CTC-based shunting plan management and control method and system

Abstract

A CTC-based shunting plan management and control method, comprising: first, generating gravity shunting plans on the basis of configuring shunting areas and labeling shunting coupling plans; then, generating a shunting route sequence on the basis of the shunting coupling plans in the generated gravity shunting plans, wherein shunting routes satisfy the following conditions: route equipment remains locked when a locomotive enters and occupies the track, and a route signal is automatically cleared when the locomotive returns; and finally, triggering the shunting routes, and setting the shunting routes to a destination section in a single operation, without allowing segmented short-route setting. The shunting routes are controlled such that the route equipment remains locked when the locomotive enters, and the locomotive returns directly along the original shunting routes, thereby omitting the return route setting process, and improving the safety and efficiency of shunting operations. Also provided is a CTC-based shunting plan management and control system.

Description

A CTC shunting plan control method and system Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of rail transit technology, and specifically relates to a CTC shunting plan control method and system. Background Technology

[0002] Existing railway shunting operations involve computer interlocking systems, CTC (Centralized Control System), routes, train operations, shunting operations, shunting routes, and storage shunting. Among these, the computer interlocking system, or simply interlocking, is responsible for controlling signaling equipment within stations, including switches, sections, and signals, as well as constraining the safety interlocking relationships between switches, signals, and track circuits within a route. It receives control commands from operators, controls outdoor switches, sections, signals, and other railway signaling equipment, and provides real-time feedback on the status of the signaling equipment. One interlocking system governs one station. CTC is widely used in railway dispatching and signal control, and is an important piece of equipment for railway transportation management, realizing the informatization of dispatching and command, the automation of train operations, and the centralization of signaling equipment. CTC integrates interlocking systems, train control systems, speed limiting systems, and other signaling and information systems, linking stations and sections to form a complete route display map for dispatchers and train operators. It acts as the dispatcher's eyes and hands, allowing them to see the location information and schedule information of each signaling device at each station and each train through the CTC system, and to remotely control the signaling equipment and train operating paths and speeds. A route refers to the path taken by trains and shunting locomotives from one location to another within a station. Route processing (or route triggering) means that before a locomotive enters a route, the signaling equipment along that route must be locked and the clearance signal must be released. The locomotive can only enter the route after seeing the clearance signal. After the locomotive passes, the equipment returns to its cleared state (unlocked, unoccupied). Routes include train routes and shunting routes, with train routes further divided into receiving routes, departure routes, and through routes. Trains are groups of cars (one carriage) plus a locomotive (locomotive) that travel across stations, broadly categorized as passenger cars and freight cars. Train operations refer to the processes of receiving trains, departing trains, passing through stations, and conducting inspections and passenger boarding / alighting within the station. Signal control mainly involves processing receiving routes, departure routes, and through routes. The daily train arrivals and departures at each station are determined by the dispatcher of the corresponding line on the CTC system's operating diagram. The original route processing was completed on the interlocking system, requiring manual clicking of the origin, end, and change point buttons. This was prone to errors and lacked sufficient safety controls. Shunting operations refer to the movement of rolling stock or locomotives within a station, including organizing multiple vehicles together to form a train, disassembling train vehicles and distributing them across tracks, assigning locomotives to trains, and changing locomotives. Each movement is called a "coupling operation," hence the shunting plan is also called a "coupling plan" or simply "coupling." Station dispatchers prepare shunting operation plans based on the daily work plan. Each shunting operation plan contains several couplings, and relevant personnel print out paper copies of the shunting operation plans.Outdoor shunting operators contact station signalmen by phone to request shunting routes for designated couplers. The signalmen, based on verbal descriptions from the outdoor operators, determine the route and manually process it by pressing the terminal signal button. This process is highly dependent on human intervention, and accuracy and safety cannot be guaranteed. In this work mode, the shunting work order and route are not linked, and the outdoor operator's route and route processing are not linked. These two disconnects are filled manually, increasing the risk of errors. Railway shunting operations are divided into locomotive pushing and shunting methods. Shunting shunting can be further divided into hump shunting and level shunting. Hump shunting is implemented by the hump system, while level shunting is controlled by the interlocking system. Stored shunting refers to pre-compiling multiple shunting coupler plans into a form, which is then executed sequentially by the interlocking system.

