US3593022A - Control of a vehicle along a path divided into a plurality of signal blocks - Google Patents

Control of a vehicle along a path divided into a plurality of signal blocks Download PDF

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US3593022A
US3593022A US762563A US3593022DA US3593022A US 3593022 A US3593022 A US 3593022A US 762563 A US762563 A US 762563A US 3593022D A US3593022D A US 3593022DA US 3593022 A US3593022 A US 3593022A
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signal
vehicle
track circuit
control
circuit
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US762563A
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Robert C Hoyler
George M Thorne-Booth
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CBS Corp
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Westinghouse Electric Corp
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61RAILWAYS
    • B61LGUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L3/00Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or vehicle train, e.g. to release brake, to operate a warning signal
    • B61L3/16Continuous control along the route
    • B61L3/22Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation
    • B61L3/221Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation using track circuits
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61RAILWAYS
    • B61LGUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L27/00Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
    • B61L27/20Trackside control of safe travel of vehicle or vehicle train, e.g. braking curve calculation

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  • e stations 18 provide W1 each m OCKS station being operative hrough adllmitedbzumiier ofkconducwi tors to energize a pre etermine num r o trac circutt Cum on Figs blocks.
  • Each station includes a crystal controlled signal Cl 246/34 generator to assure an accurate coherent base frequency con- 246/5 340/ trol of the communicated signals and provide control signals [Ill- Cl 561!
  • FIGS. 1 A first figure.
  • This invention relates to control ofa vehicle along a path divided into a plurality of signal blocks. ln certain broader aspects it relates to multiplex system of utility in any situation where dangerous failure modes must be avoided. It also generally relates to telecontrol of vehicle operation.
  • a train control system must fully meet the safety standards historical in the rapid transit and railroad industry. ln addition, a centralized traffic control system is desired which is suitable for a high degree of automation far above the level of service commonly provided today and in addition the cost of this system has to be reasonable.
  • a train control signalling svstem for the transmission of speed command signals from separate wayside stations to each of an associated group of isolated track circuit blocks, and for the transmission of train position detection signals back from those track circuit blocks to the wayside station associated with a given group of said track circuit blocks.
  • a time division multiplexing of these signals is provided in conjunction with limited number of conductors between each wayside station and a central control station. All coded speed command signals and train position detection signals change at the same time to increase the system synchronism or continuity.
  • direct wiring of signals is provided, and for greater distances from each station the control signals are multiplexed to each track circuit block.
  • Each control signal has six respectively reverse phased bits of information and is operative with three different signal frequencies such that 18 bits per second of information is sent to each of up to 32 track circuit blocks, with the 32nd bit position being used for synchronization and reset purposes.
  • the train control information is supplied at the rate of 576 bits per second to the signalling system.
  • a ZERO bit signal has a voltage of zero volts and a ONE bit signal has a voltage of 12 volts.
  • the coded speed command signals and the coded position detection signals are induced to flow in the track rails, which have a generally undesirable signal-to-noise characteristic such that crystal-controlled signalling is desirable.
  • a 311.04-kilocycle/sec. crystal oscillator signal is provided by a suitable oscillator at each wayside station, and this signal is divided by 540 to provide a 576-cycle/sec. multiplex bit signal; the latter signal is further divided by the number of available track circuit blocks 32 to yield an l8-cycle/sec. multiplex word signal.
  • These three signals are then combined to be sent on onecon' ductor as follows: the l8-cycle/sec. word signal is subtracted from the 576-cycle/sec. bit signal, and the 311.04-kilocycle/sec. oscillator signal is added to the result to provide an operation control signal.
  • the vehicle communication signals such as vehicle speed command signals and vehicle presence detection signals, pass through a pair of conductors which can be the track rails if desired and which conductors are periodically short circuited by a low impedance conductor connected between those conductors to provide discrete signal blocks, and which are operative relative to the vehicle such that the vehicle as it moves along the support track member is effective to short circuit or provide a low impedance path between these two signal conductors for the purpose of notifying the attendant control system of the actual position of the vehicle as it moves along the support structure.
  • a pair of conductors which can be the track rails if desired and which conductors are periodically short circuited by a low impedance conductor connected between those conductors to provide discrete signal blocks, and which are operative relative to the vehicle such that the vehicle as it moves along the support track member is effective to short circuit or provide a low impedance path between these two signal conductors for the purpose of notifying the attendant control system of the actual position of the vehicle as it moves along the support structure.
  • both frequency and modulation phase separation will be applicable in reference to contiguous track circuit signal blocks. More specifically a plurality of three signal frequencies is provided to the signal blocks and in addition each frequency includes a six-bit command signal with the provision that between the adjacent signal blocks a phase shift takes place such that through the combination of three frequencies and six phase shifts it is possible to provide signal communication to 18 track circuit blocks before it is necessary to repeat the signal characteristics.
  • any given particular track circuit block receives the same frequency and phase shift speed command signal all the time.
  • a particular track circuit block will receive signal frequency F-l, phase shift three and its associated receiver will be tuned to receive a signal at F-! frequency and will feed back the phase-three frequency to the provided speed signal comparison circuit for comparison with the transmitted phase three-speed command signal occurring at an l8-cycle/sec. rate.
  • the neighboring track circuit blocks are supplied with a different frequency and a different phase shifted speed command signal arrangement such that for a combination of three signal frequencies and six phase shift arrangements [8 unique combinations of speed command signal can be provided to thereby permit a separation between identical signal transmission relative to the track circuit blocks of 18 track circuit blocks.
  • the first track circuit signal block and the 19th could be energized with signal frequency F-l, phase one, the second and the 20th signals blocks could be energized by signal frequency F-Z, phase one, the third and the 21st signal blocks could be energized with signal frequency F-3, phase one, the fourth and the 22nd signal blocks could be energized by F-l, phase two and so forth.
  • This provides the desired number of isolated orthogonal train vehicle speed control and position sensing channels, which channels are repeated only at separation distances large enough to assure fail-safe vehicle control and position sensing through adequate signal attenuation between two otherwise similar control signals for the purpose of avoiding erroneous vehicle control and position-sensing information being received even under fault conditions, the number of different signal frequencies can by reduced to a small number such as three with the desired orthogonality between adjacent signal block channels operating at the same frequency being separated by orthogonal signal coding of the modulation impressed upon the transmission carrier.
  • comma-free coded vehicle command signals are utilized, and are phase-shifted relative to adjacent signal channels, to effect in this manner three signal frequencies and six phase shifts to provide adequate separation of the respective signal block channels.
  • the train vehicle carries a command signal receiver that senses the transmitted bits of the command signal in groups of six such bits, such that the entire vehicle command signal is thereby sensed and causes the vehicle to follow the desired speed of movement along the track.
  • a command signal receiver that senses the transmitted bits of the command signal in groups of six such bits, such that the entire vehicle command signal is thereby sensed and causes the vehicle to follow the desired speed of movement along the track.
  • a single central digital computer can be provided for an entire train control system and be operative with the required plurality of wayside control stations, with each said wayside control station operating entirely by itself to provide a programmed vehicle movement through the up to 32 track circuit blocks controlled by that wayside station control unit, and cooperative with the central computer in regard to changing this predetermined vehicle movement pattern when the vehicle is within the particular group of track circuit signal blocks operative with any given wayside station control unit.
  • the wayside station control provides vehicle speed command signals to each of its track circuit blocks in accordance with a predetermined vehicle movement pattern when traveling through that group of track circuit blocks, and in the event of a need to reduce the travel speed ofa given vehicle for the reason that several vehicles are tied up ahead of the vehicle or for the reason that a construction program is underway somewhere along the proposed travel path of that vehicle, then the central computer can override and reduce the movement speed of the train vehicle when passing through that particular group of track circuits or when passing through any one or more track circuits within that group of track circuits.
  • each wayside station control unit operates as a signal multiplex center relative to its particular group of up to 32 track circuit blocks, and it has its own crystal oscillator and signal operation in accordance with the present invention.
  • the central computer operates with as many of these wayside station multiplex control units as are necessary to provide the desired number of track circuit blocks for the entire system, and can be operative to change the predetermined speed command signal pattern provided by any wayside station multiplex con trol unit in response to happenings within a different wayside station territory.
  • Additional data transmission equipment is provided to interface one group oftrack circuit blocks and the associated wayside station multiplex control unit with the next adjacent group of track circuit signal blocks and their associated wayside station multiplex control unit.
  • Each of these groups of track circuit signal blocks is not correlated with the other groups of track circuit signal blocks, however their frequencies are chosen in advance and are generally correlated through inherent operation of the crystal oscillator control.
  • the signal multiplex control system of the present invention can be operated as one small group of track circuit signal blocks within another unrelated type of control system and receive an overriding vehicle speed command pattern to change its own predetermined speed command pattern if desired. It would be desirable to have certain information from adjacent control systems to correlate the operation of the signal multiplex system in accordance with the present in vention.
  • the central computer can provide more restrictive running where desired, however, it cannot cause any given group of track circuit signal blocks to provide a greater vehicle speed pattern than is in accordance with the predetermined and scheduled speed pattern for that group oftrack circuit blocks.
  • each multiplex control system in accordance with the present invention, unless the central control unit overrides and restricts to reduce the vehicle speed through any group of track circuit signal blocks or one or more track circuit signal blocks within any group of track circuit signal blocks.
  • the local wayside control unit has preset into its scheduling the maximum and desired vehicle travel speed through each of its associated track circuit signal blocks. If a given wayside control unit senses the occupancy ofone ofits track circuit blocks ahead of where a particular train vehicle is located, then the wayside conti .il can provide a suitable control signal, such as a zero speed command signal, to the train in adequate time to reduce the speed of the particular controlled train vehicle to prevent a collision by a predetermined safe distance margin.
  • the wayside control station provides speed command signals to the train vehicle to cause it to move through each particular track circuit block at the desired op timum travel speed.
  • the wayside control unit is a station multiplex center. The provision of the multiplex system adds flexibility to the control system because it is so readily changeable in relation to track occupancy ahead of a particular train vehicle, and further so changeable relative to construction efforts along the track, the sensing of a landslide which would cause an obstruction to the train vehicle at a location ahead of its movement, and things of this type.
  • FIG. I there is shown a prior art information transmission arrangement for sending train control signals through in dividual conductors directly to selected track circuit blocks.
  • FIG. 2 there is generally shown the improved signal transmission arrangement ofthe present invention.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown the signal conductor arrangement for sending the multiplexed control signals between a wayside station and individual track circuit blocks.
  • FIG. 4 there is illustrated the general signal transmission arrangement of a wayside station operative with a plurality of track circuit signal blocks.
  • FIG 5 there is shown the information signal waveform sent down the control conductor between a wayside station and the individual track circuit blocks.
  • FIGv 6 including curves 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, there is illustrated one circuit arrangement utilized and its function to provide the desired time slot control signal and infornption down signal separation function.
  • FIG. 7 including curves 7A, 7B and 7N, there is schematically shown the speed command signal decoding circuit and its function ofthe present invention for a plurality of track circuit locations.
  • FIG. 8 there is shown the speed command signal decoding circuit arrangement for inducing the speed command signals into a given track circuit block and the circuit arrangement for sensing the vehicle position-detecting signal.
  • FIG. 9 there is shown the centrally located control station apparatus provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 there is shown the reset signal generating circuit for the apparatus of FIGS. 6,7 and 8.
  • One purpose of the signal multiplexing system of the present invention is to transmit and receive over a total of four pairs of conductors, in a very reliable manner, all the required train control signals between some wayside station location and each of a plurality of remote signal block locations serving in dividual track circuit transmitters and receivers, train identifcation receivers, programmed stop transmitters and the like.
  • These signals can include train movement speed commands, train presence signals, identification information signals, synchronization pulses, a crystal controlled frequency standard, and power.
  • the four pairs of conductors provide respeclive paths in this regard for information down, information back, control signals and the powerv
  • the prior art train control signalling system teachings would provide a multiplicity of individual cables from the central location to each of the remote locations to carry the individual signals; since the distance involved amounts to several miles this latter approach becomes much greater in cost and the cable density at the source becomes a problem.
  • the signal multiplex concept gives a lot more flexibility and more ability to control the movement of the train vehicle.
  • For monitoring the movement of the train vehicle in respectively opposite directions a duplicate of a hardwired train control system would be required.
  • the addition of another wayside station location is easier with a multiplex con trol system or another program stop transmitter.
  • extra time slots are available, additional operational functions can readily be included during a given scanning cycle of the multiplex control unit. ln general, a typical application will utilize only 25 of the 32 signal time slots for controlling vehicle movement through respective track circuit signal blocks, and the additional six or seven time slot positions would then be available for additional communication functions that may be required.
