Control of running-gear height by means of passenger boarding sensor

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for calibrating a chassis control system of a rail vehicle, as well as a rail vehicle and a computer program product for carrying out the method.

[0002] For comfortable boarding and alighting from a passenger rail vehicle, a level, horizontal transition between the platform and the vehicle's entrance area is desirable. Various sliding steps or similar solutions, some of which are height-adjustable, are known for bridging the gap between the platform and the vehicle. However, the height difference that can be compensated for is limited. Sensors can be used to determine the height and distance of the platform to the vehicle entrance, enabling optimal adjustment of these adjustable step platforms. Publication WO 98 / 58148 A1 describes a rail vehicle equipped with such sensors.

[0003] Due to the settling behavior of a new vehicle after its commissioning, wear and tear (e.g., from wheel wear), and changes in height caused by uneven passenger platforms, the horizontal dimension of each platform changes continuously from vehicle to vehicle. To compensate for settling or wear, shims are added to the undercarriage to ensure the vehicle remains within the permissible tolerance range. This also applies after the wheels have been turned. This requires complex vehicle measurements and, in some cases, quite extensive calculations for the deflection of the car body and tolerance analyses to individually add shims. Furthermore, continuous monitoring during manufacturing and maintenance is necessary.

[0004] EP 3 608 195 A1 discloses a railway vehicle and a method for operating the railway vehicle, according to which a height difference between a floor of the railway vehicle and a platform is determined by means of a suitable measuring device of the railway vehicle and a running gear height of the railway vehicle is adjusted depending on the height difference.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of simplifying the commissioning, operation and maintenance of rail vehicles.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further developments and embodiments of the invention are found in the features of the dependent patent claims.

[0007] A method according to the invention for calibrating a chassis control system of a rail vehicle comprises the following process steps: a. Determining at least one value of a vehicle height of a rail vehicle relative to the top edge of a platform at the track of the rail vehicle by means of at least one suitable measuring device of the rail vehicle; b. Adjusting a predetermined value of a running gear height as a function of the at least one determined value of the vehicle height by means of a suitable running gear control system of the rail vehicle.

[0008] A rail vehicle equipped to carry out the method according to the invention comprises the means already mentioned that are suitable for carrying out the respective method step: at least one measuring device for recording at least one value of a vehicle height of a rail vehicle, in particular at least one car body of a rail vehicle, relative to a platform top edge of a platform at the track of the rail vehicle; at least one bogie control for regulating a bogie height of at least one bogie of the rail vehicle, which is suitable for adjusting a predetermined value of a bogie height as a function of the at least one recorded value of the vehicle height.

[0009] When determining at least one value of the vehicle height relative to the platform surface, a vertical distance is measured between the platform surface and a fixed point on the rail vehicle, in particular a fixed point on at least one car body, where the rail vehicle is located on a track preceding the platform. It may be stationary at the platform or, in particular, passing it slowly. The fixed point may be, for example, a passenger entrance, i.e., in particular a floor in the area of ​​an exterior door. A leading edge of the floor in the entrance area is formed, in particular, by a so-called tread. A platform is usually level, so that its surface for access – its platform surface – is at the same level as its upper edge.The measuring device can, for example, be designed and aligned to detect a platform surface and a step in the boarding area of ​​the rail vehicle in order to detect a distance between the platform surface and the step, and thus a vehicle height relative to the platform top.

[0010] For this purpose, at least one sensor is used to monitor passenger boarding. According to a further development of the invention, the rail vehicle comprises, as a suitable measuring device for detecting at least one value of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle relative to the platform edge at the track of the rail vehicle, at least one sensor for monitoring at least one passenger boarding point of the rail vehicle. This sensor is suitably designed, for example as a lidar sensor, and is arranged in or on the rail vehicle and is at least partially also directed towards the platform. Method step a. is carried out according to the further development by means of the at least one sensor for monitoring passenger boarding of the rail vehicle. Sensors for monitoring passenger boarding can be used to measure the distance of the passenger boarding point to the platform, for example, toTo extend gap bridges appropriately or to detect people on the track. Measured values ​​for the height of a passenger boarding point above the platform edge can be used to adjust the level of the passenger boarding point to the platform by means of a movable step platform located in the passenger boarding area.

