Central Sensor System for Rail Vehicle Braking Deceleration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining braking-related actual values in rail vehicles, especially in long train assemblies, fail to accurately account for longitudinal deceleration and inclination, leading to inconsistencies in braking force application and extended braking distances due to the interaction of multiple brake types and varying slope conditions.
Innovation Solution
A central measured value capture unit, positioned in the frontmost train part, uses a plurality of sensors to determine the longitudinal deceleration and inclination, taking into account the train length, to calculate accurate braking-related actual values, which are then used by a deceleration controller to adjust the braking force and compensate for system deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple brake types are used simultaneously for braking, then braking efficiency across different speed and power ranges is improved, but measurement precision of braking force deteriorates because individual brake forces cannot be measured directly and can only be determined circuitously with inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central measured value capture unit as an intermediary that collects data from multiple sensors (acceleration sensors, pressure sensors, speed sensors) and uses a train model to calculate the actual braking force. This intermediary system bridges the gap between multiple brake types and the control system, enabling accurate determination of individual brake forces through mathematical models rather than direct measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement of braking force with a computational approach using a train model. The model uses measured values from sensors (acceleration, pressure, speed) and applies mathematical calculations to determine braking forces, substituting physical direct measurement with a computational system that can handle multiple brake types simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If a central sensor system is used to capture measured values, then device complexity is reduced compared to distributed systems, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to the inability to directly measure forces at different locations along the train
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the train into individual carriages within the train model, allowing the central sensor system to calculate braking forces for each carriage separately. This segmentation enables the system to account for local variations in braking conditions along the train length while maintaining a centralized measurement architecture, thus preserving measurement precision without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The central measured value capture unit acts as an intermediary that collects data from sensors and uses the train model to distribute and allocate braking forces to individual carriages. This intermediary computation layer enables the system to determine precise braking forces for each carriage based on central measurements, maintaining accuracy while avoiding the complexity of distributed sensor systems.
3Measurement precision
If longitudinal deceleration and inclination are taken into account in braking control, then braking precision on varying terrain is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional sensors and calculation parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the train model universal by incorporating multiple functions: it calculates braking forces, accounts for longitudinal deceleration, compensates for inclination effects, and distributes forces to individual carriages. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle varying terrain conditions without requiring separate specialized systems for each function, thus improving braking precision while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The train model serves as an intermediary computation system that integrates multiple parameters (braking force, deceleration, inclination) and coordinates their interactions. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall control architecture by centralizing the complex calculations needed for precise braking control on varying terrain, rather than requiring separate control systems for each parameter.
4Ease of operation
If circuitous measurement methods are used to determine braking force (via electrical power, brake cylinder pressure, or material expansions), then ease of operation is improved as direct measurement is avoided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to non-linear physical relationships and systematic fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the central measured value capture unit continuously monitors multiple parameters (acceleration, pressure, speed) and uses the train model to calculate actual braking forces. This feedback loop allows the system to compensate for non-linear relationships and systematic fluctuations by continuously adjusting the braking control based on measured deviations from expected values, thereby maintaining measurement precision while keeping the system easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement of braking force with a computational substitution using the train model. Instead of relying on single-point circuitous measurements that suffer from non-linear relationships, the system substitutes a comprehensive computational approach that processes multiple measured parameters simultaneously, achieving higher precision while maintaining ease of operation through automated calculation.
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
This approach ensures precise and optimized braking control by considering the train length and slope conditions, reducing the need for extensive data communication and allowing for consistent braking performance across varying terrain, thereby minimizing errors in braking distance and improving operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
determine the longitudinal deceleration and the longitudinal inclination, taking into account the train length, to calculate accurate braking-related actual values
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for determining braking-related actual values of a train assembly including multiple carriages for carrying out a deceleration-controlled braking of the train assembly, in which the longitudinal deceleration and the longitudinal slope are considered to be actual values, from which an adjustment value balancing the control deviation is determined for a control element of the brake by a deceleration controller/deceleration force controller according to a predefined setpoint value of a desired braking deceleration.