Level control system for a rail vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a level control system (1) for a rail vehicle, said system comprising: at least two air springs (2); at least two pneumatic control devices (3), each of which is associated with an air spring (2); at least one rotary encoder (4) per air spring; and an electronic control unit (5).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Level control for rail vehicles

[0003] The present application relates to a leveling system for a rail vehicle, with which the height of the rail vehicle or the car body can be adjusted slightly relative to the ground or the rail. Such a leveling system serves, for example, to adjust the height of the doors of a rail vehicle to a platform, or to set a specific incline while the vehicle is in motion. Furthermore, such a leveling system can serve to keep the height of the rail vehicle relative to the rail constant despite changing loads on the rail vehicle.

[0004] Document EP3431358 A1, which discloses an air spring device for a rail vehicle with at least one air spring, is known from the prior art. The air spring is arranged between a bogie and a car body. The air spring device comprises: a leveling system for regulating the air spring such that the distance between the bogie and the car body is adjustable; an emergency spring, which is arranged inside or outside the air spring; and a safety system for venting the air spring when a control variable is exceeded, in particular when a control variable is exceeded due to uncontrolled pressurization of the air spring with air. The venting is irreversible.

[0005] However, only one air spring is arranged per car or bogie.

[0006] It can be considered an object of the present invention to provide an improved level control system in which the heights of car bodies or inclinations of car bodies can be individually controlled.

[0007] This problem is solved by a level control system according to claim 1, a rail vehicle according to claim 8, and a combination of rail vehicles according to claim 9. Further embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] A level control system according to the invention for a rail vehicle comprises: at least two air springs, at least two pneumatic control devices (one control device per air spring), at least four rotary angle encoders, and an electronic control unit.

[0009] This allows the height of the rail vehicle to be changed.

[0010] Preferably, an air spring is arranged on each side of a rail vehicle's bogie; with two bogies per rail vehicle, a total of four air springs are then arranged. This also allows the tilt of the rail vehicle to be adjusted.

[0011] Preferably, a rotary encoder is arranged near each air spring, which measures the change in height of the car body relative to the bogie. Furthermore, an electronic control unit is provided (for example, one per car) which is adapted to regulate the level of the rail vehicle accordingly, i.e., to raise or lower it to a specific height. This ensures that the rail vehicle can always be kept at the same height despite changing loads. Additionally, the height of the rail vehicle / car body can be adjusted when entering stations, so that, for example, the doors of the rail vehicle are level with the edge of the platform.

[0012] On freight trains, it is possible to adjust or maintain a constant height even during loading and unloading. This also allows the air springs to be kept at a constant level during travel, thus minimizing air consumption and reducing the need for compressors to produce compressed air.

[0013] Each air spring is preferably also assigned a pressure accumulator, which in a certain way compensates for the air spring.

[0014] Preferably, almost each of the at least two pneumatic control devices comprises the following: at least two leveling valves, each connected to a port for an air spring. These leveling valves are designed to fill or release air into the air spring in order to regulate the height of the rail vehicle accordingly. Heights can thus be set very precisely.

[0015] Furthermore, preferably each air spring is equipped with an over-height protection valve, which is designed to limit the maximum extension of each air spring. Preferably, this over-height protection valve is designed to stop further inflation of the air springs before they come into contact with a stop on the car body. This serves to limit the lifting height accordingly, so that a vehicle cannot tilt or over-height excessively – thus preventing two rail vehicles on adjacent tracks from touching.

[0016] Preferably, the at least four rotary encoders are connected to the electronic control unit, which is adapted to regulate the corresponding leveling valves depending on the signal from the rotary encoders. This allows for rapid adjustment of the height of the corresponding air springs.

[0017] Each pneumatic control unit preferably includes a changeover valve adapted to switch the control of the air springs between the corresponding leveling valve and a fallback level, if necessary. If the electronic control unit fails, the air spring can be controlled quickly, but not with fine adjustment.

[0018] A rail vehicle according to the invention has at least two bogies and a leveling system, wherein two air springs of the leveling system are provided per bogie. Preferably, two rotatable rotary encoders are also provided per bogie, more preferably one on each side.

[0019] A system of rail vehicles according to the invention comprises: a plurality of rail vehicles as described above, and a train control system connected to the respective electronic control unit in each rail vehicle. One of the rail vehicles preferably also includes a communication device and an infrastructure detection unit. The communication device is configured to communicate with a database containing platform heights, and the infrastructure detection unit is configured to identify the track being traversed by means of infrastructure features. For example, an infrastructure detection unit can read a balise indicating, for instance, the number of a specific platform, or an infrastructure detection unit can be a camera or ultrasonic sensor that more precisely identifies and characterizes the current track section.This makes it possible that, if the train enters a station, a platform height can be requested, so that the level of the entire train of rail vehicles is regulated accordingly when entering a platform.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a basic schematic circuit diagram of the level control system according to the present invention.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the connection of an electronic control unit with corresponding rotary encoders and regulating valves.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows the communication of control signals in a rail vehicle network.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows details of a rotatable rotary encoder.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a schematic pneumatic view of a level control system 1. Two pneumatic control units 3 and 3' are present, both connected to the main air reservoir line HL. Furthermore, both pneumatic control units 3 and 3' are connected to a mean pressure valve 11, which is configured to average the load pressure of the air springs. Each of the pneumatic control units 3 and 3' includes corresponding leveling valves 7, 7', 7" and 7"', which are connected to corresponding air springs 2, 2', 2" and 2"'. Only one over-height protection valve 9, 9', 9" or 9"' is connected in between - if the raised height of the car body exceeds a predetermined value, these over-height protection valves 9, 9', 9" or 9"' close, and the corresponding air spring 2, 2', 2" or 2'" cannot be actuated further.Furthermore, the air springs 2, 2', 2" and 2"' are connected to corresponding pressure accumulators 6, 6', 6" and 6"'. By means of corresponding switching valves 8, 8' per pneumatic control unit 3, 3', it is possible to supply the corresponding air springs 2, 2', 2" and 2"' directly and unregulated with compressed air – in case an electronic control unit 5, which regulates the leveling valves 7, 7', 7" and 7"', fails.