[0011] Here, at least one value of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle relative to the platform top edge of the platform at the track of the rail vehicle, recorded according to procedure step a., is transmitted, if necessary pre-processed, to a chassis control system.

[0012] In the subsequent process step b., a predefined normal running gear height of at least one bogie of the rail vehicle is adjusted by the running gear control system as a function of the measured vehicle height. The running gear control system is designed to receive and process the at least one detected value of the vehicle height and to adjust the predefined normal running gear height of the at least one bogie of the rail vehicle as a function of the at least one detected value of the vehicle height.

[0013] The adjusted value of the landing gear height can be stored by the landing gear control system, for example in a memory of the landing gear control system.

[0014] The adjusted vehicle height value can then be used for chassis control by the chassis control system.

[0015] The following process step b. is followed according to the invention: d. Reading the at least one adjusted value of the running gear height of the at least one bogie of the rail vehicle from the bogie control unit; e. Determining a deviation of the at least one adjusted value of the running gear height from the originally specified value of the running gear height; f. Selecting at least one wheel wear insert, in particular its thickness, depending on the determined deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the originally specified value of the running gear height; g. Mounting the selected wheel wear insert on the bogie; and h.Setting a new ride height value based on the determined deviation of the adjusted ride height value from the originally set ride height value, and based in particular on the thickness of at least one selected and installed wheel wear shim for ride height adjustment, especially for height control, and storing the new set ride height value in the ride height control system.

[0016] A distinction must be made between the at least one adjusted value of the chassis height and the value of the chassis height originally specified as normal and originally stored as normal in the chassis control system.

[0017] A further development of the invention consists in the following process step b.: c. Controlling the chassis height of at least one chassis of the rail vehicle as a function of the adjusted value of the chassis height by means of the suitably designed chassis control of the rail vehicle.

[0018] The ride height is determined, among other things, by the height of the secondary suspension. Secondary springs are, for example, designed as height-adjustable air springs.

[0019] In its further developed form, the rail vehicle has at least one bogie with air suspension, in particular as a secondary suspension, wherein the height of the air suspension is controlled as a function of the adjusted value of the bogie height by means of a suitably designed bogie control system of the rail vehicle. The height control of the air suspension is achieved, for example, by increasing or decreasing the inflation pressure in the air spring.

[0020] The chassis height also regulates the vehicle height, i.e., the height of the car body of the rail vehicle supported on the chassis above the rail and thus also above the platform, depending on the adjusted and stored value.

[0021] The chassis control system is assigned to at least one chassis of the rail vehicle and is designed for height control of at least one chassis.

[0022] The rail vehicle can have multiple interconnected car bodies. Each car body can rest on one or more, in particular two, bogies. So-called Jacobs bogies are also known, on which two car bodies are supported. The car bodies can also each have multiple doors. In particular, for each car body, at least one measurement of the vehicle height of the car body relative to the platform surface is recorded at the track by means of at least one suitable measuring device on the rail vehicle. Optionally, at least one measurement of the vehicle height of the car body relative to the platform surface is recorded at each door of the car body.Subsequently, for each bogie on which the respective car body rests, the predefined values ​​for the respective bogie height can be adjusted by the appropriately designed bogie control system of the rail vehicle, depending on the measured values ​​of the vehicle height of the car body supported on the bogie. Thus, the height of each bogie can be controlled individually. Likewise, the height of the bogies can be controlled based on several measured values ​​of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle, for example, by calculating a mean or median of the several measured values ​​and using this mean or median to adjust the respective predefined values ​​of the bogie heights.

[0023] According to a further development, procedure step a. is repeated at a predetermined number of platforms, and prior to procedure step b., a mean or median value is first calculated from the corresponding majority of the recorded vehicle height values, in particular by means of the suitably designed chassis control system of the rail vehicle. In procedure step b., the suitably designed chassis control system then adjusts the normally specified value of the chassis height based on the calculated mean or median value. This can again be done individually for each car of the rail vehicle.

[0024] Existing sensors used to monitor passenger boarding points are also employed to provide height differences between the platform and the train's boarding sills as a control parameter for the bogie heights. This allows the bogies to adjust each passenger boarding point of the train to the optimal height, ensuring level boarding even with significant height differences.

