Train Speed Control Device Avoiding Hazardous Sections During Earthquakes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing railroad systems face challenges in safely stopping trains during earthquakes, often resulting in undesired stopping positions due to sudden braking, which can expose trains to hazardous locations like bridges or tunnels, leading to increased inertial forces on passengers and potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A train control device that receives earthquake detection signals and adjusts the train's speed to avoid recommended hazardous sections by estimating the arrival timing and position of the earthquake, using a speed control part to calculate and implement a speed control pattern that includes acceleration or coasting, thereby positioning the train outside hazardous areas before the earthquake arrival.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If emergency brake is applied to stop the train immediately when earthquake is detected, then the train stopping time is reduced, but the train may stop at undesired positions (bridges, slopes, tunnels) causing safety risks and increased inertial forces on passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by receiving earthquake detection signals and estimating earthquake arrival timing in advance, allowing the train to gradually reduce speed and avoid hazardous sections before the earthquake actually arrives, rather than applying emergency brake at the last moment
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the train's speed control strategy based on the estimated earthquake arrival timing and current position. When time allowance exists, the train gradually reduces speed to avoid hazardous sections; when time is insufficient, emergency brake is applied. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between stopping time and stopping position safety
2Speed
If the train speed is reduced by applying emergency brake or maximum service brake, then the train can stop before earthquake arrival, but the train may still stop at undesired positions and the inertial forces on passengers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary speed reduction by gradually decreasing train speed after receiving earthquake detection signals, allowing the train to coast to a stop outside hazardous sections without applying strong brakes, thereby minimizing inertial forces on passengers while still achieving timely stopping
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of train momentum into a beneficial feature by using the train's existing momentum to coast to a stop outside hazardous sections, eliminating the need for strong braking and the associated inertial forces on passengers
Data Source
AI summary
An on-board device controls the speed of the control target train so that the control target train is set to a given speed-controlled state upon reception of an earthquake detection signal, the given speed-controlled state being a state in which the speed of the control target train is set to be equal to or lower than a reduced speed, or the control target train is stopped. A speed control part estimates an estimated position and an estimated timing at which the control target train is set to a speed-controlled state when a given brake is continuously applied, and controls the speed of the control target train based on the positional relationship between the estimated position and a recommended avoiding-train-existence section when there is a time allowance between the estimated timing and the estimated earthquake arrival timing.