Method of and means for controlling the movement of self-propelled bodies traveling in a fixed order along a track
First Claim
1. In a system for controlling the movement of a plurality of self-propelled bodies, provided with propulsion means and braking means, following one another in a predetermined order on a track serving a number of stations, said system including a fixed post for the periodic emission of a timing signal and markings spacedly disposed at fixed reference points along said track, the improvement wherein each of said bodies comprises:
- receiving means for detecting said timing signal and converting same into a series of isochronous pulses;
first counting means connected to said receiving means for registering a count N of said isochronous pulses;
sensing means responsive to said markings for generating a marker pulse upon movement of the body past any of said reference points;
second counting means connected to said sensing means for registering a count n of said marker pulses;
calculating means connected to said first and second counting means for determining the difference N-n of the counts thereof; and
decision means connected to said calculating means for actuating said propulsion means upon said difference N-n at least equaling a certain reference value and for actuating said brake means upon said difference N-n falling short of said reference value.
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Abstract
A method and device for facilitating the movement of a number of moving bodies such as trains travelling behind each other in a closed circuit with all the necessary automatic functions such as safety precautions against collision and control of traffic, is arranged by providing an ideal circulation of imaginary moving bodies corresponding to the actual bodies and progressing regularly according to a pre-established programme, each actual moving body being constrained to remain, within limits behind its corresponding imaginary moving body taking into account possible braking requirements, and, in front of the imaginary moving body controlling the next actual moving body. Means are provided for stopping the imaginary moving bodies and consequently the actual moving bodies in the case of mishaps, all the functions being effected with simple passive reference marks located along the line and spaced apart in such a way that the time taken by imaginary moving bodies to cover the distance separating two successive reference marks is always a substantially constant time.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a system for controlling the movement of a plurality of self-propelled bodies, provided with propulsion means and braking means, following one another in a predetermined order on a track serving a number of stations, said system including a fixed post for the periodic emission of a timing signal and markings spacedly disposed at fixed reference points along said track, the improvement wherein each of said bodies comprises:
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receiving means for detecting said timing signal and converting same into a series of isochronous pulses; first counting means connected to said receiving means for registering a count N of said isochronous pulses; sensing means responsive to said markings for generating a marker pulse upon movement of the body past any of said reference points; second counting means connected to said sensing means for registering a count n of said marker pulses; calculating means connected to said first and second counting means for determining the difference N-n of the counts thereof; and decision means connected to said calculating means for actuating said propulsion means upon said difference N-n at least equaling a certain reference value and for actuating said brake means upon said difference N-n falling short of said reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for controlling the movement of a number of self-propelled bodies provided with automatic drive means, said bodies traveling one after the other on a track, comprising:
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a fixed post including a stationary transmitter for transmiting a timing signal of constant frequency which actuates said drive means; receiving means on each of said self-propelled bodies for receiving said timing signal and transforming same into isochronous pulses; marking means disposed at a series of reference points along said track for generating marker pulses on said self-propelled bodies at the moments the latter pass said points, thereby indicating the relative distance between said self-propelled bodies and imaginary bodies respectively associated therewith; first counting means and second counting means on said self-propelled bodies for said isochronous pulses; switchover means on said self-propelled bodies for alternately directing said isochronous pulses to said first counting means for determining the instantaneous positions of said imaginary bodies and to said second counting means for measuring standstill periods of said imaginary bodies; and programming means on said self-propelled bodies for actuating said switchover means when either of said counting means reaches a preselected pulse count so chosen that the associated imaginary body stops after traveling a predetermined distance from its last stopping point and then starts again after remaining stationary for a given standstill period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for controlling the movement of a plurality of self-propelled bodies provided with automatic drive means, said bodies following one another in a predetermined order on a track, comprising:
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a fixed post provided with transmitter means for sending out a timing signal to all said self-propelled bodies; a source of marker pulses on each of said self-propelled bodies responsive to markings spacedly positioned along said track; programming means on each of said self-propelled bodies responsive to said timing signal for determining the progress of a plurality of imaginary bodies following a simulated schedule along said track, each imaginary body being associated with a respective self-propelled body trailing same, said drive means being controlled by said programming means and by said marker pulses to keep each self-propelled body ahead of the imaginary body associated with the next-following self-propelled body; circuit means on each of said self-propelled bodies responsive to said marker pulses and to said programming means for signaling to said post an alarm condition upon diminution of the distance between any self-propelled body and the imaginary body associated with the next-following self-propelled body below a predetermined safety margin; and monitoring means at said post responsive to said alarm condition for inhibiting the transmission of said timing signal, thereby deactivating said programming means on all said self-propelled bodies and halting the progress of all said imaginary bodies.
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23. A method of controlling the movement of a plurality of self-propelled vehicles following one another in a predetermined order along a track, comprising the steps of:
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programming a simulated schedule for the movement of a plurality of imaginary vehicles, each preceding an associated self-propelled vehicle, along said track; transmitting a timing signal to all said self-propelled vehicles; detecting aboard each self-propelled vehicle successive instants of travel past a multiplicity of stationary marks disposed along said track, thereby determining the instantaneous vehicular position; calculating from said timing signal and from said vehicular position aboard each self-propelled vehicle the speed changes necessary to keep same behind the associated imaginary vehicle and in front of the imaginary vehicle associated with the next-following self-propelled vehicle; and driving each self-propelled vehicle in conformity with the calculated speed changes.
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- 24. A method of controlling the movement of a plurality of self-propelled bodies following one another in a predetermined order on a track, comprising the steps of transmitting isochronous timing pulses from a fixed post to all said bodies, counting the number N of pulses received aboard each body, counting the number n of markings disposed at fixed reference points along said track, and keeping the speed of each body in a range in which the difference N-n is at least equal to a predetermined reference value calculated to maintain a safe spacing between successive bodies.
Specification