Interface Adapter for Controlling a Track-Side Object of a Railway Installation

Abstract

An interface adapter for controlling a track-side object of a railway installation includes an analog input from an external source and an analog output to drive an electromechanical relay circuit. A bidirectional digital communication interface communicates digital data including first digital data transmitted and second digital data received. An analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog input is configured to generate a first digital signal representing the electrical input. A digital-to-analog converter coupled to the analog output is configured to generate the electrical output in response to a second digital signal. A power supply supplies electrical power to the digital-to-analog converter. A programmable logic control circuit includes a control program configured to produce the first digital data from the first digital signal, transmit the first digital data using the digital communication interface, process the second digital data, and produce the second digital signal in response to the second digital data.

Claims

1. An interface adapter for controlling a track-side object of a railway installation, the interface adapter comprising: an analog input configured to receive an electrical input from an external source, wherein the electrical input includes at least one of an analog input current and an analog input voltage; an analog output configured to output an electrical output to drive an electromechanical relay circuit, wherein the electrical output includes at least one of an analog output current and an analog output voltage; a bidirectional digital communication interface configured to communicate digital data according to a defined digital communication protocol, wherein the digital data includes (i) first digital data transmitted via the digital communication interface and (ii) second digital data received via the digital communication interface; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog input and configured to generate a first digital signal representing the electrical input; a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the analog output and configured to generate the electrical output in response to a second digital signal; a programmable logic control circuit including a control program; and a power supply configured to supply electrical power at least to the digital-to-analog converter, wherein the control program is configured to: produce the first digital data from the first digital signal, transmit the first digital data using the digital communication interface, process the second digital data, and produce the second digital signal in response to the second digital data.

2. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising: a threshold detector configured to detect a defined threshold level of the electrical input, wherein the control program is configured to produce the first digital data depending on the defined threshold level.

3. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising: a device housing accommodating the programmable logic control circuit, the analog-to-digital converter, the digital-to-analog converter, and the power supply, wherein the device housing includes a plurality of connecting terminals for connecting a plurality of wires, wherein the at least one analog input is associated with at least one respective first connecting terminal from the plurality of connecting terminals, and wherein the at least one analog output is associated with at least one respective second connecting terminal from the plurality of connecting terminals.

4. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of analog inputs, wherein the control program is configured to: produce a plurality of respective first digital data each associated with a respective one from the plurality of analog inputs, and transmit the plurality of respective first digital data using the digital communication interface.

5. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of analog outputs, wherein the control program is configured to: process a plurality of respective second digital data received via the digital communication interface, and produce a plurality of respective second digital signals each associated with one from the plurality of respective second digital data.

6. The interface adapter of claim 1 wherein the digital communication protocol is an Ethernet-based communication protocol used via an optical fiber communication cable.

7. The interface adapter of claim 1 wherein the digital communication protocol is a Rail Safe Transportation Application protocol as defined in German Standard DIN VDE V 0831-200 or European Standard EN 50159 respectively.

8. The interface adapter of claim 1 wherein the programmable logic control circuit employs a failsafe design.

9. The interface adapter of claim 8 wherein the programmable logic control circuit employs multi-channel redundancy.

10. A railway installation comprising: a plurality of railway tracks; a plurality of track-side objects; an interlocking including a plurality of interconnected relays and implementing a defined control logic associated with the plurality of track-side objects in order to control railway traffic on the plurality of tracks; and an interface adapter including: an analog input configured to receive an electrical input from an external source, wherein the electrical input includes at least one of an analog input current and an analog input voltage, an analog output configured to output an electrical output to drive an electromechanical relay circuit, wherein the electrical output includes at least one of an analog output current and an analog output voltage, a bidirectional digital communication interface configured to communicate digital data according to a defined digital communication protocol, wherein the digital data includes (i) first digital data transmitted via the digital communication interface and (ii) second digital data received via the digital communication interface, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog input and configured to generate a first digital signal representing the electrical input, a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the analog output and configured to generate the electrical output in response to a second digital signal, a programmable logic control circuit including a control program, and a power supply configured to supply electrical power at least to the digital-to-analog converter, wherein the control program is configured to: produce the first digital data from the first digital signal, transmit the first digital data using the digital communication interface, process the second digital data, and produce the second digital signal in response to the second digital data, wherein the interface adapter is connected to the interlocking via the at least one analog input and via the at least one analog output, and wherein the interface adapter is further connected to at least one track-side object from the plurality of track-side objects via the bidirectional digital communication interface.

11. The railway installation of claim 10 further comprising: at least one dedicated object controller connected to the interface adapter via the bidirectional digital communication interface and connected to the at least one track-side object, wherein the at least one track-side object comprises a moveable element, and wherein the at least one dedicated object controller is configured to drive the moveable element.

