CA-2996530-C - MONITORING DEVICE FOR MONITORING A RAILWAY TRACK, ASSOCIATED METHOD AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A RAILWAY TRACK

CA2996530CCA 2996530 CCA2996530 CCA 2996530CCA-2996530-C

Abstract

Monitoring device configured for monitoring a railway track, said monitoring device comprising: - a track interface configured for connecting the monitoring device to the railway track, - a detector, configured for detecting a first track pulse having a first duration emitted on the railway track and received through the track interface, the detector being further configured for detecting a start time of the first track pulse an end time of the first track pulse, - a charging module connected to said detector, said charging module comprising an energy storage element, - an emitter, configured for emitting a second track pulse on the railway track through the track interface by using energy stored in the energy storage element, the detector being configured for sending a transmit control signal to the emitter.

Inventors

Benjamin CHURCH
Darren MELTON

Assignees

ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20180226
Priority Date: 20170317

Claims (11)

11 CLAIMS 1. A monitoring device configured for monitoring a railway track, said monitoring device comprising: - a track interface configured for connecting the monitoring device to the railway track, - a detector, configured for detecting a first track pulse having a first duration emitted on the railway track and received through the track interface, the detector being further configured for detecting a start time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a receiving period and for detecting an end time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a transmission period, - a charging module connected to said detector, said charging module comprising an energy storage element, the charging module being configured to store energy received from the first track pulse in the energy storage element, - an emitter, configured for emitting a second track pulse on the railway track through the track interface by using the energy stored in the energy storage element, the second track pulse having a second duration less than the first duration of the first track pulse, the detector being configured for sending a transmit control signal to the emitter for controlling the emission of the second track pulse by the emitter when the detector detects the end time of the first track pulse.
2. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is configured for monitoring the energy stored in the energy storage element, for comparing the energy stored to a predetermined energy threshold, and for emitting the second track pulse only if the energy stored is higher than said predetermined energy threshold.
3. A monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the emitter is configured for comparing the energy stored to a predetermined energy threshold which varies according to a length of a track section to which the monitoring device is connected.
4. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the charging module comprises a charging circuit, configured for collecting the current received from the first track pulse, for transforming said current into a transformed current having a current level required for storing the energy of the first track pulse in the energy storage element, and for charging the energy storage element with said transformed current.5 12
5. A monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the charging circuit is switchable between an active state, wherein the charging circuit is able to charge the energy storage element, and an inactive state, wherein the charging circuit disconnects electronically the energy storage element and the track interface.
6. A monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the detector is configured for sending an activation signal to the charging circuit for switching the charging circuit from the inactive state to the active state when the detector detects the start time of the first track pulse, and for sending an inactivation signal to the charging circuit for switching the charging circuit from the active state to the inactive state when the detector detects the end time of the first track pulse.
7. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the first track pulse is a code 6 pulse and the second track pulse is a code 1 pulse.
8. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is configured for emitting a second track pulse only if no second track pulse was emitted in the precedent transmission period.
9. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is configured for emitting a second track pulse only if no second track pulse was emitted in any of the N precedent transmission periods, where N is an integer greater than 1.
10. A monitoring system for monitoring a railway track, comprising: - a monitoring device according to claim 1, - a track controller, configured for emitting the first track pulse through the railway track, for receiving the second track pulse emitted by the monitoring device on the railway track, and for analyzing the second track pulse to determine a railway track feature.
11. Method for monitoring a railway track, said method comprising: - detecting a first track pulse having a first duration emitted on the railway track and received through a track interface, - detecting a start time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a receiving period, - storing energy received from the first track pulse in an energy storage element,13 - detecting an end time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a transmission period - sending a transmit control signal to an emitter for controlling the emission of a second track pulse by the emitter when the end time of the first track pulse is detected, 5 and - emitting the second track pulse on the railway track through the track interface by using the energy stored in the energy storage element, the second track pulse having a second duration less than the first duration of the first track pulse.

Description

1 Monitoring device for monitoring a railway track, associated method and monitoring system for monitoring a railway track The present invention relates to a monitoring device configured for monitoring a railway track, the monitoring device comprising a track interface, a detector, a charging module and an emitter. The present invention relates more particularly to track occupancy detection and broken rail detection. In general, the present invention relates to the domain of automatic train control architectures and other train control architectures for trains traveling on a railroad network. In such train control architectures, the railroad network is made up of railroad track sections. The detection of rail breakage and the detection of trains present in the corresponding track section are key pieces of information for railroad safety. To provide such information, besides other information, railway tracks are equipped with track controllers. Such track controllers are known in the art. They are integrated in a train control system and they are configured to emit and receive signals or pulses carried by the rail. For this end, each track controller is electrically connected to the rails. For example, at each boundary of a track section, a track controller is installed. The track controller is configured to emit pulses into the rail. In particular, pulses are emitted at first end of a track section by the corresponding track controller, and received by another track controller which is installed at the second end of a track section. The width and spacing of the pulses received provide information that may be used to control railroad signal aspects at the location. The transmission is only successful if the rail is in good order, i.e. not broken. By receiving a pulse at the second end, it is thus determined that the rail in the corresponding track section is not broken and no train is occupying the track section. Besides this, track controllers provide for example detection of trains in the corresponding track section. Furthermore, track controllers provide for example approach lighting control. In this case, the controller will only light a railroad signal when an approaching train enters the adjacent track section. However, providing a track controller of the type described above to every end of a track section relates to several drawbacks. For example, such track controllers require power to operate. Complex power cable systems must be installed for power supply of each track controller. Power cables, for example made out of copper, may be stolen and in consequence, the track controller may be out of operation. Additionally, in the installation phase, the laying of the power cables for each track controller requires an additional installation step. Besides required cables,5 2 equipment houses and charging systems for powering the track controller must be installed and maintained. Furthermore, providing every end of a track section with a track controller constitutes a complex system as such track controllers must be maintained at regular intervals to ensure their correct operation. Additionally, track controllers may be subject to vandalism which may cause the track controllers to be out of service. The present invention aims to resolve the aforementioned problems, notably at locations adjacent to non-signaled territory where only broken rail detection and track circuit occupancy detection is required. To that end, the invention relates to a monitoring device configured for monitoring a railway track, said monitoring device comprising: - a track interface configured for connecting the monitoring device to the railway track, - a detector, configured for detecting a first track pulse having a first duration emitted on the railway track and received through the track interface, the detector being further configured for detecting a start time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a receiving period and for detecting an end time of the first track pulse, which corresponds to the detection of a start of a transmission period, - a charging module connected to said detector, said charging module comprising an energy storage element, the charging module being configured to store energy received from the first track pulse in the energy storage element, - an emitter, configured for emitting a second track pulse on the railway track through the track interface by using the energy stored in the energy storage element, the second track pulse having a second duration less than the first duration of the first track pulse, the detector being configured for sending a transmit control signal to the emitter for controlling the emission of the second track pulse by the emitter when the detector detects the end time of the first track pulse. The monitoring device according to the invention is thus configured to harvest energy from the track contained in the first track pulse. This is effect