Method for switching a train on and off, and route and train configuration for carrying out the method

Abstract

A method and a route and train configuration for switching a train off and on in a parking position include a train side automatic train control device and a route side train monitoring system. In order to switch the train on and off economically and independently from personnel, the following steps are provided: A) entering the parking position, wherein a train reclosing unit, together with a route side coupling module connected to the train monitoring system, establishes an electrical connection; B) switching off train side subsystems using the train control device; C) shutting down and switching off the train control device; D) event triggered reactivation of the train control device using the train reclosing unit; E) switching on remaining train subsystems by using the train control device, and F) exiting the parking position, while separating electrical connection between the reclosing unit and the coupling module.

Claims

1. A method for switching a train off and on in a parking position, the method comprising the following steps: providing a train-side automatic train control device and a route-side train monitoring system; A) moving the train into the parking position, establishing an electrical connection between a train-side train reclosing unit and a route-side coupling module being connected to the train monitoring system and supplying the train reclosing unit with power from the coupling module through the electrical connection; B) switching-off train-side subsystems by using the train control device; C) shutting-down and switching-off the train control device; D) carrying out event-triggered reactivation of the train control device aided by the train-side train reclosing unit; E) switching-on subsystems of the train by using the train control device; and F) exiting the parking position and separating the electrical connection between the train reclosing unit and the coupling module.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises following step B) cutting-off traction current by using the train monitoring system.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises triggering activation of the train reclosing unit according to step D) by at least one or a combination of the following events: reaching a preset time, completion of a preset time interval, restoration of a traction voltage, undershooting of a minimum air pressure in a brake system, drop in temperature below a first threshold, rise in temperature above a second threshold, reaching a temperature-dependent lead time before the preset time, radio reception of an activation command from the automatic train monitoring system or manual activation.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises between an activation of the train reclosing unit according to step D) and a possible start of a journey, providing a time interval for ramping-up the subsystems, including filling a main air reservoir, self tests and possibly air conditioning.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises using the train monitoring system to monitor the electrical connection between the train reclosing unit and the coupling module.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises assigning the parking position to a coupling-module-specific identification being stored on a hard disk drive of the train and used in step D) for initialization of the automatic train control device.

7. A route and train configuration for switching a train off and on in a parking position, the route and train configuration comprising: a route-side train monitoring system; a route-side coupling module; a communication interface connecting said coupling module to said train monitoring system; a train-side train reclosing unit to be electrically connected to said route-side coupling module in the parking position by an electrical connection for supplying said train-side train reclosing unit with power from said coupling module through said electrical connection; a train-side automatic train control device to be reactivated with the aid of said train reclosing unit after deactivation; and train-side subsystems to be switched off and on by said train control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SINGLE VIEW OF THE DRAWING

(1) The FIGURE shows a configuration for automated driving in a parking region of a route infrastructure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) The configuration is shown after a train 1 has entered a parking region. The train 1 is standing on a track 2 and has an electrical connection 4 to a coupling module 3 of a specific ID. For the train control, an automatic train monitoring system 5 is provided on the route side, which is connected via a wireless communication interface 6 to the coupling module 3. For the automatic train control, the train 1 is equipped with a train control device 7 which actuates various subsystems 8 of the train 1. The automatic train control device 7 is also connected to a train reclosing unit 9, which is supplied with power from the coupling module 3 external to the train via the electrical connection 4. Further connectors 10 on the train reclosing unit 9 are in particular used as trigger inputs for event-dependent, for example time-dependent and/or traction-voltage-dependent and/or activation-command-dependent, actuation of the train reclosing unit 9.

(3) The following method is provided for the fully automatic switching-off and reactivation of the train 1 in the parking position:

(4) The train 1 enters the parking position. This is achieved when the electrical connection 4 between the train reclosing unit 9 and power source external to the train the coupling module 3 on the route side locks into place. As a result, the parking position is known in accordance with the ID of the connected coupling module 3. After this, the automatic train control device 7 is activated by the train monitoring system 5 so that the automatic train control device 7 shuts down subsystems 8 on the train side. Following this, the automatic train control device 7 can itself be shut down and de-energized. The train reclosing unit 9 is not required for these switching-off processes. The traction current is switched off by the train monitoring system 5. Now, only the train reclosing unit 9 is supplied with powerexternally.

(5) When, following the completion of the parking time, the train monitoring system 5 switches the traction current back on and the train reclosing unit 9 receives a radio pulse from the train monitoring system 4, the train reclosing unit 9 switches on the train control device 7, which receives the position data for the self-initialization from the coupling module 3 and ramps up the subsystems 8. The train 1 can nowfollowing self tests, filling with compressed air, possibly air conditioning etcreceive journey instructions from the train monitoring system 5 and decouple the electrical connection 4 between the train reclosing unit 9 and the coupling module 3 on exiting. Very few mobile members of staff 11 are required to intervene in the event of a power supply.

(6) The train reclosing unit 9 enables the train control device 7 to be switched off so that there is no need for a large battery to bridge periods with different lengths when the traction current is switched off in order not to lose the position data for the initialization. In addition, it is always possible to switch off the traction current in the parking position. Since the power supply to the train reclosing unit 9 is provided externally with the coupling module 3 in the parking position, the train reclosing unit 9 also does not require a battery current supply. Finally, this results in a saving of energy and a battery-free train device thus enabling more energy-efficient travel.