Adhesion Test System for Locomotive Wheel-Rail Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Locomotive on-line debugging for adhesion control is laborious and time-consuming, leading to potential wheel or rail damage and significant losses due to improper control, which existing systems fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

An adhesion test system comprising a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a driving device, a speed measuring device, and a control device that simulates the operating state of a locomotive by detecting rotation speeds and generating an idle-sliding signal when an idle-sliding phenomenon occurs, allowing for off-line debugging and reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If locomotive on-line debugging is used for adhesion control, then the traction control program can be debugged in actual operating conditions, but it is laborious and time-consuming and may cause wheel or rail damage resulting in significant losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebugging accuracyVSAvoiddebugging time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the locomotive's traction control system that runs parallel to the actual system. This virtual system replicates the adhesion control algorithms and can be debugged independently using simulated sensor data, allowing developers to test and refine control programs without requiring actual locomotive operation or risking damage to physical equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables preliminary debugging of the traction control program in the virtual system before deploying to the actual locomotive. By performing debug operations in advance on the virtual copy, developers can identify and fix issues without needing to conduct time-consuming on-line tests on the actual locomotive, thereby reducing overall debugging time and eliminating the risk of causing damage during the debugging process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If locomotive on-line debugging is used for adhesion control, then real operating data can be collected, but wheel or rail may suffer scratch resulting in big loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating data collectionVSAvoidwheel or rail damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual replica of the locomotive system that receives and processes the same sensor inputs as the actual locomotive. This virtual copy allows complete data collection and analysis without requiring physical manipulation of the actual wheel-rail contact, thereby eliminating the risk of scratches or damage while still gathering all necessary operating information for control program development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual simulation environment as an intermediary between the actual locomotive operations and the debugging process. This intermediary layer receives data from the actual system, processes it through the virtual model, and allows debugging operations to be performed on the virtual copy rather than the physical system, thus preventing direct harmful effects on the wheel or rail while still enabling comprehensive data collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If traction control program is debugged in locomotive on-line manner, then the program can be tested in actual conditions, but labor and time are consumed and accidents may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram testing accuracyVSAvoiddebugging complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the locomotive's traction control system that can be debugged independently. This virtual system maintains the same operational logic and control algorithms as the actual system, allowing developers to test and refine programs in a controlled virtual environment before deploying to the actual locomotive, thereby maintaining testing accuracy while reducing operational complexity and safety risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables preliminary debugging and validation of the traction control program in the virtual system before actual on-line deployment. By performing all necessary testing and optimization in advance on the virtual copy, the actual on-line debugging requires minimal intervention, significantly reducing the complexity and labor involved while maintaining high reliability through prior validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively simulates the actual operating state of a train, preventing accidents and significantly reducing debugging costs and time by identifying idle-sliding phenomena without on-line debugging, thus ensuring safer and more efficient maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

the speed measuring device is configured to detect rotation speed of the driving wheel and rotation speed of the driven wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational speed detection:

Implementation Method 2

the driving device is configured to provide a driving force for rotating the driving wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the driving wheel is configured to drive the driven wheel to rotate driven by the driving device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3208595B1Adhesion test system and method
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 CRRC XIAN YONGEJIETONG ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3208595B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3208595B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3208595B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides an adhesion test system and an adhesion test method. The system includes: a driving wheel for simulating a traveling wheel, a driven wheel for simulating a steel rail, a driving device, a speed measuring device and a control device; wherein, the driving device is configured to provide a driving force for rotating the driving wheel; the driving wheel is configured to rotate the driven wheel under the drive of the driving device; the speed measuring device is configured to detect rotation speeds of the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and transmit the rotation speeds of the driving wheel and the driven wheel to the control device; and the control device is configured to determine whether an idle-sliding phenomenon occurs according to the rotation speeds of the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and generate an idle-sliding signal when it is determined that an idle-sliding phenomenon occurs. Replacing a locomotive on-line debugging, the adhesion test system and method provided by the present invention can simulate the actual operating state of the train, thereby avoiding occurrence of accidents of scratching the wheel or the steel rail due to improper control in the on-line debugging, and effectively reducing the debugging cost and shortening the debugging period.