  • additional time slot positions are available, and not being used for directly controlling the vehicle movement, these additional time slots can be tied into an additional piece of sensing equipment for example positioned along the track for the purpose of detecting a landslide or some other desired bit of information relative to the operation of the transit system without requiring the running of an additional hardwire circuit from this remote position back to the wayside control station.
  • Any information in this regard can be transmitted, if the bandwidth requirements of this information are low enough, for utilizing the available time slots in the provided multiplex control system.
  • a rockfall-sensing device or the like could be an example of this type of information. The needed bandwidth for returning this type of information is very low.
  • a hardwire system would require the provision of additional wires includ' ing the cost of installation plus the cost of the wire, and many thousands of feet of distance may be involved for providing this hardwire communication.
  • additional wires includ' ing the cost of installation plus the cost of the wire, and many thousands of feet of distance may be involved for providing this hardwire communication.
  • the present signal multiplex control system has as an objective to provide a fail-safe train control system suitable for the movement of passengers and valuable property. There is an integration between the manner in which the coded signals are supplied to the train to control the movement of the train and the way in which the signals are multiplexed back to the wayside control station.
  • the combination of the comma-free coded signals and the bit by bit phase reversal operation between successively transmitted bits of a given train control signal enhances the fail-safe operation, when considered in conjunction with the operation of the speed and coding apparatus to be sensitive to and make a comparison between the transmitted signal and the signal which is fed back for a comparison with a transmitted signal, with the operation of the speed encoding unit being controlled in accordance with this signal comparison operation, such that should a transmitted signal not compare to a received signal or should a signal not be received at all to indicate the occupancy of a given track circuit block by a train vehicle or some failure in the signal transmission operation, the apparatus is operative to then provide a reduced speed command to the train vehicle or a zero speed command.
  • the multiplex concept allows a more economical application of this signalling system.
  • the prior art frequency variable type of a signalling system would not be readily applicable to a signal multiplex concept in accordance with the present invention.
  • the very early prior art apparatus utilized only three speeds zero, middle and fast. This is typically done by a carrier which is modulated at 75 cycles/min. or 120 cycles/min; this provides in effect a modulation of on and off, and no signal at all is zero speed. This can be extended by going to cycles/min, 270 cycles/min, and so forth to give more speed signals. With the number of speeds required for a modern transit system, the prior art approach becomes hopelessly saturated in terms of the available frequency spectrum, because of the great difficulty of separation of signals due to harmonics and lower frequencies and the like.
  • a 75-cyclc signal has harmonics at ISO, 225, 300, 375 and so forth and this makes it extremely difficult to separate the respectively different frequencies which are utilized. Additionally the harmonics of the AC power system utilized to energize the signalling system must be separated. The number of frequencies required do not bear a simple synchronous relationship one to the other and the required different frequencies for the various desired speed command signals become difficult to accommodate. With a bit rate of IS cycles/sec, the present control apparatus could readily code I cycle/sec, 2 cycles/sec, 3 cycles/sec, 6 cycles/sec, 9 cycles/sec. and l8 cycles/sec. Additionally it is desired to keep the various bandwidth requirements to the bare minimum. The l8-cycle/sec. bit rate is a low frequency signal which does not present very difficult bandwidth problems.
  • the train control system requirements are typically that the control system be in command of a given train vehicle with a dropout of no more than I second.
  • the Q of a narrow bandwidth lilter is so high that it would take about l0 seconds for the vehicle control to be effected, since a filter having a 1- cycle bandwidth requires about 10 seconds to build up to the required signal level and it is not feasible to allow the train to operate for a period of 10 seconds with no command correlation relative to the control system. It also takes 10 seconds for the given filter to die down in signal intensity and for this reason the bandwidths of the respective signal filters must be widened such that a Q not much greater than 1 or 2 is provided and this requires frequency differences across a substantial frequency spectrum in order to get the desired 8 or 9 speed command communication channels desired for the train vehicle.
  • the primary requirement is to sense track occupancy in addition to providing desired speed command signals to the train.
  • this track occupancy was sensed by lay ing a second control system carrier on top of the speed com mand control system carrier and a first track circuit had a first carrier filter requirement, the next adjacent track circuit had a different carrier frequency filter requirement and 10 or l2 differcnt carriers were required to get the desired separation between the respective track circuits.
  • the track occupancy is sensed through a signal feedback operation and a signal comparison is made in relation to the transmitted speed command signal as compared to the feedback-received vehicle presence signal, and if the two properly compare the system continues to transmit the prescheduled vehicle speed command signals.
  • the present multiplex control system requires only one transmitter instead of two, and the total required bandwidth of the system has been narrowed through the use of the comma-free signal coding system and additionally an improved capability for a multiplicity of speed command signals up to 8 or 9 such signals.
  • the comma-free speed command codes have advantages for utilization in conjunction with the present signal multiplexing system, which advantages are related to the greater reliability of digital signal communication systems and the provision of the phase reversal between successive bits of the 6 bit, commafree speed command word signals, and the ability to operate a train control system in a fail-safe manner without the requirement for signal synchronization to indicate the transmission of the respective speed command word signals.
  • the signal multiplexing concept enables the train control system to be implemented with a substantially decreased amount of wire between the respective wayside control stations and the associated track circuit blocks.
  • the prior art has continuously taught that a signal multiplexing system is not reliable enough for a fail-safe train control application.
  • the vehicle occupancy feedback signals of the present invention provide the fail-safe reliability required in the operation ofthe present multiplex system. Unless there is fed back for com parison the identical speed command signal that has been transmitted to a particular circuit signal block, the signal comparison operation will not permit the train vehicles to move into that particular track circuit signal block in that a vehicle occupancy condition is signalled to the train control. It is similar to a servomechanism theory application, where there is a forward loop having uncertain and unstable characteristics, and the feedback signal comparison monitors the operation of the unknownand unstable forward loop.
  • the multiplex signal transmitter sends a signal down through the plurality of track circuit blocks and there are all sorts of opportunities for a failure of the communication, and by comparing the signal that is sent with the signal that is received back, it is possible to get the correct signal back unless the forward loop is operating properly.
  • This substantially different than prior art systems using one set of frequencies for track occupancy detection and another set of frequencies for sending speed commands to the train vehicle, and no feedback of the signals transmitted to the train in regard to speed command is provided in the prior art.
  • the same speed command signals are utilized for the purpose of controlling the movement of the train vehicle through the respective track circuit blocks and in addition, for detecting the presence of a train vehicle within any of those track circuit blocks.
  • a signalling circuit failure is considered in the same manner as a vehicle occupancy, such that the succeeding train vehicle is not permitted to enter a track circuit signal block where a signal failure has occurred in that the present control system interprets this to be a previous vehicle occupancy condition.
  • a pair of parallel vehicle grounding wires can be placed parallel to the vehicle track, which two parallel grounding wires can be short eircuited by a suitable brush connector carried by the train vehicle in a manner substantially similar to the shortcircuiting effect provided by a steel-wheeled train vehicle operating upon electrically conductive steel track members.
  • This has substantial advantage over an active signal transmitter carried by each train vehicle for sending back to a wayside control station a signal which can be sensed and utilized to indicate the position of that particular train vehicle.
  • the present control system utilizing the time slot position signal multiplex transmission concept in conjunction with the comma-free coded speed command signals provides an integrated train control system which is reliable and has substantial advantage over prior art hardwired train control systems particularly for a large transit system application where a substantial number such as 2,000 track circuit signal blocks are employed and communication with each of these track circuit signal blocks is desired.
  • the antennas coupled to the vehicle track are provided on each side of the individual short-circuiting conductors which define the respective ends of the individual track circuit signal blocks. Therefore, the signal frequency is coupled into each of the track circuit signal blocks adjacent to any given antenna. For this reason, it is feasible to provide signal receivers tuned to the particular frequency and signal phase shift which is in troduced at any given antenna at the location of the next adjacent shorbcircuiting conductor on either side of that particular antenna.
  • FIG. I there is shown a wayside control station to which is direct-wired to each of a plurality of track circuit signal block control devices [2, 14, 16, I8, 20, 22 and 24. It should be understood that the station 10, can be operative with any suitable desired number of such control devices. Further it should be noted that this arrangement requires a direct connecting multiple conductor between the station 10 and each of the track circuit signal block control devices.
  • the track circuit signal blocks are here defined by low impedance conductors 25 respectively connected between the train rails 26 and 28 at each end of the individual track circuit signal blocks as generally shown in FIG. I.
  • FIG. 2 there is shown one embodiment ofthe signal communication system in accordance with the present invention wherein the wayside control station 10 contains signal communication equipment which is cooperative with each of the control devices l2, l4, l6, I8, 20, 22 and 24. Each wayside station generates coded speed command signals for each of its associated track circuit signal blocks based on information coming back from each others track circuit signal block and from the central control station.
  • the control device I2 is operative at the location of a low impedance conductor 30, the control device [4 is operative at the location of the low impedance conductor 32, the control device 16 is operative at the location of the low impedance conductor 34, and so forth, such that a track circuit signal block is defined between the respective low impedance conductors 30 and 32 and another track circuit signal block is defined between the low impedance conductors 32 and 34 and so forth.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a suitable grounded shield 38 which surrounds the pair of control signal conductors 40, the pair of information down signal conductors 42, the pair of information back signal conductors 44 and the pair of power conductors 46.
  • the multiplexed signal connection between a wayside station and each of the associated control devices 12, 14, l6, 18, 20, 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. 2 could comprise a signal transmission conductor arrangement as shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 4 there is generally shown a wayside station multiplex signal-sending apparatus 50 operative with the control signal conductors 40, and the information down signal conductors 42, the infonnation back signal conductors 44, and a multiplex signal-receiving apparatus 52.
  • This signal-sending apparatus 50 and the signal-receiving apparatus 52 would be located at a wayside control station 10, such as shown in F IG. 2.
  • the multiplex signal-sending apparatus 50 sends a plurality of coded vehicle speed command signals for each of up to 32 track circuit signal blocks in a time division multiplex arrangement such that for a first time division period one bit of the coded vehicle command signal for the first track circuit signal block I is sent, and then for the next succeeding second time period one bit of the coded vehicle command signal for the second track circuit signal block 2 is sent, and so forth until the 32nd time period when a synchronizing or reset signal is sent for coordinating the operation of the signal transmission system.
  • the speed signal encoder 51 provides the programmed in advance scheduled train vehicle speed command signals for controlling train vehicle movement in the respective track circuit signal blocks.
  • the speed signal comparison circuit 53 senses the received feedback train position detection signals, to sense train vehicle-occupied track circuit signal blocks, by comparing on a bit by bit basis the speed command signal sent to each particular track circuit signal block with the signal received back from the same track circuit signal block; the presence of a train vehicle short circuits the signal information to prevent the signal block receiver from returning over the information back line 44 any feedback signal information from an occupied track circuit signal block.
  • the signal comparison device 53 for determination of vehicle occupancy purposes, includes the necessary time delay provided between the initial transmission of a given speed command signal bit to a track circuit block and the feedback return of this same speed signal bit within the speed signal comparison device 53.
  • a typical signal bit delay between two and three bits has been found in actual practice to be required to match properly the signals for comparison.
  • the speed signal comparison device 53 interprets this as a vehicle occupied track circuit block condition or a failure of the system in either of which cases it causes the speed signal encoder S! to transmit an appropriate vehicle speed command signal for safe operation of the train system. This speed comparison operation in effect controls what speed should be sent to each of the track circuit blocks.
  • FM signals enable what is called an FM capture effect to occur, with the FM receivers inherently picking up the stronger of two received signals.
  • a 50 db. signal strength difference may be required be fore the receiver preferred one signal over the other.
  • l db. signal strength dif ference is required and this permits desirable signal dis crimination relative to undesired signals from adjacent track circuit blocks which undesired signals might happen to be received by the FM receiver and which are not desired to pass through the FM receiver and erroneously inform the wayside station control equipment in regard to track circuit vehicle occupancy and the like.
  • FIG. there is generally shown the multiplex control signal that is transmitted over the control line 40, shown in FIG. 4, and which control signal includes bits of information occurring at the rate of 576-cycles/see, or 576 signal bits per second, upon which there is summed a 3
  • the time slot bit signals 22 through 31 are shown out of the total or 32 that is transmitted, with the 32nd bit position being omitted as shown for system synchronization and reset purposes, followed by the first and second time slot bit signal for the next successive time slot positions.
