Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of automatic train control, and in particular to a control method and a control device for limiting a speed of a train.

With the continuous development of high-speed train industry in China, the number of high-speed trains continuously grows, while the speed of high-speed trains continuously increases. Stable and safe operation of trains are the key factors that ensure the normal operation of high-speed train system.

Since the route condition and the weather change frequently during travelling of a train, which affects the operation of the train, instability of the train may occur. When instability of a train occurs, a instability warning should be provided timely, and the speed of the train should be limited timely to ensure the safe operation of the train. Currently, the instability of the train is managed by the driver imposing an appropriate speed limit according to experience, to ensure the safety of the train. The above process of limiting the speed of the train relies mainly on the experience of the driver, which requires the driver to always keep alert and operate carefully, and is also a tense work for the driver, which causes driving fatigue and easily affect the train driving safety due to the negligence of the driver. <CIT> discloses a method for stabilizing a rail vehicle, and specifically discloses that a critical vibration state occurs and the speed of the rail vehicle is reduced to a predetermined speed value, the speed is increased again and the speed restriction is removed as the rail vehicle has run within a non-critical vibration state range for a predefined travel span, and a critical vibration state re-occurs and the speed of the rail vehicle is again reduced to the predetermined speed value.

To address the above deficiencies in conventional technology, a control method and a control device for limiting a speed of a train are provided according to the present disclosure, to automatically control the speed of the train according to the instability of the train. Further embodiments are depicted in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, a control method for limiting a speed of a train is provided. The method includes:.

Optionally, in a case that the speed of the train is limited to cause the train to travel at the second speed, the method further includes:.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a control device for limiting a speed of a train is provided. The device includes a first detection unit and a first speed limit unit.

The first detection unit is configured to detect instability of the train when the train travels.

The first speed limit unit is configured to apply a brake force to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed, if instability of the train is detected by the first detection unit when the train travels. The device further includes a third determination unit and a third speed limit unit. The third determination unit is configured to determine whether the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds a preset number, within a preset distance that the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train. The third speed limit unit is configured to limit the speed of the train to cause the train to travel at a second speed, if it is determined that the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds the preset number, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

Optionally, the device further includes a first determination unit and a speed limit releasing unit.

The first determination unit is configured to determine whether instability of the train is detected again in a preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

The speed limit releasing unit is configured to release the limit on the speed of the train if instability of the train is not detected again.

Optionally, the device further includes a second determination unit and a second speed limit unit.

The second determination unit is configured to determine whether instability of the train is detected within a preset distance that the train travels since the limit on the speed of the train is released.

The second speed limit unit is configured to apply a brake force to the train to impose a limit on the speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed, if instability of the train is detected.

Optionally, the device further includes a fourth determination unit and a fifth speed limit unit.

The fourth determination unit is configured to determine whether instability of the train is detected again when the train travels, in a case that the speed of the train is limited to cause the train to travel at the second speed.

The fifth speed limit unit is configured to apply a brake force to the train until instability of the train is not detected if instability of the train is detected again when the train travels.

With the control method for limiting a speed of a train according to the present disclosure, instability of the train is automatically detected, and a brake force is automatically applied to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed if instability of the train is detected, so as to automatically reduce the travelling speed of the train. The above solution applies to train operation, to reduce the labor intensity of the driver. The speed of the train is automatically and timely limited in a case that instability occurs during travelling of the train, thereby effectively avoiding negligence of the driver compromising train travelling safety.

The drawings to be used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be described briefly as follows, so that the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure or according to the conventional technology will become clearer. It is apparent that the drawings in the following description only illustrate some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without any creative work.

The embodiments of the present disclosure is applicable to an application scenario of limiting a speed of a train in a case that instability of the train occurs. With the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a speed of a train is limited according to instability of the train.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a system for controlling travelling of a train according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A network control system of a train shown in <FIG> is responsible for the centralized control of respective modules of the train, including a power system, a water supply system, a power supply system, and the like, of the train. The embodiments of the present disclosure focus on the above network control system controlling the power system of the train, including controlling the power system to perform braking, to control the speed of the train, and the like.

The power system shown in <FIG> is mainly used for providing power to the train, performing braking, and providing power to the train according to a given speed such that the train travels at a certain speed, according to a control signal from the train network control system.

The instability warning apparatus in <FIG> is configured to detect instability of the train, and send an instability signal to the network control system of the train if instability of the train is detected, to inform the network control system of the train that the instability occurs. The above instability includes lateral instability, longitudinal instability and undulating instability, and the like. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the lateral instability is taken as an example to describe a control method for warning in a case that lateral instability of a train is detected, and limiting the speed of the train according to the lateral instability.

