MONITORING UNIT FOR MONITORING A RAILWAY TRACK AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A RAILWAY TRACK

Abstract

A monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track is provided. The monitoring unit may include a processing unit, at least one wheel sensor connectable to a rail of the railway track, and a sensor arrangement connectable to a railway switch of the railway track. The wheel sensor and the sensor arrangement may be connected with the processing unit, and the processing unit may include an output that is connectable to a signaling system. Furthermore, a method for monitoring a railway track is provided.

Claims

1. A monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track, the monitoring unit comprising: a processing unit; at least one wheel sensor connectable to a rail of the railway track; and a sensor arrangement connectable to a railway switch of the railway track, wherein: the wheel sensor and the sensor arrangement are connected with the processing unit; and the processing unit comprises an output that is connectable to a signaling system.

2. The monitoring unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive signals detected by the wheel sensor or signals detected by the sensor arrangement.

3. The monitoring unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a sensor that is configured to measure a spatial position of at least a segment of a movable railway element of the railway switch in a contactless measurement and to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element.

4. The monitoring unit according to claim 3, wherein the movable railway element comprises a tongue rail.

5. The monitoring unit according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is configured to differentiate between at least three different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element.

6. The monitoring unit according to claim 3, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to provide a sensor signal to the processing unit, and the sensor signal comprises the measured spatial position.

7. The monitoring unit according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide an output signal at its output to the signaling system, and the output signal comprises information from the sensor signal.

8. The monitoring unit according to claim 1, wherein the wheel sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

9. The monitoring unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a position signal from the wheel sensor, the processing unit is configured to provide an output signal at its output to the signaling system, and the output signal comprises information from the position signal.

10. The monitoring unit according to claim 9, wherein the position signal comprises the information that a wheel of a rail vehicle passed a position of the wheel sensor.

11. A method for monitoring a railway track, the method comprising: detecting at least one position signal by a wheel sensor connected to a rail of the railway track; transferring the position signal to a processing unit; detecting at least one sensor signal by a sensor arrangement connected with a railway switch of the railway track; transferring the sensor signal to the processing unit; and providing an output signal by the processing unit to a signaling system.

12. The method for monitoring a railway track according to claim 11, wherein the output signal comprises information from the position signal and information from the sensor signal.

13. The method for monitoring a railway track according to claim 11, wherein a spatial position of at least a segment of a movable railway element of the railway switch is measured in a contactless measurement by a sensor of the sensor arrangement, and wherein the sensor is configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element.

14. The method for monitoring a railway track according to claim 13, wherein the sensor signal comprises the measured spatial position.

15. The method for monitoring a railway track according to claim 11, wherein the position signal comprises the information that a wheel of a rail vehicle passed a position of the wheel sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] 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.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of the monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of the monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track with a railway switch.

[0053] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate an example embodiment of the sensor arrangement of the monitoring unit.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a top view on an example embodiment of a sensor arrangement.

[0055] FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of a method for monitoring a railway track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view on an example embodiment of a monitoring unit 28 for monitoring a railway track. The monitoring unit 28 comprises a processing unit 29. The processing unit 29 is arranged spaced apart from the railway track. The monitoring unit 28 further comprises three wheel sensors 30 that are each connected to a rail 23 of the railway track, respectively. FIG. 1 shows a part of the railway track. In this part the railway track comprises a railway switch 21. The three wheel sensors 30 are arranged at different positions around the railway switch 21. Each wheel sensor 30 is connected to a rail 23 by a rail claw 22, respectively.

[0057] The monitoring unit 28 further comprises four sensor arrangements 20 that are each connected to a rail 23 of the railway switch 21 of the railway track. The sensor arrangements 20 each comprise a rail claw 22 that is connected to a rail 23 of the railway switch 21, respectively. The rail 23 can be a stock rail, respectively.

[0058] The wheel sensors 30 and the sensor arrangements 20 are connected with the processing unit 29. The processing unit 29 comprises an output 35 that is connected to a signaling system 43.

[0059] In FIG. 1, the three wheel sensors 30 are numbered as a first wheel sensor 38, a second wheel sensor 39 and a third wheel sensor 40. Furthermore, the sensor arrangements 20 are numbered as a first sensor arrangement 41, a second sensor arrangement 42, a third sensor arrangement 44 and a fourth sensor arrangement 45. The first wheel sensor 38 is connected with the processing unit 29. The second wheel sensor 39 is connected with the first wheel sensor 38. The first sensor arrangement 41 is connected with the second wheel sensor 39. The second sensor arrangement 42 is connected with the first sensor arrangement 41. The third sensor arrangement 44 is connected with the second sensor arrangement 42. The fourth sensor arrangement 45 is connected with the third sensor arrangement 44. The third wheel sensor 40 is connected with the fourth sensor arrangement 45. In this way, the wheel sensors 38, 39, 40 and the sensor arrangements 41, 42, 44, 45 are connected with the processing unit 29. The connections can be formed by cables or in a wireless way. The processing unit 29 is configured to receive signals detected by the wheel sensors 30 and signals detected by the sensor arrangements 20.

