METHOD FOR MONITORING A RAILWAY SYSTEM AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A RAILWAY SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for monitoring a railway system is provided. The method may include arranging a sensor below a movable railway element of the railway system, and measuring a spatial position of at least a segment of the movable railway element by a contactless measurement by the sensor. The sensor may be configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element, and the respective spatial position may relate to the distance between the segment of the movable railway element and a rail of the railway system. Furthermore, a sensor arrangement for a railway system is provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a railway system, the method comprising: arranging a sensor below a movable railway element of the railway system; and measuring a spatial position of at least a segment of the movable railway element by a contactless measurement by the sensor, wherein: the sensor is configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element; and the respective spatial position relates to a distance between the segment of the movable railway element and a rail of the railway system.

2. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein the movable railway element comprises a tongue rail.

3. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to differentiate between a plurality of different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element.

4. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial position of the segment of the movable railway element is measured for a first arrangement of the movable railway element, where in the first arrangement of the movable railway element, the segment of the movable railway element is in its closest position with respect to the rail, and the spatial position of the segment of the movable railway element is measured for a second arrangement of the movable railway element, where in the second arrangement of the movable railway element, the segment of the movable railway element is arranged spaced apart from the rail.

5. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 4, wherein in the second arrangement of the movable railway element, the segment of the movable railway element is arranged at its maximum distance from the rail.

6. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 4, wherein the spatial position measured for the first arrangement of the movable railway element and the spatial position measured for the second arrangement of the movable railway element are saved by the sensor as reference positions.

7. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 4, wherein in the first arrangement of the movable railway element, a first edge of the movable railway element is detected by the sensor, a second edge of the movable railway element is arranged opposite to the first edge, and the second edge is not arranged above the sensor in the first arrangement.

8. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 7, wherein in the second arrangement of the movable railway element, the second edge of the movable railway element is detected by the sensor, and the first edge is not arranged above the sensor in the second arrangement.

9. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein a passing range of spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element is selected, and a pass signal is provided for a case in which a spatial position within the passing range is measured.

10. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein a stopping range of spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element is selected, and a stop signal is provided for a case in which a spatial position within the stopping range is measured.

11. The method for monitoring a railway system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial position of the segment of the movable railway element is measured at different points in time for a case in which the segment of the movable railway element is in its closest position with respect to the rail.

12. A sensor arrangement for a railway system, the sensor arrangement comprising: a sensor that is configured to measure a spatial position of at least a segment of a movable railway element of the railway system in a contactless measurement and to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element, wherein: the sensor is configured to be arranged below the movable railway element; and the respective spatial position relates to a distance between the segment of the movable railway element and a rail of the railway system.

13. The sensor arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises at least one metal sensor.

14. The sensor arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises at least one inductive sensor.

15. The sensor arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises at least one capacitive sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The following description of figures may further illustrate and explain example embodiments. Components that are functionally identical or have an identical effect are denoted by identical references. Identical or effectively identical components might be described only with respect to the figures where they occur first. Their description is not necessarily repeated in successive figures.

[0046] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example embodiment of the sensor arrangement.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the method for monitoring a railway system.

[0048] FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate example embodiments of the method for monitoring a railway system.

[0049] FIG. 8 shows a further example embodiment of the sensor arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a sensor arrangement 20 for a railway system 21. The sensor arrangement 20 is arranged at the railway system 21 which is a railway switch. The sensor arrangement 20 comprises a sensor 24 that is configured to measure a spatial position of at least a segment 34 of a movable railway element 25 of the railway system 21 in a contactless measurement and to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25. The respective spatial position relates to the distance between the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 and a rail 23 of the railway system 21. The sensor 24 is arranged below the movable railway element 25 without mechanical contact to the movable railway element 25. The movable railway element 25 can comprise a tongue rail 26 of the railway switch. The railway switch also comprises the rail 23. The rail 23 can be a stock rail. The movable railway element 25 can be moved between two different end positions. In one end position, a front part of the movable railway element 25 is in direct contact or close to direct contact with the rail 23 at a connection point 27. In the other end position, the distance between the movable railway element 25 and the rail 23 is large enough so that wheels of a rail vehicle can pass between the rail 23 and the movable railway element 25 without a derailment of the rail vehicle.