The technical solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is applied to the network control system shown in <FIG>. With the technical solution according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the network control system sends the control signal to the power system of the train according to the instability warning signal outputted by the instability warning apparatus, to limit the speed of the train.

The technical solution according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable to a hardware control processing device in the network control system, such as a central controller, a processor, and the like, or may alternatively exist as a control program in the network control system for implementing speed limitation of a train when executed, or as a control function module in a large control system to implement the speed limitation of the train. The present disclosure does not strictly limit the specific form of the execution subject of the technical solution according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In theory, any software program or hardware device that capable of performing the technical solution according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is theoretically applicable to implement the technical solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, to implement the automatic speed limit of the train.

Technical solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described clearly and completely hereinafter in conjunction with drawings used in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present disclosure rather than all the embodiments.

A control method for limiting a speed of a train is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, the method includes the following steps S201 to S203.

In step S201, instability of the train is detected when the train travels.

Referring to <FIG>, the instability warning apparatus of the train monitors whether lateral instability of the train occurs in a real-time manner, and sends an instability warning signal to the network control system if the lateral instability of the train occurs. In this case, the network control system determines that instability of the train is detected when the train travels.

It should be noted that, since the instability warning apparatus monitors whether lateral instability of the train occurs in a real-time manner, and timely outputs the instability warning signal to the network control system if the lateral instability of the train is detected. Therefore, the network control system detects the instability of the train when the train travels by directly detecting whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received. If the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received, it may be determined that instability of the train is detected when the train travels. If the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is not received, it may be determined that instability of the train is not detected when the train travels.

The above network control system periodically detects instability of the train when train the travels. That is, the network control system detects whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received at a certain time period. In order to ensure timely detection of the instability, the detection period may be set small enough to increase the detection frequency. Alternatively, the detection process may be a continuous detection process if the detection period is set small enough.

If instability is not detected, the detection is continued. If instability is detected, the subsequent speed limit operation is performed, and detection of instability is continued in a case that the speed limit operation is performed.

If instability of the train is detected when the train travels, step S202 is performed to apply a brake force to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed.

Specifically, on reception of the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus, that is, when determining that instability of the train is detected, the network control system sends a brake instruction to the power system of the train, to control the power system to apply a brake force to the train, so as to reduce the speed of the train.

Furthermore, the network control system further sends a speed limit instruction to the power system of the train when sending the brake instruction to the power system. The speed limit instruction is used to instruct to limit the traveling speed of the train to a specified speed. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the network control system sends the speed limit instruction to the power system of the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed, where the first speed is less than the travelling speed at which instability of the train occurs, so as to reduce the travelling speed of the train.

On reception of the above brake instruction and the above speed limit instruction, the power system of train applies an appropriate brake force to the train based the travelling speed specified in the speed limit instruction, to reduce the traveling speed of the train to the travelling speed specified in the speed limit instruction, and to cause the train to maintain the travelling speed.

It should be noted that, the first speed may be set according to train design, actual route conditions and train operation experiences. For example, instability of a high-speed train traveling at a speed of <NUM>/h may be eliminated when the speed is reduced to <NUM>/h according to the train test experience. In this case, the first speed is set to <NUM>/h. Based on the above setting, according to the technical solution of an embodiment of the present disclosure, if instability of a train occurs when the train travels at the speed of <NUM>/h, the network controller automatically sends an instruction to the power system of the train to apply a brake force to the train, to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed, that is, to limit the speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed <NUM>/h, so that instability of the train may be eliminated.

In an exemplary embodiment, the above brake instruction and the above speed limit instruction may be included in one control instruction, that is sent to the power system of the train. For example, one control instruction is used for instructing to apply a brake force to the train and to limit the travelling speed of the train to a certain speed. Alternatively, the above brake instruction and the above speed limit instruction may be sent to the power system successively or simultaneously as two separate instructions.

As can be seen from the above description, with the control method for limiting a speed of a train according to the present disclosure, instability of the train is automatically detected, and a brake force is automatically applied to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed if instability of the train is detected, so as to automatically reduce the travelling speed of the train. The above solution applies to train operation, to reduce the labor intensity of the driver. The speed of the train is automatically and timely limited in a case that instability occurs during travelling of the train, thereby effectively avoiding negligence of the driver compromising train travelling safety.

Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the above control method for limiting a speed of a train further includes the following step S303.

In step S303, it is determined whether instability of the train is detected again in a preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

In the preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train, the network control system determines whether instability of the train is detected again, that is, the network control system determines whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received again in the preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

If the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received again, that is, instability of the train is detected again, it is determined that the train is still in the state of instability. In this case, the speed of the train is continuously limited such that the train travels at the first speed.

If instability of the train is not detected again, step S304 is performed to release the limit on the speed of the train.