[0060] Each 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 switch 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 movable railway element 25 comprises a tongue rail 26. The railway switch 21 shown in FIG. 1 comprises two movable railway elements 25. Adjacent to each of the movable railway elements 25 a rail 23 of the railway switch 21 is arranged. To each of the rails 23 two sensor arrangements 20 are connected. For the four sensor arrangements 20 the sensor 24 is arranged below the respective movable railway element 25.

[0061] For each sensor arrangement 20 it is also possible that the sensor 24 is configured to differentiate between at least three different spatial positions of the segment 34 of the movable railway element 25. Each sensor arrangement 20 is configured to provide a sensor signal to the processing unit 29 and the sensor signal comprises the measured spatial position. The processing unit 29 is configured to provide an output signal at its output 35 to the signaling system 43 and the output signal comprises information from the sensor signal.

[0062] Each wheel sensor 30 comprises an inductive sensor. It is also possible that each wheel sensor 30 comprises two inductive sensors. The processing unit 29 is configured to receive a position signal from each wheel sensor 30, the processing unit 29 is configured to provide an output signal at its output 35 to the signaling system 43 and the output signal comprises information from the position signals. Each position signal comprises the information that a wheel of a rail vehicle passed the position of the respective wheel sensor 30.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of the monitoring unit 28 with a railway switch 21. The railway switch comprises a movable railway element 25. In FIG. 2, a front part 46 of the movable railway element 25 is not in direct contact with a rail 23 of the railway switch. The rail 23 is a stock rail. The movable railway element 25 is arranged spaced apart from the rail 23. In this arrangement rail vehicles can move from the left to the top right position in FIG. 2 or the other way around. In another state the movable railway element 25 can be in direct contact with the rail 23. In this arrangement a rail vehicle can move from the left to the bottom right position in FIG. 2 or the other way around. For a safe railway traffic it is necessary to monitor the position of the movable railway element 25.

[0064] The processing unit 29 is arranged spaced apart from the railway track. One wheel sensor 30 is connected to the rail 23 and one sensor arrangement 20 is connected to the rail 23 of the railway switch 21. The wheel sensor 30 and the sensor arrangement 20 are connected with the processing unit 29 and the processing unit 29 comprises an output 35 that is connectable to a signaling system 43.

[0065] In FIG. 3, a cross section through another example embodiment of the sensor arrangement 20 is shown. FIG. 3 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 rail 23 is comprised by the railway switch 21. 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. 3.

[0066] In FIG. 3, 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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. 3 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows the same cross section through the sensor arrangement 20 as FIG. 3 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 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows the same cross section through the sensor arrangement 20 as FIG. 3 but the movable railway element 25 is arranged at a different position. In FIG. 5 the movable railway element 25 is arranged at a position between the position shown in FIG. 3 and the position shown in FIG. 4. The movable railway element 25 is not in direct contact with the rail 23 and arranged spaced apart from the rail 23.

[0073] FIG. 6 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. 6 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. 6. 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. 6.

[0074] FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of the method for monitoring a railway track. In a first step S1 of the method at least one position signal detected by the wheel sensor 30 that is connected to a rail 23 of the railway track. In a second step S2 of the method the position signal is transmitted to the processing unit 29. In a third step S3 of the method at least one sensor signal is detected by the sensor arrangement 20 that is connected with the railway switch 21. In a fourth step S4 of the method the sensor signal is transferred to the processing unit 29. The second step S2 of the method is carried out after the first step S1 of the method. The fourth step S4 of the method is carried out after the third step S3 of the method. The first step S1 and the third step S3 can be carried out in any order or at the same time. In a fifth step S5 of the method an output signal is provided by the processing unit 29 to the signaling system 43. The output signal comprises information from the position signal and information from the sensor signal. For obtaining the sensor signal a spatial position of at least a segment 34 of the movable railway element 25 is measured in a contactless measurement by the sensor 24 of the sensor arrangement 20. The sensor signal comprises the measured spatial position. The position signal comprises the information that a wheel of a rail vehicle passed the position of the wheel sensor 30.

[0075] This patent application claims priority from European patent application 21203954.9, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0076] 20 sensor arrangement [0077] 21 railway switch [0078] 22 rail claw [0079] 23 rail [0080] 24 sensor [0081] 25 movable railway element [0082] 26 tongue rail [0083] 28 monitoring unit [0084] 29 processing unit [0085] 30 wheel sensor [0086] 31 clamp part [0087] 32 screw [0088] 33 top part [0089] 34 segment [0090] 35 output [0091] 36 first edge [0092] 37 second edge [0093] 38 first wheel sensor [0094] 39 second wheel sensor [0095] 40 third wheel sensor [0096] 41 first sensor arrangement [0097] 42 second sensor arrangement [0098] 43 signaling system [0099] 44 third sensor arrangement [0100] 45 fourth sensor arrangement [0101] 46 front part [0102] x lateral direction [0103] S1-S5 steps