  • control signal line 40 supplies the signal waveform shown in FIG. 5 to the counter 60, with the counter 60 being operative like a shift register, to receive the successive signal bits.
  • the reset circuit 62 is operative during the 32nd bit position to reset the counter 60 at a zero count.
  • the sensor gate 63 comprises in effect an AND circuit selectively connected to be responsive to a selected status of the counter 60; for example, for the first track circuit block, when the first time slot bit signal is received by the counter 60 and a ONE in binary form is stored by the counter an output signal will be supplied by the selectively wired sensor gate 63 to enable the sample and hold circuit 64 for obtaining from the information down signal line 42 whatever bit of speed command signal information, either a ONE or a ZERO, is being transmitted during the first time slot position for the first track circuit signal block.
  • This first signal bit of information from the information down line 42 passes through the sample and hold circuit 64 to set the sample and hold flip-flop 66 in a corresponding ONE position, as shown by curve 6.
  • the waveform 60 shows the memory function of the sample and hold clocked flip-flop 66 to receive this information bit, when the reset pulse occurs as shown by curve 6C, and to change its state accordingly.
  • the waveform 6A shows the output signal from the sensor gate 63, which is selectively wired to be responsive only to the storage ofa ONE in binary form or 0000] within the counter 60.
  • the sensor gate 63 operates in this regard in a manner similar to the well-known function of an AND gate, sensing the ONE output of the first stage flip-flop and sensing the ZERO output of the flipflops for the other stages.
  • the output signal for time slot l shown as waveform 6A is applied to enable the sample and hold circuit 64, which in function is a clocked flip-flop, such that a sampling of the information signal bit carried by the information down line 42, for example 2 ONE as shown by curve 6E, occurs by operation of the sample and hold 64 to provide the output as shown in waveform 6B.
  • the reset circuit 62 provides the output waveform 6C by operation that will be explained in greater detail in reference to Fifi.
  • the second sample and hold 66 is provided such that the signal change for all track circuit signal blocks will occur together and thereby provide a simpler train control operation, which is due to the reset pulse being the same for all time slot position signals.
  • each track circuit signal block location receives its speed command information only during its particular time slot.
  • the appropriate time slot position signal is determined by the operation of the respective signal block counters, such as the counters 70, and 90, which sample the speed command information s9gnal bits from the information down line 42, when a predetermined number count of bit pulses have been received by their respective counters 60, 70 and 80.
  • the individual speed command information bit signal for each time slot position is stored in the associated flip-flop sample and hold circuit 72, and corresponding respective sample and hold circuits for the other time slot positions, until all locations have similarly received their speed command information bit signal.
  • Each reset circuit 74 at the same time senses the occurrence of the 32nd signal bit of control line 40 and operates to provide a reset signal. For the first signal block counter 70, this reset pulse would reset the counter 70.
  • Each wayside location as generally shown in FIG. 7, performs a similar operation in its own assigned time slot.
  • the respective track circuit signal blocks receive a speed command signal bit in accordance with the command signal information bit received and stored during the previous time slot signal bit time. Simultaneously the next set of speed command signal bits begin to pass down the information down line 42 to be stored in the first sample and hold circuits until all locations again modify their track circuit block signals as desired.
  • each of the up to 32 track circuit block locations requires one multiplex cycle or word consisting of 32 multiplex bit signals. Since in this example each of the up to 32 track circuit block locations receives six bits of information per given speed command signal, at a rate of three commands per second, the overall multiples rate is l8 32 or 576 speed command information bits per second.
  • the multiplex system control line 40 provides an absence of a pulse at the reset time slot, which is the 32nd time slot position. However, a pulse is generated during the 32nd time slot for reset purposes by the reset circuit 74 and corresponding other signal block reset circuits.
  • the time slot pulses are provided for each of the other time slot positions, other than the 32nd position.
  • the enable pulse on line 7] enables the sample and hold 72 to sense either a ONE or ZERO signal from the information down line 42. If a ONE signal is provided the output of sample and hold 72 goes to a ONE as shown by curve 7A1. In order for the signal shown by the curve 7A] to go to a ZERO at time slot one, it requires ZERO information to be coming through on the information down line 42.
  • the time slot one signal is shown in curve 7A2, and this time slot one signal is applied to the sample and hole 72 over line 71.
  • Curve 7A3 shows a ONE value information pulse is provided at the time slot one position such that the output of the sample and hold 72 goes high as shown in curve 7A].
  • the output of the sample and hold 73 remains at a low output condition in that the information line 42 contains a ZERO information signal at time slot two, corresponding to the second track circuit signal block, and this passes through the NOT circuit 76 to cause the sample and hold 73 to have a ZERO or low output signal at its output connection 77.
  • the associated sample and hold is caused to have a high value output whereas if a ZERO pulse condition occurs on the information line at a particular time slot position, due to the provided inversion NOT circuit. the associated sample and hold has n ZERO or low output signal provided.
  • a ONE value information signal on the information down line 42 is applied to the bottom of the sample and hold 72 for the time slot one; and during the time slot position when an enabling pulse is supplied over the conductor 7] this causes the output of the sample and hold 72 to provide a ONE value output signal as shown in curve 7AI.
  • a ZERO value information signal occurs on the information down line 42, concurrent with the time slot one enabling pulse, the NOT circuit causes the sample and hold to have a low level output signal. If the information down line 42, at the next occurrence of the time slot one enabling pulse, remains at a high value the output of the sample and hold similarly remains at a high value.
  • the signal value on the information down line 42 is thereby sampled, and if it is a ONE value signal a high level output is provided by the sample and hold 72.
  • the output of the sample and hold through operation of the NOT circuit 79 is changed to provide a low level output signal.
  • each of the respective time slot signal positions there is a similar circuit provided for each of the respective time slot signal positions, as generally shown in FIG. 7, with a second time slot operating circuit being shown and an N position time slot signal circuit being shown. If it were desired in accordance with the present teachings to control the move ment of a train vehicle in 25 track circuit signal blocks associated with a given multiplex station, 25 such circuits would be required. It can be desired to utilize the available time slot positions 26 through 31 for sensing the occurrence of a landslide or some other happening which should be sensed for the proper and reliable operation of the transit system.
  • the individual signal block command signal bit sensing circuits sample the information on the information down line 42, at the occurrence of its particular time slot enabling signal, and hold this information until the occurrence of the next succeeding time slot enabling signal at which time the information then present on the information down line 42 is again sampled and held until the occurrence of its next similar time slot enabling signal.
  • the information down line signals would be the same for the three illustrated signal sampling circuits shown in FIG. 7, however, the time slot enabling signal senses for its associated signal block the occurrence of only the information signal bit present on the information down line 42 at the time of its own particular time slot signal.
  • a ZERO information signal is present on the information down line 42 for the first illustrated multiplex time period so the output of the sample and hold 73 remains at a low output condition.
  • the respective signal equipments shown in FIG. 7 are wayside located, with each of the signalsensing circuits being provided at the location of a particular track circuit signal block.
  • the multiplex line traveling the length of the associated track circuit signal blocks operative with a given wayside control station is shown in the form of control line 40 and information down line 42.
  • control line 40 and information down line 42 At the location of each track circuit signal block, one of the information signal bit sensing circuits as shown in FIG. 7 is provided.
  • the 7N curves are for time slot 3], and the curve 7N] indicates that the previous time slot signal occurred when the information down line 42 had a ONE signal on it and a ZERO signal has now been provided to cause the output of the sample and hold 75 to have a low level value.
  • the reset 74 does not influence the sample and hold circuit 72 other than to reset the counter 70 back to a ZERO count level, however, there is a succeeding sample and hold circuit as shown in FIG. 6 to which the reset 74 does apply an enable signal.
  • This reset signal causes the respective vehicle command signal information signal bits which are supplied to the respective track circuits signal blocks associated with a given wayside location control station to all change signal values together. In other words, the signal bit supplied to every one of the track circuit signal blocks is changed simultaneously in relation to a given wayside location control station.
  • the reason for leaving the pulse out rather than allowing the counter to count through 32 pulses and then reset is that if the reset generating circuit should fail a greater reliability of operation is provided in that there would be a shifting of stored signal information within the control line signal pulse counter due to the counter's ability to count 32 pulses and only 3
  • the track vehicle presence is indicated by the feedback of signals picked up by the receivers associated with the respective track circuit signal blocks to indicate the respective unoccupied track circuit signal blocks. If a train vehicle is located in a signal block no signal is fed back. These presence-indicating signals are multiplexed back to the central control station. The same time slot that is used for multiplex information down transmission is used for retransmission of feedback signals on the information back line.
  • FIG. 8 A more detailed block diagram of a typical wayside track circuit signal block control device is shown in FIG. 8.
  • the word and bit synchronization pulses are obtained from the control line 40.
  • l.04-kilohertz signal from the control line 40 is put into a divider counter I02 which provides out a predetermined one of three pairs of frequencies F-I, F-2 or F-3 each to have an output ONE or an output ZERO signal.
  • the AND gates I04 and I06 operate to determine the selection of a ONE or a ZERO as will be later explained.
  • the divider counter I02 in this regard operates as a well-known feedback counter to generate a signal in conjunction with the divider 108.
  • a ONE will be provided at 5 kHz. and a ZERO will be provided at 8 kHz.; and a ZERO will be provided at 9 kHz.; for an F-3 frequency signal, a ONE will be provided at 7 kHz. and a ZERO will be provided at l0 kHz.
  • the divider I08 functions in general as a wave-shaping circuit.
  • the wayside track circuit signal block position for the circuit shown in FIG. 8 is the first time slot one location, such that the speed command signal bit supplied to thc clocked flip-flop I10, operative as a sample and hold device, is fed in when the flip-flop is enabled by the time slot one signal from the logic gate 112 operative with the signal counter 114 in response to the first bit only after reset of the 576-cycle control signal supplied by the control line 40. If the particular information down signal bit at this time had been a ONE, the following pulse will transfer this into sample and hold I I I, thereby enabling AND gate I06 to cause the divider I02 in conjunction with the divider 108 to supply, for example, the F-I frequency signal ONE at a frequency of 8 kHz.
  • the reset circuit 8 Upon the occurrence of the 32nd bit or reset pulse on the control line 40, the reset circuit 8 will provide an output signal to reset the counter II, to enable the second sample and hold III and to trigger the flip-flop I20 to energize the other input of AND gate 1 I6 such that an F-I frequency ONE signal of 8 kHz. is supplied through the OR gate 122 and transmitter 124 to energize the signal transmission antenna I26 operative with the track I28 and having the short circuit conductor at the illustrated position relative to the antenna 126 so that substantially no current at frequency 8 kHz. flows in the conductor 130 thereby.
  • the following reset pulse will cause flip-flop I20 to enable AND gate I32, thereby providing the opposite phase signal from divider I08 to the transmitter.
  • the reset circuit IIB is operative by applying the control signal, as shown in FIG. to a resonant circuit which will ring through the absent of 32nd bit pulse, and the output from the resonant circuit is then squared to produce a second continuous signal.
  • this second continuous signal is compared to the original control signal in an AND gate, the output will be the IS-cycle/sec. reset pulses.
  • Each reset pulse is used to reset the five bit counter II4 to ZERO at the beginning of each multiplex word, and this counter then begins to count the control signal bit pulses.
  • the AND gate IIZ is connected to respond when the counter reaches the predetermined count level corresponding to the assigned time slot.
  • the output of the gate I12 operative with the sample and hold flip-flop IIO samples the vehicle command information bit signal on the information down line 42 by enabling the flipflop I10, and this information bit signal is then stored in the flip-flop IIO for later use. After all the wayside signal block locations have responded to their respective vehicle command signal bits, during their assigned time slots in like manner, the next reset or 32nd bit pulse comes along.
  • the counter I14 that is used for time slot determination consists of five binary stages.
  • the 32nd bit pulse resets the counter I I4 to zero, after which each successive control signal bit pulse increases the count by one.
  • the AND gate 112 is connected to give an output at a selected count level corresponding to the respective assigned time slot in accordance with the circuit logic chosen for the AND gate I12.
  • the 31 I.04-kilocycle carrier from the filter I00 is divided down to a predetermined one of the track signalling pairs of frequencies F-l, F-2 or F-3 by the feedback divider counter I02 as determined in advance.
  • the logic including AND gates I04 and I06 must now select one of two possible frequencies for the respective ZERO and ONE outputs.
