Rail Snow Clearing Control Near Balises and Axle Counters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snow covering railway tracks makes it difficult for rail vehicles to maintain scheduled service, as existing snow clearing methods can cause damage to track elements due to lack of visibility and orientation challenges, leading to operational restrictions and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A method using a rail vehicle equipped with a snow clearing device that determines its position and distance from route elements like balises or axle counters using digital data, issuing signals when the distance falls below a predetermined limit to raise the snow clearing device and prevent damage, allowing for precise control and automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If snow clearing devices are used to remove snow from tracks, then snow clearing effectiveness is improved, but damage to track elements occurs due to lack of visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining the position of the rail vehicle and calculating the distance to track elements before the snow clearing device reaches them. When the distance falls below a predetermined limit value, the system outputs a signal to raise the snow clearing device in advance, preventing damage to track elements while maintaining snow clearing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the distance between the rail vehicle and track elements using digital information data, and automatically adjusting the snow clearing device position based on real-time distance measurements. This closed-loop control ensures track element protection while maintaining clearing efficiency
2Reliability
If the snow clearing device is raised to avoid track elements, then damage to track elements is prevented, but snow clearing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The snow clearing device is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to automatically adjust between lowered (clearing) and raised (protection) positions based on real-time distance measurements to track elements. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both protection and efficiency by minimizing the time the device is in the raised non-clearing position
Solution Approach 2:
The system raises the snow clearing device only when the distance to track elements falls below the predetermined limit value, not continuously. This preliminary action approach maintains the device in the efficient clearing position for most of the time, raising it only when necessary to avoid damage, thus minimizing efficiency loss
3Extent of automation
If digital positioning systems are added to the rail vehicle, then automated control and track element protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system serves multiple functions: determining rail vehicle position, calculating distance to track elements, triggering protection signals, and enabling automated control. By making the positioning system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving high automation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for snow removal along a track (3) of a railway installation (1) by means of a rail vehicle (2) comprising at least one snow removal device (5), wherein at least one track element (4), in particular a balise, an axle counter or a switch drive, is arranged on the track (3) and wherein the method comprises the following steps: - determining a current position of the rail vehicle (2), - determining a distance between the current position of the rail vehicle (2) and the at least one track element (4) using digital information data (8) comprising at least one position of the track element (4) and at least one course of the track (3), - outputting at least one signal (15) when the distance falls below at least a predetermined limit value.The solution according to the invention has the advantage that damage to track elements (4) during snow removal can be easily avoided. The invention also relates to a rail vehicle.