[0051] The sensor 24 can comprise at least one metal sensor, at least one inductive sensor or at least one capacitive sensor. The sensor 24 can be configured to differentiate between at least three or a plurality of different spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of the sensor arrangement 20 mounted to the rail 23 of the railway system 21. The sensor arrangement 20 comprises a rail claw 22 that is connected to the rail 23 of the railway system 21. FIG. 2 shows a top view on the rail 23. The rail claw 22 is arranged below the rail 23. Thus, only parts of the rail claw 22 are visible in FIG. 2. The sensor 24 is mechanically connected with the rail claw 22. Adjacent to the rail 23 the movable railway element 25 is arranged. The sensor 24 is arranged below the movable railway element 25. Therefore, the sensor 24 is not visible in FIG. 2.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the method for monitoring a railway system 21. In a first step S1 of the method the sensor 24 is arranged below the movable railway element 25. In a second step S2 of the method the spatial position of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is measured by a contactless measurement by the sensor 24. The sensor 24 is configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 and the sensor 24 can be configured to differentiate between a plurality of different spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25. In optional further steps Sn of the method the spatial position of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is measured at different points in time for the case that the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is in its closest position with respect to the rail 23 or for other arrangements of the movable railway element 25.

[0054] FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate example embodiments of the method for monitoring a railway system 21.

[0055] In FIG. 4, a cross section through another example embodiment of the sensor arrangement 20 is shown. FIG. 4 shows a side view where a cross section through the rail 23 is shown. A rail claw 22 is arranged below the rail 23 and fixed to the rail 23 with two clamp parts 31. The different parts of the rail claw 22 are connected with each other by screws 32. The sensor 24 is arranged adjacent to the rail claw 22 and mechanically connected with the rail claw 22. Above the sensor 24 and adjacent to the rail 23, the movable railway element 25 is arranged. The sensor 24 is arranged spaced apart from the movable railway element 25. This means, the sensor 24 and the movable railway element 25 are not in mechanical contact. The movable railway element 25 is configured to be moved along a lateral direction x. The lateral direction x is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4.

[0056] In FIG. 4, an arrangement of the movable railway element 25 is shown, which is referred to as a first arrangement. In the first arrangement of the movable railway element 25 the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is in its closest position with respect to the rail 23. In this case the movable railway element 25 is in direct contact with the rail 23. A top part 33 of the movable railway element 25 has a shape which fits to the shape of the top part 33 of the rail 23. At the side facing the movable railway element 25, the rail 23 comprises a region whose shape is adapted to the shape of the movable railway element 25. This means, the top part 33 of the rail 23 comprises a surface which faces the top part 33 of the movable railway element 25 and which extends parallel to a surface of the movable railway element 25 which faces the rail 23. This shape of the rail 23 and the movable railway element 25 enables this closed position of the movable railway element 25 where it is in direct contact with the rail 23. Because of the two surfaces extending parallel to each other a slit between the rail 23 and the movable railway element 25 in the closed position is avoided.

[0057] In an optional step of the method the spatial position of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is measured for the first arrangement of the movable railway element 25. The measured spatial position can be saved as a first reference position.

[0058] The sensor 24 can comprise a plurality of sensor components as for example coils. The sensor components can each be configured to detect the movement of electrically conductive material within a sensing range of the respective sensor component. By employing a plurality of sensor components the sensing range of the sensor 24 can be increased. The movable railway element 25 can comprise an electrically conductive material.

[0059] The movable railway element 25 comprises a first edge 36 and a second edge 37 which is arranged opposite to the first edge 36. In FIG. 4, the second edge 37 is arranged closer to the rail 23 than the first edge 36. In the first arrangement the second edge 37 is not arranged above the sensor 24. However, the first edge 36 is arranged above the sensor 24. The first edge 36 of the movable railway element 25 is detected by the sensor 24.

