DEVICE FOR REMOTE DEACTIVATION CONTROL OF AN OVERHEAD LINE

Abstract

A device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track. Accord including a first electrical conductor configured for connecting electrically to the overhead line of the segment of rail track, a second electrical conductor configured for connecting electrically to ground and/or a return line of the segment of rail track, a switch configured to enable and disable a connection between the first and second electrical conductors, control means configured to activate and deactivate the switch, and communication means configured for wireless communication with a remote communication device, for receiving a control signal from the remote communication device and for accordingly actuating the control means for activating and deactivating the switch, or for blocking the switch, wherein the communication means are configured for communication over a public telecommunication network.

Claims

1. A device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track, the device comprising: a first electrical conductor configured for connecting electrically to the overhead line of the segment of rail track; a second electrical conductor configured for connecting electrically to ground and/or a return line of the segment of rail track; a switch configured to enable and disable a connection between the first and second electrical conductors; a controller configured to activate and deactivate the switch; and a communicator configured for wireless communication with a remote communication device, for receiving a control signal from the remote communication device and for accordingly controlling the controller for activating and deactivating the switch, or for blocking the switch, wherein the communicator is configured for communication over a public telecommunication network.

2. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, wherein the communicator is configured for wireless and wired communication with a remote communication device for use near the overhead line that is to be grounded and for communication with the communication device of a central control centre.

3. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 2, wherein the communicator is configured to receive a control signal from the communication device of the central control centre and to correspondingly actuate the controller only to enable and disable the switch, as well as to receive a control signal from the remote communication device and correspondingly actuate the controller only to block the enabling and disabling of the switch.

4. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 3, wherein the communicator is configured for wired and wireless communication with the communicator of the central control centre, and wherein the communicator is further configured for wired and wireless communication with the communication device of the remote communicator.

5. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 3, wherein the switch has three positions, wherein a first position corresponds to interrupting a connection between the first and second electrical conductors, a second position corresponds to preparing to activate a connection between the first and second electrical conductors, and a third position corresponds to activating the connection between the first and second electrical conductors.

6. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 5, wherein the communicator is configured to actuate the controller to turn the switch between the first and the second positions in response to a control signal received by the communicator from the central control centre, and to actuate the controller to turn the switch between the second and the third positions in response to a control signal received wirelessly by the communicator from the wireless communication device for use near the overhead line that is to be grounded.

7. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, further comprising: a monitor configured to monitor the electrical connection between the first and second conductors and to emit an alarm signal to the controller when an active electrical connection is interrupted.

8. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery configured to power the device.

9. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, further comprising: a charging unit that is configured to charge the battery, wherein the charging unit is configured to be connected to an external solar panel in order to charge the battery with sunlight.

10. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 4, further comprising: a charging unit configured to be connected with an external solar panel to charge the battery with sunlight, and wherein a housing of the device includes an integrated solar panel that is connected with the charging unit.

11. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, wherein the communicator is configured for wireless cellular communication over a cellular mobile network including at least one of a 2G GSM, 2.5G GPRS or EDGE, 3G UMTS, HSDPA or LTE, 4G LTE Advanced, and GSM-R or FRMCS network.

12. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 1, wherein the communicator is implemented redundantly and is configured to establish at least two simultaneous wireless connections to the remote communication device.

13. The device for grounding an overhead line of a segment of rail track according to claim 12, wherein the at least two simultaneous wireless connections are established over different cellular mobile networks.

Description

[0059] The invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of a figure, in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a device according to an aspect of the invention.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device 30 according to the invention illustrated within an element of rail infrastructure 10.

[0062] The device 30 makes it possible to short-circuit an overhead line 12 of a segment of a rail track (for example, a section of track or several sections of track) with the return line 11. In the example shown, the return line is one of the rails. In practice, for most of the tracks in use, at least in the Netherlands, the overhead line 12 of the track is the voltage-conducting component and one of the rails 11 is used as the return line. Other embodiments are also possible, wherein the voltage-conducting component is configured as an extra third or fourth rail, for example, which is located below rather than above the train 20.

[0063] The train 20 makes electrical contact with the overhead line 12 by means of a so-called current collector 21, 22, also known as a pantograph. The upper side of the current collector comprises a slider or sliding contact and usually has a carbon component that ensures a good connection with the overhead line. Said component is subject to wear and must be replaced over time.

[0064] The train 20 makes electrical contact with the return line 11 by means of the wheels. In so doing, the train completes the electrical circuit between the overhead line 12 and the return line 11.

[0065] At times when maintenance is being performed, for example, the live overhead fine is de-energised, primarily in the interest of safety. This may also be done in order to perform a test, for example to check whether an overvoltage protection of the overhead line is still functioning satisfactorily. For this purpose, the device according to the invention has a first electrical conductor 31, which is configured for connecting electrically to the overhead line 12 of the segment of rail track. The device 30 also has a second electrical conductor 32, which is configured for connecting electrically to the ground and/or a return line 11 of the segment of rail track.

[0066] The device 30 further comprises a switch or relay or another means for electrically connecting the two conductors 31, 32, and it comprises control means that are configured to activate and deactivate the switch.

[0067] In addition, the device has communication means 30, which are configured for wireless communication 41 with a remote communication device 40 such as a remote server. Thus a control signal or message to actuate the control means in the device 30 can be received from the remote communication device 40. The control means of the device 30 can thereby turn the switch on or off. Communication 41 between the remote server 40 and the device 30 involves a public telecommunication network. With the device 30 according to the invention, it is possible to exercise control by means of commands received from the wireless communication means in the device via every possible means that can communicate with the server 40.

[0068] The power for the device 30 is preferably provided by an internal power supply, such as in the form of a battery. In practice, this will usually be a plurality of batteries, depending upon the capacity required and the reliability required in the event that one of the batteries or one of the cells of the batteries fails. The batteries are preferably lithium-ion or lithium-ion-polymer batteries, due to their favourable weight/capacity ratio and their ability to provide a high peak current.

[0069] The battery preferably has the capacity to power all of the components of the device 30 so that it is completely autonomous. The battery or batteries are preferably rechargeable by means of different connectors, e.g. via an external power connector, via which the battery can be supplied from the signal box or by means of a solar panel (not shown), or any other external power source. This may be a separate solar panel or power source connected to a charging unit (not shown). Preferably, however, the solar panel is an integral part of the housing, thereby reducing the likelihood of theft and damage.

[0070] The communication unit in the device 30 preferably communicates via a wireless cellular mobile network, such as the 2G GSM, 2.5G GPRS or EDGE, 3G UMTS, HSDPA or LTE, 4G LTE Advanced, GSM-R or FRMCS network. There are preferably even multiple connections with the central server 40 at the same time and preferably via different networks. This makes the connection particularly robust. Moreover, it becomes possible both to reliably enable the operation of the short circuit or grounding on-site and/or to check the status thereof, for example by authorising an assignment to on-site railway workers, safety employees or other locally present and authorised persons 51. However, these options may also be made available to people 52 who are not present on-site but remotely monitor the status or who establish, authorise and/or release to (on-site) track workers instructions to activate a short circuit or grounding.