Train Information Management Device for Brake Command Redundancy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ATC systems face reliability issues due to single-unit common processing, inconsistent outputs during rapid deceleration, limited input support, increased maintenance costs, and weight from hardware relays, which degrade redundancy and require higher braking forces.
Innovation Solution
A train information management device with a double system configuration using independent software-based comparison processing units to determine and output the highest brake force, eliminating the need for relays and reducing the number of common units, thereby enhancing redundancy and processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single common unit performs comparison processing on brake notches from three processing units, then the system configuration is simple, but the reliability deteriorates when the common unit fails
Solution Approach 1:
The single common unit is segmented into a first common unit and a second common unit. Each common unit independently performs comparison processing on brake notches from processing units. This segmentation ensures that if one common unit fails, the other can still output brake commands, thereby improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by having redundant common units ready to take over if one fails. The second common unit is prepared in advance to perform comparison processing and output brake commands if the first common unit fails, preventing system failure and maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a triple system with three processing units is used, then redundancy is provided, but the number of common units increases leading to higher maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
Each common unit is designed to universally handle comparison processing for multiple processing units. The common units can process brake notches from any combination of processing units, making them multi-functional. This universality allows two common units to effectively manage three or more processing units without proportionally increasing the number of common units needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple processing units are merged into a system where two common units can serve all of them. Instead of having separate common units for each processing unit, the system merges the comparison processing function into shared common units that handle inputs from multiple sources, reducing the total number of common units required.
3Reliability
If hardware relays are used for high-order priority processing, then the system is robust, but the processing speed decreases and relay maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical relay-based comparison processing with electronic/digital processing systems. The common units use electronic circuits or software-based logic to perform high-order priority processing of brake notches, eliminating the need for physical relays. This substitution dramatically increases processing speed while maintaining system robustness through electronic redundancy and fault tolerance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It is an object to provide a train information management device that performs high-order priority processing of brake commands without using a relay, and that achieves improved redundancy, enables high-speed processing, and achieves high reliability with a simple configuration. For that, by performing high-order priority processing of brake notches that are created by an ATC system 4, an automatic train stop 7, and a manual braking device 10 without using a relay, but by performing comparison processing based on logic by a train information management device 14, the improved redundancy, the high-speed processing, and the high reliability are achieved.