Position detector system for guide vehicles

• US 5,809,448 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Construcciones Y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA
• Original Assignee: Construcciones Y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA
• Inventors: Gimenez, Jose Gernan, Garcia, Juan Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US08/556,272
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 364/449.7, 364/424.028, 364/424.029, 364/426.05, 364/447, 364/426.016, 246/62, 246/122, 246/177, 246/182 R, 246/1 R
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 5/22 Guiding of the vehicle underframes with respect to the bogies
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/128 for control of tilting trains by external control devices, e.g. by Eurobalise tilting details B61F5/22
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles

Abstract

The position detector system for guided vehicles has a memory block which stores each journey, divided into sections identified by their theoretical parameters and in which the correction curves are stored; at least one recording unit sensitive to travel in a curve and a relative position recording unit, signals from which are sent to a control unit which using the signals, establishes the profile of variations of the actual parameters of the correction curves and carried out an adjustment based upon achievement of the minimum error in the profiles of coordinates obtained from the theoretical parameters and the actual parameters, determining the absolute real position of the vehicle. The system is especially suited for the railway rolling stock industry.

Claims

1. A position detector system for a guided vehicle comprising:

a) a memory block in which is stored each journey, divided into sections identified by a profile of theoretical parameters, and in which a profile of threshold correction parameters are stored;

b) a curve recorder for recording actual parameters relating to travel of the vehicle in a curve and a relative position recorded for recording actual parameters relating to forward movement of the vehicle, both curve recorder and relative position recorder generating signals which are sent to

c) a control unit, which uses these signals to establish a profile of actual correction curves parameters and undertakes an adjustment based upon achieving a minimum error between the profile of theoretical parameters and the profile of actual parameters, and determines the actual position of the vehicle.

2. The position detector system of claim 1 wherein the curve recorder is a sensor for measuring the turning velocity of the vehicle in the curve in which the vehicle is travelling and the relative position recorder is a sensor for measuring variation of position of the vehicle and absolute speed of the vehicle in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

3. The position detector system of claim 1 wherein said control unit employs the following steps to make the adjustment:

a) producing a plot of theoretical parameters of the curve in which the vehicle is travelling and dividing the plot of theoretical parameters into an entry transition curve, the curve itself and an exit transition curve, wherein the plot of theoretical parameters is a graphic representation of the profile of the theoretical parameters wherein coordinates of the graphic representation uses as an ordinate the inverse of the radii of the curve and as an abscissas the lengths of the curve;

b) calculating a center of gravity of the area under the plot of theoretical parameters;

c) producing a plot of actual parameters of the curve in which the vehicle is travelling wherein the plot of actual parameters is a graphic representation of the profile of actual parameters and uses the same coordinates as the plot of theoretical parameters;

d) calculating a center of gravity of the area under the plot of actual parameters;

e) calculating a difference in value between the center of gravity of the plot of theoretical parameters and the center of gravity of the plot of actual parameters and using the difference in value to correct the actual position data.

4. The position detector system of claim 1 wherein said control unit employs the following steps to make the adjustment:

a) producing a plot of theoretical parameters of the curve in which the vehicle is travelling and dividing the plot of theoretical parameters into an entry transition curve, the curve itself and an exit transition curve, wherein the plot of theoretical parameters is a graphic representation of the profile of the theoretical parameters wherein coordinates of the graphic representation uses as an ordinate the inverse of the radii of the curve and as an abscissas the lengths of the curve;

b) calculating a center of gravity of the area under the plot of theoretical parameters and calculating an abscissa value for a point on the plot of theoretical parameters where the ordinate for the plot of theoretical parameters is the same as the ordinate for the center of gravity of the plot of the theoretical parameters;

c) producing a plot of actual parameters of the curve in which the vehicle is travelling wherein the plot of actual parameters is a graphic representation of the profile of actual parameters and uses the same coordinates as the plot of theoretical parameters;

d) calculating a center of gravity of the area under the plot of actual parameters and calculating an abscissa value for a point on the plot of actual parameters where the ordinate for the plot of actual parameters is the same as the ordinate for the center of gravity of the plot of actual parameters;

e) calculating a difference in value between the abscissas value calculated in 3(b) and the abscissas value calculated in 3(d) and using the difference in value to correct the actual position data.

5. The position detector system of claim 1 further comprising

a) a series of signal beacons placed along the route to be travelled by the vehicle and at points of which the absolute position is known;

b) means for recognition that the vehicle is passing the beacon.

6. The position detector system of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system which detects the absolute position of the vehicle via satellite.