Method and devices for monitoring a closed line section of a railway track system

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to a warning device (30) for monitoring a closed line section (11) of a railway track system (10), wherein the warning device (30) comprises at least one moving mobile part (32) suitable for sending and receiving radio signals. According to the invention, there is provision, in reference to the warning device, for the closed line section (11) to have an associated local trigger region (AB) and for a central device (31) of the warning device (30) and / or the at least one moving mobile part (32) to be configured to generate a trigger signal when at least one trigger condition relating to the trigger region (AB) is satisfied.

Description

[0001] 202306542 1 Description Method and devices for monitoring a closed section of a railway track system The invention relates to a warning device for monitoring a closed section of a railway track system, wherein the warning device comprises at least one movable mobile unit suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals. Until now, track sections closed for the purpose of maintenance or repair have often been marked or secured by fences or other barriers. Gang warning systems are also known which warn construction workers when hazards are detected using a combination of lights and horns. A warning device with the features according to the preamble of patent claim 1 is described, for example, in German laid-open specification DE 102021 206 538 A1.Document DE 102015 200 552 A1 relates to a method for blocking and signaling a track section equipped with axle counters to persons who are on the track section for work-related reasons. The output signal of at least one of the axle counters delimiting the track section is set or configured in such a way that the track section is blocked at the interlocking station. The invention is based on the object of specifying a warning device that can offer particularly reliable protection against errors in connection with maintenance or repair work in blocked sections of a railway track system. This object is achieved according to the invention by a warning device having the features according to patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the warning device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.According to the invention, a local triggering area is assigned to the closed section of road, and a central device of the warning device and / or the at least one movable mobile part is designed to generate a triggering signal when at least one triggering condition relating to the triggering area is met. A key advantage of the warning device according to the invention is that, based on one or more predetermined triggering conditions, it can automatically and reliably check whether the closed section of road (known in technical terms as "possession") is in a correct condition. For example, after maintenance or repair has been completed, one or more of the triggering conditions can be used to check whether the affected section of road has been completely cleared of material (including tools, test equipment, vehicles, etc.).) is cleared and all personnel have left the section of track before train service resumes; if this is not the case, a warning can be generated or the unlocking of the section of track can simply be prevented. Tools left behind, for example, can pose a serious danger to oncoming train traffic and must therefore be removed from the section of track under all circumstances before train service resumes; the warning device can ensure a high level of safety for such cases with an appropriately defined trigger condition. It is also possible for tools equipped with a mobile unit (e.g.a construction vehicle) or by persons equipped with a handset, and if the triggering condition is defined accordingly, a warning can be generated in good time even during maintenance or repair work. 202306542 3 With a view to protecting against hazards after completion of maintenance or repair work, it is considered advantageous if the central device is designed to regard the triggering condition or one of the triggering conditions as fulfilled and to generate a blocking signal as a triggering signal as long as the handset or at least one of the handsets is within the triggering area. As long as persons or tools equipped with handsets are within the triggering area or in the blocked section of road, the blocking signal can, for example, prevent or block unlocking or at least warn against unlocking.It is particularly advantageous if the central device is designed to consider the triggering condition as fulfilled and to prevent the blocking of the blocked route section from being lifted, in particular to prevent the generation or transmission of an enable signal to release the previously blocked route section (e.g. by means of the aforementioned blocking signal), as long as the mobile unit or at least one of the mobile units is in the triggering range.The warning device can also advantageously protect an operator monitoring the repair or maintenance and operating the central device from misjudgments and incorrect instructions; in this context, it is considered advantageous if the central device is designed to display the occupancy status of the triggering area with mobile units and / or the fulfillment of the triggering condition(s) on a display device of the central device, either continuously or in response to a display request from the operator, so that the operator can be warned of a dangerous situation - for example, due to persons or tools still remaining in the section of track - before a planned release of the blocked section of track and incorrect instructions can be avoided.202306542 4 Alternatively or additionally, the warning device can be used during repair or maintenance; in this context, it is considered advantageous if the warning device is designed to consider the triggering condition as fulfilled and to generate a warning signal as a triggering signal if the mobile unit or at least one of the mobile units leaves the triggering area while the route section is closed. The central unit is preferably designed to check whether mobile units leave the triggering area and, if necessary, to generate the warning signal and transmit it to the affected mobile unit(s) via radio. