Method and apparatus for controlling trains by determining a direction taken by a train through a railroad switch

• US 6,360,998 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Halvorson, David H., Montgomery, Stephen R., Hungate, Joe B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarry, Jr., Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US09/094,174
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 246/122.R, 246/123, 246/124, 246/122.A
• US Class Current: 246/122.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/06 controlling by electromagnetic or particle radiation, e.g. by light beam

Abstract

An apparatus for determining the presence of a third rail disposed between parallel railroad tracks as a train progresses along said parallel railroad tracks and further for determining the relative direction of motion of said third rail with respect to said first two rails and further for determining the rate at which the third rail moves with respect to the first rails is disclosed, which is a low power radar sensor disposed underneath the rail vehicle and directed toward the rail on the opposing side of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, two rail detectors are shown which are disposed on opposite sides of the rail vehicle. The radar detectors are coupled with an onboard computing device and with other components of an advanced train control system which can be used for precisely locating the train on closely spaced parallel tracks and further for updating and augmenting position information used by the advanced train control system. The system including GPS receivers and wheel tachometers for providing alternate sources of information for position determination.

Claims

1. An apparatus on board a rail vehicle of the type for traveling over a first rail and a second rail in which said first rail and said second rail are substantially parallel, said apparatus for aiding in train control comprising:

a first detector on board said rail vehicle for detecting the presence of a third rail disposed between said first and said second rails beneath said rail vehicle, said first detector for generating a first detection signal when detecting said third rail, said first detector includes at least one of a short-range radar detector and an optical detector; and

a computing device coupled to said first detector for receiving said first detection signals therefrom and analyzing characteristics of said first detection signals.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes:

a second detector on board said rail vehicle for detecting the presence of said third rail disposed between said first and said second rails beneath said rail vehicle, said second detector for generating a second detection signal when detecting said third rail; and

said computing device for receiving said first detection signals from said first detector further for receiving said second detection signals from said second detector and analyzing characteristics of said first and said second detection signals.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said rail vehicle has a first side and an opposing second side with said first detector being disposed on said first side of said rail vehicle and said second detector being disposed on said second side of said rail vehicle.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said characteristics of said first and said second detection signals are indicative of the direction of relative movement of said third rail with respect to said first and said second rails as said rail vehicle travels through a switch used to link one track comprised of said first and said second rails with another track comprised of said third rail and a fourth rail.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said computing device further analyzes said first and said second detection signals to ascertain the relative rate at which said third rail moves with respect to said first and said second rails as said rail vehicle travels through said switch.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first detector on board said rail vehicle is said short-range radar detector.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first detector on said rail vehicle is said optical detector.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first detector on board said rail vehicle includes an acoustic sensor.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a GPS receiver and a data radio.

10. An apparatus for use in controlling a rail vehicle of the type traveling upon a first rail and a second rail;

said apparatus comprising;

means for measuring a distance from a first predetermined position on said rail vehicle to a third rail disposed between said first and said second rails and for generating a first distance signal therefrom, said means for measuring includes at least one of a low-power short-range radar device and an optical detector; and

means for monitoring said first distance signal to determine if changes occur in said distance over time as said rail vehicle travels along said first and said second rails.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring said distance from said first predetermined position on said rail vehicle to said third rail is said low-power short-range radar device.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said means for monitoring said first distance signal is a multi-purpose computer on board said rail vehicle.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said means for monitoring said first distance signal is a microprocessor dedicated to use in association with said means for measuring said distance from said first predetermined position on said rail vehicle to said third rail.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said means for monitoring said first distance signal includes a data radio and a computer processor disposed remotely from said rail vehicle.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus further includes a second means for measuring a distance from a second predetermined position on said rail vehicle to said third rail disposed between said first and said second rails and for generating a second distance signal therefrom.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus further includes a GPS receiver, coupled to said means for monitoring said distance signals, for providing position information of said rail vehicle as said rail vehicle progresses along said first and said second rails.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said apparatus further includes a data radio, coupled with said means for monitoring said distance signals, for generating a signal to a remote location containing information relating to positional information of said rail vehicle.

18. A method of controlling a rail vehicle of the type which travels on a first rail and a second rail, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an outgoing signal from at least one of a short-range radar detector and an optical detector attached to a predetermined position on said rail vehicle to a third rail disposed between said first and said second rails;

receiving a return signal reflected by said third rail and determining a time interval between when said outgoing signal was transmitted and said return signal is received;

determining a distance from said predetermined position on said rail vehicle to said third rail disposed between said first and said second rails by utilizing said time interval; and

affecting the operation of said rail vehicle in response to said distance so determined.

19. The method, according to claim 18, wherein said step of transmitting includes using a low-power type of said short-range radar detector to generate and transmit said outgoing signal.

20. The method, according to claim 18, wherein said steps of transmitting, receiving and determining are repeated during a predetermined time interval.