Rail vision system

• US 5,978,718 A
• Filed: 07/22/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Kull, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/898,648
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/20, 246/167 R, 246/182 R, 246/122 R, 340/902, 340/937
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0062 On-board target speed calculation or supervision
• 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 29/00 Safety means for rail/road crossing traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/065 controlling optically
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/227 using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A rail vision system visually reads signal aspect information from each wayside signal device of a wayside signaling system. It also warn a train operator of the more restrictive signal aspects and imposes a penalty brake application should the train operator fail to acknowledge the warning. Each wayside signal device communicates from a railway operating authority information including directions as to how the train should proceed along the upcoming segment of railway track. The rail vision system includes a signal locating system and a rail navigation system. The signal locating system isolates visually the upcoming wayside signal device and reads the information therefrom as the train approaches thereto. The rail navigation system determines the position that the train occupies on the railway track and provides the signal locating system with data as to the whereabouts of the upcoming wayside signal device relative to the position of the train. This enables the signal locating system to isolate visually the upcoming wayside signal device and to provide the information read therefrom to the rail navigation system. The rail navigation system can then warn the train operator of the more restrictive signal aspects, and should the train operator fail to acknowledge the warning, impose a penalty brake application.

Claims

1. A rail vision system for a train, such train for travelling along a railway track featuring a multiplicity of wayside signal devices each of which situated along such railway track so as to communicate from a railway operating authority information including directions as to how such train should proceed along a segment of such railway track generally corresponding thereto, said rail vision system comprising:

(a) a signal locating system for isolating visually an upcoming one of such wayside signal devices when such train approaches thereto and for reading said information when available therefrom; and

(b) a rail navigation system for determining a position such train occupies on such railway track and for providing said signal locating system with data as to whereabouts of such upcoming wayside signal device relative to said position of such train thereby enabling said signal locating system (i) to isolate visually such upcoming wayside signal device when such train approaches thereto and (ii) to provide said information when read from such upcoming wayside signal device to said rail navigation system so that said rail navigation system can operate brakes of such train in compliance with such wayside signaling system.

2. The rail vision system recited in claim 1 wherein said rail navigation system includes:

(a) a storage device for storing a database including data pertaining to (i) locations of railway track routes, (ii) locations and orientations of curves and switches in such railway track routes, (iii) type and location of each of such wayside signal devices on such railway track routes, (iv) direction to which each such wayside signal device points and a particular track which each such wayside signal device signals, (v) position of each such wayside signal device with respect to such particular track and to said direction which such train is travelling, (vi) distance from each such wayside signal device at which said signal locating system should start isolating visually such upcoming wayside signal device, (vii) a signal number that appears on a signboard of each such wayside signal device so equipped, and (viii) position of such signboard for each of such wayside signal devices so equipped;

(b) a speed sensing device for sensing rotation of a wheel of such train to generate a first signal from which at least one of speed of and distance traveled by such train can be determined;

(c) a rate of turn measuring apparatus for measuring a rate at which such train turns while traveling on a curve of such railway track to generate a second signal from which curvature of such railway track can be determined;

(d) a navigational receiver for receiving positional coordinates that such train occupies and for generating a third signal indicative of an approximate position of such train on such railway track; and

(e) a computer, according to instructions contained within programming code, for using said signals along with and in comparison to at least some of said data to determine said position such train occupies on such railway track and to determine for said signal locating system said data as to whereabouts of such upcoming wayside signal device thereby so enabling said signal locating system so that said computer can so operate such brakes of such train in compliance with such wayside signaling system.

3. The rail vision system recited in claim 2 wherein said signal locating system includes:

(a) an input means for generating a video signal indicative of an image of an object;

(b) a processing means for digitally processing said video signal so that such object, and said information if appearing thereon, is rendered discernable; and

(c) a computing device for using said whereabouts data to manipulate said input means to focus on such upcoming wayside signal device when such train approaches thereto thereby enabling said processing means to provide said information to said computer so that said computer can so operate such brakes of such train in compliance with such wayside signaling system.

4. The rail vision system recited in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said signal locating system can isolate visually an upcoming one of a crossing when such train approaches thereto; and

(b) said rail navigation system provides said signal locating system with data as to whereabouts of such upcoming crossing relative to such position of such train thereby enabling said signal locating system to isolate visually such upcoming crossing and to inform said rail navigation system whether such upcoming crossing is obstructed so that said rail navigation system can warn a train operator of obstruction.

5. The rail vision system recited in claim 4 wherein said rail navigation system imposes a penalty brake application should such upcoming crossing continue to be obstructed and such train operator fail to acknowledge said warning.

6. The rail vision system recited in claim 5 further including a video recorder that said rail navigation system activates to make a video record of such upcoming crossing when such obstruction is detected thereon.

7. The rail vision system recited in claim 1 further including a display unit for displaying a plurality of intelligence including said information received from such upcoming wayside signal device.

8. The rail vision system recited in claim 1 further including overspeed protection for such train.

9. The rail vision system recited in claim 1 wherein said rail navigation system includes a means for warning a train operator of a more restrictive of said directions, and should such train operator fail to acknowledge said warning, impose a penalty brake application.

