Multi-sensor route detector for rail vehicle navigation

• US 6,397,130 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ENSCO, Incorporated (Teris LLC)
• Original Assignee: ENSCO, Incorporated (Teris LLC)
• Inventors: Carr, Gary A., Nejikovsky, Boris, Mee, Brian E., Kesler, J. Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/833,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19,20,205 105/3,168 342/357,457,597 73/597,146,105,174 343/357 356/1 33/366,651,287,338 340/500,933 250/559.29,559.38
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• 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

Abstract

The multi-sensor route detector system preferably consists of at least four sensors (three rail detectors and a truck angle detector), sensor power supplies, signal conditioning for the output of the sensors, and a computer performing pattern matching and logic functions to positively identify track features of interest. The system is not a stand-alone navigation system, but will interface with the rest of the vehicle navigation system and provide data over an interface. This data will include notification of passage of turnouts, whether or not the route changed through the turnout and possibly the type of turnout (i.e., number 6 left). From external sensors, the multi-sensor route detector will obtain a signal such as block distance pulse indicating distance traveled along the track. The best estimate of the vehicle position will also be sent to the multi-sensor route detector. Based on the present position, the multi-sensor route detector will access the appropriate turnout data from its internal database.

Claims

1. A multi-sensor route detector for a railway vehicle traveling a route along a track having two spaced rails comprising:

at least first, second and third rail sensors, each providing a rail sensing output signal upon crossing a rail,

said first rail sensor being mounted on the railway vehicle in a position between the tracks supporting the railway vehicle,

said second rail sensor being mounted on the rail vehicle in a position spaced outwardly from a first of said two spaced rails, and

said third rail sensor being mounted on the rail vehicle in a position spaced outwardly from a second of said two spaced rails.

2. The multi-sensor route detector of claim 1 wherein said railway vehicle includes a vehicle body and a wheel supporting truck pivotally mounted on said vehicle body, and

a truck angle sensor mounted on said railway vehicle to provide a truck angle signal when said wheel supporting truck pivots relative to said vehicle body.

3. The multi-sensor route detector of claim 1 which includes a central processing unit connected to receive the outputs from said rail sensors, said central processing unit including previously stored rail sensor outputs as stored signatures for special trackwork configurations along the route of said railroad vehicle, said central processing unit operating to compare the outputs from said rail sensors to one or more of said stored signatures.

4. The multi-sensor route detector of claim 3 which includes one or more vehicle position indicating units connected to said central processing unit to provide position data identifying the position of said railway vehicle to said central processing unit, said central processing unit operating in response to said position data to select stored signatures in an area of the position identified by said position data for comparison with the outputs from said rail sensors.

5. The multi-sensor route detector of claim 2 which includes a central processing unit connected to receive the outputs from said rail sensors and said truck angle sensor, said central processing unit including previously stored rail and truck angle sensor outputs as stored signatures for turnouts, crossovers and ladder track configurations along the route of said railroad vehicle, said central processing unit operating to compare the outputs from said rail and truck angle sensors to one or more of said stored signatures.

6. The multi-sensor route detector of claim 5 which includes one or more vehicle position indicating units connected to said central processing unit to provide position data identifying the position of said railway vehicle to said central processing unit, said central processing unit operating in response to said position data to select stored signatures in an area of the position identified by said position data for comparison with the outputs from said rail and truck angle sensors.

7. A route detector for a railway vehicle traveling a route along a track, said railway vehicle including a vehicle body and a wheel supporting truck pivotally mounted on said vehicle body, said route detector comprising:

at least one truck angle sensor mounted on said railway vehicle to provide a truck angle signal when said wheel supporting truck pivots angularly relative to said vehicle body, and

a central processing unit connected to receive the truck angle signals from said truck angle sensor.

8. The route detector of claim 7 wherein said central processing unit includes previously stored truck angle sensor outputs as stored signatures for special trackwork configurations along the route of said railway vehicle, said central processing unit operating to compare the outputs from said truck angle sensor to one or more of said stored signatures.

9. The route detector of claim 8 which includes one or more vehicle position indicating units connected to said central processing unit to provide position data identifying the position of said railway vehicle to said central processing unit, said central processing unit operating in response to said position data to select stored signatures in an area of the position identified by said position data for comparison with the outputs from said truck angle sensors.

10. A method for detecting the passage of a railway vehicle relative to special trackwork configurations as the railway vehicle travels a route along a track having two spaced rails which includes:

moving a first railway vehicle over special trackwork configurations along the route which is equipped with a plurality of rail sensors mounted on the railway vehicle to provide a rail sensing output signal each time a rail sensor crosses a rail at a special trackwork configuration,

storing the rail sensing output signals from said first railway vehicle at each special trackwork configuration as a stored signature for each special trackwork configuration,

using a plurality of rail sensors mounted on a second railway vehicle subsequently traveling along the same route to provide a real time rail sensing output signal each time a rail sensor crosses a rail at a special trackwork configuration to create a real time signature and

comparing each real time signature with one or more stored signatures.

11. The method of claim 10 which includes:

locating a first rail sensor between the rails of the track,

locating a second rail sensor spaced outwardly from a second side of the track, and

locating a third rail sensor spaced outwardly from a third side of the track opposite to said second side.

12. The method of claim 11 which includes:

locating said first rail sensor centrally between the rails of the track, and

equally spacing said second and third rail sensors from said first rail sensor.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said first and second railway vehicles each include a vehicle body and a wheel supporting truck pivotally mounted on said vehicle body, the method further including:

mounting a truck angle sensor on said first railway vehicle to provide a truck angle signal when said wheel truck pivots relative to said vehicle body as said first railway vehicle moves over a special trackwork configuration,

storing said truck angle signals from said first railway vehicle at each special trackwork configuration as part of the stored signature for such special trackwork configuration,

using a truck angle sensor mounted on said second railway vehicle to provide a real time truck angle signal each time said wheel truck pivots relative to the body of said second railway vehicle at a special trackwork configuration, and including said real time truck angle signal in said real time signature.

14. The method of claim 13 which includes:

locating a first rail sensor between the rails of the track,

locating a second rail sensor spaced outwardly from a second side of the track, and

locating a third rail sensor spaced outwardly from a third side of the track opposite to said second side.

15. The method of claim 14 which includes:

locating said first rail sensor centrally between the rails of the track, and

equally spacing said second and third rail sensors from said first rail sensor.

16. A method for detecting passage of a railway vehicle relative to special trackwork configurations as the railway vehicle travels a route along a track having two spaced rails which includes:

moving a first railway vehicle having a wheel supporting truck pivoted on a vehicle body over special trackwork configurations along the route which is equipped with a truck angle sensor mounted on the railway vehicle to provide a truck angle output signal each time the wheel supporting truck pivots relative to the vehicle body as the railway vehicle passes over a special trackwork configuration,

storing the truck angle output signals from said first railway vehicle at each special trackwork configuration as a stored signature for each special trackwork configuration,

using a truck angle sensor mounted on a second railway vehicle subsequently traveling along the same route to provide a real time truck angle output each time the wheel supporting of truck pivots relative to the vehicle body at a special trackwork configuration to create a real time signature, and

comparing each real time signature with one or more stored signatures.