  • one of the two resulting frequencies corresponding to ONE or ZERO signals is selected for transmis' sion to the track, and reversed in phase by each reset pulse for synchronization purposes on the train. This is accomplished by selecting twice the desired frequency from the divider 102 and then dividing by two one more in an additional divider 108. The phase of the bits supplied to the track is shifted at each word transition by the AND gates [I6 and I32 for timing information to the train by selecting alternate outputs from the flip-flop 120. In addition since the signal from the counter I08 does not necessarily have a 50 percent duty cycle, this final division by two assures that this is so.
  • the output of the discriminator of the vehicle position sensing track receiver I48 consists of either a ONE or ZERO for each time slot period, which must be returned to the multiplex center over the information back line 44.
  • the receiver output from the receiver I48 is passed through the AND gate I42 for each enable pulse from the time slot counter II4 and AND gate I12 to read out the signal information from the track receiver I48 and to send onto the information back line 44 this signal information.
  • the antenna 126 shown in FIG. 8 gives bidirectional running capabilities in that it energizes the track circuit blocks on either side of the short circuit connection I with a particular F-I vehicle speed command signal. Any given receiver receives in one direction because of the frequency of the lilters it has in it to operate with that receiver, and any given signal receiver can show whether its associated track circuit block is occupied or is not occupied regardless of the movement direction of the train vehicle which is occupying that track circuit block.
  • three vehicle speed command signals per second can be sent from a wayside station location control unit to each of the associated track circuit signal blocks.
  • the 18 bits per second cycle rate indicates the capacity of the present multiplex signal system to transmit 18 bits of information for each second, and if a given speed command signal has 6 bits then three such speed command signals can be transmitted to each track circuit block in each second of time.
  • the train control requirement was that the wayside control unit could not be out of control of a given train vehicle for a longer period than I second of time.
  • the transmitted speed command signal frequency rate must be at least two speed commands per second.
  • One multiplex territory to the next multiplex territory would be considered from one group of up to 32 track circuit signal blocks associated with a given wayside control station to the next group of 32 track circuit signal blocks associated with the next adjacent wayside control station.
  • one or two words of speed command can be lost due to noise or moving from one multiplex territory to the next adjacent multiplex territory and still provide the required one speed command to the train in each second of time.
  • the frequency F-I, F-Z or F-3 is preset by the divider counter I02 which is selected for example for a particular track circuit block.
  • the divider counter I02 will he set to some frequency such as F-I, having a high and a low frequency in itii frequency pair.
  • the subsequent divider I08 is a simple divide by two divider circuit, such as a single stage flip-flop, to assure an on-off one-to-onc ratio and this squares up to the one-to onc on-ol'f ratio.
  • the second sample and hold Ill determines the dividing of the 3
  • This provides an in phase signal and an out of phase signal from the respective outputs of the divider 108.
  • the trigger flip-flop 120 selects alternate AND gate 116 and I32 such that when a given reset pulse comes along, for example the high output signal is selected and the next reset pulse causes the low output signal to pass through the AND gates, a signal phase reversal occurs each time a reset pulse is provided.
  • These phase reversed alternate output signals are applied through the amplifier 124, which can be considered to comprise a signal transmitter, for the energization of the antenna 126. To illustrate the operation of this circuitry, assume that an 80-m.p.h. speed signal were to be supplied to the antenna 126 including six bits ofinformation of the arrangement llll1.
  • a S-kilocycle signal would pass from the divider I08 through the AND circuit 116 to the transmitter amplifier 124 and energize the antenna 126.
  • the reset pulse would then occur for the next ZERO signal bit, such that an S-kilocycle signal would pass through the AND gates to the transmitter amplifier I24 and energize the antenna 126.
  • the third signal bit of this given speed command is a ONE which would again cause a S-kilocycle signal to pass through the transmitter and amplifier 124 to energize the an tenna 126.
  • the fourth, fifth and sixth signal bits are ONE to provide a group of S-kilocycle signal bits.
  • the train equipment would have difficulty recognizing the occurrence of the respective signal bits and the complete six-bit speed command signal.
  • this permits the train equipment to sense the respective signal bits.
  • the phase reversal permits the train carried receiving equipment to sense the occurrence of the respective signal bits.
  • the phase reversal is not required, however, it is more simple in the operation of the flip-flop circuit 120 to reverse phase for each respective signal bit whether needed or not, and this simplifies the receipt of the speed command signal by train-carried equipment.
  • the bit and word pulses are derived from the 311.04 kilocycle oscillator 210 in the manner previously described; thus the wayside station multiplexer serving up to 32 remote track circuit blocks requires one oscillator 210, one 5-bit counter 200, one 9-bit divider 212 and a maximum of 64 AND gates are required for interfacing with the control system.
  • the sampling AND gate 202 is connected to the appropriate high or low level outputs of each stage to be operative to sense the count level of one within the counter 200, and provides an output signal to the AND gate 203 which is connected to the speed command providing information down line 42 from the station, such that the first time slot information bit from the speed signal encoder $1 is thereby passed through the AND gate 203 and the subsequent OR gate 197 to the information down line 42.
  • this first time slot information bit is a ONE
  • the AND gate 203 will have no output signal so in effect a Zero is supplied through the OR gate 197.
  • the other sampling time slot AND gates and associated AND gates are similarly operative for their respective time slot periods. In this manner the predetermined train vehicle speed patterns are established and sent to each signal block location.
  • the AND gate 220 When the counter 200 has a 32 count level, corresponding to the 32nd bit position, the AND gate 220 has been wired in a predetermined manner to sense the stage output signals so as to provide an output signal which is inverted by the NOT 222 such that AND gate 224 passes the 576-cycle output signal from the divider 212 except when the output signal corresponding to the 32nd time slot is supplied by the AND gate 220.
  • the analog summing junction 226 adds the 3! 1.04 kilo cycle signal from the oscillator 210 to the 576cycle signal from the divider 212 and supplies the resulting control signal through the amplifier 228 to the control line 40.
  • the control line 40 receives no 576-cycle signal through the AND gate 224 and the 32nd time slot bit shown in FIG. 5 is thereby provided.
  • FIG. 10 there is illustrated the operation of the reset circuit 62, such as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the control line 40 which carries the control signal shown in waveform 10A.
  • This latter waveform is supplied to one input of the AND gate 300.
  • the waveform 10A is also supplied to the tuned circuit 302, where a ringing effect occurs when the 32nd bit pulse occurs as shown in waveform 10B, and the amplifier 304, which includes a limiter circuit, provides the output waveform 10C.
  • the AND gate 300 senses similar signals only during the 32nd bit signal time slot period to provide an output reset signal only during the 32nd bit signal of control waveform 10A.
  • some miles of double track rapid transit system is operative including 33 wayside stations which control the energization of approximately 2,000 track circuit blocks and I40 switches.
  • speed commands for the individual train are communicated to any train vehicle positioned within a particular signal block through track circuits.
  • the feedback of the speed control signals from the same track circuits is used for detecting the presence of a train vehicle in each block.
  • Coded audiofrequency speed command signals are sent to the track signal blocks for this purpose and then received back to indicate train vehicle presence.
  • a signal multiplex system utilizing four pairs of twisted conductors rather than a larger number of hardwire pairs is employed.
  • the traffic control system receives back signal information in regard to each track circuit block occupancy as well as the condition of the provided switches, and delivers switch position control signals and train vehicle speed command signals to each train vehicle.
  • a command signal terminal is located at each wayside station which communicates with up to 32 track circuit blocks associated with each wayside station.
  • the individual track circuit blocks are driven by respective signal transmitters operative with the end of each circuit block.
  • the track circuits operate in the audiofrequency range and the signals are coupled into the individual track circuit blocks by a simple loop antenna system generally shown in FIG. 8 and placed about a low impedance conductor connected between the two rails at this location.
  • the latter conductor is provided to simplify and balance the conduction of substantial traction currents within the rails.
  • Receivers are in ductively coupled to the short circuit conductors by means of small pickup coils or antennas which can if desired in addition be coupled to the rail at intermediate points between the shorting conductors for a secondary train control operation.
  • the transmitter loop antenna and the receiver coils are essentially air core transformers. Two-way running capability is achieved by extending the transmitter loops to both sides of the respective shorting conductors.
  • the transmitter is modulated with frequency shift modulation, which offers the considerable advantage that useful information is transmitted all of the time instead of leaving the receiver with no signal half of the time, and during which time the receiver would otherwise be highly susceptible to noise conditions.
  • Frequency shift keying provides a signal which can be noise reduced through limiting.
  • the frequency shift modulation information signal is carried by an information down line which communicates in serial bit form all of the desired vehicle command signal information to each of the respective track circuit blocks.
  • Each block location has its own assigned time slot which is built into the translating equipment. This time slot signal enables the information down line to deliver its information into a memory circuit where it is stored for the duration of the one signal bit code cycle.
  • the information that is delivered to the memory tells the wayside transmitter to go to either of two frequencies, and in this way the actual shift of frequency of each track circuit block transmitter is controlled from the wayside station and can be coded in its own unique way so as to communicate the desired speed signals to the train vehicle.
  • the information down line contains the speed command signal, and the control line contains a predetermined code including synchronizing pulses, which latter signal consists of a train of 3
  • the space between the 31st and the first pulse is for synchronizing and reset purposes so that the proper time is thereby selected.
  • a time slot select circuit counts these pulses and at its prewired count level delivers a signal to enable the pulse occurring in the speed command information down line through to the memory circuit which is then set at either a ONE or a ZERO depending on the information pulse which occurs on the information down line at the time assigned to the particular block location.
  • This memory circuit will not change until the cycle is repeated during the next 3l pulses, with the signal stored in memory being used to shift the frequency of the local transmitter between its two assigned frequencies.
  • the information in each of the track circuit block memory circuits is stored until the reset space between the 31st and the first pulse occurs, at which time whatever is stored is respectively used to set the frequency of the local transmitter. In this way, although information is delivered to all local transmitters on a serial basis, all local transmitters are actually modulated in synchronism with each other.
  • these include crystal filters which allow them to only respond to the frequency of the corresponding crystal controlled transmitters associated with and located at the opposite end of the respective track circuit blocks.
  • the same time slot selector that was used for the transmitters is also used to enable the receiver output to deliver the information it is receiving to the receiver information back line.
  • the latter information is decoded into a ONE or a ZERO signal depending on which of the two assigned frequency pairs is being received.
  • the time slot generator drive enable circuits allow each multiplex system to transmit and receive in the assigned time slots.
  • the information is first delivered to a speed signal code comparison cir cuit, and if it passes this test, it is then delivered to a final relay safety protection system of conventional design.
  • This safety protection system including the speed signal encoder 51, develops speed commands for the vehicles located in the track circuit signal block with which it is connected. The speed commands are delivered to the transmitter information down line through appropriate time slot enable circuits.
  • the feature which makes the present system substantially immune to errors in synchronization is the feedback and signal comparison taking place between the speed signal code generator and the speed signal code comparison circuit; if the receiver operative with a given track circuit signal block doe not receive exactly, pulse bit by pulse bit, the same signal information introduced to this track circuit signal block by its associated transmitter, no speed command signal information will be released to the safety protection circuit.
  • This provides double protection of the track circuit block; first, the frequency must be correct in order to be received by the crystal filtered receiver and, second, the receiver must receive exactly what the associated transmitter transmits before a valid signal condition is recognized.
  • the safety integrity of the communication system is further enhanced by the use of comma-free coded speed command signals, which reduce to a vanishing point the possibility of etc ternal interference producing a recognizable but erroneous vehicle speed command.
  • the speed signal code consists of six bits of information to transmit nine desired speed command signals. Only those signals which have the comma-free characteristic are utilized. A repetitive sequence of any of these coded command speed signals will never be confused with any other code regardless of the time or random signal bit selected as the beginning ofa vehicle command signal message. In this way no synchronization is required in the vehicle decoding system in order to recognize a speed command signal.
  • the additional bits required for this type of code are an advantage in the track circuits, since the more bits that are compared at the receiving end with those introduced in the transmitting end before validity is recognized reduces the probability that a false signal will not be detected.
  • Six bits of signal information reduces this possibility as a function of time down to a mathematically insignificant level.
  • the comma-free speed command signal now offers a further opportunity to protect adjacent track circuits from receiving erroneous information over and beyond that which is provided by the frequency separation; if all track circuits were being commanded at the same speed, it otherwise would be only the frequency separation and attenuation that keeps the respective adjacent track circuits separated.
  • the train control equipment carried by each train vehicle consists of two systems; the first system is for the control of the speed of the vehicle, and the second system is for the control of the vehicle during station stopping.
  • the train vehicle carries a speed control antenna system suitably shielded and coupled to the train rails to receive all three frequency pairs from the track.
  • the train-carried receiver filters this speed control in formation and delivers it to a speed decoder aboard the train.