[0003] Furthermore, CTC provides shunting plan management and route signal control, currently only applicable to shunting operations using locomotive pushing. Shunting operations using the shunting method utilize vehicle inertia to move vehicles, eliminating the need for the locomotive to follow. Shunting can be divided into hump shunting and level shunting. Due to the lack of an interface standard between CTC and the hump system, existing interface standards do not specify control commands related to shunting or protocols for storing shunting plans, thus hindering the implementation of hump shunting control. For stations with level shunting operations, the shunting route is controlled by the interlocking system. However, because the existing CTC and interlocking interface does not include level shunting route control, stations currently involved in shunting are controlled by the interlocking system. This means these stations can only use the original interlocking system control signals and cannot achieve centralized CTC dispatch control. Train operators cannot use CTC's error-prevention route, automatic route triggering, and operational process control functions to improve the efficiency and safety of train shunting operations.

[0004] How to control the plane slinging operation through CTC is becoming an increasingly urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a CTC shunting plan control method and system, which improves the efficiency and safety of train shunting operations.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a CTC shunting plan control method, including,

[0007] Based on the configuration of shunting areas and the marking of shunting couplers, a shunting and shunting plan is prepared.

[0008] Based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, a shunting route sequence is generated, wherein the shunting route satisfies the following: when the locomotive moves into the track and passes through, the route equipment is not unlocked, and when the locomotive returns, the route signal is automatically opened;

[0009] If a shunting route is triggered, the shunting route will be processed to the destination section in one go; it is not allowed to process the route in segments according to the shortest route.

[0010] Furthermore, the configuration of the shunting area includes,

[0011] Configure the names of the shunting point section and the destination track for shunting;

[0012] The shunting area is determined based on the configured shunting point section name and the shunting destination track name.

[0013] Furthermore, the prepared shunting plan includes a shunting coupler plan and a push-coupler plan, and the shunting coupler plan includes marking the following:

[0014] Add start and end markers to the shunting hook plan.

[0015] Furthermore, each shunting hook plan corresponds to a unique shunting route, wherein the beginning and end of the shunting route are fixed.

[0016] Furthermore, based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, generating the shunting route sequence also includes, if the previous shunting and shunting plan of the shunting and shunting plan is a push-couple plan,

[0017] Based on the push hook plan, generate the pull-out route from the work track to the chute point;

[0018] Based on the shunting hook plan, a traction route from the shunting point to the working track is generated.

[0019] Furthermore, based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, generating the shunting route sequence also includes, if the next shunting and shunting plan after the shunting and shunting plan is a push-couple plan,

[0020] Based on the shunting hook plan, generate the shunting route from the shunting point to the working track and the pull-out route from the working track to the turning point;

[0021] Based on the push hook plan, the pull-in path and pull-out path in the push path sequence are generated.

[0022] Furthermore, based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting plan, generating the shunting route sequence also includes previewing the shunting route based on the shunting signals, wherein...

[0023] All shunting signals in both directions of the shunting route are flashing white, and the route is locked.

[0024] Furthermore, triggering the shunting route also includes,

[0025] When processing the first shunting route, the start button is the shunting start point button;

[0026] When processing subsequent shunting routes in a shunting plan, if the locomotive turns back midway and is pulled into the next shunting track, the starting point of the route calculates the short routes that need to be triggered based on the locomotive's occupied position, and combines the short routes into a long route to trigger the shunting route at once.

[0027] Furthermore, triggering the shunting route also includes checking whether the shunting function at the beginning of the shunting route is enabled based on the status of the shunting indicator light when the shunting route is triggered. If it is not enabled, the system will be locked.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a CTC shunting plan control system, comprising,

[0029] The module is used to generate shunting plans based on the configured shunting area and marked shunting coupler plan.

[0030] The generation module is used to generate a shunting route sequence based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting shunting plan. The shunting route satisfies the following conditions: the route equipment is not unlocked when the locomotive moves into the track and passes through, and the route signal is automatically opened when the locomotive returns.

[0031] The trigger module is used to trigger the shunting route and process the shunting route to the destination section in one go. It is not allowed to process the route in segments according to the short route.

