System and method for interlocking a mechanical gap filler, a guided vehicle door and a platform screen door

Abstract

A safety control system and a method configured for interlocking a Mechanical Gap Filler (hereafter MGF) with both a Platform Screen Door (PSD) and a Guided Vehicle Door (GVD) of a guided vehicle at standstill. The system is disposed along a platform in order to secure the exchange between the platform and a guided vehicle at standstill along the platform.

Claims

1. A safety control system for interlocking a mechanical gap filler (MGF) with both a platform screen door (PSD) and a guided vehicle door (GVD) of a guided vehicle when the guided vehicle is at standstill along a platform, the safety control system comprising: a communication device for communicating with a GVD control system, with a PSD control system and with a MGF control system; and a processing unit configured for exchanging data with the GVD control system, with the PSD control system and with the MGF control system via said communication device, said processing unit being further configured for determining from the data an extension/retraction state of the MGF, an opening/closing state of the PSD and an opening/closing state of the GVD, and wherein said processing unit is configured for generating both of the following signals: i. a first signal configured for either triggering an opening of the PSD and GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is in a fully extended state or preventing the PSD control system and the GVD control system to open respectively the PSD and the GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is in a retracted state or a partly extended state; ii. a second signal configured for either preventing the MGF control system from retracting the MGF if the closing/opening state of the PSD or GVD is in a fully opened state or a partly opened state, or triggering a retraction of the MGF if the closing/opening state of both the PSD and GVD is in a closed state.

2. The safety control system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured for cooperating with the communication device for sending the first signal to the GVD control system and PSD control system before any opening of the PSD or the GVD.

3. The safety control system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured for cooperating with the communication device for sending the second signal to the MGF control system before any retraction of the MGF.

4. The safety control system according to claim 1, wherein the first signal has a first state for triggering an opening of the PSD and GVD and a second state for preventing an opening of the PSD and the GVD, the second signal has a first state for triggering a retraction of the MGF and a second state for preventing the MGF control system from retracting the MGF.

5. The safety control system according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises information about at least one of the following: an opening/closing of the GVD, information about an opening/closing of the PSD, or information about an extension/retraction of the MGF.

6. The safety control system according to claim 1, which comprises at least one of the MGF control system, and/or the GVD control system, and/or the PSD control system.

7. The safety control system according to claim 6, wherein the PSD control system is configured for opening the PSD if and only if the PSD control system receives the first signal for triggering the opening of the PSD, and wherein the PSD control system is also configured to maintain the PSD in a closed position if the PSD control system receives the first signal for preventing the opening of the PSD.

8. The safety control system according to claim 6, wherein the MGF control system is configured for retracting the MGF if and only if the MGF control system receives the second signal in a state for triggering the retraction of the MGF, and wherein the MGF control system is configured for maintaining the MGF extended if the MGF control system receives the second signal in a state for preventing the retraction of the MGF.

9. The safety control system according to claim 6, wherein the GVD control system is configured for opening the GVD if and only if it receives the first signal for triggering the opening of the GVD, and wherein the GVD control system is also configured to maintain the GVD in a closed position if it receives the first signal for preventing the opening of the GVD.

10. The safety control system according to claim 1, wherein: the extension/retraction state is one of the following: fully extended, partly extended, or retracted; the opening/closing state of the PSD is one of the following: fully opened, partly opened, or closed; the opening/closing state of the GVD is one of the following: fully opened, partly opened, or closed.

