Tractive Vehicle and Vehicle Combination and Method for Operating a Tractive Vehicle and Vehicle Combination

Abstract

A method for operating a tractive vehicle and a vehicle combination are disclosed. A tractive vehicle includes a first friction brake device for generating a first stopping braking-force, a traction device for generating a tractive force and a control device for controlling at least the traction device. The method includes a step whereby the traction device is activated if a first undesired kinematic state is detected. Activation of the traction device would take place in such a way that a tractive force, counteracting the first undesired kinematic state, is generated and provided for deceleration to a standstill and/or for holding the tractive vehicle at a standstill.

Claims

1. A method for operating a traction vehicle in a holding operation mode with a first friction braking device for generating a first holding braking force a traction device for generating a traction force, the method comprising: actuating the first friction braking device and applying the first holding braking force for maintaining a desired standstill of the traction vehicle; monitoring a kinematic state of the traction vehicle; and if the maximum applicable holding braking force is less than a pushing or tractive force acting on the traction vehicle and if a first undesirable kinematic state is detected, actuating the traction device such that a counteracting traction force is provided for at least one of braking and holding the traction vehicle at a standstill.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first friction braking device is configured to provide an increased holding braking force compared to the first holding braking force, and/or wherein the traction vehicle has a second friction braking device for providing a second holding braking force, which can be provided in addition to the first holding braking force, and wherein the first holding braking force and the second holding braking force and/or the increased holding braking force are provided when a second undesired kinematic state is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traction vehicle comprises an adhesion device for increasing adhesion between a traction wheel of the traction device and a corresponding running surface, and wherein the adhesion device is activated at least simultaneously with, and in particular earlier than, the actuation of the traction device for braking and holding the traction vehicle at the standstill.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traction device for holding the traction vehicle at the standstill is operated in a holding operation mode, and wherein the traction device is operated with a maximum value for torque, power, and/or speed, wherein the maximum value is less than a maximum torque, maximum power, and/or maximum speed, wherein the maximum value is less than 10% of the maximum torque, maximum power, and/or maximum speed.

5. A traction vehicle comprising at least one friction braking device for generating at least one holding braking force, a traction device for generating a traction force, and a control device, wherein the control device and the traction vehicle are configured to conduct the method according to claim 1.

6. The traction vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the traction device and an at least friction braking device are configured such that a coefficient of adhesion of the traction vehicle at standstill is at least 16.5%.

7. A method for operating a multi unit vehicle comprising at least one traction vehicle according to claim 1 and at least one supplementary vehicle coupled to the traction vehicle, the supplementary vehicle having at least one supplementary braking device for generating a supplementary braking force, the method comprising: actuating the first friction braking device and applying the first holding braking force; monitoring a kinematic state of at least one of the traction vehicle the supplementary vehicle; and if a first undesired kinematic state is detected, actuating the traction device such that a counteracting traction force is provided for braking and holding the multi unit vehicle a standstill.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the multi unit vehicle for holding the multi unit vehicle at the standstill is operated in a holding operation mode, and wherein exclusively the first friction braking device and traction device of the traction vehicle and/or no actuation of the supplementary braking device of the supplementary vehicle for holding the multi unit vehicle at the standstill is effected.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the kinematic state of the traction vehicle and/or the multi unit vehicle is determined at least by a first measured value, and wherein the first undesired kinematic state is present and the traction device is actuated if the first measured value exceeds a first threshold.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the kinematic state of the traction vehicle and/or the multi unit vehicle is determined at least by a second measured value, and wherein the second undesired kinematic state is present when the second measured value exceeds a second threshold and/or when the actuation of the traction device for braking and holding the multi unit vehicle to the standstill is unsuccessful.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the supplementary braking device is actuated in presence of a third undesirable kinematic state if a third measured value exceeds a third threshold.

12. A method for operating a traction vehicle and/or the multi unit vehicle, the method comprising: braking the vehicle and/or the multi unit vehicle to a standstill, activating a holding operation mode of the vehicle and/or the multi unit vehicle, while specifying the holding operation mode is performed on an ascending or a descending underground, and executing the method according to claim 1.

13. A multi unit vehicle comprising at least one traction vehicle, at least one supplementary vehicle, coupled to the traction vehicle, and a control device, wherein the supplementary vehicle has at least one supplementary braking device for generating a supplementary braking force, and wherein at least one of the control device, the traction vehicle, and the multi unit vehicle is configured for executing the method according to claim 2.