  • the speed decoder recognizes a comma-free code without benefit of word synchronization and delivers one of up to nine speed commands to the train These speed commands are interpreted by the speed regulation equipment and compared with a tachometer, with the resulting output signal then controlling as desired the propulsion equipment and the brake equipment.
  • the same speed command signals are delivered to an overspeed protection equipment carried by the train which also compares the speed commands with a tachometer and provides independent overriding control of the brake equip ment in the event that an overspeed condition exists.
  • the second subsystem carried by the train vehicle is concerned with station stopping.
  • the safety system thereby provided is dynamic in operation and demands that it continually be checking itself before delivering the vehicle speed commands to the train propulsion equipment and further utilizes fail-safe comma-free coding to make it substantially impossible for interference and noise signals to cause unsafe train vehicle operation.
  • any other suitable frequency could be used in place of the 3
  • the number of destinations or track circuit signal blocks operative with a given wayside controi station could be modified by factors of two by the addition or deletion of counterstages, and the type of command signal information is not limited to that described.
  • the commafree code control signals could be multiplexed to remote stations via a radio transmission link using the technique of time slot multiplexing with phase shifting of the multiple bits of the multiple bit multiplex word.
  • the remote station would in this instance include a means for sensing the status of operation which is being controlled, and would provide a local TRUE state signal when the operation status and the command status match. The sensed signal would be anded with this TRUE signal and returned to the telecontrol transmission station for comparison to provide assurance of proper operation of the telecontrol multiplex.
  • Suitable time buffering is provided in the coupling channels to effect comparison of corresponding parts of the transmitted and returned signals.
  • each signal circuit being operative with the vehicle when the latter is traveling along the section of the path coextensive with the signal circuit, said vehicle in its movement being selectively responsive to any one of a predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals introduced into the signal circuit which is operative with the vehicle, the combination of, transmitter means for providing a selected one of said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals to each of said signal circuits in accordance with the respective desired movement conditions for the operation of said vehicle along the sections of the path coextensive with those same signal circuits,
  • receiver means for sensing the repetitive binary sequence signal in each of said signal circuits
  • each sequence of said repetitive binary sequence signal being composed of a predetermined number of bits
  • said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to each signal circuit with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit.
  • control system of claim 3 including signal memory means operative with each of said signal circuits for storing the last-received signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal from said transmitter means,
  • said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated signal circuit with the stored signal bit upon the occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse.
  • said transmitter means further providing a different time period selected pulse for each signal circuit such that the repetitive binary sequence signal bit provided for each signal circuit is selected for application to that signal circuit during the occurrence of said time period selection pulse associated with that same signal circuit.
  • said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
  • said signal comparison means being responsive to a mismatch between the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to a signal circuit and the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit to select for application to at least an adjacent signal circuit a repetitive binary sequence signal representing a reduced speed of movement condition
  • said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to a given signal circuit and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given signal circuit.
  • the method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal to comprise a plurality of ONE and ZERO digital bits suitable for comma-free signal control of said vehicle in one of a selected number of vehicle operation conditions within each of said signal blocks.
  • the method oi'claim 9 including coding said vehicle control signal for each one of said signal blocks to control the respective speeds of the vehicle when operating within said signal blocks,
  • receiver means for sensing any multiple bit digital signals in each of said track circuit blocks, said signal receiver means being operative with said vehicle such that the presence ol said vehicle in a given track circuit block will prevent the receiver means from sensing the predetermined multiple bit digital signal transmitted to said given track circuit block,
  • the predetermined multiple bit digital signal sent to each of said track circuit blocks being a repetitive binary sequence signal composed of a predetermined number of bits
  • said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to said given circuit block with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
  • said signal comparison means being operative to determine presence of a vehicle through cooperation of said transmitter means and said receiver means such that the multiple bit digital signal is not present in a track circuit block when the block is occupied due to the short-circuiting effect of said vehicle between the tracks.
  • the train presence detection system of claim 17 includmg signal memory means operative with each of said track circuit blocks for storing the signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal last received from said transmitter means, with said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated track circuit signal block with the stored signal bit upon occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse.
  • the train presence detection system of claim 17 said transmitter means providing multiplexed signal hits over a common signal transmission path to the respective track circuit blocks such that the signal bits of the repetitive binary sequence signal to be provided to said given track circuit block are assigned a particular time period associated with that same track circuit block, said transmitter means further providing a different time period selection pulse for each track circuit block such that the binary sequence signal bit provided for said given track circuit block is selected for application to said given track circuit block during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit signal block.
  • 21 The train presence detection system of claim 20, with said receiver means being cooperative with the time period selection pulses such that the signal sensed in said given track circuit block is supplied to said signal comparison means during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit block. 22.
  • said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to said given track circuit block and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
  • said receiver means in sensing the signal in each track circuit block being selectively responsive to the different characteristic associated with the respective blocks.
  • said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.

Abstract

A train control signalling system is provided for train speed command signals and train position detection signals, which system is operative in a fail-safe manner with a plurality of isolated track circuit blocks. For a given train system, a plurality of wayside stations is provided, with each station being operative through a limited number of conductors to energize a predetermined number of track circuit blocks. Each station includes a crystal controlled signal generator to assure an accurate coherent base frequency control of the communicated signals and provide control signals for the signal communication operation relative to each station to thereby control, in effect as an extension of the crystal control concept, accuracy to each of the associated track circuit blocks. Up to 32 separated track circuit block locations receive information from each wayside station, for this particular system as described, over a common time division multiplexed signalling system, so it is necessary that each location receive its particular information only at the correct time period. This is accomplished by an appropriate control signal sent for this purpose to each track circuit block location.

Description

O United States Patent 113,593,022
I72] Inventors Robert C. Hoyler 3,303,470 2/1967 Brixner et al 340/163 Pittsburgh;
Primary Izmmmer-Drayton E. Hoffman 35:: 22 Murryume' Assistant Examiner-George H1 Libman 0 pp No 762.563 Attorneys F. H Henson, R. G. Brodahl and M. F. Oglo {22] Filed Sept. 25,1968 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] A599 mm Corponuo ABSTRACT: A train control signalling system is provided for train speed command signals and train position detection signals, which system is operative in a fail-safe manner with a [54] CONTROL OF A VEHICLE ALONG AIM-"l plurality ofl isriillatedftrackslrcuit blocks. For adgiver;I train DWIDED INTO A PLURALn-Y 0F SIGNAL system, a ur my 0 ways] e stations 18 provide W1 each m OCKS station being operative hrough adllmitedbzumiier ofkconducwi tors to energize a pre etermine num r o trac circutt Cum on Figs blocks. Each station includes a crystal controlled signal Cl 246/34 generator to assure an accurate coherent base frequency con- 246/5 340/ trol of the communicated signals and provide control signals [Ill- Cl 561! 23/14 for the signal communication operation relative to each sta- FHII selldl 340/35 tion to thereby control, in effect as an extension of the crystal 246/5- 8 control concept, accuracy to each of the associated track cir- 56 Ref CM cuit blocks. l l Up to 32 separated track circuit block locations receive in- UNITED STATES PATENTS formation from each wayside station, for this particular system 3,263,217 7/1966 803111311 340/163 as described, over a common time division multiplexed 3,021,506 2/1962 l-laner et al. 340/163 X signalling system, so it is necessary that each location receive 3,072,785 1/1963 Hailes........ 246/ I87 UX its particular information only at the correct time period. This 3,250,914 5/1966 Reich 246/63 X is accomplished by an appropriate control signal sent for this 3,252,138 5/1966 Young 340/151 X purpose to each track circuit block location.
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CONTROL OF A VEHICLE ALONG A PATH DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF SIGNAL BLOCKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to control ofa vehicle along a path divided into a plurality of signal blocks. ln certain broader aspects it relates to multiplex system of utility in any situation where dangerous failure modes must be avoided. It also generally relates to telecontrol of vehicle operation.
A train control system must fully meet the safety standards historical in the rapid transit and railroad industry. ln addition, a centralized traffic control system is desired which is suitable for a high degree of automation far above the level of service commonly provided today and in addition the cost of this system has to be reasonable.
In the past systems, for train control signalling purposes, in sulated joints have been required between the respective track circuit blocks. Another provision of the prior art control systems have been to utilize signal frequency separation between respective track circuit blocks and to provide some means to separate the respective frequency signal energization of the so-provided discrete track circuit blocks.
SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTION In accordance with the present invention a train control signalling svstem is provided for the transmission of speed command signals from separate wayside stations to each of an associated group of isolated track circuit blocks, and for the transmission of train position detection signals back from those track circuit blocks to the wayside station associated with a given group of said track circuit blocks. A time division multiplexing of these signals is provided in conjunction with limited number of conductors between each wayside station and a central control station. All coded speed command signals and train position detection signals change at the same time to increase the system synchronism or continuity. For controlling train movement in close proximity and within 100 feet or so of each passenger station, which can also be a wayside station, direct wiring of signals is provided, and for greater distances from each station the control signals are multiplexed to each track circuit block.
For each wayside station, up to 32 track circuit blocks are controlled in the illustrative example herein given, but is should be understood that 64 or 128 or other multiples of these values could be readily accommodated, by simple modification of the apparatus, if desired. Each control signal has six respectively reverse phased bits of information and is operative with three different signal frequencies such that 18 bits per second of information is sent to each of up to 32 track circuit blocks, with the 32nd bit position being used for synchronization and reset purposes. The train control information is supplied at the rate of 576 bits per second to the signalling system. A ZERO bit signal has a voltage of zero volts and a ONE bit signal has a voltage of 12 volts. The coded speed command signals and the coded position detection signals are induced to flow in the track rails, which have a generally undesirable signal-to-noise characteristic such that crystal-controlled signalling is desirable. A 311.04-kilocycle/sec. crystal oscillator signal is provided by a suitable oscillator at each wayside station, and this signal is divided by 540 to provide a 576-cycle/sec. multiplex bit signal; the latter signal is further divided by the number of available track circuit blocks 32 to yield an l8-cycle/sec. multiplex word signal. These three signals are then combined to be sent on onecon' ductor as follows: the l8-cycle/sec. word signal is subtracted from the 576-cycle/sec. bit signal, and the 311.04-kilocycle/sec. oscillator signal is added to the result to provide an operation control signal.
For the purpose of providing an example, the following comma-free coded speed command signals are illustrative of those that can be utilized with the present train control signalling system:
l01111 m.p.h 101001-18 m.p.h. 100111-70 m.p.h 100000-12 m.p.h. 100011-$0 m.p.h 100001-6 n1 p.h. 1010l1l*0 m.p.h 101000-0 m p h 10010127 m.p.h
In the course of the actual signal transmission reverse phasing of successive signal bits permits sensing aboard the train a bit rate to assist in decoding the train speed command signals.
The vehicle communication signals, such as vehicle speed command signals and vehicle presence detection signals, pass through a pair of conductors which can be the track rails if desired and which conductors are periodically short circuited by a low impedance conductor connected between those conductors to provide discrete signal blocks, and which are operative relative to the vehicle such that the vehicle as it moves along the support track member is effective to short circuit or provide a low impedance path between these two signal conductors for the purpose of notifying the attendant control system of the actual position of the vehicle as it moves along the support structure.
It is contemplated in accordance with die present invention that both frequency and modulation phase separation will be applicable in reference to contiguous track circuit signal blocks. More specifically a plurality of three signal frequencies is provided to the signal blocks and in addition each frequency includes a six-bit command signal with the provision that between the adjacent signal blocks a phase shift takes place such that through the combination of three frequencies and six phase shifts it is possible to provide signal communication to 18 track circuit blocks before it is necessary to repeat the signal characteristics.