10. A rail vision system for a train, such train for travelling along a railway track featuring a multiplicity of wayside signal devices each of which situated along such railway track so as to communicate from a railway operating authority information including directions as to how such train should proceed along a segment of such railway track generally corresponding thereto, said rail vision system comprising:

(a) an input means for generating a video signal indicative of an image of an object onto which said input means is focused, such object including an upcoming one of such wayside signal devices;

(b) a processing means for digitally processing said video signal so that such object, and said information if appearing thereon, is rendered discernable;

(c) a storage device for storing a database including data pertaining to (i) locations of railway track routes, (ii) locations and orientations of curves and switches in such railway track routes, (iii) type and location of each of such wayside signal devices on such railway track routes, (iv) direction to which each such wayside signal device points and a particular track which each such wayside signal device signals, (v) position of each such wayside signal device with respect to such particular track and to said direction which such train is travelling, (vi) distance from each such wayside signal device at which imaging of such object should start, (vii) a signal number that appears on a signboard of each such wayside signal device so equipped, and (viii) position of such signboard for each of such wayside signal devices so equipped;

(d) a speed sensing device for sensing rotation of a wheel of such train to generate a first signal from which at least one of speed of and distance traveled by such train can be determined;

(e) a rate of turn measuring apparatus for measuring a rate at which such train turns while traveling on a curve of such railway track to generate a second signal from which curvature of such railway track can be determined;

(f) a navigational receiver for receiving positional coordinates that such train occupies and for generating a third signal indicative of an approximate position of such train on such railway track; and

(g) a computer, according to instructions contained within programming code, for using said signals along with and in comparison to at least some of said data to determine a position such train occupies on such railway track and whereabouts of such upcoming wayside signal device relative to such position of such train so as to manipulate said input means to focus on such upcoming wayside signal device when such train approaches thereto thereby enabling said processing means to provide said information to said computer so that said computer can operate brakes of such train in compliance with such wayside signaling system.

11. The rail vision system recited in claim 10 wherein such object onto which said input means can be focused and which said processing means can render discernable includes an upcoming crossing such that:

(a) said database stored in said storage device also includes data pertaining to location of each of such crossings on such railway track routes and distance from each of such crossing at which imaging should start; and

(b) said computer for using said signals along with and in comparison to at least some of said data to determine whereabouts of such upcoming crossing relative to such position of such train so as to manipulate said input means to focus on, and said processing means to discern, such upcoming crossing so that said computer can warn a train operator when such upcoming crossing is obstructed as such train approaches thereto.

12. The rail vision system recited in claim 11 wherein said computer imposes a penalty brake application should such upcoming crossing continue to be obstructed and such train operator fail to acknowledge said warning.

13. The rail vision system recited in claim 12 further including a video recorder that said computer activates to make a video record of such upcoming crossing when such obstruction is detected thereon.

14. The rail vision system recited in claim 10 wherein said computer uses at least said first signal from said speed sensing device to provide overspeed protection for such train should speed of such train exceed a predetermined value.

15. The rail vision system recited in claim 10 wherein said computer can warn a train operator of a more restrictive of said directions, and should such train operator fail to acknowledge said warning, impose a penalty brake application.

16. The rail vision system recited in claim 15 wherein such object onto which said input means can be focused and which said processing means can render discernable includes an upcoming crossing such that:

(a) said database stored in said storage device also includes data pertaining to location of each of such crossings on such railway track routes and distance from each such crossing at which imaging should start; and

(b) said computer for using said signals along with and in comparison to at least some of said data to determine whereabouts of such upcoming crossing relative to such position of such train so as to manipulate said input means to focus on, and said processing means to discern, such upcoming crossing so that said computer can warn such train operator when such upcoming crossing is obstructed as such train approaches thereto.

17. The rail vision system recited in claim 16 wherein said computer imposes said penalty brake application should such upcoming crossing continue to be obstructed and such train operator fail to acknowledge said warning of obstruction.

18. The rail vision system recited in claim 17 further including a video recorder that said computer activates to make a video record of such upcoming crossing when such obstruction is detected thereon.

19. The rail vision system recited in claim 15 wherein said computer uses at least said first signal from said speed sensing device to provide overspeed protection for such train should speed of such train exceed a predetermined value.

20. A rail vision system for a train, such train for travelling along a railway track having a multiplicity of crossings intersecting therewith, said rail vision system comprising:

(a) an input means for generating a video signal indicative of an image of an object onto which said input means is focused, such object including an upcoming one of such crossings;

(b) a processing means for digitally processing said video signal so that such object and any obstruction thereon is rendered discernable;

(c) a storage device for storing a database including data pertaining to (i) locations of railway track routes, (ii) locations and orientations of curves and switches in such railway track routes, (iii) location of each of such crossings on such railway track routes, (iv) distance from each of such crossings at which imaging should start;

(d) a speed sensing device for sensing rotation of a wheel of such train to generate a first signal from which at least one of speed of and distance traveled by such train can be determined;

(e) a rate of turn measuring apparatus for measuring a rate at which such train turns while traveling on a curve of such railway track to generate a second signal from which curvature of such railway track can be determined;

(f) a navigational receiver for receiving positional coordinates that such train occupies and for generating a third signal indicative of an approximate position of such train on such railway track; and

(g) a computer, according to instructions contained within programming code, for using said signals along with and in comparison to at least some of said data to determine a position such train occupies on such railway track and whereabouts of such upcoming crossing relative to such position of such train so as to manipulate said input means to focus on, and said processing means to discern, such upcoming crossing so that said computer can warn such train operator when such upcoming crossing is obstructed as such train approaches thereto.

21. A rail vision system for a train, such train for travelling along a railway track having a multiplicity of crossings intersecting therewith, said rail vision system comprising:

(a) a signal locating system disposed on a locomotive of such train for isolating visually an upcoming one of such crossings when such train approaches thereto; and

(b) a rail navigation system for determining a position such train occupies on such railway track and for providing said signal locating system with whereabouts of such upcoming crossing relative to such position of such train thereby enabling said signal locating system to isolate visually such upcoming crossing and to inform said rail navigation system as to a condition of such upcoming crossing so that said rail navigation system can warn such train operator when such upcoming crossing is obstructed as such train approaches thereto.