Method for detecting the extent of clear, intact track near a railway vehicle

摘要

A method is provided for detecting broken rail, track continuity, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railroad vehicle traveling in fixed-block territory equipped with an AC track code wayside signal system or cab signal overlay system, and a communications link. This method, when used as an integral part of a communications-based train control (CBTC) or positive train control (PTC) system, allows immediate, automatic detection of broken rail, track occupancies, or open turnouts ahead of or behind a train in an occupied block. It also facilitates true moving-block or virtual block CBTC or PTC, thereby enabling higher efficiency and track utilization.

主权项

1. A method for detection of a broken rail, track occupancy, or open turnout from a railway vehicle on a railroad track having a series of electrically-isolated track segments, wherein each adjacent pair of track segments is equipped with code transceivers, said code transceivers communicating with each other and with railway vehicles on the track by coded electrical signals transmitted via the track, said method comprising:
providing an onboard receiving and processing unit on a railway vehicle on the railroad track to receive the coded electrical signals via the track, with a communications link to communicate with an external station; transmitting coded electrical signals from a code transceiver via the track to the onboard receiving and processing unit on the railway vehicle, wherein the coded electrical signals include unique identifying characteristics assigned to each track segment; detecting the current in the track associated with the coded electrical signals at the code transceiver; monitoring at the onboard receiving and processing unit to determine whether the coded electrical signals are received via the track; identifying the track segment on which the railway vehicle is located based on the unique identifying characteristics of the coded electrical signals received by the onboard receiving and processing unit; reporting via the communications link to the external station whether the coded electrical signals are received at the onboard receiving and processing unit; and determining whether a track occupancy or a broken rail exists between the onboard receiving and processing unit and the code transceiver, based on whether the coded electrical signals are received at the onboard receiving and processing unit and whether track current is detected at the code transceiver; whereby a broken rail is indicated if the coded electrical signals are not received by the onboard receiving and processing unit and no track current is detected at the code transceiver, and track occupancy is indicated if the coded electrical signals are not received by the onboard receiving and processing unit and track current is detected at the code transceiver.