Turnout Indication Consistency Checking for Accurate Switch Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining switch positions in railway systems rely on interlocking systems that can incorrectly collect general and individual indication data, leading to inaccurate switch position determinations and potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

An interlocking system collects general indications, while a monitoring system collects individual indications, with real-time consistency analysis and a circular queue to update and store analysis results, generating alarms for inconsistencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If all data is sourced from interlocking collection, then the system structure is simple, but the accuracy of switch position determination deteriorates due to possible incorrect data collection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidswitch position determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a monitoring system as an intermediary to collect individual indication data from switch machines, separate from the interlocking system. This intermediary data collection mechanism allows cross-validation of switch position information without fundamentally redesigning the existing interlocking system architecture, thus improving accuracy while maintaining reasonable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a consistency checking mechanism that continuously compares general indication data from the interlocking system with individual indication data from the monitoring system. When inconsistencies are detected, the system generates alarms and triggers diagnostic procedures, creating a feedback loop that improves reliability of switch position determination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If consistency check between general indication and individual indication is added, then the accuracy of switch position determination is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitch position determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system serves multiple functions: it collects individual indication data from switch machines, stores historical data for analysis, performs consistency checking against interlocking system data, and generates alarms for inconsistencies. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary consistency checking by continuously comparing general and individual indication data in real-time. The circular queue mechanism pre-stores historical analysis results for a preset time interval, enabling rapid comparison and diagnosis when inconsistencies occur, without requiring complex real-time processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If real-time consistency analysis is performed continuously, then the reliability of switch position determination is improved, but the computational resources and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitch position determination reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic consistency checking by analyzing data at defined intervals (once per second) rather than continuously processing every data change. The circular queue stores analysis results for a preset time interval, allowing the system to perform checks at optimal moments while reducing peak processing demands and computational resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4696582A1Method for comparing consistency between overall representation and sub representation of turnout, device, and medium

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 CASCO SIGNAL LTD

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for comparing the consistency between a general indication and an individual indication of a switch, a device, and a medium. The method includes the following steps: grouping switch machine devices according to device information and collected information of all switch machines in a station yard; acquiring collected data related to the general indication and the individual indication of the switch in real time; analyzing the consistency between the general indication and the individual indication of the switch once per second according to the real-time collected data; storing a result of analyzing the consistency between the general indication and the individual indication of the switch per second into a circular queue, and updating the circular queue in real time such that the circular queue only retains a latest analysis result within a preset time interval; and when a total duration of the per-second analysis result stored in the circular queue reaches the preset time interval, performing continuous analysis on the consistency between the general indication and the individual indication of the switch in real time according to the per-second analysis result currently stored in the circular queue. Compared with the prior art, the present disclosure has the advantages of an accurate comparison result, good real-time performance, and the like.