12. The railway installation of claim 10 wherein the plurality of track-side objects includes at least one of signals arranged along the railway tracks, train detectors arranged along the railway tracks, points, and level crossings.

13. A method of modernizing an existing railway installation with a plurality of railway tracks and a plurality of track-side objects selected from a group of points, signals, train detectors and level crossings, the railway installation including an existing interlocking having a plurality of interconnected relays and implementing a defined control logic associated with the plurality of track-side objects in order to control railway traffic on the plurality of tracks, the method comprising: arranging a plurality of dedicated object controllers along the plurality of tracks and connecting a respective dedicated object controller from the plurality of dedicated object controllers with a respective track-side object from the plurality of track-side objects; arranging an interface adapter at the existing interlocking, wherein the interface adapter includes: an analog input configured to receive an electrical input from an external source, wherein the electrical input includes at least one of an analog input current and an analog input voltage, an analog output configured to output an electrical output to drive an electromechanical relay circuit, wherein the electrical output includes at least one of an analog output current and an analog output voltage, a bidirectional digital communication interface configured to communicate digital data according to a defined digital communication protocol, wherein the digital data includes (i) first digital data transmitted via the digital communication interface and (ii) second digital data received via the digital communication interface, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog input and configured to generate a first digital signal representing the electrical input, a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the analog output and configured to generate the electrical output in response to a second digital signal, a programmable logic control circuit including a control program, and a power supply configured to supply electrical power at least to the digital-to-analog converter, wherein the control program is configured to: produce the first digital data from the first digital signal, transmit the first digital data using the digital communication interface, process the second digital data, and produce the second digital signal in response to the second digital data; interconnecting the interface adapter to at least one dedicated object controller from the plurality of dedicated object controllers using the bidirectional digital communication interface; interconnecting the interface adapter to the existing interlocking using the at least one analog input and the at least one analog output; controlling the existing railway installation using the at least one dedicated object controller from the plurality of dedicated object controllers and using the existing interlocking by communicating the digital data between the at least one dedicated object controller and the existing interlocking via the interface adapter; building a replacement interlocking in the vicinity of the existing interlocking, while the existing railway installation is controlled using the existing interlocking and the interface adapter, wherein: the replacement interlocking includes a further bidirectional digital communication interface configured for communicating the digital data according to the defined digital communication protocol, and the replacement interlocking implements a replacement control logic based on solid state controllers; interconnecting, once the replacement interlocking is built, the replacement interlocking to the plurality of object controllers using the further bidirectional digital communication interface; and removing the existing interlocking and the interface adapter.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein: a dedicated power supply line is installed along the plurality of track-side objects before or while the plurality of dedicated object controllers are arranged along the plurality of tracks, and the dedicated power supply line supplies electrical power to the plurality of dedicated object controllers.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein an optical fiber communication cable is installed from the existing interlocking to the plurality of track-side objects before or while the plurality of dedicated object controllers are arranged along the plurality of tracks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] It goes without saying that the features explained above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in their respective combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further features and details of example embodiments are explained below with respect to the drawing.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of the new interface adapter in connection with some track-side objects and a conventional interlocking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In FIG. 1, an example embodiment of a new railway installation is designated by reference number 10. The railway installation 10 comprises a conventional, relay-based interlocking 12 that is shown here in a schematic manner. Interlocking 12 comprises a plurality of electromechanical relays 14a, 14b, 14c, which are interconnected (not shown here for sake of simplicity) to form relay circuitry that implements a defined control logic in a manner known to the skilled person.

[0040] Example railway installation 10 further comprises a plurality of tracks 16 and a plurality of track-side objects, such as point 18 (shown here as an electrical drive that typically moves the moveable track element of the point), signal 20 having a moveable arm 21 or, more commonly nowadays, having one or more lights, train detector 22 and level crossing gate 24. The track-side objects are arranged along the tracks 16 in a manner known per se.

[0041] Example railway installation 10 further comprises an example embodiment of the new interface adapter, which is designated by reference number 26 here. In a preferred embodiment, interface adapter 26 has a modular design and comprises what is called here a head module 28 and a plurality of I/O (input and/or output modules) 30, 32, 34. The head module 28 and the I/O modules 30, 32, 34 may be configured so as to be arranged on a top hat rail of a control cabinet (not shown here). In the preferred embodiments, interface adapter 26 thus comprises a device housing 36, which can be made in one piece or in a plurality of housing modules, as it is shown here by way of example.

[0042] Interface adapter 26 comprises a programmable logic control circuit, which includes two microprocessors 38a, 38b in the present embodiment. Microprocessors 38a, 38b are arranged here in a manner so as to form a multi-channel redundant structure. Microprocessors 38a, 38b each cyclically execute a control program, which is indicated here at reference number 40. Microprocessors 38a, 38b further exchange data in order to mutually monitor each other to thereby establish a failsafe data processing. The two-channel redundant structure of interface adapter 26 is shown here as one preferred embodiment for establishing a failsafe logic control circuit. Other structural designs in accordance with the principles of functional safety as defined by International Standard IEC 61508 may be employed.