[0060] If the sensor 24 comprises a plurality of coils, each coil has a sensing range within which it is configured to sense the movement of electrically conductive material. This means, if the movable railway element 25 enters the sensing range of a coil, the coil is partially damped. Thus, this movement of the movable railway element 25 can be detected. Once the movable railway element 25 extends over the whole sensing range of a coil, the coil is fully damped and a further movement of the movable railway element 25 does not change the state of the coil. This means, in this situation a further movement of the movable railway element 25 cannot be detected by the coil. A further movement of the movable railway element 25 can only be detected once the movable railway element 25 does not extend over the whole sensing range of the coil anymore. By evaluating the signals of the plurality of coils, the position of the movable railway element 25 can be determined. In the first arrangement the movement of the first edge 36 induces a change in the signal of the sensor 24. Thus, the first edge 36 of the movable railway element 25 is detected by the sensor 24.

[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates another optional step of the method. FIG. 5 shows the same cross section through the sensor arrangement 20 as FIG. 4 but the movable railway element 25 is arranged at a different position. The movable railway element 25 is arranged in a second arrangement where the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is arranged spaced apart from the rail 23. This means, that in the second arrangement the segment 34 is arranged spaced apart from the rail 23 further than in the first arrangement. In another optional step of the method the spatial position of the segment 34 is measured for the second arrangement of the movable railway element 25. In the second arrangement of the movable railway element 25 the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 can be arranged at its maximum distance from the rail 23. The spatial position measured for the second arrangement can be saved as a second reference position.

[0062] In the second arrangement the first edge 36 of the movable railway element 25 is not arranged above the sensor 24 and the second edge 37 is arranged above the sensor 24. Thus, in the second arrangement the second edge 37 of the movable railway element 25 is detected by the sensor 24.

[0063] In another optional step of the method a passing range of spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is selected, and a pass signal is provided for the case that a spatial position within the passing range is measured.

[0064] In another optional step of the method a stopping range of spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is selected, and a stop signal is provided for the case that a spatial position within the stopping range is measured.

[0065] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another optional step of the method. FIG. 6 shows the same cross section through the sensor arrangement 20 as FIG. 4 but the movable railway element 25 is arranged at a different position. In FIG. 6, the movable railway element 25 is arranged at a position between the position shown in FIG. 4 and the position shown in FIG. 5. The movable railway element 25 is not in direct contact with the rail 23 and arranged spaced apart from the rail 23.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows the same configuration as FIG. 6 with the only difference that a plate 30 is arranged between the rail 23 and the movable railway element 25. The plate 30 is in direct contact with the rail 23 and with the movable railway element 25. Thus, the movable railway element 25 cannot reach its closest position with respect to the rail 23 but is kept at a distance which is given by the size of the plate 30. The size of the plate 30 can be selected in such a way that it has the size of the largest slit between the rail 23 and the movable railway element 25 which is allowed for the closed position of the movable railway element 25. In this way, the arrangement delimiting the passing range is reached. For this arrangement the spatial position of the segment 34 is measured in another optional step of the method. The measured spatial position can be saved by the sensor 24 as a further reference position.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a top view on another example embodiment of the sensor arrangement 20. In comparison to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sensor arrangement 20 further comprises a further sensor 29 that is configured to measure a spatial position of at least a further segment 35 of the movable railway element 25 by a contactless measurement and to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the further segment 35 of the movable railway element 25. The further sensor 29 is arranged below the further segment 35. With this sensor arrangement 20 different segments 34, 35 of the movable railway element 25 can be monitored.

[0068] This patent application claims priority from European patent application 21203953.1, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0069] 20 sensor arrangement [0070] 21 railway system [0071] 22 rail claw [0072] 23 rail [0073] 24 sensor [0074] 25 movable railway element [0075] 26 tongue rail [0076] 27 connection point [0077] 28 further rail claw [0078] 29 further sensor [0079] 30 plate [0080] 31 clamp part [0081] 32 screw [0082] 33 top part [0083] 34 segment [0084] 35 further segment [0085] 36 first edge [0086] 37 second edge [0087] x lateral direction [0088] S1, S2, Sn steps