In general, any given particular track circuit block receives the same frequency and phase shift speed command signal all the time. For example a particular track circuit block will receive signal frequency F-l, phase shift three and its associated receiver will be tuned to receive a signal at F-! frequency and will feed back the phase-three frequency to the provided speed signal comparison circuit for comparison with the transmitted phase three-speed command signal occurring at an l8-cycle/sec. rate. The neighboring track circuit blocks are supplied with a different frequency and a different phase shifted speed command signal arrangement such that for a combination of three signal frequencies and six phase shift arrangements [8 unique combinations of speed command signal can be provided to thereby permit a separation between identical signal transmission relative to the track circuit blocks of 18 track circuit blocks. Thusly, for the track circuit signal blocks operative with a given wayside multiplex station, the first track circuit signal block and the 19th could be energized with signal frequency F-l, phase one, the second and the 20th signals blocks could be energized by signal frequency F-Z, phase one, the third and the 21st signal blocks could be energized with signal frequency F-3, phase one, the fourth and the 22nd signal blocks could be energized by F-l, phase two and so forth. This has been decided as a desired way to transmit the signals in a reliable and fail-safe manner to the track circuit signal blocks. This provides the desired number of isolated orthogonal train vehicle speed control and position sensing channels, which channels are repeated only at separation distances large enough to assure fail-safe vehicle control and position sensing through adequate signal attenuation between two otherwise similar control signals for the purpose of avoiding erroneous vehicle control and position-sensing information being received even under fault conditions, the number of different signal frequencies can by reduced to a small number such as three with the desired orthogonality between adjacent signal block channels operating at the same frequency being separated by orthogonal signal coding of the modulation impressed upon the transmission carrier. For this purpose comma-free coded vehicle command signals are utilized, and are phase-shifted relative to adjacent signal channels, to effect in this manner three signal frequencies and six phase shifts to provide adequate separation of the respective signal block channels.
The train vehicle carries a command signal receiver that senses the transmitted bits of the command signal in groups of six such bits, such that the entire vehicle command signal is thereby sensed and causes the vehicle to follow the desired speed of movement along the track. By the use of a wayside control station operative with up to 32 track circuit blocks the wayside control unit can monitor the movement of a vehicle moving in either a first direction along the track or the opposite direction along that same track, by sensing the effect of the train vehicle to short circuit and thereby remove the dc tection of the provided vehicle speed command signal relative to a particular track circuit signal block within which the vehicle is positioned in relation to the position-detecting signal receiver and its operation. A single central digital computer can be provided for an entire train control system and be operative with the required plurality of wayside control stations, with each said wayside control station operating entirely by itself to provide a programmed vehicle movement through the up to 32 track circuit blocks controlled by that wayside station control unit, and cooperative with the central computer in regard to changing this predetermined vehicle movement pattern when the vehicle is within the particular group of track circuit signal blocks operative with any given wayside station control unit. In other words, the wayside station control provides vehicle speed command signals to each of its track circuit blocks in accordance with a predetermined vehicle movement pattern when traveling through that group of track circuit blocks, and in the event of a need to reduce the travel speed ofa given vehicle for the reason that several vehicles are tied up ahead of the vehicle or for the reason that a construction program is underway somewhere along the proposed travel path of that vehicle, then the central computer can override and reduce the movement speed of the train vehicle when passing through that particular group of track circuits or when passing through any one or more track circuits within that group of track circuits. Thusly each wayside station control unit operates as a signal multiplex center relative to its particular group of up to 32 track circuit blocks, and it has its own crystal oscillator and signal operation in accordance with the present invention. The central computer operates with as many of these wayside station multiplex control units as are necessary to provide the desired number of track circuit blocks for the entire system, and can be operative to change the predetermined speed command signal pattern provided by any wayside station multiplex con trol unit in response to happenings within a different wayside station territory. Additional data transmission equipment is provided to interface one group oftrack circuit blocks and the associated wayside station multiplex control unit with the next adjacent group of track circuit signal blocks and their associated wayside station multiplex control unit. Each of these groups of track circuit signal blocks is not correlated with the other groups of track circuit signal blocks, however their frequencies are chosen in advance and are generally correlated through inherent operation of the crystal oscillator control. In addition the signal multiplex control system of the present invention can be operated as one small group of track circuit signal blocks within another unrelated type of control system and receive an overriding vehicle speed command pattern to change its own predetermined speed command pattern if desired. It would be desirable to have certain information from adjacent control systems to correlate the operation of the signal multiplex system in accordance with the present in vention. The central computer can provide more restrictive running where desired, however, it cannot cause any given group of track circuit signal blocks to provide a greater vehicle speed pattern than is in accordance with the predetermined and scheduled speed pattern for that group oftrack circuit blocks. Thusly the maximum speed limits are provided by each multiplex control system in accordance with the present invention, unless the central control unit overrides and restricts to reduce the vehicle speed through any group of track circuit signal blocks or one or more track circuit signal blocks within any group of track circuit signal blocks. The local wayside control unit has preset into its scheduling the maximum and desired vehicle travel speed through each of its associated track circuit signal blocks. If a given wayside control unit senses the occupancy ofone ofits track circuit blocks ahead of where a particular train vehicle is located, then the wayside conti .il can provide a suitable control signal, such as a zero speed command signal, to the train in adequate time to reduce the speed of the particular controlled train vehicle to prevent a collision by a predetermined safe distance margin. If the track circuit blocks ahead of a given vehicle are not occu pied, and no restrictive speed pattern is provided by the cen tral computer, then the wayside control station provides speed command signals to the train vehicle to cause it to move through each particular track circuit block at the desired op timum travel speed. The wayside control unit is a station multiplex center. The provision of the multiplex system adds flexibility to the control system because it is so readily changeable in relation to track occupancy ahead of a particular train vehicle, and further so changeable relative to construction efforts along the track, the sensing of a landslide which would cause an obstruction to the train vehicle at a location ahead of its movement, and things of this type.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIG. I there is shown a prior art information transmission arrangement for sending train control signals through in dividual conductors directly to selected track circuit blocks.
In FIG. 2 there is generally shown the improved signal transmission arrangement ofthe present invention.
In FIG. 3 there is shown the signal conductor arrangement for sending the multiplexed control signals between a wayside station and individual track circuit blocks.
In FIG. 4 there is illustrated the general signal transmission arrangement of a wayside station operative with a plurality of track circuit signal blocks.
In FIG 5 there is shown the information signal waveform sent down the control conductor between a wayside station and the individual track circuit blocks.
In FIGv 6, including curves 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, there is illustrated one circuit arrangement utilized and its function to provide the desired time slot control signal and infornption down signal separation function.
In FIG. 7, including curves 7A, 7B and 7N, there is schematically shown the speed command signal decoding circuit and its function ofthe present invention for a plurality of track circuit locations.
In FIG. 8 there is shown the speed command signal decoding circuit arrangement for inducing the speed command signals into a given track circuit block and the circuit arrangement for sensing the vehicle position-detecting signal.
In FIG. 9 there is shown the centrally located control station apparatus provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
In FIG. 10 there is shown the reset signal generating circuit for the apparatus of FIGS. 6,7 and 8.
One purpose of the signal multiplexing system of the present invention is to transmit and receive over a total of four pairs of conductors, in a very reliable manner, all the required train control signals between some wayside station location and each of a plurality of remote signal block locations serving in dividual track circuit transmitters and receivers, train identifcation receivers, programmed stop transmitters and the like. These signals can include train movement speed commands, train presence signals, identification information signals, synchronization pulses, a crystal controlled frequency standard, and power. The four pairs of conductors provide respeclive paths in this regard for information down, information back, control signals and the powerv The prior art train control signalling system teachings would provide a multiplicity of individual cables from the central location to each of the remote locations to carry the individual signals; since the distance involved amounts to several miles this latter approach becomes much greater in cost and the cable density at the source becomes a problem.
For the cost, the signal multiplex concept gives a lot more flexibility and more ability to control the movement of the train vehicle. For monitoring the movement of the train vehicle in respectively opposite directions a duplicate of a hardwired train control system would be required. The addition of another wayside station location is easier with a multiplex con trol system or another program stop transmitter. lf extra time slots are available, additional operational functions can readily be included during a given scanning cycle of the multiplex control unit. ln general, a typical application will utilize only 25 of the 32 signal time slots for controlling vehicle movement through respective track circuit signal blocks, and the additional six or seven time slot positions would then be available for additional communication functions that may be required. if additional time slot positions are available, and not being used for directly controlling the vehicle movement, these additional time slots can be tied into an additional piece of sensing equipment for example positioned along the track for the purpose of detecting a landslide or some other desired bit of information relative to the operation of the transit system without requiring the running of an additional hardwire circuit from this remote position back to the wayside control station. Any information in this regard can be transmitted, if the bandwidth requirements of this information are low enough, for utilizing the available time slots in the provided multiplex control system. A rockfall-sensing device or the like could be an example of this type of information. The needed bandwidth for returning this type of information is very low. A hardwire system would require the provision of additional wires includ' ing the cost of installation plus the cost of the wire, and many thousands of feet of distance may be involved for providing this hardwire communication. Thusly a substantial large savings of investment and cost can be taken advantage of by utilizing the already available time slot signal communication positions.
The present signal multiplex control system has as an objective to provide a fail-safe train control system suitable for the movement of passengers and valuable property. There is an integration between the manner in which the coded signals are supplied to the train to control the movement of the train and the way in which the signals are multiplexed back to the wayside control station. The combination of the comma-free coded signals and the bit by bit phase reversal operation between successively transmitted bits of a given train control signal enhances the fail-safe operation, when considered in conjunction with the operation of the speed and coding apparatus to be sensitive to and make a comparison between the transmitted signal and the signal which is fed back for a comparison with a transmitted signal, with the operation of the speed encoding unit being controlled in accordance with this signal comparison operation, such that should a transmitted signal not compare to a received signal or should a signal not be received at all to indicate the occupancy of a given track circuit block by a train vehicle or some failure in the signal transmission operation, the apparatus is operative to then provide a reduced speed command to the train vehicle or a zero speed command. The multiplex concept allows a more economical application of this signalling system.
The prior art frequency variable type of a signalling system would not be readily applicable to a signal multiplex concept in accordance with the present invention. The very early prior art apparatus utilized only three speeds zero, middle and fast. This is typically done by a carrier which is modulated at 75 cycles/min. or 120 cycles/min; this provides in effect a modulation of on and off, and no signal at all is zero speed. This can be extended by going to cycles/min, 270 cycles/min, and so forth to give more speed signals. With the number of speeds required for a modern transit system, the prior art approach becomes hopelessly saturated in terms of the available frequency spectrum, because of the great difficulty of separation of signals due to harmonics and lower frequencies and the like. For example a 75-cyclc signal has harmonics at ISO, 225, 300, 375 and so forth and this makes it extremely difficult to separate the respectively different frequencies which are utilized. Additionally the harmonics of the AC power system utilized to energize the signalling system must be separated. The number of frequencies required do not bear a simple synchronous relationship one to the other and the required different frequencies for the various desired speed command signals become difficult to accommodate. With a bit rate of IS cycles/sec, the present control apparatus could readily code I cycle/sec, 2 cycles/sec, 3 cycles/sec, 6 cycles/sec, 9 cycles/sec. and l8 cycles/sec. Additionally it is desired to keep the various bandwidth requirements to the bare minimum. The l8-cycle/sec. bit rate is a low frequency signal which does not present very difficult bandwidth problems.
The train control system requirements are typically that the control system be in command of a given train vehicle with a dropout of no more than I second. The Q of a narrow bandwidth lilter is so high that it would take about l0 seconds for the vehicle control to be effected, since a filter having a 1- cycle bandwidth requires about 10 seconds to build up to the required signal level and it is not feasible to allow the train to operate for a period of 10 seconds with no command correlation relative to the control system. It also takes 10 seconds for the given filter to die down in signal intensity and for this reason the bandwidths of the respective signal filters must be widened such that a Q not much greater than 1 or 2 is provided and this requires frequency differences across a substantial frequency spectrum in order to get the desired 8 or 9 speed command communication channels desired for the train vehicle. The primary requirement is to sense track occupancy in addition to providing desired speed command signals to the train. In the prior art this track occupancy was sensed by lay ing a second control system carrier on top of the speed com mand control system carrier and a first track circuit had a first carrier filter requirement, the next adjacent track circuit had a different carrier frequency filter requirement and 10 or l2 differcnt carriers were required to get the desired separation between the respective track circuits. ln the present control system the track occupancy is sensed through a signal feedback operation and a signal comparison is made in relation to the transmitted speed command signal as compared to the feedback-received vehicle presence signal, and if the two properly compare the system continues to transmit the prescheduled vehicle speed command signals. Thusly the present multiplex control system requires only one transmitter instead of two, and the total required bandwidth of the system has been narrowed through the use of the comma-free signal coding system and additionally an improved capability for a multiplicity of speed command signals up to 8 or 9 such signals.