11. A method for securing an exchange of passengers between a platform and a guided vehicle standing still at the platform, the method comprising: interlocking a Mechanical Gap Filler (MGF) with both a Platform Screen Door (PSD) and a Guided Vehicle Door (GVD) of the guided vehicle while the guided vehicle is at standstill along said platform; providing a communication device for communicating with a GVD control system, with a PSD control system and with a MGF control system; and providing a processing unit configured for exchanging data with the GVD control system, with the PSD control system and with the MGF control system via the communication device, the processing unit being further configured for determining from the data an extension/retraction state of the MGF, an opening/closing state of the PSD and an opening/closing state of the GVD, and wherein the processing unit is configured for generating both of the following signals: i. a first signal configured for either triggering an opening of the PSD and GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is in a fully extended state or preventing the PSD control system and the GVD control system to open respectively the PSD and the GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is in a retracted state or a partly extended state; ii. a second signal configured for either preventing the MGF control system from retracting the MGF if the closing/opening state of the PSD or GVD is in a fully opened state or a partly opened state, or triggering a retraction of the MGF if the closing/opening state of both the PSD and GVD is in a closed state.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising carrying out at least one of steps or, wherein the steps and are defined as follows: (i) prior to opening the GVD or the PSD: determining an extension/retraction state of the MGF; sending a first signal to the PSD control system and to the GVD control system, the first signal being configured for either triggering the PSD control system and the GVD control system to open respectively the PSD and the GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is a fully extended state or preventing the PSD control system and the GVD control system from opening respectively the PSD and the GVD if the extension/retraction state of the MGF is a retracted state or a partly extended state; (ii) prior to retracting a MGF: determining an opening/closing state of the PSD and of the GVD; sending a second signal to the MGF control system, the second signal being configured for either preventing the MGF control system from retracting the MGF if the opening/closing state of the PSD or of the GVD is a fully opened state or a partly opened state, or triggering a retraction of the MGF by the MGF control system if the opening/closing state of both the PSD and GVD is a closed state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will be better understood through the following drawings, wherein like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts:

(2) The FIGURE is a schematic illustration of the safety control system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The FIGURE shows a preferential embodiment of a safety control system 1 for interlocking a MGF 421, 422, with both a PSD 111, 112 and a GVD 211, 212. Said safety control system 1 comprises a communication device 11 and a processing unit 12.

(4) The communication device 11 is able to communicate and exchange data with respectively a GVD control system 21, a PSD control system 41, and MGF control system 42. The GVD control system might be included in a control system 2 of the guided vehicle 3 that is configured for controlling and commanding the guided vehicle 3. According to the preferential embodiment of FIG. 1, the safety control system 1 is in particular installed at a station. It is for instance a wayside device equipping a platform or a station. In this case, the PSD control system 41 is also installed on the platform, and the MGF control system 42 might be a wayside device (as shown in FIG. 1) equipping the platform or stationin this case the MGF 421, 422 is installed on the platform, or an on-board device if the MGF is installed on-board the guided vehicle 3. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the safety control system 1 might equip the guided vehicle 3, being thus installed on-board said guided vehicle 3, while the PSD control system 41 remains a wayside device installed e.g. at a station or on the platform, and the MGF control system 42 might be installed either on-board in case of on-board MGF, or equip the station/platform in case of MGF installed along an edge of the platform. Preferentially, the devices mounted on-board (e.g. GVD control system and optionally the MGF control system and/or the safety control system) communicate with wayside devices (e.g. the PSD control system and optionally the MFG control system and/or the safety control system) using wireless communication 6. According to a further preferential embodiment, the safety control system 1 might comprise parts that are on-board equipment, and parts that are wayside equipment.

(5) The control system 2 of the guided vehicle 3 is configured for positioning the guided vehicle 3 along the platform so that each GVD 211, 212 is aligned with a PSD 111, 112 and a MGF 421, 422. For each set of one PSD, one MGF and one GVD that are aligned with each other, the processing unit 12 is able to cooperates with respectively the PSD control system 41, the MGF control system 42, and the GVD control system 21,
for collecting and receiving data that are respectively related to information about an opening/closing of the PSD 111, 112, information about an extension/retraction of the MGF 421, 422, and information about an opening/closing of the GVD 211, 212.