[0025] This can result in a significant reduction in costs for the planning and implementation of measures that are conventionally carried out to meet the permissible height of the entry sill over the entire vehicle service life.

[0026] Procedure step e. can be preceded by: transmitting at least one adjusted value of the bogie height of at least one bogie of the rail vehicle from the bogie control system to a service or maintenance center. At the service or maintenance center, also called a depot, at least the installation of the wheel wear inserts is carried out. The transmission between the rail vehicle and the onshore service or maintenance center can be wireless. In this case, both the rail vehicle and the onshore service or maintenance center are equipped to transmit and receive the data, respectively. Alternatively, procedure step d. takes place at the onshore service or maintenance center, either wirelessly or via cable.

[0027] Procedure step e. can also be performed at the land-based service or maintenance center or can be executed directly by the vehicle's chassis control system. Similarly, in procedure step d., in addition to the adjusted chassis height value, its deviation from the originally specified normal chassis height value can also be read and, if necessary, transmitted.

[0028] After installing at least one selected and fitted wheel wear shim, a new, normal ride height value is set in the suspension control unit. Any other, possibly still stored, adjusted ride height value can then be deleted.

[0029] Further training precedes the next procedural step f.: Recording at least one diameter value of at least one wheel of the railway vehicle's running gear; turning down at least one wheel of the railway vehicle; recording at least one diameter value of the at least one turned-down wheel of the railway vehicle's running gear; determining a deviation of the at least one recorded diameter value of the at least one wheel of the railway vehicle before and after turning down; where the procedural steps f. to h. are: f. Selecting at least one wheel wear insert, in particular its thickness, depending on the determined deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the originally specified value of the vehicle height and depending on the determined deviation of the at least one recorded value of the diameter of the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle before and after turning; g. Mounting the selected wheel wear insert on the running gear; and h. Specifying a new value of the running gear height in the running gear control depending on the determined deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the originally specified value of the running gear height and depending on the determined deviation of the at least one recorded value of the diameter of the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle before and after turning, and depending on, in particular, the thickness of, the mounted wheel wear insert, especially for the height adjustment of the running gear.

[0030] The values ​​mentioned each refer to a single bogie on which the respective car body, whose vehicle height was measured, rests. As explained above, the bogie control unit is responsible for regulating the bogie.

[0031] The new specified value for the chassis height in the chassis control can also be specified depending on other parameters, for example, depending on dimensional changes to the chassis or car body caused by settling behavior, material fatigue or wear, for example, of primary springs, the secondary spring or previously installed wheel wear inserts, etc.

[0032] As already explained above, the use of at least one sensor for monitoring passenger boarding, or the use of the vehicle height values ​​detected by this sensor for calibrating the bogie control, in particular the height control, of the at least one bogie of the rail vehicle, serves to achieve level control within the track, so that the rail vehicle's entrances are at the same level as the platform. However, adjusting the bogie(s) ad hoc to compensate for such height differences at every stop, i.e., at every platform, is relatively complex. Therefore, such height differences can be advantageously compensated for with movable step platforms, so that the rail vehicle can be boarded and alighted, in particular, without steps or barriers, and at a level surface.Instead, a uniform height of the rail vehicle is preferably set along its entire length using the height control of each bogie. This compensates for varying wear and tear or settling behavior of the carriages, and also allows the rail vehicle to be calibrated for a known, traversable route, significantly simplifying its maintenance. The height of the rail vehicle can be easily adjusted so that all platforms along the route and those served by it are within a predefined tolerance. On a given route, the individual platform heights usually vary only slightly, which can be compensated for by sliding steps or platforms, as long as the vertical distances between the entrances and the platforms remain within the specified tolerance.

[0033] This significantly simplifies the commissioning and maintenance of rail vehicles, as the vehicle does not require extensive measurements. The invention is suitable for both rail vehicles with sliding steps and for use on rail vehicles with fixed treads.

[0034] A computer program product according to the invention comprises commands which, when the program is executed by a suitable mobile device, cause the device to execute the method according to the invention. A provisioning device for the computer program product stores the computer program product and / or makes it available for execution. The provisioning device is, in particular, a data carrier on which the computer program product is stored.

