Fixed data transmission system for controlling train movement

• US 5,452,870 A
• Filed: 06/16/1994
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Harmon Industries, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Heggestad, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOWE, SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/259,892
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 246/3, 246/4, 246/5, 246/34 R, 246/167 R, 246/182 R, 246/187 R, 246/187 A, 246/187 B
• US Class Current: 246/182.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0062 On-board target speed calculation or supervision
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/221 using track circuits

Abstract

A train control-system employs beacon transponders along the track to transmit fixed data to a passing train in addition to dynamic data relating to track availability and routing provided by encoded cab signals transmitted in the track. The fixed data includes the location of block boundaries and distances to such boundaries, timetable speed limits, and the distance to a point along the track at which a speed restriction is in effect. This data and other fixed information is integrated with the dynamic data in an on-board computer which determines train control instructions from the received data and displays the instructions to the train crew. The system is capable of enforcing any restrictive instructions that are not obeyed.

Claims

1. In a system for controlling the movement of a train along a railroad track, the combination comprising:

a plurality of localized transmitting units spaced along said track at preselected locations and each having means for transmitting fixed data appropriate to the respective location including a timetable speed limit to be observed by a train and said fixed data transmitted from certain of said transmitting units including information defining a point along the track at which a speed change is in effect; and

data receiving and processing means adapted to be carried by a train for intermittently receiving said fixed data as the train successively passes said locations, and responding to the data received at each location and the speed and direction of movement of the train for determining train control instructions therefrom.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed change is a speed restriction, said data receiving and processing means including means for determining the distance within which the train must decrease its speed in order to comply with the speed restriction in effect at said point.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means responsive to said instructions for displaying the same to a train crew and enforcing any restrictive instructions that are not obeyed.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed data further includes multiple values for said timetable speed limit, each of said values being associated with a particular class of train under the control of said system.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed data further includes the direction of movement of traffic for which the data applies.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information includes distance along the track to the point at which the speed change is in effect.

7. In a system for controlling the movement of a train along a railroad track, the combination comprising:

first and second localized transmitting units spaced along said track at preselected locations and each having means for transmitting fixed data appropriate to the respective location,

said first transmitting unit being located at a point along said track in advance of a speed restriction and said fixed data transmitted therefrom including distance to the start of the speed restriction,

said second transmitting unit being located at a point along said track at which the speed restriction ends, and said fixed data transmitted therefrom including a subsequent timetable speed limit to be observed, and

data receiving and processing means adapted to be carried by a train for receiving said fixed data from the respective transmitting units as the train successively passes said locations, and responding to the data received at each location and the speed and direction of movement of the train for determining train control instructions therefrom.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein said data receiving and processing means includes means for requiring the head end of a train to travel a distance past said point at which the speed restriction ends before removing the speed restriction from said instructions, said distance being equivalent to the length of the train.