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the triggering area is communicated to the mobile units, and the mobile units themselves check whether they have left the triggering area, i.e., fulfill a corresponding triggering condition, and, if necessary, generate the corresponding warning signal themselves.The invention also relates to an arrangement with a warning device. With regard to such an arrangement, it is considered advantageous if the warning device is a warning device as described above and at least one mobile tool of the arrangement is equipped with the mobile part or at least one of the mobile parts of the warning device. The tool is preferably designed or suitable for track construction work and / or maintenance work on the railway track system. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring a closed section of a railway track system, wherein at least one movable mobile part suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals is located.With regard to such a method, the invention provides that a trigger signal is generated when a trigger condition relating to a local trigger area assigned to the blocked route section is met. With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments, reference is made to the above explanations in connection with the warning device according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments. The method is preferably carried out with the warning device described above. With regard to the method, it is advantageous if the trigger condition is regarded as met and a blocking signal is generated as the trigger signal, as long as the mobile unit or at least one of the mobile units is in the trigger area. The trigger condition is preferably regarded as met and the blocking of the blocked route section (e.g.by means of the blocking signal) is prevented, in particular the generation of an enable signal to release the previously blocked section of the route is prevented if the mobile unit or at least one of the mobile units is within the triggering range at the time of an operator-side release or an intended operator-side release of the previously blocked section of the route. Alternatively or additionally, the triggering condition or at least one of the triggering conditions can be considered fulfilled and a warning signal can be generated as a trigger signal if the mobile unit or at least one of the mobile units leaves the triggering range while the section of the route is blocked. The central unit can check the triggering condition and generate the warning signal, and the warning signal can be transmitted wirelessly to the affected mobile unit(s).Alternatively or additionally, the mobile units can individually check the triggering condition for their respective positions and, if necessary, generate a warning signal themselves. It is advantageous if the monitoring of the blocked section of track is carried out during track construction and / or maintenance work on the railway track system, and at least one mobile tool intended for track construction and / or maintenance work on the railway track system, preferably all such tools, are each equipped with a mobile unit. The invention also relates to a control device, in particular a signal box or an RBC (Radio Block Center), for example in the form of an ETCS track control center, for controlling a railway track system.The control device is designed to, in the presence of a blocking command relating to a section of the railway track system, bring about a section closure of the section by controlling track components of the railway track system. According to the invention, with regard to the control device, it is provided that the control device is designed to prevent the lifting of the closure of the closed section of the track in the presence of a blocking signal from a warning device designed as described above, in particular a central device of such a warning device. Regarding the advantages of the control device according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments, reference is made to the above statements in connection with the warning device according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments.The invention also relates to a central device for a warning device, as described above. With regard to the central device, the invention provides that it is designed to generate the trigger signal when a trigger condition relating to the trigger area is met. The central device preferably comprises a computing device, a memory, a radio device controllable by the computing device, and an input and output device, for example in the form of a touch-sensitive display. A computer program product is preferably stored in the memory, which has a location information acquisition module, a trigger area acquisition module, a comparison module, a radio module, and an input module in software form or in the form of program commands. The invention also relates to a mobile part for a warning device, as described above.With regard to the mobile part, the invention provides that it is designed to generate the trigger signal when a trigger condition relating to the trigger area is met. The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments; in this case, by way of example: Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a railway track system with a closed section of track, which is equipped with an exemplary embodiment of a warning device according to the invention, wherein an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention is also explained with reference to Figure 1, Figures 2-5 show exemplary embodiments of central devices according to the invention that can be used in the warning device shown in Figure 1. 