Train control system and method of controlling a train or trains

• US 20060253234A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shockley, James Francis, Kane, Mark Edward, Hickenlooper, Harrison Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0062 On-board target speed calculation or supervision
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• 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 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• 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 27/20 Trackside control of safe travel of vehicle or train, e.g. braking curve calculation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/008 On-board target speed calculation or supervision track-side control of safe travel B61L27/20; speed control circuitry B60L3/08; speed control of electric drives B60L15/20

Abstract

A train control system and method for ensuring that a train cannot be moved from a section of track not on a main line to a section of track on the main line until both a movement authority for the section of main line track and a circulation authority for the section of track not on the main line are received.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the movement of a train from a section of track not on a main line to a section of main line track, the system comprising:

a control module;

a positioning system connected to the control module; and

a receiver connected to the control module;

wherein the control module is configured to perform the steps of;

preventing the train from being moved until a circulation authority to move within the section of track not on the main line has been received, the section of track not on the main line being a section of track in which the train is located;

allowing the train to move within the section of track not on the main line provided that the circulation authority has been received;

preventing the train from entering the section of main line track until a movement authority to move a train within the section of main line track has been received; and

allowing the train to move from the section of track not on the main line to the section of main line track provided that the movement authority has been received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is an inertial navigation system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement authority and the circulation authority are received in separate messages.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement authority and the circulation authority are received in the same message.

6. A method for controlling the movement of a train from a section of track not on a main line to a section of main line track, the method comprising:

preventing the train from being moved until a circulation authority to move within the section of track not on the main line has been received, the section of track not on the main line being a section of track in which the train is located;

allowing the train to move within the section of track not on the main line provided that the circulation authority has been received;

preventing the train from entering the section of main line track until a movement authority to move a train within the section of main line track has been received; and

allowing the train to move from the section of track not on the main line to the section of main line track provided that the movement authority has been received.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising the step of determining the train'"'"'s position using a global positioning system receiver.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising the step of determining the train'"'"'s position using an inertial navigation system.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the movement authority and the circulation authority are received in separate messages.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the movement authority and the circulation authority are received in the same message.

11. A method for controlling movement of a train from a section of track not on a main line to a section of main line track comprising the steps of:

receiving a movement authority to move a train within a section of main line track;

receiving a message including a signal from a device located along a wayside, the signal indicating that movement of the train into the section of main line track is permitted; and

preventing the train from being moved into the section main line track until both the movement authority and the signal from the device are received.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving a circulation authority to move within a section of track not on the main line, wherein the train is prevented from being moved until the circulation authority is received.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the movement authority and the signal from the device are received in separate messages.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the circulation, the movement authority and the signal from the device are received in separate messages.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the movement authority and the signal from the device are received in the same message.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the movement authority, the circulation authority and the signal from the device are received in the same message.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the section of track not on the main line is located in a train yard.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the device is under the control of a central dispatcher.

19. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:

a control module;

a positioning system attached to the control module; and

a receiver attached to the control module;

wherein the control module is configured to perform the steps of;

receiving a movement authority to move within a section of main line track;

receiving a message from a device located along a wayside, the message including a signal from the device, the signal indicating the movement of the train into the section of main line track is permitted; and

preventing the train from being moved onto the main line track until both the movement authority and the signal from the device are received.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control module is further configured to perform the step of receiving a circulation authority to move within a section of track not on the main line, wherein the train is prevented from being moved until the circulation authority, is received.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a brake interface connected to the control module, wherein the control module prevents the train from being moved by controlling the train'"'"'s brakes via the brake interface.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the movement authority and the signal from the wayside device are received in separate messages.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the movement authority and the signal from the wayside device are received in the same message.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the circulation authority, the movement authority and the signal from the wayside device are received in the same message.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the circulation authority, the movement authority and the signal from the wayside device are received in separate messages.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the section of track not on the main line is located in a train yard.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the device is under the control of a central dispatcher.

28. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:

a control unit;

a first positioning system connected to the control unit; and

a communications module connected to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of

receiving at least one first authorization, the first authorization defining a first boundary within which a train is authorized to move;

preventing the train from moving from a current location of the train if the current location of the train is not within a boundary for a received authorization;

monitoring a position of the train reported by the positioning system; and

stopping the train before the train moves outside a boundary corresponding to the train'"'"'s current location unless a second authorization to move to a second area of track is received;

wherein the first boundary corresponds to a train yard.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the second authorization to move outside the boundary is an authorization from a dispatcher to occupy a portion of main line track.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first authorization is received from an entity responsible for authorizing movement in a train yard.