[0032] The CTC shunting plan control method of this invention manages shunting routes by ensuring that the route equipment is not unlocked during relocation, and that the locomotive returns directly via the original route when returning. Furthermore, the shunting route is processed in one step upon triggering, eliminating the need for return route processing and improving the safety and efficiency of shunting operations. Moreover, this control method enables stations with surface shunting operations to switch to CTC control mode, allowing train operators to control shunting signals and store shunting data via CTC, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of train shunting operations through CTC.

[0033] Furthermore, a hybrid approach is adopted, integrating the shunting plan using the shunting method with the existing push-based shunting plan, to achieve adaptive generation of route sequences and triggering routes for both plans.

[0034] In addition, marking the shunting and release plan ensures the accuracy of the input, facilitates subsequent logical calculations, and improves the safety and reliability of the shunting plan.

[0035] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 shows a schematic flowchart of a CTC shunting plan control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 shows a schematic flowchart of another CTC shunting plan control method in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a CTC shunting plan control system in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, this embodiment of the invention introduces a CTC shunting plan control method. The control method includes: first, compiling a shunting plan based on the configuration of the shunting area and the marking of the shunting coupler plan; then, generating a shunting route sequence based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting plan; wherein the shunting route satisfies the following conditions: when the locomotive moves into the track, the route equipment does not unlock; when the locomotive returns, the route signal is automatically opened; finally, the shunting route is triggered, and the shunting route is processed to the destination section in one go, and it is not allowed to process it in sections according to short routes. For ordinary push routes, if the locomotive turns back midway and gets stuck on a switch, a complete route cannot be established at the location of the switch. It is necessary to manually confirm that the switch is in the position required by the locomotive, and manually lock each switch individually. At the same time, it is necessary to contact outdoor personnel for confirmation before the locomotive can run. This process is both cumbersome and has safety hazards. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, the shunting route is controlled by CTC, and the route equipment is not unlocked when moving in. When the locomotive returns, it directly returns from the original route via the shunting route, eliminating the need for return route processing and improving the safety and efficiency of shunting operations.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2, to convert a station operating in a horizontal shunting mode to a CTC-controlled mode, it is first necessary to connect the CTC with the interlocking system for shunting route control. Specifically, the CTC shunting plan management system described below is used. The CTC shunting plan management system has the ability to uniformly manage shunting plans, that is, it can maintain the existing CTC interface specification protocol format unchanged without affecting existing functions, and it can also expand the types of shunting establishment and cancellation related instructions, thereby improving the reliability and security of shunting plan management.

[0043] Secondly, a shunting plan is formulated, which includes configuring shunting areas and marking shunting couplers. Unlike ordinary push shunting, horizontal shunting is confined to a designated area, thus requiring the specification of shunting points and destination tracks. Configuring shunting areas involves first configuring the names of the shunting point sections and the destination track; then, based on the configured shunting point section names and destination track names, the shunting area is determined. In this embodiment of the invention, multiple shunting areas can be configured. When formulating the shunting coupler plan, restricting the working track to the shunting area improves the reliability of the shunting plan.

[0044] Furthermore, the compiled shunting plan includes a shunting hook plan and a push hook plan. Marking the shunting hook plan includes adding start and end shunting markers to the shunting hook plan. Preferably, to distinguish between the two hook plans, a notepad can be set in the system, providing quick formatted input options "Start Shunting" and "End Shunting". The hook plan between "Start Shunting" and "End Shunting" is represented as a shunting hook plan; otherwise, it is a push hook plan. Marking the shunting hook plan using the above method not only facilitates input but also ensures the accuracy of the input. The input results are directly used as logical data and can participate in subsequent logical calculations, improving the compilation efficiency. However, it is not limited to markers such as "Start Shunting" and "End Shunting"; other marking methods are also applicable to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] Then, a shunting route sequence is generated, where each shunting hook plan corresponds to a unique shunting route, and the start and end points of the shunting route are fixed. The shunting route is the basic route from the shunting point of the throat to the working track. It should be noted that the basic route refers to the route processed by the start and end buttons, which is different from the alternative route. An alternative route is a detour route processed by the start and end points and several alternative buttons, taking a different path from the basic route. Furthermore, the shunting route sequence cannot be manually changed after it is generated. Additionally, the shunting route satisfies the following: when the locomotive moves into the track and passes through, the route equipment does not unlock; when the locomotive returns, the route signal automatically opens. Preferably, if a station has a level shunting system, the shunting route should be selected first. The shunting route is not limited to shunting operations, but can also be used in pushing operations. This can take advantage of the characteristic of the shunting route that it does not unlock when pulled in, so there is no need to process the pulling-out route for pushing. Therefore, by applying the shunting route to the pushing shunting operation mode, and taking advantage of the characteristics of the level shunting route, the shunting coupler plan does not need to generate a return pulling-out route sequence from the track to the shunting point. The locomotive returns directly from the original route of the shunting route, saving the return route processing step and improving the safety and efficiency of shunting operations.