[0043] As is shown in FIG. 1, I/O modules 30, 32, 34 each comprise a number of connecting terminals, some of which are designated by reference numbers 42 and 44 by way of example. Still further by way of example, module 30 is an input module that provides an analog input configured to receive at least one of an analog input current or an analog input voltage from one or more respective outputs of interlocking 12. In a conventional railway installation, interlocking 12 provides an output current and/or output voltage at one of its respective outputs in order to drive a track-side object, such as point 18, signal 20 or level crossing 24. In the conventional railway installation, the respective output of interlocking 12 would be connected to the respective track-side object via one or more copper cables. In the present embodiment, however, the respective output of interlocking 12 is connected to one or more analog inputs of new interface adapter 26.

[0044] Input module 30 therefore comprises an input circuitry that is configured to receive the at least one of the analog output current or an analog output voltage from the respective output of interlocking 12, and to convert it to a first digital signal 46 that can be processed by programmable logic control circuit 38a, 38b. In the example embodiment shown, input module 30 comprises a threshold detector 48 and an analog-to-digital converter 50. Analog-to-digital converter 50 receives the analog output signal from interlocking 12, if the analog output signal exceeds a defined threshold level. Analog-to-digital converter 50 generates the first digital signal 46 in response thereto. First digital signal 46 is transmitted to programmable logic control circuit 38a, 38b via an internal communication bus 52 in this embodiment. By way of example, input module 30 may be connected to the internal communication bus 52 via an internal communication interface 54. The internal communication interface 54 may be implemented using a FPGA by way of example.

[0045] Programmable logic control circuit 38a, 38b receives the first digital signal 46 via the internal communication bus 52 and generates first digital data 56 that is subsequently transmitted to one or more object controllers 58 arranged in the vicinity of track-side objects 18, 20, 22, 24. In turn, programmable logic control circuit 38a, 38b receives second digital data 60 from one or more object controllers 58 and generates at least one second digital signal 62 in response thereto. The at least one second digital signal 62 is transmitted to at least one output module 34 via internal communication bus 52.

[0046] The at least one output module 34 comprises a digital-to-analog converter 64, which generates at least one of an analog output current or an analog output voltage in response to the second digital signal 62. The at least one of the analog output current or analog output voltage is then provided to interlocking 12 via a respective connecting terminal 44, as is shown in FIG. 1 by way of example.

[0047] In summary of the above, interface adapter 26 provides a bidirectional analog input and output interface for a conventional relay-based interlocking 12. Interface adapter 26 receives the analog output currents and/or output voltages from interlocking 12 and generates first digital data 56 in response thereto. Interface adapter 26 transmits the first digital data 56 via a bidirectional digital communication interface 66 to one or more object controllers 58 arranged in the vicinity of track-side objects 18, 20, 22, 24 such that the one or more object controllers 58 can drive one or more track-side objects in just the same manner as if the track-side objects were directly connected to conventional interlocking 12 via copper cables. In some preferred embodiments, a one to one relationship is established such that one respective interface adapter is connected to one respective object controller. Moreover, interface adapter 26 reads second digital data 60 from the one or more object controllers 58 via bidirectional digital communication interface 66 and generates one or more analog output currents and/or analog output voltages in response thereto using one or more digital-to-analog converters 64.

[0048] Interface adapter 26 provides the one or more analog output currents or analog output voltages to interlocking 12 in such a manner as if such analog output currents or analog output voltages were provided directly from the track-side objects 18, 20, 22, 24 via copper cables.

[0049] As indicated further above, bidirectional digital communication interface 66 may advantageously be configured to employ a digital communication protocol as defined in German Standard VDE V 0831-200 or European Standard EN 50159, respectively, namely a Rail Safe Transportation Application (RaSTA) protocol in accordance with the EULYNX initiative. Accordingly, European Standard EN 50159 and DIN VDE V 0831-200 are incorporated here by reference. Interface adapter 26 may thus communicate with the track-side object controllers 58 via the RaSTA communication protocol, which is a dedicated Ethernet-based communication protocol that can advantageously be used via an optical fiber communication cable 67.

[0050] Interface adapter 26 finally comprises a power supply, which is indicated schematically here at reference number 68. Power supply 68 is configured to supply electrical power to the at least one digital-to-analog converter 64, which means that power supply 68 is dimensioned to provide sufficient electrical power in order to drive the relay based input circuitry of interlocking 12. In preferred example embodiments, power supply 68 is further configured to provide any required operating voltages for the programmable logic control circuit 38a, 38b and for the analog-to-digital converters 50.

[0051] The phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”