202306542 8 For the sake of clarity, the same reference numerals are always used in the figures for identical or comparable components.Figure 1 shows a section of track 11 of a railway track system 10 that is closed for maintenance or repair and controlled by a control device 20. The control device 20 is, for example, a signal box or an RBC (Radio Block Center), for example in the form of an ETCS track control center. To prevent the control device 20 from incorrectly unlocking the closed section of track 11, a warning device 30 is assigned to the closed section of track 11. The warning device 30 comprises a central device 31 and a plurality of mobile units 32. Each mobile unit 32 is assigned to a person 40 working in the closed section of track 11 or to a tool 50 intended or suitable for maintenance or repair.The central device 31 is designed to generate a trigger signal, preferably in the form of a blocking signal BS or a warning signal WS, when a trigger condition relating to a predetermined trigger area AB is met. The local trigger area AB is preferably at least as large as the blocked route section 11 or at least includes the blocked route section 11. The arrangement according to Figure 1 can be operated, for example, as follows: The central device 31 detects the location of the individual mobile units 32. Such location detection can be based on the central device 31's own location of the mobile units 32 and / or can take place with the inclusion of location signals that the central device 31 receives, for example from a fixed radio system 60 that is in radio contact with the mobile units 32.Locating mobile units 32 by a 202306542 9 fixed radio system 60 is generally known, for example from the mobile communications sector, and can be based on or incorporate known radio methods such as GSM, Bluetooth, and / or WLAN. Alternatively or additionally, location detection can be based on the central device 31 receiving location signals from the mobile units 32, which these transmit to the central device 31. Locating can therefore also be performed (alternatively or additionally) by the mobile units 32 themselves, whether by incorporating the fixed radio system 60 or other systems, such as satellites 70. Self-locating mobile units 32 that are suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals is also known, for example from the mobile communications sector.Based on the available location information, the central device 31 is thus able to check whether persons 40 and tools 50 equipped with the mobile units 32 are located within the local triggering area AB. The central device 31 is designed to prevent an unintentional or at least impermissible release of the blocked route section 11, for example, by blocking unlocking as long as persons 40 or tools 50 are still located in the danger zone or triggering area AB.If, for example, an operator 80 enters a release command at the central device 31 with which the operator 80 wants to trigger the unlocking of the route section 11 because the operator 80 believes, for example, that the maintenance and / or repair has been completed and all persons 40 and tools 50 have left the blocked route section 11, the central device 31 compares the location information relating to the locations of the mobile units 32 with the local triggering area AB and generates a blocking signal BS if at least one of the mobile units 32 is still in the triggering area AB. The blocking signal BS is preferably transmitted to the control device 20 and preferably also blocks the transmission of the operator's release command to the control device 20, so that the blocked section 11 is not unlocked.Alternatively or additionally, the central device 31 can prevent the input of a release command and thus the generation of a release signal FGS (see Figure 2) at the operator-side interface as long as at least one of the mobile units 32 is located in the triggering area AB, for example by blocking the possibility of entering the release command or simply by not providing any possibility of entering the release command, for example by not displaying the corresponding activation buttons on an operating screen (e.g., touch-sensitive display) of the central device 31. In order to ensure additional protection for the persons 40 carrying out maintenance and / or repair work, it is advantageous if the central device 31 also generates a warning signal WS if at least one of the mobile units 32 leaves the triggering area AB while the route section 11 is closed.The central device 31 transmits the warning signal WS, preferably directly to the affected mobile unit(s) 32 by radio. Alternatively or additionally, to protect the personnel 40 performing maintenance and / or repairs, it can be provided that the central device 31 or the control device 20 transmits data defining the local trigger area AB to the mobile units 32. If the local trigger area AB is known to the mobile units 32, they can themselves generate acoustic or other signals if they detect that the local trigger area AB has been left based on their own self-determined position and / or the position reported by other sources. 202306542 11 Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a central device 31 that can be used in the warning device 30 according to Figure 1.The central device 31 comprises a computing device 100, a memory 110, a radio device 120 controllable by the computing device 100, and an input and output device 130, for example in the form of a touch-sensitive display that also functions as a display device. A computer program product CPP is stored in the memory 110, which, when executed by the computing device 100, determines or at least co-determines the operation of the computing device 100 and thus that of the central device 31. The computer program product CPP comprises a location information acquisition module 210, a trigger area acquisition module 220, a comparison module 230, a radio module 240, and an input module 250.The location information acquisition module 210 is used to receive and evaluate location information signals Os1(O1) to Os5(O5), which indicate the respective location of the mobile units 32 shown in Figure 1, and to store the corresponding location information O1 to O5 in a location information storage section 111 of the memory 110. The location information signals Os1(O1) to Os5(O5) can, for example, be transmitted from the mobile units 32 to the central unit 31 when the mobile units 32 locate themselves. Alternatively, the location information signals Os1(O1) to Os5(O5) can be transmitted from the radio system 60 to the central unit 31 when the central unit 31 locates the mobile units 32. It is also conceivable for both the mobile units 32 to locate themselves and for the radio