A system for detecting the presence of a train on a railway track (1b) comprising a plurality of sections (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n), the system comprising: a transmitter (10b) arranged to emit a main signal towards the plurality of sections (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n); a plurality of selecting devices (14a, 14b, . . . , 14n) associated respectively to the plurality of sections (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n) along the railway track (1b) and arranged to selectively allow passage of said main signal towards respective sections of said plurality of sections (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n); a receiver (12b) arranged to receive the main signal after having passed through the plurality of sections (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n); a control unit (20) associated to said receiver (12b) arranged to perform an analysis of said received signal so as to detect the presence of a train on a predetermined section (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n) of said plurality of sections (2a, 2b, 2n).

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.

The present invention provides systems, methods and devices that accurately detect the speed and direction of vehicles on railroad tracks, and which use the information to calculate arrival times.

A computer implemented method for determining railway vehicle movement profile type of a railway vehicle movement profile, wherein the railway vehicle movement profile includes a sequence of measured transmitted currents of a transceiver of a track circuit with respect to the time, including obtaining a railway vehicle movement profile; normalizing the railway vehicle movement profile; extracting one or more features from the normalized railway vehicle movement profile; determining the distance of the extracted features with respect to each centroid of a railway vehicle movement profile type determined in a classification process; and assigning the railway vehicle movement profile to the railway vehicle movement profile type with the closest centroid.

Method for detecting a track signal leakage 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 to transmit information to a railway vehicle, the at least one railway track including at least two track sections being electrically isolated against each other, wherein at least one receiver is associated to each track section, the method including: transmitting a test signal via a first track section; activating one or more receivers associated to the plurality of track sections, wherein the plurality of receivers are adapted to receive the test signal; receiving the test signal via one or more track sections; determining the one or more track sections, where the test signal has been received; determining whether a leakage between a first track section and at least one second track section exists.

A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium including instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the followings: obtaining a railway vehicle movement profile, wherein the railway vehicle movement profile includes a sequence of measured transmitted currents of a transceiver of a track circuit with respect to time; normalizing the railway vehicle movement profile; extracting one or more features from the normalized railway vehicle movement profile; determining a distance of the extracted features with respect to each centroid of a railway vehicle movement profile type determined in a classification process; and assigning the railway vehicle movement profile to the railway vehicle movement profile type with a closest centroid.

A device 10 for a track bound monitoring system for monitoring conditions on a railway track 28 comprising a first rail 26 and a second rail 30 comprises a signal generation unit 12 having an output 13. The signal generation unit is configured to generate an electrical monitoring signal having a monitoring signal characteristic. The output is connectable to at least one of the first rail and the second rail. A sensing unit 16 has an input 17 which is connectable to at least one of the rails. A controller 20 is connected to the generation unit and the sensing unit and is configured to cause the generation unit to generate the monitoring signal which propagates in the first rail and to receive from the sensing unit a return signal. The return signal is derived from the monitoring signal and has a return signal characteristic. The controller is configured to utilize a time difference between the monitoring signal characteristic and the return signal characteristic to monitor conditions on the railway track.

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.

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.

A method and apparatus to detect breaks in tracks and/or detect the presence of a vehicle, which can include for example a train, in a monitored section of the track or rail. Embodiments of the present invention measure the change in amplitude and/or phase angles. Electrical shunts are connected between the rails at spaced-apart intervals. 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.