectable to a sensor 114 for detecting an operating variable 300 of the bogie.According to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling unit 116 has a processing unit 302 configured to process the operating variables 300 and provide them as operating data 301 for transmission to the further interface 120. According to one exemplary embodiment, the processing unit 302 comprises a multiplexer 305 to transfer the operating variables 300 to the electronic device 104 using a multiplexing method. According to one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 104 comprises a demultiplexer to demultiplex the received data. Optionally, device variables 304 are transferred to the coupling unit 116 via the further interface 120.
[0036] For example, the coupling unit 116 is configured to receive, simultaneously or at different times, first operating variables via a first interface of the plurality of interfaces 118 from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors 114, second operating variables via a second interface of the plurality of interfaces 118 from a second sensor of the plurality of sensors 114, and further operating variables via at least one further interface of the plurality of interfaces 118 from at least one further sensor of the plurality of sensors 114, convert them into the operating data 301 using the multiplexer 305, and transmit them in the form of a serial data stream via the further interface 120. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0037] 100 motor vehicles
[0038] 102 car body
[0039] 104 Electronic device
[0040] 106 bogie
[0041] 108 Sensor device
[0042] 110 Plurality of wheels
[0043] 112 Transfer device
[0044] 114 Multiple sensors
[0045] 116 coupling unit
[0046] 118 Multiple sensor interfaces
[0047] 120 additional interfaces
[0048] 122 electrical cables
[0049] 124 Storage device
[0050] 126 Energy interface
[0051] 128 energy storage units
[0052] 200 Method for operating a transfer device
[0053] 202 Step of Receiving
[0054] 204 Step of transfer
[0055] 300 company sizes
[0056] 301 Operating data
[0057] 302 processing unit
[0058] 304 fixture sizes
[0059] 305 multiplexers
Claims
PATENT CLAIMS 1 . Transfer device (112) for a rail vehicle (100) having a car body (102) with an electronic device (104) and a bogie (106), wherein the transfer device (112) has the following feature: a coupling unit (116) which can be arranged on the bogie (106) and has a plurality of sensor interfaces (118), wherein each of the sensor interfaces (118) is electrically connectable to a respective sensor (114) for detecting an operating variable (300) of the bogie (106), and having a further interface (120) which is connected to the Electronic device (104) is connectable, wherein the coupling unit (116) is designed to transfer operating variables (300) of the sensors (114) obtained via the sensor interfaces (118) to the electronic device (104) via the further interface using a multiplexing method.
2. Transfer device (112) according to claim 1, wherein the further interface (120) is wired or wireless.
3. Transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (116) has a storage device (124) for storing the operating variables (300).
4. Transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (116) has an energy interface (126) which can be connected to an energy storage device (128) for storing electrical energy.
5. Transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (116) has an electronic bogie identification of the bogie (106) and is designed to transfer the bogie identification via the further interface (120).
6. Transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (116) is designed to transfer device sizes (304) from the Electronic device (104) reliably via the further interface (120), and to compare the read-in operating variables (300) with the received device variables (304) to obtain a comparison result, and to determine bogie information using the comparison result.
7. Transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (116) is designed to determine operating data (301) using the operating variables (300) and to transfer them via the further interface (120).
8. Sensor device (108) for a rail vehicle (100), wherein the sensor device (108) comprises a transfer device (112) according to one of the preceding claims and the plurality of sensors (114) for detecting the operating variables (300), wherein the plurality of sensors (114) is electrically coupled to the coupling unit (116) via the plurality of sensor interfaces (118).
9. Bogie (106) for a rail vehicle (100), wherein the bogie (106) has a sensor device (108) according to claim 8.
10. A rail vehicle (100) comprising a car body (102) with an electronic device (104) and a bogie (106) according to claim 9.
11. Method (200) for operating a transfer device (112) according to one of claims 1 to 7 for a rail vehicle (100) according to claim 10, wherein the method (200) comprises the following steps: Obtaining (202) operating variables via the plurality of sensor interfaces (118); and Transferring (204) the operating variables (300) of the sensors (114) obtained via the plurality of sensor interfaces (118) to the electronic device (104) via the further interface (120) using a multiplexing method.