system 60 to perform a location determination. In this case, the location information acquisition module 210 receives location information signals Os1(O1) to Os5(O5) from both the radio system 60 and the mobile units 32.In the latter case, the central device 31 can perform the check of the triggering conditions individually based on each received location information. The triggering area detection module 220 serves to receive and evaluate triggering location information AOA, which defines the local triggering area AB, which is preferably at least as large as the closed section 11 of the railway track system 10 according to Figure 1 or at least includes the closed section 11. The triggering area detection module 220 evaluates the triggering location information AOA entered on the input side and determines the local triggering area AB, for example, by calculating the boundary edges of the triggering area AB, and stores the determined triggering area AB, for example, in the form of a triggering data record, for example, in a triggering memory area 112 of the memory 110.The trigger location information AOA can be entered by the operator 80 at the input and output device 130 and / or transmitted by the control device 20. The comparison module 230 compares the location information O1 to O5 stored in the location information storage section 111 with the trigger data record stored in the trigger memory area 112 or the local trigger area AB, and checks whether the location information O1 to O5 is located within the trigger area AB or not. If the comparison module 230 determines that at least one mobile unit 32 is located within the trigger area AB, it generates a blocking signal BS, which it transmits to the radio module 240. The radio module 240 transmits the blocking signal BS by means of the radio device 120, preferably to the control device 20 according to Figure 1, so that the control device 20 does not unlock the blocked route section 11.202306542 13 The input and output device 130 preferably shows the respective occupancy status of the blocked route section 11 or of the triggering area AB to the operator 80 operating the central device 31, so that the operator can make unlocking of the route section 11 dependent on all persons 40 and tools 50 having left the triggering area before a release to unlock the blocked route section is issued. The input and output device 130 also enables the operator 80 to input a release command FG into the central device 31 at the input and output device 130 for the purpose of releasing the blocked route section 11, so that this is transmitted to the control device 20 as a release signal FGS with the involvement of the input module 250 and the radio module 240, and the blocked route section 11 can be released.Such a release will - if the central device 31 is operated correctly - only occur when, after completion of maintenance or repair work, all persons 40 have left the blocked route section 11 or the assigned triggering area AB and all tools 50 have been removed from the triggering area AB. If a premature release is granted erroneously or intentionally, the radio module 240 will preferably prevent the forwarding of the release signal FGS if the blocking signal BS is still present in such a case, so that only the blocking signal BS continues to be transmitted to the control device 20. Regardless of a blocking of the forwarding of the release signal FGS, which is considered advantageous, the continuous transmission of the blocking signal BS to the control device 20 always prevents a premature unlocking of the route section 11.Figure 3 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the central device 31. In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the comparison module 230 is also connected to the input module 202306542 14 250 and transmits the blocking signal BS to it. The input module 250 will preferably block the input of a release if the blocking signal BS is present, so that no release signal FGS is generated and accordingly cannot be forwarded by the radio module 240 via the radio device 120 to the control device 20. If the blocking signal BS is present, the input module 250 preferably already blocks the input of the release command FB by partially deactivating the input and output device 130. For example, the input of the release command FG can be blocked by not providing any option for entering the release command FG, for example by deactivating corresponding activation buttons on an operating screen (e.g.touch-sensitive display) of the input and output device 130 are not displayed. Figure 4 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the central device 31. In the embodiment according to Figure 4, the comparison module 230 transmits a warning signal WS with the involvement of the radio module 240 and the radio device 120 to those mobile units 32 that leave the trigger area AB while the route section 11 is in the blocked state. The mobile units 32 signal the receipt of the warning signal WS preferably acoustically and / or visually and / or by vibrating, so that persons 40 carrying the affected mobile unit 32 are warned of any danger. Figure 5 shows yet another advantageous embodiment of the central device 31. In the embodiment according to Figure 5, the radio module 240 transmits the trigger area AB orThe corresponding trigger location information AOA is transmitted to the mobile units 32, so that they can independently determine, based on their own location data, whether they are leaving the trigger area AB while the route section 11 is blocked. The mobile units 32 signal the exit from the blocked route section 11, preferably acoustically and / or visually and / or by vibrating, so that persons 40 carrying the affected mobile unit 32 are warned of any danger. Finally, it should be mentioned that the features of all the embodiments described above can be combined with one another in any desired manner to form further alternative embodiments of the invention.All features of subclaims can also be combined with each of the subordinate claims, either individually or in any combination with one or more other subclaims, to obtain further alternative embodiments. Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female, or other gender identities are included.