[0046] In this embodiment of the invention, generating a shunting route sequence based on the shunting hook plan in the compiled shunting plan further includes, if the previous shunting plan of the shunting hook plan is a push hook plan, firstly, generating a pull-out route from the working track to the shunting point based on the push hook plan (i.e., generating a push route sequence); then, generating a pull-in route from the shunting point to the working track based on the shunting hook plan (i.e., the shunting route). For example, if shunting hook plan A follows push hook plan T, then push hook plan T generates a pull-out route from the working track to the shunting point, and shunting hook plan A generates a pull-in route from the shunting point to the working track. Unlike the prior art, in order to continue with the next shunting hook plan, the pull-out point of push hook plan T is defaulted to the shunting point, and cannot be selected according to the original push route method.

[0047] In this embodiment of the invention, generating a shunting route sequence based on the shunting hook plan in the prepared shunting plan further includes, if the next shunting plan of the shunting hook plan is a push hook plan, firstly, based on the shunting hook plan, generating a shunting route from the shunting point to the working track and a pull-out route from the working track to the turning point; then, based on the push hook plan, generating the pull-in route and pull-out route in the push route sequence (i.e., generating the push route sequence). For example, if shunting hook plan A precedes push hook plan T, then push hook plan T generates a pull-in route and a pull-out route, while shunting hook plan A generates two routes: one is a shunting route from the shunting point to the working track, and the other is a normal pull-out route from the working track to the turning point Z, where the turning point Z is the optimal turning point of the two hook plans, push hook plan T and shunting hook plan A, generated according to the existing push route sequence. This is because when the next hook is a push hook, the shunting operation has already ended at hook A, meaning the shunting hook plan is complete. At this point, the shunting route is not unlocked and needs to be manually cancelled before a regular lead-out route can be processed. Since the common turnaround point of operation tracks T and A may not necessarily include the shunting point, to flexibly select the turnaround point, a route sequence needs to be generated according to the push hook plan method when executing the next push hook plan, i.e., a lead-out route needs to be generated. Preferably, if Z is the shunting point, the unlocked shunting route can still be used as the lead-out route, and the lead-out route generated by the system according to the push hook plan can be directly skipped.

[0048] In this embodiment of the invention, generating a shunting route sequence based on the shunting coupler plan in the prepared shunting plan further includes previewing the shunting route based on the shunting signals. In this preview, all shunting signals in both directions of the shunting route flash white, and the route is locked. The CTC generates the route sequence according to the shunting plan. Manual personnel can quickly preview the execution effect through the route sequence before triggering the route, reducing the workload of shunting route processing and avoiding the risk of errors from manually clicking multiple buttons. Previewing allows for better control over the accuracy of the prepared shunting plan.

[0049] Finally, the shunting route is triggered. Specifically, when triggering a shunting route, it must be processed to the destination section in one go; segmented processing according to short routes is not allowed. If this condition is not met—that is, if it cannot be processed to the destination section in one go—then the shunting route cannot be processed, effectively ensuring the safety and reliability of shunting route triggering. Furthermore, triggering a shunting route also includes the following: when the shunting route is processed for the first time, the starting button is the shunting start button; when subsequent shunting routes (routes in other shunting coupler plans in the shunting plan) are processed, if the locomotive turns back midway to enter the next coupler (shunting coupler plan) track, the starting point of the route (i.e., the starting point of the next shunting coupler route) calculates the short routes to be triggered based on the locomotive's occupied position, and combines the short routes into a long route to trigger the shunting route in one go.

