A frequency generator for generating a working frequency for a transmission signal of a rail contact of an axle counter includes a series resonant circuit having a transmitter coil unit of the rail contact and a capacitor. The frequency generator has an inverter, the output of which is connected to the capacitor. The inverter is configured to generate an oscillating voltage and to feed the generated oscillating voltage to the transmitter coil unit of the rail contact via the capacitor. A current transformer synchronizes the output voltage of the inverter to the current in the series resonant circuit. A start-up circuit electrically connected to the inverter is configured to trigger the inverter and to be electrically connected to an input power supply. The frequency generator is a robust and effective circuit for generation of magnetic fields where manufacturing effort and expensive components can be reduced.

This method is for managing a railway electrical circuit (3A, 3B) adapted to detect presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1), the railway track (1) being subdivided in successive track sections (1A, 1B) forming successive electrical circuits (3A, 3B) independently fed with electrical current for monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on one of the track sections (1A, 1B), each electrical circuit (3A, 3B) comprising a transmission device (9A, 9B) for feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current, located at one end of the track section, and a reception device (11A, 11B) for detecting the electrical current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B), located at an opposed end of the track section. This method comprises steps consisting in a) continuously feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current with the transmission device (9A, 9B) and monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on the corresponding track section (1A, 1B) by measuring, using the reception device (11A, 11B), the current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B); b) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that a rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a nominal electrical power (PN) at least until the rolling stock (T) exits the section (1A, 1B); c) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that no rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a power-saving power value (P0) which is inferior to the nominal power (PN). At step b), the electrical power (P.sub.OT) consumed by the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) is kept under a limited value (P2). A system for detecting presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1) is also provided.

A particularly flexible method for automatically calibrating a wheel sensor includes using the wheel sensor to determine that a calibration must be carried out. The wheel sensor determines a point in time suitable for carrying out the calibration and the calibration itself is carried out by the wheel sensor at the determined point in time. A wheel sensor for carrying out the method is also provided.

A method for determining the speed of a rail-bound vehicle, includes the following method steps: detection of a reference element, wherein the first detection device generates a first detection signal when the reference element passes the first detection device; detection of the reference element, wherein the second detection device generates a second detection signal when the reference element passes the second detection device; conversion of the detection signals into digital detection pulses; determining the time difference between the two detection pulses; wherein an XOR signal is generated in an XOR gate by linking the first and the second detection pulse using an XOR logic; and the duration of the XOR signal is determined; and wherein the time difference between the two detection pulses is determined by halving the duration of the XOR signal. The speed can be measured with higher accuracy when using an existing infrastructure without additional assembly work.

A transmitter device for a sensor device detects a magnetic field change caused by an object approaching or moving past the sensor device, in particular by a wheel of a rail vehicle. The transmitter device has at least two alternating-current-fed transmitter oscillating circuits. In order to implement error disclosure of the sensor device in a particularly simple manner, the at least two transmitter oscillating circuits are formed in such a way that the resonance frequencies thereof are different from each other. A sensor device and a method for detecting a magnetic field change are also provided.

A method is provided for detecting the presence of a rolling stock on a railway track that is subdivided in successive track sections forming successive electrical circuits independently fed with electrical current for monitoring the presence of a rolling stock on a track section. A transmission device for providing electrical current is located at one end of the track section, and a reception device for detecting the electrical current is located at an opposite end of the track section. This method includes steps for continuously feeding the electrical circuit with electrical current and monitoring the presence of a rolling stock on the corresponding track section so that an electrical current can be applied to the electrical circuit if the reception device detects that no rolling stock is present on the track section. A system for detecting presence of a rolling stock on a railway track is also provided.

A particularly flexible method for automatically calibrating a wheel sensor includes using the wheel sensor to determine that a calibration must be carried out. The wheel sensor determines a point in time suitable for carrying out the calibration and the calibration itself is carried out by the wheel sensor at the determined point in time. A wheel sensor for carrying out the method is also provided.

A transmitter device for a sensor device detects a magnetic field change caused by an object approaching or moving past the sensor device, in particular by a wheel of a rail vehicle. The transmitter device has at least two alternating-current-fed transmitter oscillating circuits. In order to implement error disclosure of the sensor device in a particularly simple manner, the at least two transmitter oscillating circuits are formed in such a way that the resonance frequencies thereof are different from each other. A sensor device and a method for detecting a magnetic field change are also provided.

A method for determining the speed of a rail-bound vehicle, includes the following method steps: detection of a reference element, wherein the first detection device generates a first detection signal when the reference element passes the first detection device; detection of the reference element, wherein the second detection device generates a second detection signal when the reference element passes the second detection device; conversion of the detection signals into digital detection pulses; determining the time difference between the two detection pulses; wherein an XOR signal is generated in an XOR gate by linking the first and the second detection pulse using an XOR logic; and the duration of the XOR signal is determined; and wherein the time difference between the two detection pulses is determined by halving the duration of the XOR signal. The speed can be measured with higher accuracy when using an existing infrastructure without additional assembly work.

According to the invention a rail vehicle wheel sensor assembly (ZCK) is provided that comprises a rail vehicle wheel detection system (UWK) and a two-wire interface in the form of a current loop, by means of which the wheel detection system (UWK) is connected to an external device (SO). The wheel sensor assembly (ZCK) is characterised in that it comprises a wheel detection configuration system (UKDK) connected to the wheel detection system (UWK), an authorisation and configuration system (UA) capable of storing at least one secret (SK), used for secure communication with the external device (SO) and for forwarding configuration commands to the wheel detection configuration system (UKDK) connected thereto, a communication converter system (UM) used for the signal conversion, a wheel sensor supply voltage conversion system (UKU), a voltage summation and voltage-to-sensor-output-current conversion system (UKUI), an output signal permission system (UZSW) and a power supply system (UZ).

According to the invention a rail vehicle wheel detection device (DWK) comprising two or more such wheel sensor assemblies is further provided.