[0002] 202306542 16 List of reference symbols 10 Railway track system 11 Track section 20 Control device 30 Warning device 31 Central device 32 Mobile unit 40 Person 50 Tool 60 Radio system 70 Satellite 80 Operator 100 Computing device 110 Memory 111 Location information storage section 112 Triggering memory area 120 Radio device 130 Input and output device 210 Location information acquisition module 220 Triggering area acquisition module 230 Comparison module 240 Radio module 250 Input module AB Triggering area A0A Triggering location information BS Blocking signal CPP Computer program product FG Release command FGS Release signal O1–O5 Location information Os1(O1)–Os5(05) Location information signals WS Warning signal

Claims

202306542 17 claims 1. A warning device (30) for monitoring a closed section of track (11) of a railway track system (10), wherein the warning device (30) comprises at least one movable mobile part (32) suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals, − wherein a local triggering area (AB) is assigned to the closed section of track (11), and − a central device (31) of the warning device (30) and / or the at least one movable mobile part (32) is designed to generate a triggering signal if at least one triggering condition relating to the triggering area (AB) is met, characterized in that the warning device is designed to locate the movable mobile part. 2.Warning device (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that the central device (31) is designed to consider the triggering condition as fulfilled and to generate a blocking signal (BS) as a triggering signal, as long as the mobile part (32) or at least one of the mobile parts (32) is located in the triggering area (AB).

3. Warning device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central device (31) is designed to consider the triggering condition as fulfilled and to prevent a lifting of the blocking of the blocked route section (11), in particular to prevent the generation or transmission of an enable signal (FGS) for releasing the previously blocked route section (11), as long as the mobile part (32) or at least one of the mobile parts (32) is located in the triggering area (AB). 202306542 18 4. Warning device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central device (31) is designed to display the occupancy status of the triggering area (AB) with mobile units (32) and / or the fulfillment of the triggering condition on a display device of the central device (31), either continuously or in response to an operator-side display request. 5.Warning device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that − the central device (31) is designed to regard the triggering condition as fulfilled and to generate a warning signal (WS) as a triggering signal if the mobile part (32) or at least one of the mobile parts (32) leaves the triggering area (AB) during the closure of the route section (11), and − the central device (31) is designed to transmit the warning signal (WS) to the affected mobile part(s) (32) by radio.

6. An arrangement with a warning device (30), characterized in that − the warning device (30) is a warning device (30) according to one of the preceding claims and − at least one mobile tool of the arrangement is equipped with the mobile part or at least one of the mobile parts (32) of the warning device (30) − the warning device is configured to locate the movable mobile part. 7.Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the tool (50) is designed for track construction work and / or maintenance work on the railway track system (10). 202306542 19 8. A method for monitoring a closed track section (11) of a railway track system (10), in particular with a warning device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one movable mobile unit (32) suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals is located, characterized in that a trigger signal is generated when a trigger condition relating to a local trigger area (AB) associated with the closed track section (11) is met.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the trigger condition is considered to be met and a blocking signal (BS) is generated as the trigger signal, as long as the mobile unit (32) or at least one of the mobile units (32) is located in the trigger area (AB). 10.Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 9, characterized in that the blocking signal (BS) blocks the lifting of the blocking of the blocked route section (11), in particular the generation of an enable signal (FGS) for releasing the previously blocked route section (11) is blocked.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that − the triggering condition is regarded as fulfilled and a warning signal (WS) is generated as the triggering signal if the mobile part (32) or at least one of the mobile parts (32) leaves the triggering area (AB) while the route section (11) is blocked, and − the checking of the triggering condition and the generation of the warning signal are carried out by the central device and the warning signal (WS) is transmitted to the affected mobile part(s) (32) by radio and / or the checking of the. 202306542 20 The triggering condition and the generation of the warning signal are carried out individually by each of the mobile units (32) for its respective position, and the warning signal (WS) is generated by each of the mobile units (32) itself.

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that − the monitoring of the blocked section of track (11) is carried out during track construction and / or maintenance work on the railway track system (10), and − at least one mobile tool (50) intended for track construction and / or maintenance work on the railway track system is equipped with the or one of the mobile units (32). 13.Control device (20), in particular a signal box, for controlling a railway track system (10), wherein the control device (20) is designed to bring about a track closure of the track section (11) by controlling track components of the railway track system (10) in the presence of a blocking command relating to a track section (11) of the railway track system (10), characterized in that the control device (20) is designed to prevent a lifting of the closure of the blocked track section (11) in the presence of a blocking signal (BS) from a warning device (30) designed according to one of the preceding claims 1-5.Central device (31) for a warning device (30) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the central device (31) is designed to generate the trigger signal when a trigger condition relating to the trigger area (AB) is met and the central device is designed to locate the movable mobile part.

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