[0050] In addition, triggering a shunting route also includes checking whether the shunting function at the beginning of the route is activated based on the status of the shunting indicator lights when the route is triggered. If not activated, control is applied to prevent the route from being converted to a regular push route, which would affect efficiency. Because the CTC system interfaces with the interlocking system, and the CTC controls and displays signal equipment based on the interlocking system, the CTC also inherits the safety control functions of the interlocking system. It adds many safety control and efficiency-enhancing functions to the interlocking system, thus ensuring route safety and improving the reliability of shunting operations through control during horizontal shunting operations.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment of the invention also introduces a CTC shunting plan control system capable of executing the above method. The control system is set in the CTC system and includes a compilation module, a generation module, and a triggering module. The compilation module is used to compile a shunting plan based on the configured shunting area and the marked shunting coupler plan. The generation module is used to generate a shunting route sequence based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting plan. The shunting route satisfies the following: when the locomotive moves into the track, the route equipment is not unlocked; when the locomotive returns, the route signal is automatically opened. The triggering module is used to trigger the shunting route and process the shunting route to the destination section in one go, and does not allow processing in sections according to short routes.

[0052] The CTC controls shunting routes through the shunting plan management system, enabling the storage and shunting function. This allows stations with level shunting operations to switch to CTC control mode. In addition, by controlling shunting routes through the management system and ensuring that the route equipment is not unlocked during relocation, locomotives can directly return via the original shunting route when returning, eliminating the need for return route processing and improving the safety and efficiency of shunting operations.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A CTC shunting plan control method, characterized in that, include, Based on the configuration of shunting areas and the marking of shunting couplers, a shunting and shunting plan is prepared. Based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, a shunting route sequence is generated, wherein the shunting route satisfies the following: when the locomotive moves into the track and passes through, the route equipment is not unlocked, and when the locomotive returns, the route signal is automatically opened; If a shunting route is triggered, the shunting route will be processed to the destination section in one go; it is not allowed to process the route in segments according to the shortest route.

2. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The configuration of the shunting area includes, Configure the names of the shunting point section and the destination track for shunting; The shunting area is determined based on the configured shunting point section name and the shunting destination track name.

3. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The prepared shunting plan includes a shunting coupler plan and a pusher coupler plan. The shunting coupler plan includes the following: Add start and end markers to the shunting hook plan.

4. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each shunting hook plan corresponds to a unique shunting route, where the beginning and end of the shunting route are fixed.

5. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, the generation of the shunting route sequence also includes if the previous shunting and shunting plan of the shunting and shunting plan is a push-couple plan. Based on the push hook plan, generate the pull-out route from the work track to the chute point; Based on the shunting hook plan, a traction route from the shunting point to the working track is generated.

6. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Based on the shunting and shunting plan in the compiled shunting and shunting plan, the generation of the shunting route sequence also includes, if the next shunting and shunting plan in the shunting and shunting plan is a push-couple plan, Based on the shunting hook plan, generate the shunting route from the shunting point to the working track and the pull-out route from the working track to the turning point; Based on the push hook plan, the pull-in path and pull-out path in the push path sequence are generated.

7. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The generation of shunting route sequences, based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting plan, also includes previewing the shunting routes based on shunting signals. All shunting signals in both directions of the shunting route are flashing white, and the route is locked.

8. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Triggering the evacuation route also includes, When processing the first shunting route, the start button is the shunting start point button; When processing subsequent shunting routes in a shunting plan, if the locomotive turns back midway and is pulled into the next shunting track, the starting point of the route calculates the short routes that need to be triggered based on the locomotive's occupied position, and combines the short routes into a long route to trigger the shunting route at once.

9. The CTC shunting plan control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Triggering the shunting route also includes checking whether the shunting function at the beginning of the shunting route is enabled based on the status of the shunting indicator light when the shunting route is triggered. If it is not enabled, the route is controlled.

10. A CTC shunting plan control system, characterized in that, include, The module is used to generate shunting plans based on the configured shunting area and marked shunting coupler plan. The generation module is used to generate a shunting route sequence based on the shunting coupler plan in the compiled shunting shunting plan. The shunting route satisfies the following conditions: the route equipment is not unlocked when the locomotive moves into the track and passes through, and the route signal is automatically opened when the locomotive returns. The trigger module is used to trigger the shunting route and process the shunting route to the destination section in one go. It is not allowed to process the route in segments according to the short route.

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