Verification Of The Integrity Of A Train Of Vehicles

Abstract

A device for the verification of the integrity of a train of vehicles. In order to verify the integrity reliably and with little complexity, the device has a first communication device and is configured to transport the first communication device autonomously to a designated end of the train of vehicles.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An apparatus for verifying an integrity of a train of vehicles, the apparatus comprising: a first communication device to be mounted at a designated end of the train of vehicles, said first communication device being configured to communicate with a second communication device disposed at an opposite end of the train of vehicles opposite the designated end if the integrity exists; and the apparatus being configured to transport said first communication device independently to the designated end of the train of vehicles.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the designated end is located opposite to an end of the train of vehicles that has a driving vehicle.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the device is configured to transport the first communication device independently at least from the opposite end of the train of vehicles to the designated end of the train of vehicles.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first communication device is configured to independently overcome a distance between the opposite end and the designated end of the train of vehicles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, which comprises a fastening device configured for a repeated releasable fastening of said first communication device at the designated end and configured to actuate said fastening device independently.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said fastening device is a part of said first communication device and/or said communication device is configured to actuate said fastening device independently.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, which comprises a transport device for independently transporting said first communication device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said transport device is a part of said first communication device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said transport device is a device selected from the group consisting of an independently moving vehicle, an independently flying aircraft and an independently moving walking machine.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first communication device comprises a sensor device configured to recognize further elements on a supposed end of the train of vehicles.

Description

[0023] The invention will now be described by way of example on the basis of embodiments relating to the drawings. The different features of the embodiments can be combined independently of one another, as already shown with the individual advantageous embodiments. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,

[0025] FIGS. 2 and 3 shows different exemplary embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, and

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic representation of the exemplary embodiment of one of the FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0027] Firstly, the structure and function of an apparatus according to the invention for the verification of the integrity of a train of vehicles is described making reference to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 1 for the verification of the integrity of a train of vehicles with a train of vehicles 2 shown, by way of example, as a railway train. The train of vehicles 2 has a first end 3 and a second end 4 arranged opposite to the first end 3. The second end 4 is provided with a driving vehicle 5, shown by way of example as a locomotive. The apparatus 1 is represented with a first communication device 6 and a second communication device 7. The communication devices 6, 7 are configured to communicate with one another. For example, the communication devices 6, 7 communicate wirelessly, that is for example, via radio and/or by means of light or sound.

[0029] The second communication device 7 can be arranged on the driving vehicle 5 of the second end 4 of the train of vehicles 2. For example, the second communication device 7 is fastened to the second end 4 or is even an integral component of the second end 4, for example, of the driving vehicle 5. The first communication device 6 can be mounted non-permanently on the second end 4 of the train of vehicles 2.

[0030] In order to be able to monitor the integrity of the train of vehicles 2, the apparatus 1 is configured to transport the first communication device 6 independently to the first end 3, which is designated for the first communication device 6, of the train of vehicles 2. The transportation of the communication device 6 to the first end 3 can entail the first communication device 6 being transported from the second end 4 to the first end 3. Alternatively, the communication device 6 can also be transported to the first end 3 from a site other than from the second end 4. Thus the first communication device 6 can be transported from an element 8 of the train of vehicles 2 following the second end 4 in the direction toward the first end 3, to the first end 3. The first end 3 can thereby comprise a further element 8 of the train of vehicles 2 or can be formed thereby. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus 1 can be configured to transport the first communication device 6 from another location that is, for example spaced from the train of vehicles, to the first end 3. In particular, the apparatus 1 is configured to transport the first communication device 6 to a new first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2 if a further element 8 is hitched to the previous first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the elements 8 are represented as wagons of a railway train.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows schematically a further exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1. For elements which correspond in function and/or structure to elements of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the same reference signs are used. For the sake of brevity, merely the differences from the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 are considered below.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the first communication device 6 is part of a transport device 9 which transports the communication device 6 to the second end of 4 of the train of vehicles 2. The transport device 9 is configured, for example, as an aircraft and, in particular, as a drone. Alternatively, the first communication device 6 and the transport device 9 can also be configured separately from one another wherein the transport device 9 is configured to transport the first communication device 6.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows schematically a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus 1. For elements which correspond in function and/or structure to elements of the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 2, the same reference signs are used. For the sake of brevity, merely the differences from the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 are considered below.

[0035] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the transport device 9 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 is configured as a walking machine and, in particular, as a walking robot which walks on the upper side of the train of vehicles 2 to the first end 3. The walking machine can have at least two and, for example, four, six, eight or more walking extremities. Alternatively, the transport device 9 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 can also walk beside the train of vehicles 2 or beside a route for the train of vehicles 2 to the first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2 or can be configured as a vehicle.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows optionally, one of the previous exemplary embodiments, schematically.

[0037] In FIG. 4, the first communication device 6 is arranged on the last element 8 of the train of vehicles 2. The last element 8 of the train of vehicles 2 forms the first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2. In particular, the first communication device 6 is shown arranged on the free end of the train of vehicles 2. The first communication device 6 can comprise a sensor device 10 which recognizes a further element which is hitched to the train of vehicles 2. If a further element is recognized, then the previous first, and designated for the communication device 6, end 3 is no longer the current first, and designated for the first communication device 6, end 3 of the train of vehicles 2. Consequently, the transport device 9 which can be connected in a signal transmitting manner to the first communication device 6 can, by means of a sensor signal of the sensor device 10, which signal is representative of a further element on the train of vehicles 2, transport the first communication device 6 to the new first end 3.

[0038] The elements 8, the first communication device 6 and/or the transport device 9 can comprise at least one fastening device for fastening the first communication device 6 to the element 8 which forms the first end 3.

[0039] If the first communication device 6 is arranged on the first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2 and if the second communication device 7 is arranged on the second end 4, located opposite to the first end 3 of the train of vehicles 2, then the communication devices 6, 7 can be configured, despite the distance between the communication devices 6, 7, to communicate with one another. If the distance between the communication devices 6, 7 changes, this can be recognized by one of the communication devices 6, 7 or by an evaluation unit which can be provided, for example, in the driving vehicle 5. For example, a decrease in the strength of a communication signal exchanged between the communication devices 6, 7 can decrease with an increasing distance between the communication devices 6, 7. The decreasing signal strength represents a loss of the integrity of the train of vehicles 2, since the increasing distance between the communication devices 6, 7 could be triggered by a breaking of the train of vehicles 2. For example, the train of vehicles 2 can break apart if an element 8 of the train of vehicles 2 and for example a carriage of the train of vehicles 2 loses the coupling to an element 8 traveling ahead of it.

[0040] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail based on preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the examples given and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the protective scope of the invention.