[0035] The invention allows for numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, each of which illustrates an exemplary embodiment. Identical elements in the figures are identified by the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an entry area of ​​a rail vehicle, Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0036] In Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a carriage of a rail vehicle 1 is shown. A carriage body 2 of the rail vehicle 1 is sketched, which is supported on at least one bogie 7 and which has at least one entrance door 3. A sensor 4 for monitoring passenger boarding 6 is arranged in the area of ​​the entrance door 3. This sensor is designed to detect at least one value of the vehicle height of the carriage body 2 of the rail vehicle 1 relative to the platform edge 5 of the platform at the track of the rail vehicle 1 and to transmit this value to a bogie control system (not shown) for further processing.

[0037] Fig. 2An example flowchart of the procedure is shown. According to procedure step a., at least one value of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle 1 relative to a platform top edge 5 of a platform at the track of the rail vehicle 1 is first recorded by means of at least one suitable measuring device 4 of the rail vehicle 1 and transmitted to a bogie control of the rail vehicle 1, which according to procedure step b. then adjusts a predetermined value of a bogie height depending on the at least one recorded value of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle 1.

[0038] Subsequently, according to procedure step c., the chassis height can be regulated depending on the adjusted value of the chassis height by means of the chassis control of the rail vehicle 1.

Claims

1. Method for calibration of control of running gear of a rail vehicle (1) comprising the following method steps: a. detecting at least one value of a vehicle height (2) of the rail vehicle (1) with respect to an upper edge of a platform (5) on the track of the rail vehicle by means of at least one suitable measurement facility of the rail vehicle; b. adjusting a predefined value of a running gear height (7) as a function of the at least one detected value of the vehicle height by a suitably embodied running gear controller of the rail vehicle; d. reading out of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the running gear controller; e. establishing a deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the predefined value of the running gear height f. selecting at least one wheel wear insert as a function of the established deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the predefined value of the vehicle height; g. installation of the selected wheel wear insert on the running gear and h. predetermining a value of the running gear height as a function of the established deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the predefined value of the running gear height and as a function of the installed wheel wear insert and storage of the predefined value of the running gear height in the running gear controller.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that method step b. is followed by: c. control of a running gear height as a function of the adjusted value of the running gear height by means of the running gear controller of the rail vehicle.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the rail vehicle has at least one item of running gear with pneumatic suspension, wherein a height of the pneumatic suspension is controlled as a function of the adjusted value of the running gear height by means of the running gear controller of the rail vehicle.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rail vehicle has at least one sensor (4) for monitoring a passenger boarding point of the rail vehicle for detection of the at least one value of the vehicle height of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper edge of the platform on the track of the rail vehicle, wherein method step a. is carried out by means of the at least one sensor for monitoring a passenger boarding point of the rail vehicle.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the method step a. is repeated at a plurality of platforms and before method step b. an average value or a median is formed from the plurality of detected values of the vehicle height by means of the running gear controller of the rail vehicle, wherein in method step b. an adjustment of the predefined value of the running gear height is undertaken as a function of the average value or of the median.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that method step f. is followed by: - detecting at least one value of a diameter of at least one wheel of a running gear of the rail vehicle; - turning the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle; - detecting at least one value of a diameter of the at least one turned wheel of the rail vehicle; - establishing a deviation of the at least one detected value of the diameter of the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle before and after the turning; wherein the method steps from method step f. are as follows: f. selecting at least one wheel wear insert as a function of the established deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the predefined value of the running gear height; f1. selecting the wheel wear insert as a function of the established deviation of the at least one detected value of the diameter of the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle before and after the turning; g. installation of the selected wheel wear insert on the running gear and h. predetermining a value of the running gear height as a function of the established deviation of the adjusted value of the running gear height from the predefined value of the running gear height; h1. Predetermining the value of the running gear height as a function of the established deviation of the at least one detected value of the diameter of the at least one wheel of the rail vehicle before and after the turning and as a function of the installed wheel wear insert and storage of the predefined value of the running gear height in the running gear controller.

7. Use of at least one value, detected by means of a sensor for monitoring a passenger boarding point, of a vehicle height of a rail vehicle with respect to an upper edge of the platform on the track of the rail vehicle for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Computer program product comprising commands that, when the program is executed by a suitable mobile terminal, cause said terminal to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.