The comma-free speed command codes have advantages for utilization in conjunction with the present signal multiplexing system, which advantages are related to the greater reliability of digital signal communication systems and the provision of the phase reversal between successive bits of the 6 bit, commafree speed command word signals, and the ability to operate a train control system in a fail-safe manner without the requirement for signal synchronization to indicate the transmission of the respective speed command word signals. The signal multiplexing concept enables the train control system to be implemented with a substantially decreased amount of wire between the respective wayside control stations and the associated track circuit blocks. The prior art has continuously taught that a signal multiplexing system is not reliable enough for a fail-safe train control application. The vehicle occupancy feedback signals of the present invention provide the fail-safe reliability required in the operation ofthe present multiplex system. Unless there is fed back for com parison the identical speed command signal that has been transmitted to a particular circuit signal block, the signal comparison operation will not permit the train vehicles to move into that particular track circuit signal block in that a vehicle occupancy condition is signalled to the train control. It is similar to a servomechanism theory application, where there is a forward loop having uncertain and unstable characteristics, and the feedback signal comparison monitors the operation of the unknownand unstable forward loop. The multiplex signal transmitter sends a signal down through the plurality of track circuit blocks and there are all sorts of opportunities for a failure of the communication, and by comparing the signal that is sent with the signal that is received back, it is possible to get the correct signal back unless the forward loop is operating properly. This substantially different than prior art systems using one set of frequencies for track occupancy detection and another set of frequencies for sending speed commands to the train vehicle, and no feedback of the signals transmitted to the train in regard to speed command is provided in the prior art. ln the present system, the same speed command signals are utilized for the purpose of controlling the movement of the train vehicle through the respective track circuit blocks and in addition, for detecting the presence of a train vehicle within any of those track circuit blocks. We know what signal is sent and we know what signal should come back, and ifit does not come back, the assumption is made that the track circuit signal block in question is occupied by a vehicle and therefore a succeeding vehicle should be reduced in speed and if necessary prevented from entering that particular track circuit signal block. A signalling circuit failure is considered in the same manner as a vehicle occupancy, such that the succeeding train vehicle is not permitted to enter a track circuit signal block where a signal failure has occurred in that the present control system interprets this to be a previous vehicle occupancy condition.
For a rubbentired transit system, it is contemplated that a pair of parallel vehicle grounding wires can be placed parallel to the vehicle track, which two parallel grounding wires can be short eircuited by a suitable brush connector carried by the train vehicle in a manner substantially similar to the shortcircuiting effect provided by a steel-wheeled train vehicle operating upon electrically conductive steel track members. This has substantial advantage over an active signal transmitter carried by each train vehicle for sending back to a wayside control station a signal which can be sensed and utilized to indicate the position of that particular train vehicle. The present control system utilizing the time slot position signal multiplex transmission concept in conjunction with the comma-free coded speed command signals provides an integrated train control system which is reliable and has substantial advantage over prior art hardwired train control systems particularly for a large transit system application where a substantial number such as 2,000 track circuit signal blocks are employed and communication with each of these track circuit signal blocks is desired.
The antennas coupled to the vehicle track are provided on each side of the individual short-circuiting conductors which define the respective ends of the individual track circuit signal blocks. Therefore, the signal frequency is coupled into each of the track circuit signal blocks adjacent to any given antenna. For this reason, it is feasible to provide signal receivers tuned to the particular frequency and signal phase shift which is in troduced at any given antenna at the location of the next adjacent shorbcircuiting conductor on either side of that particular antenna.
In FIG. I there is shown a wayside control station to which is direct-wired to each of a plurality of track circuit signal block control devices [2, 14, 16, I8, 20, 22 and 24. It should be understood that the station 10, can be operative with any suitable desired number of such control devices. Further it should be noted that this arrangement requires a direct connecting multiple conductor between the station 10 and each of the track circuit signal block control devices. The track circuit signal blocks are here defined by low impedance conductors 25 respectively connected between the train rails 26 and 28 at each end of the individual track circuit signal blocks as generally shown in FIG. I.
In FIG. 2 there is shown one embodiment ofthe signal communication system in accordance with the present invention wherein the wayside control station 10 contains signal communication equipment which is cooperative with each of the control devices l2, l4, l6, I8, 20, 22 and 24. Each wayside station generates coded speed command signals for each of its associated track circuit signal blocks based on information coming back from each others track circuit signal block and from the central control station. The control device I2 is operative at the location of a low impedance conductor 30, the control device [4 is operative at the location of the low impedance conductor 32, the control device 16 is operative at the location of the low impedance conductor 34, and so forth, such that a track circuit signal block is defined between the respective low impedance conductors 30 and 32 and another track circuit signal block is defined between the low impedance conductors 32 and 34 and so forth.
In FIG. 3 there is shown a suitable grounded shield 38 which surrounds the pair of control signal conductors 40, the pair of information down signal conductors 42, the pair of information back signal conductors 44 and the pair of power conductors 46. The multiplexed signal connection between a wayside station and each of the associated control devices 12, 14, l6, 18, 20, 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. 2 could comprise a signal transmission conductor arrangement as shown in FIG. 3.
In FIG. 4 there is generally shown a wayside station multiplex signal-sending apparatus 50 operative with the control signal conductors 40, and the information down signal conductors 42, the infonnation back signal conductors 44, and a multiplex signal-receiving apparatus 52. This signal-sending apparatus 50 and the signal-receiving apparatus 52 would be located at a wayside control station 10, such as shown in F IG. 2. The multiplex signal-sending apparatus 50 sends a plurality of coded vehicle speed command signals for each of up to 32 track circuit signal blocks in a time division multiplex arrangement such that for a first time division period one bit of the coded vehicle command signal for the first track circuit signal block I is sent, and then for the next succeeding second time period one bit of the coded vehicle command signal for the second track circuit signal block 2 is sent, and so forth until the 32nd time period when a synchronizing or reset signal is sent for coordinating the operation of the signal transmission system. The speed signal encoder 51 provides the programmed in advance scheduled train vehicle speed command signals for controlling train vehicle movement in the respective track circuit signal blocks. The speed signal comparison circuit 53 senses the received feedback train position detection signals, to sense train vehicle-occupied track circuit signal blocks, by comparing on a bit by bit basis the speed command signal sent to each particular track circuit signal block with the signal received back from the same track circuit signal block; the presence of a train vehicle short circuits the signal information to prevent the signal block receiver from returning over the information back line 44 any feedback signal information from an occupied track circuit signal block.
The signal comparison device 53, for determination of vehicle occupancy purposes, includes the necessary time delay provided between the initial transmission of a given speed command signal bit to a track circuit block and the feedback return of this same speed signal bit within the speed signal comparison device 53. A typical signal bit delay between two and three bits has been found in actual practice to be required to match properly the signals for comparison. In the event the transmitted signal bit does not compare with the feedback return signal bit, then the speed signal comparison device 53 interprets this as a vehicle occupied track circuit block condition or a failure of the system in either of which cases it causes the speed signal encoder S! to transmit an appropriate vehicle speed command signal for safe operation of the train system. This speed comparison operation in effect controls what speed should be sent to each of the track circuit blocks. The use of FM signals enables what is called an FM capture effect to occur, with the FM receivers inherently picking up the stronger of two received signals. In the prior art AM receiver operations, a 50 db. signal strength difference may be required be fore the receiver preferred one signal over the other. In the operation of an FM receiver, only l db. signal strength dif ference is required and this permits desirable signal dis crimination relative to undesired signals from adjacent track circuit blocks which undesired signals might happen to be received by the FM receiver and which are not desired to pass through the FM receiver and erroneously inform the wayside station control equipment in regard to track circuit vehicle occupancy and the like.
In FIG. there is generally shown the multiplex control signal that is transmitted over the control line 40, shown in FIG. 4, and which control signal includes bits of information occurring at the rate of 576-cycles/see, or 576 signal bits per second, upon which there is summed a 3| 1.04-kilocycles/scc. crystal oscillator signal. The time slot bit signals 22 through 31 are shown out of the total or 32 that is transmitted, with the 32nd bit position being omitted as shown for system synchronization and reset purposes, followed by the first and second time slot bit signal for the next successive time slot positions.
in H0. 6 there is shown the control signal line 40 and the in formation down signal line 42 supplying information to the speed command signal-decoding portion of a typical track circuit signal block control device. The control signal line 40 supplies the signal waveform shown in FIG. 5 to the counter 60, with the counter 60 being operative like a shift register, to receive the successive signal bits. The reset circuit 62 is operative during the 32nd bit position to reset the counter 60 at a zero count. The sensor gate 63 comprises in effect an AND circuit selectively connected to be responsive to a selected status of the counter 60; for example, for the first track circuit block, when the first time slot bit signal is received by the counter 60 and a ONE in binary form is stored by the counter an output signal will be supplied by the selectively wired sensor gate 63 to enable the sample and hold circuit 64 for obtaining from the information down signal line 42 whatever bit of speed command signal information, either a ONE or a ZERO, is being transmitted during the first time slot position for the first track circuit signal block. This first signal bit of information from the information down line 42, for example a ONE as shown by curve 6E, during the first time slot, as shown by the curve 6A, passes through the sample and hold circuit 64 to set the sample and hold flip-flop 66 in a corresponding ONE position, as shown by curve 6. With the first informa tion bit from the line 42 being a ONE, the waveform 60 shows the memory function of the sample and hold clocked flip-flop 66 to receive this information bit, when the reset pulse occurs as shown by curve 6C, and to change its state accordingly. The waveform 6A shows the output signal from the sensor gate 63, which is selectively wired to be responsive only to the storage ofa ONE in binary form or 0000] within the counter 60. The sensor gate 63 operates in this regard in a manner similar to the well-known function of an AND gate, sensing the ONE output of the first stage flip-flop and sensing the ZERO output of the flipflops for the other stages. The output signal for time slot l shown as waveform 6A is applied to enable the sample and hold circuit 64, which in function is a clocked flip-flop, such that a sampling of the information signal bit carried by the information down line 42, for example 2 ONE as shown by curve 6E, occurs by operation of the sample and hold 64 to provide the output as shown in waveform 6B. The reset circuit 62 provides the output waveform 6C by operation that will be explained in greater detail in reference to Fifi. l0, and this latter output is applied to enable the sample and hold 66 such that the output waveform 6!) results. The second sample and hold 66 is provided such that the signal change for all track circuit signal blocks will occur together and thereby provide a simpler train control operation, which is due to the reset pulse being the same for all time slot position signals.
Since vehicle speed command information is sent to all the wayside locations for a given multiplex station on the same information down line 42, it is necessary that each track circuit signal block location receive its speed command information only during its particular time slot. As shown in FIG. 7, the appropriate time slot position signal is determined by the operation of the respective signal block counters, such as the counters 70, and 90, which sample the speed command information s9gnal bits from the information down line 42, when a predetermined number count of bit pulses have been received by their respective counters 60, 70 and 80. The individual speed command information bit signal for each time slot position is stored in the associated flip-flop sample and hold circuit 72, and corresponding respective sample and hold circuits for the other time slot positions, until all locations have similarly received their speed command information bit signal. Each reset circuit 74 at the same time senses the occurrence of the 32nd signal bit of control line 40 and operates to provide a reset signal. For the first signal block counter 70, this reset pulse would reset the counter 70. Each wayside location, as generally shown in FIG. 7, performs a similar operation in its own assigned time slot. The respective track circuit signal blocks receive a speed command signal bit in accordance with the command signal information bit received and stored during the previous time slot signal bit time. Simultaneously the next set of speed command signal bits begin to pass down the information down line 42 to be stored in the first sample and hold circuits until all locations again modify their track circuit block signals as desired. Thus the transmission of one bit of the vehicle speed command signal to each of up to 32 track circuit signal block locations requires one multiplex cycle or word consisting of 32 multiplex bit signals. Since in this example each of the up to 32 track circuit block locations receives six bits of information per given speed command signal, at a rate of three commands per second, the overall multiples rate is l8 32 or 576 speed command information bits per second.
The multiplex system control line 40 provides an absence of a pulse at the reset time slot, which is the 32nd time slot position. However, a pulse is generated during the 32nd time slot for reset purposes by the reset circuit 74 and corresponding other signal block reset circuits. The time slot pulses are provided for each of the other time slot positions, other than the 32nd position. At time slot one, the enable pulse on line 7] enables the sample and hold 72 to sense either a ONE or ZERO signal from the information down line 42. If a ONE signal is provided the output of sample and hold 72 goes to a ONE as shown by curve 7A1. In order for the signal shown by the curve 7A] to go to a ZERO at time slot one, it requires ZERO information to be coming through on the information down line 42. The time slot one signal is shown in curve 7A2, and this time slot one signal is applied to the sample and hole 72 over line 71. Curve 7A3 shows a ONE value information pulse is provided at the time slot one position such that the output of the sample and hold 72 goes high as shown in curve 7A].