(6) In particular, the processing unit 12 is configured for collecting said data each time an opening or closing command of the PSD 111, 112 and/or of the GVD 211, 212, and/or an extension/retraction command of the MGF 421, 422 is generated, for example, by the control system 2 of the guided vehicle, or by an automatic control system of the station. Preferentially, the MGF control system 42 is configured for automatically providing the processing unit 12 with said information about an extension/retraction each time it receives a command for extending or retracting one MGF 421, 422. Preferentially, the PSD control system 41 is configured for automatically providing the processing unit 12 with said information about an opening/closing of a PSD 111, 112 each time it receives a command for opening or closing said PSD 111, 112. Preferentially, the GVD control system 21 is configured for automatically providing the processing unit 12 with said information about an opening/closing of a GVD 211, 212 each time it receives a command for opening or closing said GVD 211, 212.

(7) In order to collect or receive said data, the processing unit 12 cooperates with the communication device 11. From the data received/collected from respectively the MGF control system 42, the PSD control system 41, and the GVD control system 21, the processing unit 12 is configured for determining, for each set comprising one PSD 111, 112, one MGF 421, 422, and one GVD 211, 212 wherein the PSD 111, 112, the MGF 421, 422, and the GVD 211, 212 are aligned with each other, respectively: an extension/retraction state of the MGF 421, 422 from said information about the MFG extension/retraction, the extension/retraction state being either fully extended, or partly extended, or retracted, and said determination taking place notably before an opening of a GVD 211, 212 or of a PSD 111, 112; an opening/closing state of the PSD 111, 112 from said information about the PSD opening/closing, the opening/closing state of the PSD being either fully opened, or partly opened, or closed, and said determination taking place notably before a retraction of the MGF 421, 422; and an opening/closing state of the GVD from said information about the opening/closing of the GVD 211, 212, said GVD opening/closing state being either fully opened, or partly opened, or closed, and said determination taking place notably before a retraction of the MGF 421, 422.

(8) According to a preferential embodiment of the present invention, for each set comprising one MGF, one PSD and one GVD that are aligned with each other when the guided vehicle is at standstill along a platform equipped with PSD, the processing unit 12 is configured for performing at least one of the following sendings (i)-(ii): (i) sending, before any opening of the PSD or GVD, a first signal to the PSD control system and to the GVD control system, wherein said first signal is configured for either triggering an opening of the PSD and GVD by respectively the PSD control system and the GVD control system if the state of the MGF is determined to be fully extended, or preventing the PSD control system and the GVD control system to open respectively the PSD and the GVD; (ii) sending, before any retraction of the MGF, a second signal to the MGF control system, wherein said second signal is configured for either preventing the MFG control system to retract the MGF if the state of the PSD or GVD is determined to be fully opened or partly opened, or triggering a retraction of the MGF by the MGF control system if the states of both the PSD and GVD are determined to be closed.

(9) According to the present invention, the first and the second signals might be distinct signals, or different states or values of a same signal generated by the processing unit. For example, the processing unit is configured for generating a single signal that is characterized by four states or values, two states corresponding to the first and second states of the first signal, and two states corresponding to the first and second states of the second signal. For instance, said single signal comprises a first state or value configured for triggering an opening of the PSD and GVD by respectively the PSD control system and the GVD control system and that corresponds to the first state of the first signal, a second state or value configured for preventing the PSD control system and the GVD control system to open respectively the PSD and the GVD and that corresponds to the second state of the first signal, a third state or value configured for triggering a retraction of the MGF by the MGF control system and that corresponds to the first state of the second signal, and a fourth state or value configured for preventing the MFG control system to retract the MGF and that corresponds to the second state of the second signal.

(10) To summarize, the present invention proposes to interlock a MGF, a PSD and a GVD so that: the full MGF extension is checked before any door (PSD/GVD) opening, avoiding therefore hazardous situations wherein the gap between a platform and a guided vehicle is not filled at all or partly filled and passengers are not warned of this danger before door opening; both GVD and PSD closed states are checked before MGF retraction in order to avoid unsafe situations wherein the MGF retracts while passengers are still on it.