Signaling system

• US 7,756,613 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Dai, Yamaguchi, Takashi, Sugita, Yoichi, Katsuta, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dager; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/354,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 180/14.1, 105/27, 246/124
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 11/08 using electrical or magnetic interaction between vehicle and track
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/24 using token systems, e.g. train staffs, tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control

Abstract

Trains and points are patrolled by a telegram containing the block occupancy information as a section that only one train is permitted to occupy, the information for giving lock position instructions to a point, and the point position information. This telegram is updated in order to get the right of block occupancy that is not held by other trains, and to give lock position instruction to the point. The train checks the block which this train is allowed to occupy, confirms that the point in this block has been set to the lock position specified by this train. Reading the aforementioned telegram, the point checks the lock position instruction given to itself and controls its lock position. A signaling system characterized by reduced designing and manufacturing costs is provided.

Claims

1. A signaling system for ensuring protection of a train traveling within a predetermined section by only one signaling telegram;

said system being configured such that

said one signaling telegram patrols trains which are within said predetermined section and points located within said predetermined section, and contains lock position instruction information for the points and block occupancy information that assigns the right of occupied in one area by a train to each of blocks formed in multiple numbers by division of said predetermined section and point position status information;

the block occupancy information which is included in said only one signaling telegram is configured to be updated only in the train in which said only one signaling telegram is patrolling, the point position status information which is included in said only one signaling telegram being able to be updated only in the point in which said only one signaling telegram is patrolling;

the signaling system configured to be operatively associated with the train so that when the train is going to enter the next block, the train checks said only one signaling telegram having been received for the information on the right of block occupancy, and the train cannot enter the next block if another train holds the right of block occupancy;

a train configured to identify the state of occupancy of the block to be entered by checking the information on the right of occupancy of the block to be entered described in the received only one signaling telegram, and, if another train has not yet secured the right of block occupancy, the identification data of the former train is added to the information on the right of occupancy of the block corresponding to the one to be entered, whereby the right of block occupancy is ensured; and

when said train has departed the block, the train is configured to erase the identification data thereof from the information on the right of occupancy of the block corresponding to the one from which the train has departed upon receipt of said only one signaling telegram; and

the signaling system configured to be operatively associated with the point so that when the point switches over the lock position, the point describes current position in the point lock position information of said only one signaling telegram;

thereby exclusively controlling the right of block occupancy and the lock position status for the points in the one area by said only one signaling telegram.

2. The signaling system described in claim 1, further comprising:

a traffic control section for storing the operation planning information of a train and for generating the route request information for requesting permission for the train to enter the route, based on the operation planning information;

a train protection section capable of generating said one signaling telegram for determining, whether or not permission to enter should be granted to said train, and exchanging said one signaling telegram with other trains or wayside equipment; and

a speed control section for controlling the train travel;

wherein said one signaling telegram patrols a train and wayside equipment located within a predetermined section and within the section adjacent thereto; and

contains;

block occupancy information that for assigning the right of being occupied by a train to each of the blocks formed of a plurality of divisions of said section; and

member list information represented in the order of patrol of the identification information of the train and wayside equipment;

wherein, based on the route request information from the traffic control section and the telegram received from another train or wayside equipment, said train protection section determines whether or not permission to enter should be granted to said train, sends the updated telegram with another train or wayside equipment, and outputs the result of decision to said train control section.

3. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein, when said train enters a certain section based on the operation planning information of said traffic control section, said train protection section generates addition request information for adding the train thereof to the member list information in said one signaling telegram, and sends in addition request telegram to another train or wayside equipment holding the telegram in the section.

4. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said train protection section comprises:

a train communication section for exchanging said telegram with another train or wayside equipment;

a train input/output section in which the route request information is inputted from the traffic control section, and from which the result of decision on whether or not the permission to enter should be granted to said train is outputted to speed control section;

a train position detector for detecting the position of the train and for outputting the position information; and

a train protection logic section for updating the telegram and determining whether or not the permission to enter should be granted to said train, based on said route request information inputted from the train input/output section, said telegram inputted from the train communication section, and said position information inputted from the train position detector.

5. The signaling system described in claim 1, further comprising a train position detector having:

information on the position of a route on which the train runs;

information in the block where the train travels; and

information of train wheel diameter.

6. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said one signaling telegram has a member list information represented in the order of patrolling of the identification information of the train and wayside equipment.

7. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said one signaling telegram patrols the train or wayside equipment located within said predetermined section, and the train going to enter said predetermined section.

8. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said block can be occupied by only one train.

9. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said one signaling telegram includes communication control information for denoting a receiving end and a sending end.

10. The signaling system described in claim 6, wherein said wayside equipment is a point, and said one signaling telegram contains:

the lock position instruction information including such instruction information that the train having the right of occupying the block where the point is located instructs the lock position of the point; and

the point position information including the information on the position of the point.

11. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein, when a train is going to enter a section,

the train sends to another train or wayside equipment holding a telegram in said section an addition request telegram for allowing said train to be added to a member list of said telegram.

12. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein, if a point is present in the block which said train has the right of occupying, the train adds an intended lock position to the lock position instruction information of said point in said one signaling telegram, thereby notifying the point of the lock position.

13. The signaling system described in claim 1, wherein said equipment is a point, and, upon receipt of said one signaling telegram, said point is switched over to the lock position specified by the point position information of said one signaling telegram;

the current position is described in the point lock position information of the telegram; and

said one signaling telegram is sent to the next counterpart described in member list information of said telegram.