Specifically, if the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is not received again, that is, if instability of the train is not detected again in the preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train, it is determined that the train travels stably or the train is pulled into a smooth rail section. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the limit imposed on the speed of the train is released in this case, and the train gradually speeds up, that is, the travelling speed is increased.

For example, in a case that instability of the train occurs when the train travels at the speed of <NUM>/h, according to the technical solution of embodiment of the present disclosure, the network control system limits the speed of the train to <NUM>/h. In two minutes for which the train travels at the speed of <NUM>/h since the speed of the train is limited to <NUM>/h, the limit on the speed of the train is released if the network control system does not receive the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus again, and the train gradually speeds up until the speed reaches <NUM>/h. If the network control system receives the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus again in the two minutes, it is determined that instability of the train still occurs, the limit on the speed of the train is maintained such that the train travels at the speed of <NUM>/h.

Steps S301 and S302 in this embodiment of the present disclosure respectively correspond to steps S201 and S202 in the method embodiment shown in <FIG>. Reference may be made to the method embodiment shown in <FIG> for contents of steps S301 and S302, which will not be repeated here.

Referring to <FIG>, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the above control method for limiting a speed of a train further includes the following step S405.

In step S405, it is determined whether instability of the train is detected within a preset distance that the train travels since the limit on the speed of the train is released.

Specifically, in a case that the speed of the train is limited, when it is determined that the train is pulled out of an unstable rail section and the limit on the speed of the train is released, the network control system determines whether instability of the train is detected, that is, whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received, in the predetermined distance that the train travels at a gradually increased speed.

If instability of the train is not detected within the above distance, the train may travel at a speed higher than the first speed, and the procedure returns to detecting instability of the train when the train travels.

If instability of the train is detected, step S402 is performed to apply a brake force to the train, to impose a limit on the speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed.

Specifically, if instability of the train is detected within the preset distance that the train travels since the limit on the speed of the train is released, it indicates that instability of the train occurs again after the previous occurrence of instability. In this case, the network control system applies a brake force to the train again to impose a limit on the speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed.

For example, within two minutes for which the train travels at the speed of <NUM>/h since the speed of <NUM>/h of the train is limited to <NUM>/h, if instability of the train does not occur again, the limit on the speed of the train is released, and the train gradually speeds up. Within <NUM> in which the train speeds up and travels since the limit on the speed of the train is released, if instability of the train does not occur, the train travels at a maximum allowable speed. If it is detected that instability of the train occurs within the above <NUM>, the network control system brake the train again to limit the speed of the train to <NUM>/h.

Steps S401 and S404 in this embodiment of the present disclosure respectively correspond to steps S301 and S304 in the method embodiment shown in <FIG>. Reference may be made to the method embodiment shown in <FIG> for the contents of steps S401 to S404, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control method for limiting a speed of a train further includes the following steps S503 to S506.

In step S503, it is determined whether the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds a preset number, within a preset distance that the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

Specifically, if instability occurs when the train travels, the speed of the train is limited to the first speed according to the technical solution of embodiment of the present disclosure, and the train travels at the first speed for the preset distance, the network control system continues detecting instability of the train, that is, detecting whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received again.

Within the preset distance that the train travels at the first speed, if instability of the train is not detected, or instability is detected but the number of times that instability is detected does not exceeds a preset number, the speed of the train is maintained at the first speed.

If the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds a preset number, step S504 is performed to limit the speed of the train to cause the train to travel at a second speed, where the second speed is less than the first speed.

Specifically, in the preset distance in which the train travels at the first speed, if the number of times that instability of the train is detected exceeds the preset number, the network control system sends the brake command to the power system of the train to further brake the train, so as to limit the speed of the train to the second speed that is less than the first speed, so that safe traveling of the train is ensured.

For example, since the speed of <NUM>/h of the train at which instability occurs is limited to <NUM>/h, within a distance of <NUM> in which the train travels at <NUM>/h, the network control system receives the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus for two times, that is, the network control system detects instability of the train for two times within the distance of <NUM> that the train travels. It is indicated that the instability of the train is not eliminated when the train travels at the limited speed of <NUM>/h. In this case, the network control system further limits the speed of the train. The network control system sends the brake instruction to the power system of the train, to cause the power system of the train to apply a brake force to the train, so as to limit the speed of the train to <NUM>/h.

Furthermore, in a case that the speed of the train is limited to the second speed according to above technical solution, the network control system continues detecting instability of the train when the train travels, and continues to perform step S505, to determine whether instability of the train is detected again when the train travels.

Specifically, in a case that the network control system limits the speed of the train to the second speed, the network control system continues detecting instability of the train occurs when the train travels, that is, the network control system detects whether the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus is received again.

