METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE DETECTION OF APPROACHING RAIL VEHICLES ON THE TRACKSIDE AND FOR WARNING PERSONS

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF POUR DETECTER COTE VOIE DES VEHICULES FERROVIAIRES EN APPROCHE ET POUR AVERTIR DES PERSONNES

English Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the detection of approaching rail
vehicles
(4) on the track side for the purpose of warning persons (2) or groups of
persons,
characterized in that RFID (radio frequency identification) signals which are
continuously emitted on the vehicle side are received on the track side and
are evaluated
with regard to their potential danger and/or that RFID signals are generated
on the track
side and are received by the person to be warned (2) via individual-bound RFID
receivers
in the event of danger.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif pour détecter côté voie des véhicules ferroviaires (4) en approche afin d'avertir des personnes (2) ou des groupes de personnes. L'invention se caractérise en ce que des signaux RFID (d'identification par radiofréquence) émis en continu côté véhicule sont reçus côté voie et analysés en termes de danger potentiel et/ou en ce que des signaux RFID sont générés côté voie en cas de danger et reçus par la personne (2) à avertir au moyen de récepteurs RFID associés à ladite personne.

Claims

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Claims
1. A method for trackside detection of approaching rail
vehicles (4) for the purpose of warning people (2) or groups of
people,
characterized in that RFID (radio frequency identification)
signals which are emitted continuously by a vehicle are
received on the trackside, and are evaluated for hazard
potential.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that
RFID signals are emitted on the trackside and are received by a
vehicle.
3. An apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in one
of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a vehicle RFID (radio frequency identification) transmitter
interacts with a trackside RFID receiver.
4. A method for warning people (1) of approaching rail
vehicles (4),
characterized in that,
in the event of a hazard, RFID (radio frequency identification)
signals are produced on the trackside and are received by the
person (1) to be warned, by means of personal RFID receivers.
5. An apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in
claim 4,
characterized in that

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a trackside RFID (radio frequency identification) transmitter
which can be activated in the event of a hazard interacts with
an RFID receiver which can be carried by the person (1) to be
warned.

Description

{
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Description
Method and device for the detection of approaching rail
vehicles on the trackside and for warning persons
The invention relates to a method for trackside detection of
approaching rail vehicles, and for warning people, and to
corresponding apparatuses.
The safety and protection of the health of people, whose work
means that they have to be in the hazard area of the tracks of
rail vehicles, are of major importance. Every day, there are
about 3000 trackworks, for track construction and track repair
work just in the area of AG German rail road system. In
addition to human error, uncertainty related to the production
and perception of an audible and/or visual alarm signal, which
is intended to order people to leave the hazard area, is a
major cause of accidents. Rail vehicles result in a
considerable hazard, of course, because, in contrast to motor
vehicles, they cannot change direction and their braking
distances are extremely long and difficult to predict.
Furthermore, because of the relatively low levels of noise
emissions, it is considerably more difficult to perceive modern
rail vehicles by hearing, in particular when the environmental
noise level is relatively high.
Until now, warnings for working groups have been produced
either by organizational measures, or a warning has been
produced on a safety basis.
Organizational measures include, for example, track blocks,
setting up speed limit areas, driving visually, or visual
detection of hazard situations by trackside posts.
q

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Warnings for working groups based on safety are in widespread
use, in particular, signal-dependent systems and sensor
systems.
Figure 1 shows the typical configuration of a signal-dependent
warning system. In this case, fixed wiring is provided using
the existing track protection technology 1, for example signal
box technology. An input appliance 3 is connected into the line
of the trackside wiring in the hazard area in which people 2
have to be located because of their work. The input appliance 3
is used to signal that the hazard area has been cleared to be
driven on, for the location which is responsible for track
protection. For a rail vehicle 4 to move, or to continue to
move, permission is given only after activation of the input
appliance 3, for example by operation of a signal 5.
Figure 2 shows the principle of a sensor-controlled warning
system. In this case, the rail vehicle 4 is identified by means
of inductive or mechanical sensors 6 as it travels over them.
The sensor signal is connected via an evaluation unit 7 to an
audible and/or visual signal transmitter 8 in the hazard area.
Both warning systems have the disadvantage of considerable
circuitry and wiring complexity, together with little
flexibility.
The invention is based on the object of ensuring early warning
to people working on the track, in a simple manner, such that
they can leave the track in good time with all tools, machines
and appliances, and