[0026] Figure 2 shows that all rotary encoders 4, 4', 4" and 4'' are connected to the corresponding electronic control unit 5. The leveling valves 7, 7', 7" and 7'' are also connected to the electronic control unit. The rotary encoders 4, 4', 4" and 4'' measure the respective heights of the rail vehicle and transmit these to the electronic control unit 5. The leveling valves 7, 7', 7" and 7'' then regulate the corresponding heights via the air springs (not shown here).

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a view of a train of rail vehicles S, S', S''. It is shown that each rail vehicle S, S', S'' has a corresponding electronic control unit 5, 5', 5''. These are connected to the train control system 10. The train control system 10 also includes a communication device 12, which is adapted to communicate with a database in which platform heights are stored. Furthermore, an infrastructure detection unit 13 is provided, which is configured to read relevant track infrastructure, for example, the platform number of the platform into which the train is to enter, via a balise.

[0028] Figure 4 shows a detailed description of a rotary angle encoder. A corresponding lever 4a is present, which is connected via a link 4b and a support rod 4c to a connecting section 4d – which, for example, can be attached to a car body. The lever 4a is attached to a rotatable axle 4e. When the height of the rail vehicle changes, the corresponding angle of rotation of the axle 4e also changes. A signal is output depending on the angle of rotation, and this is converted into a height value in the electronic control unit 5 (not shown here).

[0029] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

[0030] In principle, other sensors for height measurement are also possible, and furthermore, other control concepts for the electronic control unit are conceivable - for example, an electronic control unit for several cars together.

[0031] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0032] I Level control system

[0033] 2, 2', 2", 2'" air spring

[0034] 3, 3' pneumatic control device

[0035] 4, 4', 4", 4'" Rotary Angle Encoder

[0036] 4a Lever

[0037] 4b connection

[0038] 4c Handrail

[0039] 4d connection section

[0040] 4th axle

[0041] 5, 5' ,5" electronic control unit

[0042] 6, 6' ,6", 6'" Pressure accumulator

[0043] 7, 7', 7", 7'" leveling valve

[0044] 8, 8' Diverter valve

[0045] 9, 9', 9", 9'" Overshoot protection valve

[0046] 10 Train control system

[0047] II Medium pressure valve

[0048] 12 Communication device

[0049] 13 Infrastructure recording unit

[0050] HL main line

[0051] S, S', S" rail vehicle

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Level control system (1) for a rail vehicle (S), comprising: at least two air springs (2), at least two pneumatic control devices (3), each assigned to an air spring (2), at least one rotary angle sensor (4) per air spring, and an electronic control unit (5).

2. Level control system (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least four air springs (2) are provided.

3. Level control system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each air spring (2) is further associated with a pressure accumulator (6).

4. Level control system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the at least two pneumatic control devices (3) comprises: at least two leveling valves (7), each of which is connected to a connection for an air spring (2).

5. Level control system (1) according to claim 4, wherein an over-height protection valve (9) is further provided for each air spring (2), which is adapted to limit the maximum extension height of the air springs (2), wherein the at least one over-height protection valve (9) is preferably adapted to stop the further inflation of the air springs (2) before contact with a stop on the car body.

6. Level control system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least four rotatable rotary angle encoders (4) are connected to the electronic control unit (5), and wherein the control unit (5) is adapted to control the corresponding leveling valves (7) depending on the signal from the rotary angle encoders (4).

7. Level control system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a switching valve (8) is further provided for each pneumatic control device (3), which is adapted to switch the control of the associated air springs (2) between the corresponding leveling valve (7) and a fallback level.

8. Railway vehicle (S, S', S") comprising: at least two bogies (D); a level control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein two air springs of the level control system are provided per bogie (D).

9. A system of rail vehicles (S, S', S") comprising: a plurality of rail vehicles according to claim 8, a train control system (10) which is connected to the electronic control unit (5) in each rail vehicle.

10. Combination of rail vehicles (S, S', S") according to claim 9, further comprising a communication device (12) and an infrastructure detection unit (13), wherein the communication device (12) is configured to communicate with a database in which platform heights are stored, and the infrastructure detection unit (13) is configured to identify the track being traveled on by means of infrastructure features.

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