14. The multi unit vehicle according to claim 13, wherein at least two traction vehicles and at least two auxiliary vehicles are coupled together with the traction vehicles, and wherein the at least two auxiliary vehicles do not have a traction device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0077] The appended drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and function together with the description to explain the principles of the invention. The elements of the drawings are relative to each other and not necessarily to scale.

[0078] Identical references numerals correspondingly relate to similar parts.

[0079] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary multi unit vehicle during the holding operation mode on an ascending underground in a first operating state,

[0080] FIG. 2 shows the multi unit vehicle according to FIG. 1 in a second operating state,

[0081] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary multi unit vehicle during the holding operation mode on a descending underground in a third operating state,

[0082] FIG. 4 shows the multi unit vehicle according to FIG. 1 in a fourth operating state, and

[0083] FIG. 5 shows the multi unit vehicle according to FIG. 1 in a permanent stop operation, and

[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of an operating method or embodiments thereof by means of a flow chart.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary multi unit vehicle 20, which is composed of a traction vehicle 1 and two supplementary vehicles 10 coupled thereto. Multi unit vehicle 20 is thereby located in holding operation mode on a running surface 13 ascending with respect to the direction of travel. The holding operation mode stipulates that the multi unit vehicle is only to be at a standstill for a relatively short time period, and a transition into a driving mode by starting up is to take place relatively quickly. The holding operation mode is thus always temporary in nature. For example, the multi unit vehicle according to FIG. 1 is in holding operation mode at a red stop signal.

[0086] The following statements regarding FIG. 1 relate to traction vehicle 20 from FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 regarding structural components.

[0087] Traction vehicle 1 is thereby supported to be drivable on running surface 13, for example, embodied as a rail, by means of a first wheel 6, a second wheel 8, a traction wheel 4, and another wheel—or by means of corresponding wheel pairs. The aforementioned devices may also mutually act on one or more wheels.

[0088] A first friction braking device 5 of traction vehicle 1 is thereby arranged such that this may act on first wheel 6, and subsequently a first holding braking force H1 may be provided. Furthermore, traction vehicle 1 comprises a second friction braking device 7, which may act of a second wheel 8 in order to be able to generate a second holding braking force H2.

[0089] In addition, traction vehicle 1 is equipped with a traction device 3, by which means a traction torque may be introduced into traction wheel 4. In this way, traction device 3 may generate a traction force T acting on traction device 1, depending on activation direction 21. It is also conceivable that other wheels are driven by traction device 3.

[0090] Supplementary vehicles 10, embodied as railcar in the case of rail vehicles, are rollably mounted via wheels 12 on running surface 13 and may be accelerated by means of traction vehicle 1 in the context of multi unit vehicle 20.

[0091] Furthermore, supplementary vehicles 10 have a supplementary braking device 11, by which means a supplementary braking force Z may be generated via wheels 12. For example, supplementary vehicles 10 may be equipped without intrinsic drives.

[0092] Traction vehicle 1 may thereby have a control device 2, which is connected for transmitting control signals to first friction braking device 5, second friction braking device 7, traction device 3, and supplementary braking device 11.

[0093] In FIG. 1, the multi unit vehicle is in a holding operation mode on an ascending running surface 13 First friction braking device 5 is thereby activated, whereby a first holding braking force H1 acts on multi unit vehicle 20 via wheel 6. To illustrate the activation, wheel 6 in FIG. 1 of first friction braking device 5 is colored black.

[0094] Reference is subsequently also made to FIG. 6, wherein individual steps of the method are illustrated.

[0095] Multi unit vehicle 20 arrives according to step 100 at a standstill and the holding operation mode is activated according to step 101. This may be the case, for example, in the case of a temporary standstill and also during start up of multi unit vehicle 20.

[0096] According to step 102, an activation direction 21 is set, in particular by a driver of multi unit vehicle 20 or automatically. Activation direction 21 in the direction of travel, counter to an additive downhill force FA, causes control device 2 to control traction device 3 such that a traction force T is provided as needed in activation direction 21.

