Rail Contact Track Length Determination via Vehicle Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the length of track sections in rail-bound traffic systems, such as shunting hump systems, are prone to errors due to imprecise optical measurements, especially across switches and brakes.
Innovation Solution
A method that records presence reports from rail contacts as rail vehicles traverse track sections, determines the speed of the vehicle, and calculates the section length using the time interval between reports, leveraging sensors that detect individual wheels or axles, which can be mechanical, hydraulic, magnetic, inductive, or optical.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optical measurement is used to determine track section length, then the measurement can be performed at the beginning of a project, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to errors across switches and brakes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical measurement systems with a mechanical measurement approach using rail contacts that physically contact the rails. These rail contacts detect the passage of rail vehicles and generate presence reports, which are then used to calculate track section length based on vehicle speed and time intervals, eliminating optical measurement errors across switches and brakes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rail contacts as intermediary devices between the track section and the measurement system. These rail contacts serve as detection points that trigger presence reports when rail vehicles pass over them, enabling indirect measurement of track section length through vehicle passage timing rather than direct optical measurement of the track itself
2Measurement precision
If rail contacts are used to detect presence reports, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing rail contacts serve multiple functions: they continue to perform their original function of detecting rail vehicle presence for safety and control purposes, while simultaneously serving as measurement points for determining track section length. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated measurement sensors and reduces overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rail contacts automatically generate presence reports when rail vehicles pass over them, and these same reports are used by the control device to calculate track section length. The system uses its own operational data for measurement purposes without requiring additional active measurement components, achieving measurement through self-service of the existing detection infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the length of at least one track section (L1, L2, L3), wherein - drive-over signals which are caused by a rail vehicle (10) driving over the at least one track section (L1, L2, L3) and which are triggered by rail contacts (K1, K2, K3, K4) that delimit the respective track section (L1, L2, L3) are detected, - the speed of the rail vehicle (10) is ascertained, and - the length of the at least one track section (L1, L2, L3) is determined taking into account the time intervals between the detected drive-over signals and the ascertained speed. The invention further relates to a control device (50) for determining the length of at least one track section (L1, L2, L3).