According to another aspect a system is provided for detecting a track signal leakage of a track signal on at least one railway track, a track signal being a signal transmitted via the rails of a railway track to detect the presence of a railway vehicle and/or transmit a provide information to a railway vehicle, the at least one railway track comprising at least two adjacent track sections being isolated against each other, the system comprising: a controller according to an embodiment disclosed herein; at least one transmitter for emitting a test signal via a first track section, the at least one transmitter being connected to the controller; and a plurality of receivers for receiving the test signal via one or more track sections, wherein each receiver is associated to at least one track section.

A grade crossing control system includes a track circuit with a grade crossing predictor (GCP) system coupled to rails of a railroad track at a grade crossing, wherein a railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track causes a change of impedance when entering the track circuit, and wherein the GCP system generates grade crossing activation signals in response to the change of the impedance of the track circuit, wherein, for detecting the change of impedance, the GCP system includes a first transmitter transmitting a first signal over the track circuit and a first receiver detecting a first response signal, a second transmitter transmitting a second signal over the track circuit and a second receiver detecting a second response signal, wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are preprogrammed to a first frequency, and wherein the second transmitter and the second receiver are preprogrammed to a second frequency.

A railroad track circuit determines occupancy status of a portion of a railroad track, and includes: a track including first and second rails; a transmitter including first and second connection terminals to generate a voltage between connection terminals; and first and second receiver units, each including first and second measurement terminals, the first and second receiver units measuring voltage between first and second measurement terminals. The output connection terminals of the transmitter connect to the respective rails at a first connection location, using first and second cables. The first measurement terminal of the first receiver unit is connected to the first rail at a second connection location, using a third cable and the first measurement terminal of the second receiver unit is connected to the first rail at a third location, using a fourth cable, the second and third locations forming respectively first and second boundaries of the track circuit.

Railway detection system for detecting the presence of a railway vehicle on a railway track section comprising at least two rails, the railway track section comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction of the railway track section, the railway detection system comprising a track circuit system comprising a signal generator electrically coupled to the first end of the railway track section, the signal generator being configured for generating a first track circuit signal to be injected into the railway track section at the first end, wherein the signal generator is adapted to generate a first component of the first track circuit signal comprising at least one DC pulse; generate a second component of the first track circuit signal, and add the first and the second component so as to obtain the first track circuit signal.

A method and apparatus to detect breaks in tracks and/or detect the presence of a vehicle, such as a train, in a monitored section of the track or rail. Embodiments of the present invention measure the change in track inductance associated with a track or rail break. Electrical shunts are connected between the rails at spaced-apart intervals (for example a shunt can be placed every mile). At least two different frequencies of alternating current are generated and fed into the segments of rail (for example at or near a mid-point between the shunts). If a rail break occurs, the total inductance of the rail at that segment will change. Using two or more frequencies allows a rail break to be differentiated from environmental rail-to-rail and rail-to-earth leakage.

The present invention refers to a method for detecting a break in a railway track, system for detecting a break in a railway track (1) and device for detecting a break in a railway track (500), in which a first track (101) and a second track (102) are connected defining measuring sections (302, 303) and electrical detection networks (M1, M2), in which a device for detecting a break in a railway track (500) is coupled to said tracks (101, 102) and arranged to measure at least one electrical parameter of at least one electrical detection network (M1, M2) and selectively promote an output (502) that indicates a state of at least one track (101, 102).

An assembly for monitoring the occupancy state of a switch or a track region includes a track section configured as a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit contains a rail and an additional rail of the track section with a galvanic bridge on both sides and a capacitor disposed between the rails. The detection behavior for such an assembly is optimized while taking into consideration different lengths of the assembly by providing the assembly with at least one adaptation coil assembly which is placed in a track section compartment formed by the galvanic bridges on both sides and which is connected to a rail-free connection of the capacitor with a single-sided connection to one rail on one side and to the other rail on the other side.

The rail fracture detection device detects a rail fracture in a section provided with the track circuit by determining presence or absence of a rail fracture and determining presence or absence of a train on a rail by using information on whether a relay of the track circuit is activated or deactivated and information on a current value of current flowing in the track circuit.

A method and apparatus to detect breaks in tracks and/or detect the presence of a vehicle, such as a train, in a monitored section of the track or rail. Embodiments of the present invention measure the change in track inductance associated with a track or rail break. Electrical shunts are connected between the rails at spaced-apart intervals (for example a shunt can be placed every mile). At least two different frequencies of alternating current are generated and fed into the segments of rail (for example at or near a mid-point between the shunts). If a rail break occurs, the total inductance of the rail at that segment will change. Using two or more frequencies allows a rail break to be differentiated from environmental rail-to-rail and rail-to-earth leakage.

An electrically insulating mechanical joint checker for mechanical joints connecting rails of following track segments of a railway line, each track segment forming part of a track circuit. The track segment includes electric signal transmitting units and receiving units for transmitting and receiving train presence detection signals within the track segment and/or relating communication signals between the train and the track segment. The train presence detection signals and communication signals include a further joint detection signal, generated and transmitted by the transmitting units and received by the receiving units belonging to the same track segment, the joint detection signal relating to the track segment being different at least in respect to the one relating to the adjacent track segments. A method to detect a failure or breakage of a mechanical joint inside a track segment is also disclosed.