Shunting Humpyard Switch Control via Virtual Clearance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shunting systems face inefficiencies in determining the freedom from delimiters of switches in hump systems, leading to potential collisions and increased operational complexity, especially when existing sensor devices are not available to detect boundary-free clearing points.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a sensor device to detect the location and time of a first process passing a clearance point, determining a 'virtual' clearing time, and adjusts switch positions to prevent collisions by switching to a repelling position if necessary, without requiring additional sensor devices, allowing for efficient operation even without marked clearing points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensor devices are installed to detect clearing points, then measurement precision of switch clearing status is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the clearing point detection function through calculation rather than physical sensors. The control device computes the clearing time by processing data from existing sensors (wagon length, speed, position) to determine when the switch will be cleared, eliminating the need for additional physical sensor devices at clearing points while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor detection system with a computational model. Instead of using physical sensors to directly detect clearing points, the system uses mathematical calculations based on wagon parameters (length, speed, position) to determine clearing time, substituting mechanical detection with electronic computation
2Reliability
If switch is switched to repelling position to prevent collisions, then reliability of shunting operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional switch operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of clearing time before the wagon actually clears the switch. The control device computes when the switch will be cleared based on current wagon parameters, allowing advance planning of switch operations and reducing unnecessary switch movements by knowing in advance when the path will be free
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors wagon position, speed, and length data, feeding this information back to the control device which recalculates clearing time in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of switch operations based on actual wagon behavior rather than fixed schedules, improving both safety and efficiency
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 method enhances operational efficiency and safety by avoiding hardware costs and complexities associated with additional sensors, ensuring safe clearance and reducing the risk of collisions, while maintaining flexibility in shunting operations.
Implementation Method 1
a first hump in the form of a first moving car or a first moving car group is detected by means of a sensor device arranged in the area of a branching switch
Implementation Method 2
wagons or groups of wagons, which are also referred to as shunts, are sorted from a mountain track into different directional tracks using the force of gravity acting on the processes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a particularly efficient, flexible, and comparatively cost-effective method for operating a shunting system. According to the invention, the method proceeds as follows: a first run (10) in the form of a first run or a first run group of wagons is detected by means of a sensor device (KGL) arranged in the area of a branching switch (W); taking into account at least the location of the sensor device (KGL) and the time (t411) of detection of the first run (10), a clearance time (t312) is determined at which the first run (10) will have completely passed a clearance reporting point (VGL) that differs from the location of the sensor device (KGL) and will thus have cleared the switch (W) with respect to a clearance point (RP).For a subsequent second sequence (20) in the form of a second departing wagon or a second departing wagon group, it is determined whether, in the event of a change in the diverging position of the switch (W) compared to the first sequence (10), a contact between the two sequences (10, 20) will occur before the clearing time (t312), and if this is not the case, whether the switch (W) is switched to the diverging position if it is capable of being switched, or whether the diverging position is maintained if the switch (W) has already been switched previously.