If instability of the train is not detected again when the train travels, the speed of the train is maintained at the second speed.

If instability of the train is detected again, step S506 is performed to apply a brake force to the train until instability of the train is not detected.

Specifically, in a case that the speed of the train is limited to the second speed, when the train travels at the second speed, the network control system detects instability of the train again, that is, the network control system receives the instability warning signal sent by the instability warning apparatus again, the network control system sends the brake instruction to the power system of the train again, to instruct the power system to apply a brake force to the train, so as to reduce the speed until instability of the train does not occur.

It should be noted that, the instability of the train not occurring indicates that instability of the train does not occur in a case that the brake force is applied to the train such that the speed of the train is further reduced, the train travels at the reduced speed for a preset time period or a preset distance.

If the brake force is applied to the train to further reduce the speed of the train, and instability of the train occurs again when the train travels at the reduced speed within the preset time period or the preset distance, the network control system applies a brake force to the train again to further reduce the speed until instability of the train does not occur.

Steps S501 and S502 in this embodiment of the present disclosure respectively correspond to steps S201 and S202 in the method embodiment shown in <FIG>. Reference may be made to the method embodiment shown in <FIG> for the contents of steps S501 and <NUM>, which will not be repeated here.

A control device for limiting a speed of a train is further provided according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, the device includes a first detection unit <NUM> and a first speed limit unit <NUM>.

The first detection unit <NUM> is configured to detect instability of the train when the train travels.

The first speed limit unit <NUM> is configured to apply a brake force to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed, if instability of the train is detected by the first detection unit <NUM> when the train travels.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the device further includes a first determination unit <NUM> and a speed limit releasing unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The first determination unit <NUM> is configured to determine whether instability of the train is detected again in a preset time period for which the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

The speed limit releasing unit <NUM> is configured to release the limit on the speed of the train if instability of the train is not detected again.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the device further includes a second determination unit <NUM> and a second speed limit unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The second determination unit <NUM> is configured to determine whether instability of the train is detected within a preset distance that the train travels since the limit on the speed of the train is released.

The second speed limit unit <NUM> is configured to apply a brake force to the train to impose a limit on the speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at the first speed, if instability of the train is detected.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the device further includes a third determination unit <NUM> and a third speed limit unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The third determination unit <NUM> is configured to determine whether the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds a preset number, within a preset distance that the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train.

The third speed limit unit <NUM> is configured to limit the speed of the train to cause the train to travel at a second speed, if it is determined that the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds the preset number, where the second speed is less than the first speed.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the device further includes a fourth determination unit and a fifth speed limit unit.

Specifically, one can refer to the content of the above method embodiment for the operations of respective units of the control device for limiting a speed of a train, which will not repeat here.

It should be noted that, in the present specification, the embodiments are described in progressive manner. Each embodiment mainly focuses on an aspect different from other embodiments, and reference can be made to these similar parts among the embodiments. The device disclosed in the embodiment corresponds to the method disclosed in the embodiment, and is described relatively simply. For detailed description of the device, reference may be made to the related description of the method.

It may be known by those skilled in the art that, units and steps in each method described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware, computer software or a combination thereof. In order to clearly illustrate interchangeability of the hardware and the software, steps and composition of each embodiment have been described generally in view of functions in the above specification. Whether the function is executed in a hardware way or in a software way depends on application of the technical solution and design constraint condition. Those skilled in the art can use different method for each application to realize the described function.

The method or algorithm steps described in embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented directly with hardware, software units executed by processors, or a combination of the hardware and the software units. The software units may be stored in random access memory (RAM), memory, read-only memory (ROM), electrically programmable ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM, register, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the technical field.

Finally, it should be further noted that the relationship terminologies such as "first", "second" and the like are only used herein to distinguish one entity or operation from another, rather than to necessitate or imply that the actual relationship or order exists between the entities or operations. Furthermore, terms of "include", "comprise" or any other variants are intended to be non-exclusive. Therefore, a process, method, article or device including a plurality of elements includes not only the elements but also other elements that are not enumerated, or also include the elements inherent for the process, method, article or device. Unless expressively limited otherwise, the statement "comprising (including) one. " does not exclude the case that other similar elements may exist in the process, method, article or device.

Claim 1:
A control method for limiting a speed of a train, comprising:
detecting (S501) instability of the train when the train travels;
applying (S502) a brake force to the train to impose a limit on a speed of the train, so as to cause the train to travel at a first speed, if instability of the train is detected when the train travels;
characterized by
determining (S503) whether the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds a preset number, within a preset distance that the train travels at the first speed since the limit is imposed on the speed of the train; and
limiting (S504) the speed of the train to cause the train to travel at a second speed, if it is determined that the number of times that instability of the train is detected when the train travels exceeds the preset number, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.