Train detection

• US 20030058119A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Brake & Signal Holdings Limited (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McAllister, Lawrence Lawson
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 1/16 Devices for counting axles; Devices for counting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 1/18 Railway track circuits rail joints E01B11/00, e.g. insulated rail joints E01B11/54

Abstract

A train location arrangement is disclosed that interleaves a plurality of detection systems to provide, in combination, a higher resolution of train detection than would be provided by one of the systems on its own.

Claims

1. A train location arrangement utilizing a plurality of train detection systems which are interleaved to provide, in combination, a higher resolution of train detection than would be achieved by one of the systems on its own.

2. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein train detection information from the systems is combined in order to provide for improved availability, so that if one of the systems fails, then train location is still provided by the or each other system.

3. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein train detection information from the two systems is combined in order to provide for improved safety, so that if one of systems fails to correctly indicate the location of a train, then safe detection is still provided by the or each other system.

4. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the train detection systems are different from each other.

5. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the train detection systems is a track circuit system.

6. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the train detection systems is an axle counter system.

7. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the train detection systems is a track circuit system and another is an axle counter system and wherein if a track circuit indicates that an axle counter section is clear, this enables a reset of the axle counter section.

8. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the train detection systems is a track circuit system and another is an axle counter system and wherein if axle counters indicate that a track circuit section is clear, this is utilized to enable auto-adjustment of the track circuit section.

9. A train location arrangement according to claim 7, wherein if axle counters indicate that a track circuit section is clear, this is utilized to enable auto-adjustment of the track circuit section.

10. A train location arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there are two train detection systems.