A set of stators of a linear induction motor are mounted on a track. A three-phase current is provided to each of the stators, such that a traveling magnetic field (TMF) is created by the stators along the length of the track. The traveling magnetic field includes a magnetic flux corresponding to a stator excitation modulated with a message signal. A rotor includes a series of conductor plates. As the traveling magnetic field passes through the conductor plates, a current is induced in the plates by induction. Such current then generates an opposing magnetic field causing the plates and the vehicle to be propelled. Each phase may first be modulated with a message signal, before being provided to the stator. The current at the rotor is then demodulated to realize the message signal. A doppler shift due to the speed of the rotor relative to the stator is corrected.

Various embodiments of an autonomous rail vehicle that can travel ahead of a locomotive at a distance proportional to the locomotive's stopping capability are disclosed. The rail vehicle may scan its surroundings, gauges track conditions, and communicates with locomotive operators of the scanned results in real-time to timely enable activation of the locomotive's emergency brakes in case of detection of off-normal track conditions. The rail vehicle may paired with the locomotive and provides eyes to locomotive operators so that they can have information on tracks viability well ahead of the locomotive.

A railroad communication system includes a radio transmitter for generating radio communications signals and a length of railroad rail coupled to the radio transmitter. The length of rail is disposed on a set of nonconductive railroad ties to form a transmission line for radiating the radio communications signals to a radio receiver in a vicinity of the length of railroad rail.

A conductor line for supplying an electric load movable on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line, includes at least one conductor strand which runs in the longitudinal direction and has an electrically conductive profiled conductor section for contacting a sliding contact of a current collector of the load and at least one elongated slotted waveguide, which runs in the longitudinal direction, with a longitudinal slot for receiving an antenna which can be moved together with the load. A related current collector and a conductor line system are also provided. The aim is to allow a compact and material-saving design with good fault-tolerant transmission. This is achieved by a conductor line in which the longitudinal slot is tilted by an angle which does not equal 90° about the longitudinal direction with respect to a movement plane on which the current collector can be moved, by a current collector in which the antenna or a part thereof is completely or partly tilted by an angle which also does not equal 90° about the longitudinal direction with respect to the movement plane, and by a conductor line system including such a conductor line and current collector.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a rail breakage detection device mountable also on a vehicle. The invention is directed to a rail breakage detection device that receives: transmission-device state information indicating whether a rail signal transmission device that sends a rail signal is normal; reception-device state information indicating whether a rail signal reception device that receives a voltage induced by the rail signal is normal; and reception state information indicating whether a voltage induced by the rail signal reception device is received, and the rail breakage detection device performs rail breakage detection on the basis of the transmission-device state information, the reception-device state information, and the reception state information.

In a rail system with a rail and mobile parts movable along the rail, e.g., rail vehicles, a profiled part is arranged on the rail and includes a cavity, which, e.g., terminates at an opening into the environment. Regions of a mobile part, e.g., regions of each mobile part, at least partially project into the cavity, and at least one transmitter and receiver are situated in the respective region.

In a communications system for communication between a vehicle guided along a predefined movement path and a stationary station using a slotted waveguide which extends parallel to the movement path of the vehicle and into which at least one antenna connected to a transceiver unit of the stationary station and at least one antenna of the vehicle project, wherein the antenna of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the slotted waveguide with a movement of the vehicle, a switching device is arranged between the antenna of the vehicle and a transceiver unit of the vehicle, by means of which the antenna can be selectively connected to the transceiver unit of the vehicle either directly or via at least one interconnected attenuation element. The switching device can be actuated by the control device of the vehicle according to the power of a received signal.

A railroad communication system includes a radio transmitter for generating radio communications signals and a length of railroad rail coupled to the radio transmitter. The length of rail is disposed on a set of nonconductive railroad ties to form a transmission line for radiating the radio communications signals to a radio receiver in a vicinity of the length of railroad rail.

A data transmission device has an elongated hollow profile with a hollow space extending in a longitudinal direction of the hollow profile, with the hollow profile having a longitudinal slot extending in the longitudinal direction for a transmission unit which moves relative to the hollow space at least in the longitudinal direction and which extends at least partially into the longitudinal slot. At least one sealing element extending along the hollow profile for sealing off at least one portion of the hollow space is provided. A conductor rail system includes a conductor rail for supplying at least one electrical load with electrical power, which load can be moved in the longitudinal direction along the conductor rail, with at least one conductor strand extending in the longitudinal direction with an electrically conducting conductor profile for contacting a sliding contact of the load and with at least one data transmission device extending in the longitudinal direction.

In a communications system for communication between a vehicle guided along a predefined movement path and a stationary station using a slotted waveguide which extends parallel to the movement path of the vehicle and into which at least one antenna connected to a transceiver unit of the stationary station and at least one antenna of the vehicle project, wherein the antenna of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the slotted waveguide with a movement of the vehicle, a switching device is arranged between the antenna of the vehicle and a transceiver unit of the vehicle, by means of which the antenna can be selectively connected to the transceiver unit of the vehicle either directly or via at least one interconnected attenuation element. The switching device can be actuated by the control device of the vehicle according to the power of a received signal.