Method and system for ensuring that a train does not pass an improperly configured device

• US 20060080009A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shockley, James Francis, Kane, Mark Edward, Hickenlooper, Harrison Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0092 Memory means reproducing during the running of the vehicle or vehicle train, e.g. smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/22 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/004 Memory means reproducing during the running of the vehicle or vehicle train, e.g. smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/125 using short-range radio transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/22 using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A train control system includes a positioning system and consults a database to determine when the train is approaching a configurable device such as a switch or grade crossing gate. The system continuously interrogates the device to determine its status as the train approaches the device, and forces an engineer/conductor to acknowledge any detected malfunction. The train is forced to come to a complete stop before proceeding past the device or may be slowed down to a speed that will allow the engineer/conductor to visually determine whether it is safe to proceed past the device if the engineer/conductor acknowledges a message warning of the malfunction and will stop the train if the engineer/conductor fails to acknowledge the warning message.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:

a control unit located on a train, the control unit including a memory, the memory having stored therein an identifier associated with a configurable device of interest being approached by the train; and

a transceiver, the transceiver being located on the train and being in communication with the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of

transmitting an interrogation message;

receiving a response to the interrogation message, the response including an identifier and a configuration;

allowing the train to continue if the response is received within a first period of time, the identifier included in the response matches the identifier associated with the configurable device of interest, and the configuration included in the response indicates that the configurable device of interest has a correct configuration; and

taking correction action otherwise.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interrogation message includes the identifier of the configurable device of interest.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a positioning system, the positioning system being in communications with the control unit and being configured to provide position information to the control unit; and

a database, the database including a plurality of locations for a plurality of configurable devices;

wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the steps of

identifying a configurable device in the database which is a next device which the train will pass based on information from the positioning system as the configurable device of interest; and

obtaining an identifier from the database associated with the configurable device of interest.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the interrogation message when a distance between the train'"'"'s location and the configurable device identified in the identifying step is below a threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold is a predetermined number based at least in part on an expected worst case distance required to stop the train.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold is determined dynamically based at least in part upon the current speed of the train.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the threshold is further based on a weight of the train.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the database further includes a grade of a track between the train and the device and the threshold is further based on the grade of the track between the train and the device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the threshold is further based on distribution of weight in the train.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a warning device connected to the control unit, wherein the corrective action includes activating the warning device.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a brake interface connected to the control unit, wherein the corrective action includes activating the train'"'"'s brakes via the brake interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the corrective action includes stopping the train before the train reaches the configurable device of interest.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a warning device connected to the control unit and a brake interface connected to the control unit, and wherein the corrective action includes

activating a warning device to provide a warning to a train operator;

stopping the train unless an acknowledgment of the warning is received and a speed of the train is at a safe speed within a second period of time; and

if an acknowledgment of the warning is received within the second period of time, preventing the speed of the train from being increased above the safe speed until the device has been passed or a verification that passing the device is acceptable has been received.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the configurable device of interest is a grade crossing gate and a correct configuration is a configuration in which the grade crossing gate is down.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the configurable device of interest is a switch and a correct configuration is a configuration in which the switch is set in a desired direction.

16. A computerized method for controlling a train, the method comprising:

transmitting an interrogation message;

receiving a response to the interrogation message, the response including an identifier and a configuration;

allowing the train to continue if the response is received within a first period of time, the identifier included in the response matches the identifier associated with a configurable device of interest, and the configuration included in the response indicates that the configurable device of interest has a correct configuration; and

taking correction action otherwise.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the interrogation message includes the identifier of the configurable device of interest.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

using information from a positioning system pertaining to the train and information stored in a database pertaining to a plurality of configurable devices to select the configurable device of interest; and

obtaining an identifier associated with the configurable device of interest from the database.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the interrogation message is transmitted when a distance between the train'"'"'s location and the location of the configurable device of interest is below a threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the threshold is a predetermined number based at least in part on an expected worst case distance required to stop the train.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the threshold is determined dynamically based at least in part upon the current speed of the train.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the threshold is further based on a weight of the train.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the database further includes a grade of a track between the train and the device and the threshold is further based on the grade of the track between the train and the device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the threshold is further based on distribution of weight in the train.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the corrective action includes activating the warning device.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the corrective action includes activating the train'"'"'s brakes via the brake interface.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the corrective action includes stopping the train before the train reaches the configurable device of interest.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the corrective action includes activating a warning device to provide a warning to a train operator;

stopping the train unless an acknowledgment of the warning is received and a speed of the train is at a safe speed within a second period of time; and

if an acknowledgment of the warning is received within the second period of time, preventing the speed of the train from being increased above the safe speed until the device has been passed or a verification that passing the device is acceptable has been received.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the configurable device of interest is a grade crossing gate and a correct configuration is a configuration in which the grade crossing gate is down.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the configurable device of interest is a switch and a correct configuration is a configuration in which the switch is set in a desired direction.