Detecting the Movement of a Rail Vehicle

Abstract

A method for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle, in particular a freight or passenger train, in a warning zone of a rail crossing, includes: determining a first temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a portion of the warning zone at a first time; determining a second temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a portion of the warning zone at a second time. The first time is chronologically before the second time. The method compares the first temperature with the second temperature. If the comparison demonstrates that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the method outputs a warning signal and initiates blocking of the rail crossing.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A method for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle in a warning zone of a rail crossing, the method comprising the acts of: determining a first temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a first time; determining a second temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a second time, wherein the first time is chronologically before the second time; comparing the first temperature to the second temperature; and when the comparison shows that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature: outputting a warning signal, and initiating a block of the rail crossing.

17. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the determination of the first temperature at the first time is only performed after a predetermined first time period after entry of the rail vehicle into the warning zone.

18. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, the method further comprising the act of: initiating a cancellation of the block of the rail crossing when the rail vehicle stays in the warning zone longer than a predetermined second time period after its entry into the warning zone.

19. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, the method further comprising the acts of: determining a first number of axles during an entry of the rail vehicle into the warning zone; determining a second number of axles during an exit of the rail vehicle from the warning zone; and comparing the first and the second number of axles to one another; and when the second number of axles differs from the first number of axles: storing the second number of axles, otherwise storing the first number of axles.

20. The method for detecting a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 19, wherein the initiation of the block of the rail crossing and/or a chronological duration of the predetermined second time period is produced based on the stored number of axles.

21. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the determination of the first and the second temperature is performed by one or more heat or temperature registration devices which are arranged, in a stationary manner, along the warning zone of the rail crossing.

22. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 21, wherein the comparison of the temperature at the first time to the temperature at the second time is performed on the basis of the temperature measurement by the same heat registration device.

23. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 21, wherein the at least one heat registration device or at least one temperature measurement device is formed by a thermal imaging camera and/or an infrared sensor.

24. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein at the first and the second time, an exhaust gas temperature of the rail vehicle is measured for the temperature comparison, wherein the rail vehicle comprises a diesel locomotive.

25. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the output of the warning signal and the initiation of the block of the rail crossing take place when the comparison shows that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature by a threshold value.

26. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the initiation of the block of the rail crossing takes place physically and/or virtually.

27. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the initiation of the block of the rail crossing is carried out by a light signal, a rail barrier, and/or an item of blocking information, to a motor vehicle located in a vicinity of the rail crossing.

28. The method for detecting the movement of a rail vehicle in the warning zone of a rail crossing according to claim 16, wherein the rail vehicle is a freight or passenger train.

29. A rail crossing safety system for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle in a warning zone of a rail crossing, wherein the system is configured to carry out the acts of: determining a first temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a first time; determining a second temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a second time, wherein the first time is chronologically before the second time; comparing the first temperature to the second temperature; and when the comparison shows that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature: outputting a warning signal, and initiating a block of the rail crossing.

30. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed by one or more processors, carries out the acts of: determining a first temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a first time; determining a second temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a section of the warning zone at a second time, wherein the first time is chronologically before the second time; comparing the first temperature to the second temperature; and when the comparison shows that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature: outputting a warning signal, and initiating a block of the rail crossing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed method according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed embodiment according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed method according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed device according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed rail crossing according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed method according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a method for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle, in particular a freight train or passenger train, in a warning zone 120 of a rail crossing 100, characterized in that the method comprises: determining 10 a first temperature 210 in the warning zone 120 of the rail crossing 100 or in a section of the warning zone 120 at a first time. Determining 20 a second temperature 220 in the warning zone 120 of the rail crossing 100 or in a section of the warning zone 120 at a second time. The first time is chronologically before the second time. Comparing 30 the first temperature 210 to the second temperature 220. If the comparison shows that the second temperature 220 is higher than the first temperature 210, the method comprises outputting 35 a warning signal 160 and initiating 37 a block of the rail crossing 100.

[0047] For example, the determination of the first temperature 210 at the first time can only be performed after a predetermined first time period after the entry of the rail vehicle into the warning zone 120.

[0048] This can have the advantage that relevance of the measurement results can be increased. The advantage can thus result that the reliability of the method or of the rail crossing safety device can be increased.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed method according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the method, wherein the method furthermore comprises: initiating 40 a cancellation of the block of the rail crossing 100 if the rail vehicle stays in the warning zone 120 longer than a predetermined second time period after its entry into the warning zone 120.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed method according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the method, wherein the method furthermore comprises: determining 50 a first number of axles 230 during an entry of the rail vehicle into the warning zone 120. Determining 60 a second number of axles 240 during an exit of the rail vehicle from the warning zone 120. Comparing 70 the first and the second number of axles 230, 240 to one another. And if the second number of axles 240 differs from the first number of axles 230: storing 75 the second number of axles 240. And if the second number of axles 240 does not differ from the first number of axles 230: storing 77 the first number of axles 230.

[0053] For example, the initiation 37 of the block of the rail crossing 100 and/or a chronological duration of the predetermined second time period can be produced based on the stored number of axles 230, 240.

[0054] This can have the advantage that the block of the rail crossing 100 can be performed more effectively, the duration of the block can thus be selected more adequately.

[0055] FIGS. 1 to 3 share the following exemplary embodiments.

