Railway Vehicle Control Device Using Programmable Supervision Unit

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control devices for railway vehicles have limited flexibility and scalability, requiring structural modifications to add or reprogram relays, leading to increased bulk and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a separate supervision unit containing a programmable calculation unit and network interface, connected to a data bus, which controls equipment without mechanical relays, allowing for simplified reprogramming and reduced size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional relays are added to the driving manipulator shaft, then the control capacity is improved, but the bulk and structural complexity of the driving manipulator increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capacityVSAvoidbulk of driving manipulator

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical relay system with an electronic control system. Instead of adding physical relays and cams to the shaft, the invention uses a programmable microprocessor that can be configured via software to control different relay states based on the angular position of the movable part. This substitution eliminates the need for physical structural modifications when adding control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The programmable microprocessor serves as a universal control element that can perform multiple functions. By loading different program configurations, the same hardware can control different combinations of relays for various control scenarios (traction, braking, etc.), replacing what would otherwise require multiple dedicated mechanical relay assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional relays are added to the driving manipulator shaft, then the control capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capacityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical relay system with an electronic control system. Instead of adding physical relays and cams to the shaft, the invention uses a programmable microprocessor that can be configured via software to control different relay states based on the angular position of the movable part. This substitution eliminates the need for physical structural modifications when adding control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a software program as a virtual copy of the control logic. Instead of physically replicating relay-cam mechanisms for different control scenarios, the same physical hardware can be reconfigured through software to simulate different control configurations, greatly simplifying the device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the relay configuration is modified, then the control functionality is reprogrammed, but the shaft and cam structure must be physically modified

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereprogrammabilityVSAvoidease of reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical relay system with an electronic control system. Instead of adding physical relays and cams to the shaft, the invention uses a programmable microprocessor that can be configured via software to control different relay states based on the angular position of the movable part. This substitution eliminates the need for physical structural modifications when adding control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system transitions from a static mechanical configuration to a dynamic programmable system. The microprocessor can be reconfigured through software updates, allowing the control functionality to change dynamically without any physical modifications to the shaft or mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3309036B1Control device for a railway vehicle and railway vehicle comprising said control device

Publication Date: 2021.06.02 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS

Figure 1

AI summary

This control device (4) for a railway vehicle (2) includes a driving joystick (6) having a movable part (8) and a rotary servomotor (11), adapted to move the movable part (8). This control device (4) further includes: - a position sensor (14, 16), coupled to the driving joystick (6) to measure the position of the movable part (8), and - a supervisory unit (20) comprising: • a programmable computing unit (22), connected to the position sensor (14, 16) and programmed to acquire position values measured by the position sensor, and • a network interface (24), adapted to be connected to a data bus (26) of a railway vehicle (2).