Vehicle control system having two trackside signal lines

• US 4,854,529 A
• Filed: 04/06/1988
• Issued: 08/08/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Original Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Inventors: Goto, Masaru, Hayashi, Satoru, Godo, Kiyoshi, Osada, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary C.
• Application Number:
  US07/178,239
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 104/295, 104/298, 104/300, 246/182 C, 246/187 B, 246/122 R, 246/64, 246/66, 246/182 R, 246/187 R
• US Class Current: 246/187.00B
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/18 using electric current passing between devices along the route and devices on the vehicle or train

Abstract

A vehicle control system in accordance with the present invention permits a vehicle to move only in the case where both of a device for detecting the content of a signal for directing the travelling speed of the vehicle transmitted from the trackside and a device for detecting the presence of the above signal perform detecting operations. The apparatus also comprises a device for detecting an abnormal operation of both the above mentioned devices, so that a runaway of the vehicle can be avoided. In addition, a voltage signal can be used for detecting the speed, and the vehicle can be controlled by means of a set of two signal lines, resulting in a reduction in the amount of equipment.

Claims

1. A vehicle travelling apparatus for starting, speed changing and stopping of a vehicle which travels relative to a track by means of a signal provided from the ground side, comprising;

at the ground side;

a set of signal lines which are disposed along said track, and are divided into a plurality of sections in the direction of length thereof, and mutually transmit or receive signals from the ground side or the vehicle side;

a speed command unit for producing a speed command signal whose voltage level varies corresponding to the command speed to said signal lines; and

a presence signal output unit to detect the presence of a vehicle in each divided section of said signal lines and producing a signal corresponding thereto,

and at the vehicle side;

a speed signal detection unit which reads said speed command signal from said signal line and discriminates the command speed to control the travelling speed of the vehicle; and

a presence signal circuit for causing a current to flow between said signal lines to indicate the presence of a vehicle in each section.

2. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said presence signal output unit includes an off delay circuit.

3. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said speed signal detection unit includes an off delay circuit.

4. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speed command unit directs the vehicle to travel at a higher speed by a higher voltage signal and at a lower speed by a lower voltage signal.

5. A vehicle travelling apparatus for starting, speed changing and stopping of a vehicle which travels relative to a track by means of a signal provided from the ground side, comprising;

at the ground side,

a signal line disposed along said track for conveying signals;

a speed command unit outputting to said signal being a speed command signal whose voltage level varies corresponding to the command speed; and

at the vehicle side;

a speed signal detection unit which reads said speed command signal from said signal line and discriminates the command speed to control the travelling speed of the vehicle, and

a travelling signal detection unit which reads said speed command signal from said signal line and detects the presence of the signal;

whereby the vehicle travels according to said speed command signal in the case where both of said speed signal detection unit and travelling signal detection unit detect signals.

6. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said speed signal detection unit have an off delay circuit.

7. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said speed command unit directs the vehicle to travel at a higher speed by a higher voltage signal and at a lower speed by a lower voltage signal.

8. A vehicle travelling apparatus for starting, speed changing and stopping of a vehicle which travels relative to a track by means of a signal provided from the ground side, comprising;

at the ground side,

a signal line disposed along said track for conveying signals,

a speed command unit outputting to said signal line a speed command signal whose voltage level varies corresponding to the command speed to said signal lines; and

at the vehicle side;

a speed signal detection unit which reads said speed command signal from said signal line and discriminates the command speed to control the travelling speed of the vehicle;

a travelling signal detection unit which reads said speed command signal from said signal line and detects the presence of the signal; and

an abnormality signal detection unit for detecting an abnormal controlling operation of said speed signal detection unit or said travelling signal detection unit and operating to permit travels according to said speed command signal in the case where both of said speed signal detection unit and travelling signal detection unit detect signals and to stop the vehicle in the case where said abnormality signal detection unit detects an abnormal controlling operation.

9. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said speed signal detection unit has an off delay circuit.

10. A vehicle travelling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said speed command unit directs the vehicle to travel at a higher speed by a higher voltage signal and at a lower speed by a lower voltage signal.