Track identification system

• US 20060030978A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konkan Railway Corp. Ltd. (Government of India)
• Original Assignee: Konkan Railway Corp. Ltd. (Government of India)
• Inventors: Rajaram, Bojji
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates

Abstract

A track identification system for a plurality of locomotives moving on defined plurality of tracks, said tracks having uniquely identifiable switching locations where said locomotives can switch movement from one track to movement on to one or more other tracks, said tracks passing through a railway network consisting of locomotives, stationary structures such as stations, crossings, yards, said system consisting of on board computers fitted to each of the locomotives, said on board computers having storage means to eraseably store digitally encoded information of at least a portion of the route and track data relating to the said plurality of tracks, each of said uniquely identifiable switching locations, and the parameters of movement of the locomotives along the said tracks, said computers having processors programmed to receive reference location signals of the locomotive from a global positioning system and thereby determine the precise geographical locations of the locomotives, said computers further programmed to digitally map at least a portion of the determined geographical locations on the stored route and track data, and to continuously monitor the movement of the locomotives with reference to parameters such as their location coordinates, velocity and angular change profile at the said switching locations, and further having programming means to compute the angular change profile to determine switching actions at the said switching locations and programmed signal generator means operable by the said processing means to generate signals relative to the angular change profile relating to switching actions at the switching locations thereby determining the tracks on which the movement of each of the locomotives is occurring and the velocity of such movement.

Claims

1. A track identification system for a plurality of locomotives moving on defined plurality of tracks, said tracks having uniquely identifiable switching locations wherein said locomotives can switch movement from one track to movement on to one or more other tracks, said tracks passing through a railway network consisting of locomotives and stationary structures, said system consisting of on board computers fitted to each of the locomotives, said on board computers having storage means to eraseably store digitally encoded information of at least a portion of the route and track data relating to the said plurality of tracks, each of said uniquely identifiable switching locations, and the parameters of movement of the locomotives along the said tracks, said computers having processors programmed to receive reference location signals of the locomotive from a global positioning system and thereby determine the precise geographical locations of the locomotives, said computers further programmed to digitally map at least a portion of the determined geographical locations on the stored route and track data, and to continuously monitor the movement of the locomotives with reference to parameters at the said switching locations, and further having programming means to compute the angular change profile to determine switching actions at the said switching locations and programmed signal generator means operable by the said processing means to generate signals relative to the angular change profile relating to switching actions at the switching locations thereby determining the tracks on which the movement of each of the locomotives is occurring and the velocity of such movement.

2. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the programming means includes means to determine a first difference angular change coupled with a second difference angular change to determine switching actions at the said switching locations.

3. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes GPS antennas for receiving reference location signals from a GPS satellite said antennas cooperating with the on board computers.

4. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the on board computers are powered through power sources independent of the power sources of the locomotives.

5. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the on board computers have display means in which the determined track and the velocity of locomotive is displayed.

6. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the on board computers are equipped with data storage means for storing the track changes at the switching locations.

7. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes transmitting means for transmitting the track changes to other locomotives and to stationary structures associated with railway network.

8. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein two systems are fitted, one at the front and one at the rear, of a train associated with a locomotive and means are provided in the on board computer to receive a confirmatory signal from each other and thereby confirming the track identity determination.

9. A track identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the on board computer is further adapted to receive confirmation signals of track changes from stationary structures associated with the switching locations.

10. (canceled)