Virtual Driving Lock for Track-Bound Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing track-bound vehicle systems face challenges with physical driving locks, particularly in low-floor vehicles, due to space constraints and increased mechanical stress, which leads to reliability issues and high maintenance needs, and continuous monitoring systems are complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a virtual driving lock system where the location is determined by location information and a status signal, using data communication to transmit activation states, eliminating the need for trackside equipment and vehicle antennas, and utilizing the vehicle's data communication system for reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical driving locks are installed on the track, then the driving lock function is provided, but space is consumed and mechanical stress increases leading to reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving lock reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress on track components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical driving lock system with a digital communication system. Instead of using physical trackside devices and vehicle antennas that require mechanical installation and承受 mechanical stress, the solution uses data communication between the vehicle's on-board system and track control system to virtually establish driving locks through software logic and digital signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the driving lock function in the digital domain. The physical driving lock is replicated as a software-based virtual driving lock that operates through data processing and communication, eliminating the need for physical hardware while maintaining the same safety function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If physical driving locks with trackside devices and vehicle antennas are installed, then the driving lock function is provided, but installation space is constrained especially in low-floor vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving lock functionVSAvoidspace for trackside devices and antennas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for physical trackside devices and vehicle antennas by replacing them with a data communication system. The driving lock function is achieved through digital signal exchange between the vehicle's on-board computer and the track control system, requiring no additional physical space for hardware installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If physical driving lock components are installed, then the driving lock function is provided, but maintenance requirements increase due to mechanical stress and susceptibility to failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving lock operationVSAvoidmaintenance of trackside devices and antennas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical components with software-based solutions. The virtual driving lock system uses data communication and software logic instead of physical devices, eliminating wear and tear, mechanical failure modes, and the associated maintenance requirements for trackside devices and vehicle antennas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If continuous monitoring systems are implemented, then driving lock functionality is achieved, but system complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving lock functionVSAvoidcontinuous monitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential driving lock function from the complex continuous monitoring system. Instead of implementing comprehensive continuous monitoring of all vehicle and track parameters, the solution focuses specifically on exchanging data related to driving lock status and location, simplifying the system while maintaining the required safety function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4124540A1Method and device for operating a driving lock for a track-bound vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.02.01 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a train stop (FS) on a track for a track-bound vehicle (FZ), in which a braking process is triggered in the track-bound vehicle (FZ) when it passes the activated train stop (FS) on the track. The train stop (FS) is implemented by a trackside device (RSU) located outside a track section (GL), the location of the train stop (FS) on the track being virtually determined and provided by location information. A status signal indicating the activation state of the train stop (FS) is generated and provided. The invention further comprises a train stop (FS), a vehicle (FZ), a computer program, and a deployment device.