Safety Relay Co-Drive Control for Electromagnetic Induction Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gravitation type relays in railway signal systems experience electromagnetic induction when driven by redundant safety drive units due to shared iron cores, leading to abnormal port states and potential safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves periodically detecting the port state of the output port and performing corresponding operations only after the state is normal, with a forgiveness cycle to handle abnormal states, ensuring safe driving operations without delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If two safety drive units drive a relay at the same time to improve response speed, then the response speed is improved, but electromagnetic induction occurs causing abnormal port states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidport state normality
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the port state before executing the driving operation. The control method checks whether the port state is normal prior to allowing simultaneous driving, preventing electromagnetic induction issues from occurring in the first place while maintaining fast response capability when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the port state and using this information to control whether simultaneous driving is permitted. The system detects the port state, feeds this information back to the control logic, and adjusts the driving permission accordingly, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that prevents electromagnetic induction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If port state detection is performed before driving to prevent electromagnetic induction, then reliability is improved, but processing time may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive safetyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs port state detection as a preliminary action before driving operations, ensuring reliability is maintained. By checking the port state in advance and caching the result, the system prepares the driving permission status beforehand, reducing the time impact during actual driving operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing port state detection selectively - only when driving permission status changes or when simultaneously driving is requested. The system does not continuously detect port state at all times, but only when necessary to maintain reliability while minimizing processing time overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If forgiveness cycle mechanism is implemented to handle abnormal states, then system robustness is improved, but complexity of control logic increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem robustnessVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic forgiveness cycle mechanism where the system transitions between different states (normal state and forgiveness state) based on detected abnormalities. The control logic adapts its behavior dynamically - allowing simultaneous driving during normal operation but switching to a more restrictive mode during the forgiveness cycle, providing robustness without permanent complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing a forgiveness cycle that anticipates potential driving failures. When an abnormality is detected, the system enters a forgiveness cycle period during which simultaneous driving is restricted, cushioning against potential safety issues before they can cause harm, while maintaining normal operation during the cushioning period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Prevents electromagnetic induction and ensures safe, timely driving operations by guiding the safety drive unit to a safety side method, reducing noise and extending relay life without increasing reaction time.

Implementation Method 1

the first coil and the second coil are wound in a redundant co-drive mode on a same iron core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

after the armature is energized, the conducted 24 V DC causes the iron core to generate an induced electromotive force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4131312B1Processing method for electromagnetic induction prevention of main and standby simultaneous driving relays of safety driving unit
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CASCO SIGNAL LTD
  • EP4131312B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4131312B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4131312B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention discloses a processing method for preventing electromagnetic induction when a main system and a standby system of a safety drive unit co-drive a relay, including the following steps: S102, periodically acquiring and detecting a drive command; S103, detecting a port state of an output port of a safety drive unit when the drive command changes; and S104, performing a corresponding processing operation according to the port state of the output port; and repeating steps S 102-S 104. The advantages are that: the next processing operation of the method is performed according to the port state, the safety drive unit performs external driving operations only after the port state is not abnormal, and the safety drive unit is guided to a safety side method after the port state is detected to be abnormal, which further ensures drive safety.