[0097] In multi unit vehicle 20 according to FIG. 1, downhill force FA does not exceed the provided first holding braking force H1, and a force equilibrium is established. Consequently, multi unit vehicle 20 is at a standstill, wherein this is maintained. A first measured value M1 consequently does not exceed a first threshold G1, which in turn is assigned to a first undesired kinematic state 103. A provision of a traction torque T is not necessary, as no first undesired kinematic state 103 is detected.

[0098] The check for exceeding first threshold G1 is continued until another operating type 108, for example, a permanent stop mode, is selected in step 107.

[0099] In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, supplementary vehicles 10 are heavily loaded such that these produce a high downhill force FA. Additive downhill force FA thereby exceeds an amount according to first holding braking force H1 provided by first holding braking device 5. Consequently, first friction braking device 5 would slip and multi unit vehicle 20 would move counter to activation direction 21, thus backwards, if excessive downhill force FA is not compensated by providing a traction force T and a force equilibrium would be established.

[0100] Consequently, first undesired kinematic state 103 is detected, in that first measured value M1 exceeds first threshold G1.

[0101] As a result, traction device 3 is activated in step 104 such that a traction force T is provided in the direction of activation direction 21 via traction wheel 4 (black), wherein traction force T does not exceed a maximum value Tmax. Using this traction force T, a control loop is executed in order to control, for example, a speed of multi unit vehicle 20 to zero. This control remains active until another operating type 108 is selected.

[0102] This case is depicted by way of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, wherein traction force T acts in the direction of travel of multi unit vehicle 20 and in the ascending direction of running surface 13 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, activation direction 21 is selected counter to the direction of travel and in the ascending direction of running surface 13 such that the provided traction force T is correspondingly provided for holding multi unit vehicle 20 at a standstill.

[0103] Furthermore, it may be checked whether a presence of a second undesired kinematic state 105 is present. This is the case if a second measured value M2 exceeds a second threshold G2. This second measured value M2 may be, for example, an elapsed time, in particular how long a traction force T has already been provided, according to step 104, in order to prevent a presence of first undesired kinematic state 103. Second measured value M2 may also be a distance, a speed, an acceleration, and/or indicators thereof.

[0104] This case is schematically depicted by way of FIG. 4. Exceeding second threshold G2 leads to second friction braking device 7 acting on second wheel 8 and generating a second holding braking force H2 in step 109. The standstill of multi unit vehicle 20 is thus achieved in that first holding braking force H1 and second holding braking force H2 act in the same direction and additively compensate for increased downhill force FA. Consequently, multi unit vehicle 20 is at a standstill without drive device 3 having to provide a traction force T.

[0105] It is also conceivable that both second holding braking force H2 according to FIG. 4 and also traction force T according to FIG. 2 are provided in order to thus interactively hold multi unit vehicle 20 at a standstill.

[0106] Furthermore, it is checked in step 106 whether a third measured value M3 exceeds a third threshold G3. If, for example downhill force FA is so large, that first braking force H1 of first friction braking device 5 is not sufficient in order to hold multi unit vehicle 20 at a standstill, and third measured value M3 yields, for example, that drive device 3 is not usable, then supplementary braking device 11 in supplementary vehicles 10 is activated in step 110. Supplementary braking force Z activated thereby, together with first holding braking force H1, equals downhill force FA such that multi unit vehicle 20 is at a standstill.

[0107] This state of multi unit vehicle 20, also shown in FIG. 5, represents an operating state deviating from the holding operation mode, namely the permanent stop mode. Before multi unit vehicle 20 may transition back into a driving mode, all supplementary braking devices 11 must be deactivated.

[0108] Even if specific embodiments have depicted and described herein, it remains within the scope of the present invention to suitably modify the embodiments shown without deviating from the scope of protection of the present invention. For example, the different operating states according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 may be combined, wherein traction force T interacts with first holding braking force H1 and second holding braking force H2.

[0109] Furthermore, it is also conceivable to use the method and/or embodiments thereof for starting up a multi unit vehicle 20 on an ascending running surface 13, for example, on an ascending track section. Traction vehicle 1 and/or multi unit vehicle 20 would thereby initially be in permanent stop mode with activated supplementary brakes 11. In order to transition into driving mode, the holding operation mode would be selected as an intermediate mode, wherein supplementary brakes 11 of supplementary vehicles 10 could already be released in order to facilitate a fast start up.