Train Brake Control Device Regeneration Invalidation Prediction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing brake control systems for trains face a response lag in air brake control, leading to inaccurate tracking of target speed during automatic driving, and require high-performance, costly control devices due to the need for fine adjustments in air pressure to compensate for regenerative braking insufficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A brake control device and method that determines the stage number of the air brake in advance to prevent regeneration invalidation, reducing the response lag by integrating a regeneration invalidation prediction unit to monitor overhead wire voltage and adjust air brake operation accordingly, allowing for a lower-cost control device while maintaining accurate speed tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If air brake control is used to compensate for regenerative braking insufficiency, then braking force adequacy is improved, but response lag occurs due to the sequential control process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking force adequacyVSAvoidresponse lag
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting regeneration invalidation occurrence in advance based on overhead wire voltage trends and train operating conditions. This allows the air brake to be activated proactively before the regenerative braking becomes insufficient, eliminating the response lag that occurs when waiting for regenerative braking to fail and then switching to air brake compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If fine adjustments of air pressure are performed to compensate for regenerative braking force, then braking precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking precisionVSAvoidcontrol device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the braking control into discrete stages based on predicted regeneration invalidation levels. Instead of continuous fine adjustments of air pressure, the control is divided into specific stages (e.g., stage 1, stage 2, stage 3) with predetermined air brake force levels. This segmentation maintains braking precision while significantly reducing control device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameter from continuous air pressure adjustment to discrete stage-based control. By transitioning from analog fine-tuning to digital stage selection, the patent achieves adequate braking precision with much simpler control logic and hardware requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If regenerative braking is used for energy saving, then energy efficiency is improved, but overhead wire voltage becomes excessively high when load is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidoverhead wire voltage excess
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring overhead wire voltage levels and train operating conditions to predict when regeneration invalidation will occur. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to adjust the regenerative braking force in real-time, reducing or stopping regenerative braking before overhead wire voltage becomes excessively high, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while preventing voltage damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3366507B1Brake control device, brake control method, train, and program
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENG LTD
  • EP3366507B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3366507B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3366507B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a brake control device equipped with: a machine brake output determination unit that, on the basis of a target deceleration of a moving body, determines the stage of braking force from among one or a plurality of braking force stages which are output by a mechanical brake of the moving body; a machine braking force estimation unit that estimates the braking force which is applied by the machine brake and which corresponds to the stage determined by the machine brake output determination unit; and a regenerative braking control unit that outputs a regenerative braking command value such that a regenerative brake provided to the moving body outputs braking force equivalent to the differential between a target braking force based on the target deceleration, and the braking force estimated by the machine braking force estimation unit.