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such that this effectively prevents rail vehicles from entering
the working area.
According to the method, the object is achieved in that RFID
(radio frequency identification) signals which are emitted
continuously by a vehicle are received on the trackside, and
are evaluated for hazard potential. According to the apparatus,
a vehicle RFID transmitter is provided for this purpose, which
interacts with a trackside RFID receiver.
The RFID reader/transponder technology allows greater
flexibility than the warning systems sketched in Figures 1
and 2. The components required for continuous wire-free signal
transmission are distinguished by mature, highly proven
technology, associated with reliability and miniaturization.
The trackside receiver can be positioned anywhere close to the
track, and can be connected to the normal audible and/or visual
signal transmitter. A comparison to the known sensor warning
system according to claim 2 considerably reduces the trackside
wiring complexity since there is no need to install
mechanically or inductively acting sensors at discrete points.
Furthermore, the approaching rail vehicle position can be
located continuously while, in contrast, sensors allow location
only at discrete points along the track. Continuous location
makes it possible, for example, to identify a change in the
direction of travel, thus allowing a warning to be cancelled,
if appropriate. Overall, this results in a considerable
improvement in convenience, since the evaluation device which
is connected to the RFID receiver can determine at least the
position, direction of travel and the speed of the vehicle from
the received RFID signals. The position and speed measurement
allow the timing of the clearance of the track area to be

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optimized. Conventional warning systems are designed for the
fastest vehicle. When a slower vehicle is moving in the area of
the work location, this generally results in long waiting times
for those involved in the work. Optimizing the timing of the
warning allows work procedures to be better planned and
optimized. If the RFID signals are appropriately coded, further
information can be transmitted to the work location for example
relating to the type of vehicle.
According to claim 2, RFID signals are additionally also
emitted on the trackside, and are received by a vehicle. This
bidirectional data transmission allows the clearance of the
hazard area to be acknowledged by the individual employees,
with an evaluation device checking that all the
acknowledgements have been received, and granting permission
for the vehicle to move through only when these
acknowledgements are complete. In the extreme, a forced braking
command can be sent to the vehicle. Any warning which is
received or a received braking command can be indicated and
implemented by a vehicle train protection device. The received
RFID signals also allow the position of and the distance to the
working group to be determined in the vehicle.
Claims 4 and 5 characterize trackside RFID communication which
can be used additionally or alternatively. In this case, an
RFID signal which is produced in the event of a hazard is
received by the person to be warned by means of personal, that
is to say carried on the body, RFID receivers. This individual
warning system transmits the warning signals audibly, visually
or in a tactile form, that is to say by means of vibrating
elements, to each individual employee at the work location. The
RFID receiver is a component of the personal protection
equipment of the employee. The very high technical reliability
of the transponder/reader technology should be particularly
emphasized for this application.

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The invention will be explained in the following text with
reference to illustrations in the figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a signal-dependent warning system of a known
type,
Figure 2 shows a sensor-dependent warning system of a known
type,
Figure 3 shows a first variant of a wire-free warning system,
and
Figure 4 shows a second variant of a wire-free warning system.
Figures 1 and 2, which show the prior art, have been described
further above.
Figure 3 illustrates a warning system based on
transponder/reader technology. The rail vehicle 4 is equipped
with an RFID transmitter/receiver 9 which emits RFID signals
continuously. This interacts with a RFID transmitter/receiver
10, which is temporarily installed as required on the
trackside, in the vicinity of the persons 2 at risk. When the
rail vehicle 4 is approaching the trackside
transmitter/receiver 10, the received RFID signal is passed on
via an evaluation device 11 to the signal transmitter 8, in
order to warn the people 2 audibly and/or visually. Conversely,
an RFID signal emitted from the trackside
transmitter/receiver 10 can also be transmitted as a warning or
braking command to the RFID transmitter/receiver 9 on the rail
vehicle 4.
Figure 4 shows a functional extension to the configuration
shown in Figure 3. In this case, the trackside
transmitter/receiver 10 and a modified evaluation device

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11' are used, in order to produce an individual personal
warning. Each person 2 at risk carries his own RFID
transmitter/receiver 12, thus resulting in a further safety
improvement. In this case, the evaluation device 11' can also
produce a warning signal, and/or can monitor acknowledgement of
the warning by the person 2 at risk.
This individualized warning device can also be combined with
conventional warning systems, for example as shown in Figure 1
or 2.

Representative Drawing