[0056] For example, the determination of the first and second temperature 210, 220 can be performed by one or more heat or temperature registration devices which are arranged, preferably in a stationary manner, along the warning zone 120 of the rail crossing 100.

[0057] This can have the advantage that devices especially provided for such measurements can be used for the temperature registration. Costs can thus be reduced. Furthermore, the reliability of the method or of the rail crossing safety device can thus be increased.

[0058] For example, the comparison 30 of the temperature 210 at the first time to the temperature 220 at the second time can be performed on the basis of the temperature measurement by the same heat registration device.

[0059] This can have the advantage that the reliability of the method or of the rail crossing safety device can thus be further increased. This is because, for example, error tolerances in the temperature measurement can thus be minimized or even eliminated.

[0060] For example, the at least one heat registration device or at least one temperature measuring device can be formed by a thermal imaging camera and/or an infrared sensor.

[0061] This can have the advantage that routine devices for temperature registration can be used. Costs can thus be reduced. Furthermore, the reliability of the method or of the rail crossing safety device can thus also be increased.

[0062] For example, at the first and the second time, the exhaust gas temperature of the rail vehicle can be measured for the temperature comparison 30, wherein the rail vehicle in particular comprises a diesel locomotive.

[0063] In the case in which the rail vehicle comprises a diesel locomotive, the second temperature can be indicative that departure of the rail vehicle is imminent. In this case, it can be presumed that the rail vehicle will begin to travel soon—or also in a predetermined time period—and leave the warning zone.

[0064] This can have the advantage that the reliability of the method or of the rail crossing safety device is thus increased.

[0065] For example, the output 35 of the warning signal and the initiation 37 of the block of the rail crossing 100 can take place if the comparison 30 shows that the second temperature 220 is higher by a threshold value than the first temperature 210. Such a threshold value can have the advantage that small temperature differences which are not indicative that a departure of the rail vehicle is imminent can be neglected and the reliability of the block of the rail crossing can thus be still further increased. The threshold value can be specified here. The threshold value can additionally also be individually dependent on the rail vehicle. For example, the threshold value can be dependent on the type of the locomotive of the rail vehicle.

[0066] For example, the initiation 37 of the block of the rail crossing 100 can take place physically and/or virtually.

[0067] A physical block of the rail crossing 100 can have the advantage that a more secure block of the rail crossing can be produced.

[0068] A virtual block of the rail crossing 100 can have the advantage that the block can be performed cost-effectively in that the virtual block can be transmitted, for example, as blocking information to internal-system devices of autonomous motor vehicles. The costs of a physical block can thus be avoided. This can be carried out without significantly negatively influencing the reliability of the rail crossing block.

[0069] If both types of block are used in parallel to one another, the reliability of the rail crossing block can thus be increased still further. This can be provided, for example, in that a redundancy of the block of the rail crossing 100 is thus present.

[0070] For example, the initiation 37 of the block of the rail crossing 100 can be carried out by means of a light signal, a rail barrier, and/or an item of blocking information to a vehicle located in a vicinity of the rail crossing 100.

[0071] The blocking information can thus be transmitted to a motor vehicle or a computer device of the motor vehicle. This can be carried out, for example, by means of wireless communication, for example by means of UMTS, WLAN, 4G, 5G, MANET, VANET, Car2X, and the like.

[0072] The block of the rail crossing 100 by means of light signals or rail barriers can have the advantage that routine devices for blocking the rail crossing 100 can be used. Costs can thus be lowered. Furthermore, the reliability of the method or the rail crossing safety device can thus also be increased.

[0073] The block of the rail crossing 100 by means of an item of blocking information can have the advantage that autonomously driving motor vehicles can be controlled effectively and safely without requiring a more costly physical rail barrier.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed device according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a rail crossing safety device for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle in a warning zone 120 of a rail crossing 100. The rail crossing safety device is configured to execute a method according to the invention.

[0076] In FIG. 4a, the rail crossing safety device 200 only comprises the heat or temperature registration device(s) for measuring the first temperature 210 and the second temperature 200. One or also multiple temperature registration devices can be used here for measuring the two temperatures.

[0077] In FIG. 4b, in contrast, the rail crossing safety device 200 comprises both the heat or temperature registration device(s) for measuring the first temperature 210 and the second temperature 200, and also the device(s) for measuring the first number of axles 230 and the second number of axles 240. One or also multiple number of axle registration devices can be used here for measuring the two numbers of axles.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a proposed rail crossing according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a rail crossing having a rail crossing safety device for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle in a warning zone 120 of a rail crossing 100. The rail crossing is configured to execute a method according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0080] 10 determining the first temperature [0081] 20 determining the second temperature [0082] 30 comparing the first temperature to the second temperature [0083] 35 outputting the warning signal [0084] 37 initiating the block of the rail crossing [0085] 40 initiating the cancellation of the block of the rail crossing [0086] 50 determining the first number of axles of the rail vehicle [0087] 60 determining the second number of axles of the rail vehicle [0088] 70 comparing the first number of axles to the second number of axles [0089] 75 storing the first number of axles [0090] 77 storing the second number of axles [0091] 100 rail crossing [0092] 110 harmless zone [0093] 120 warning zone [0094] 130 protective zone [0095] 160 warning signal [0096] 200 rail crossing safety device [0097] 210 first temperature [0098] 220 second temperature [0099] 230 first number of axles [0100] 240 second number of axles