As shown in curve 7Bl, the output of the sample and hold 73 remains at a low output condition in that the information line 42 contains a ZERO information signal at time slot two, corresponding to the second track circuit signal block, and this passes through the NOT circuit 76 to cause the sample and hold 73 to have a ZERO or low output signal at its output connection 77. Thusly, if a pulse is provided on the information line 42 for a given time slot position, the associated sample and hold is caused to have a high value output whereas if a ZERO pulse condition occurs on the information line at a particular time slot position, due to the provided inversion NOT circuit. the associated sample and hold has n ZERO or low output signal provided.
A ONE value information signal on the information down line 42 is applied to the bottom of the sample and hold 72 for the time slot one; and during the time slot position when an enabling pulse is supplied over the conductor 7] this causes the output of the sample and hold 72 to provide a ONE value output signal as shown in curve 7AI. If on the other hand, a ZERO value information signal occurs on the information down line 42, concurrent with the time slot one enabling pulse, the NOT circuit causes the sample and hold to have a low level output signal. If the information down line 42, at the next occurrence of the time slot one enabling pulse, remains at a high value the output of the sample and hold similarly remains at a high value. Thusly, for each successive occurrence of the time slot enabling pulse applied by the AND gate 69 over the conductor 71 to the sample and hold 72, the signal value on the information down line 42 is thereby sampled, and if it is a ONE value signal a high level output is provided by the sample and hold 72. However, during the occurrence of a time slot one enabling pulse on the conductor 71 if the information down line 42 at this time has a ZERO value signal, the output of the sample and hold through operation of the NOT circuit 79 is changed to provide a low level output signal.
There is a similar circuit provided for each of the respective time slot signal positions, as generally shown in FIG. 7, with a second time slot operating circuit being shown and an N position time slot signal circuit being shown. If it were desired in accordance with the present teachings to control the move ment of a train vehicle in 25 track circuit signal blocks associated with a given multiplex station, 25 such circuits would be required. It can be desired to utilize the available time slot positions 26 through 31 for sensing the occurrence of a landslide or some other happening which should be sensed for the proper and reliable operation of the transit system.
The individual signal block command signal bit sensing circuits sample the information on the information down line 42, at the occurrence of its particular time slot enabling signal, and hold this information until the occurrence of the next succeeding time slot enabling signal at which time the information then present on the information down line 42 is again sampled and held until the occurrence of its next similar time slot enabling signal. Thusly, the information down line signals would be the same for the three illustrated signal sampling circuits shown in FIG. 7, however, the time slot enabling signal senses for its associated signal block the occurrence of only the information signal bit present on the information down line 42 at the time of its own particular time slot signal. Thusly as shown in curve 783, for time slot circuit operative with the second signal block a ZERO information signal is present on the information down line 42 for the first illustrated multiplex time period so the output of the sample and hold 73 remains at a low output condition. The respective signal equipments shown in FIG. 7 are wayside located, with each of the signalsensing circuits being provided at the location of a particular track circuit signal block. The multiplex line traveling the length of the associated track circuit signal blocks operative with a given wayside control station is shown in the form of control line 40 and information down line 42. At the location of each track circuit signal block, one of the information signal bit sensing circuits as shown in FIG. 7 is provided. The 7N curves are for time slot 3], and the curve 7N] indicates that the previous time slot signal occurred when the information down line 42 had a ONE signal on it and a ZERO signal has now been provided to cause the output of the sample and hold 75 to have a low level value.
The reset 74 does not influence the sample and hold circuit 72 other than to reset the counter 70 back to a ZERO count level, however, there is a succeeding sample and hold circuit as shown in FIG. 6 to which the reset 74 does apply an enable signal. This reset signal causes the respective vehicle command signal information signal bits which are supplied to the respective track circuits signal blocks associated with a given wayside location control station to all change signal values together. In other words, the signal bit supplied to every one of the track circuit signal blocks is changed simultaneously in relation to a given wayside location control station.
The reason for leaving the pulse out rather than allowing the counter to count through 32 pulses and then reset is that ifthe reset generating circuit should fail a greater reliability of operation is provided in that there would be a shifting of stored signal information within the control line signal pulse counter due to the counter's ability to count 32 pulses and only 3| pulses of time slot information are transmitted for each speed signal bit. By leaving out the 32nd time slot position pulse this assures that the reset will occur at the 32nd time slot position, and further if the reset equipment should fail the counter will count the provided 31 pulses and will miss the 32nd time slot position since no pulse is provided and for the first pulse of the subsequent signal bit transmission the counter will count to 32 and then reset and if the particular time slot position is the fifth the counter will for the next cycle count the time slot four information and then time slot three and so forth which will result in meaningless information that can be sensed. Otherwise, if some equipment failure should occur there is a likelihood that the counter would sit on some time slot other than five, providing unauthorized information. This in turn could cause unsafe train control operation.
In reference to FIG. 8, the track vehicle presence is indicated by the feedback of signals picked up by the receivers associated with the respective track circuit signal blocks to indicate the respective unoccupied track circuit signal blocks. If a train vehicle is located in a signal block no signal is fed back. These presence-indicating signals are multiplexed back to the central control station. The same time slot that is used for multiplex information down transmission is used for retransmission of feedback signals on the information back line.
A more detailed block diagram of a typical wayside track circuit signal block control device is shown in FIG. 8. The word and bit synchronization pulses are obtained from the control line 40. After passing through the high pass filter I00, the 3| l.04-kilohertz signal from the control line 40 is put into a divider counter I02 which provides out a predetermined one of three pairs of frequencies F-I, F-2 or F-3 each to have an output ONE or an output ZERO signal. The AND gates I04 and I06 operate to determine the selection of a ONE or a ZERO as will be later explained. The divider counter I02 in this regard operates as a well-known feedback counter to generate a signal in conjunction with the divider 108. For purposes of illustration, for an F-I frequency signal, a ONE will be provided at 5 kHz. and a ZERO will be provided at 8 kHz.; and a ZERO will be provided at 9 kHz.; for an F-3 frequency signal, a ONE will be provided at 7 kHz. and a ZERO will be provided at l0 kHz. The divider I08 functions in general as a wave-shaping circuit.
Assuming the wayside track circuit signal block position for the circuit shown in FIG. 8 is the first time slot one location, such that the speed command signal bit supplied to thc clocked flip-flop I10, operative as a sample and hold device, is fed in when the flip-flop is enabled by the time slot one signal from the logic gate 112 operative with the signal counter 114 in response to the first bit only after reset of the 576-cycle control signal supplied by the control line 40. If the particular information down signal bit at this time had been a ONE, the following pulse will transfer this into sample and hold I I I, thereby enabling AND gate I06 to cause the divider I02 in conjunction with the divider 108 to supply, for example, the F-I frequency signal ONE at a frequency of 8 kHz. to the AND gate I16. Upon the occurrence of the 32nd bit or reset pulse on the control line 40, the reset circuit 8 will provide an output signal to reset the counter II, to enable the second sample and hold III and to trigger the flip-flop I20 to energize the other input of AND gate 1 I6 such that an F-I frequency ONE signal of 8 kHz. is supplied through the OR gate 122 and transmitter 124 to energize the signal transmission antenna I26 operative with the track I28 and having the short circuit conductor at the illustrated position relative to the antenna 126 so that substantially no current at frequency 8 kHz. flows in the conductor 130 thereby. The following reset pulse will cause flip-flop I20 to enable AND gate I32, thereby providing the opposite phase signal from divider I08 to the transmitter.
The reset circuit IIB is operative by applying the control signal, as shown in FIG. to a resonant circuit which will ring through the absent of 32nd bit pulse, and the output from the resonant circuit is then squared to produce a second continuous signal. When this second continuous signal is compared to the original control signal in an AND gate, the output will be the IS-cycle/sec. reset pulses. Each reset pulse is used to reset the five bit counter II4 to ZERO at the beginning of each multiplex word, and this counter then begins to count the control signal bit pulses. The AND gate IIZ is connected to respond when the counter reaches the predetermined count level corresponding to the assigned time slot. During this time slot, the output of the gate I12, operative with the sample and hold flip-flop IIO samples the vehicle command information bit signal on the information down line 42 by enabling the flipflop I10, and this information bit signal is then stored in the flip-flop IIO for later use. After all the wayside signal block locations have responded to their respective vehicle command signal bits, during their assigned time slots in like manner, the next reset or 32nd bit pulse comes along. In addition to resetting the counter 114, for each wayside location, to ZERO, it also transfers the stored bits from the flip-flop M0 to the succeeding sample and hold flip-flop III and then to one of the AND gate I04 or AND gate 106, which will determine the ONE signal or ZERO signal frequency of the track signal supplied by divider I08 during the next multiplex cycle, and through operation of the trigger flip-flop I inverts the phase of the command signal bit from the divider I08. In this way all track circuit blocks change their vehicle command signal bits simultaneously, even though they receive these signal bits sequentially.
The counter I14 that is used for time slot determination consists of five binary stages. The 32nd bit pulse resets the counter I I4 to zero, after which each successive control signal bit pulse increases the count by one. The AND gate 112 is connected to give an output at a selected count level corresponding to the respective assigned time slot in accordance with the circuit logic chosen for the AND gate I12.
The 31 I.04-kilocycle carrier from the filter I00 is divided down to a predetermined one of the track signalling pairs of frequencies F-l, F-2 or F-3 by the feedback divider counter I02 as determined in advance. The logic including AND gates I04 and I06 must now select one of two possible frequencies for the respective ZERO and ONE outputs.
In this manner, one of the two resulting frequencies corresponding to ONE or ZERO signals is selected for transmis' sion to the track, and reversed in phase by each reset pulse for synchronization purposes on the train. This is accomplished by selecting twice the desired frequency from the divider 102 and then dividing by two one more in an additional divider 108. The phase of the bits supplied to the track is shifted at each word transition by the AND gates [I6 and I32 for timing information to the train by selecting alternate outputs from the flip-flop 120. In addition since the signal from the counter I08 does not necessarily have a 50 percent duty cycle, this final division by two assures that this is so.
For the purpose of multiplex encoding, the output of the discriminator of the vehicle position sensing track receiver I48 consists of either a ONE or ZERO for each time slot period, which must be returned to the multiplex center over the information back line 44. The receiver output from the receiver I48 is passed through the AND gate I42 for each enable pulse from the time slot counter II4 and AND gate I12 to read out the signal information from the track receiver I48 and to send onto the information back line 44 this signal information.
The antenna 126 shown in FIG. 8 gives bidirectional running capabilities in that it energizes the track circuit blocks on either side of the short circuit connection I with a particular F-I vehicle speed command signal. Any given receiver receives in one direction because of the frequency of the lilters it has in it to operate with that receiver, and any given signal receiver can show whether its associated track circuit block is occupied or is not occupied regardless of the movement direction of the train vehicle which is occupying that track circuit block.
With a bit rate of 18 bits per second, three vehicle speed command signals per second can be sent from a wayside station location control unit to each of the associated track circuit signal blocks. The 18 bits per second cycle rate indicates the capacity of the present multiplex signal system to transmit 18 bits of information for each second, and if a given speed command signal has 6 bits then three such speed command signals can be transmitted to each track circuit block in each second of time. For one particular train control system where the present multiplex apparatus is intended for application, the train control requirement was that the wayside control unit could not be out of control of a given train vehicle for a longer period than I second of time. When the vehicle is going from one multiplex block of track circuits to the next adjacent multiplex block of track circuits, there can occur a transient loss of one word of speed command signal. Thusly, the transmitted speed command signal frequency rate must be at least two speed commands per second. However, in accordance with the present invention we have three complete speed command signals transmitted per second, and we could lose two of them. One multiplex territory to the next multiplex territory would be considered from one group of up to 32 track circuit signal blocks associated with a given wayside control station to the next group of 32 track circuit signal blocks associated with the next adjacent wayside control station. There is the further possibility of losing another word because of noise conditions, since there are random noise conditions throughout the entire train system. Thusly, with the present system one or two words of speed command can be lost due to noise or moving from one multiplex territory to the next adjacent multiplex territory and still provide the required one speed command to the train in each second of time. This gives a significant improvement in the reliability of the train control system. Upon losing contact with the train for over a period of I second, emergency brak' ing is automatically applied in the train vehicle. The emergency braking condition of the train is irrevocable after seconds of time and this allows an occurrence of random noise conditions and the like to now and then lose contact with the train for over a period of I second of time, and if communication with the train vehicle is lost for I or 2 or 3 seconds, the emergency braking condition would be applied; however, once the communication was reestablished the control of the vehicle would go out of emergency braking back to normal running condition. The application of emergency breaking condition for l or 2 or 3 seconds would probably not be physically noticed by the passengers carried by the train; it is questionable if emergency braking applied for l or 2 seconds would get through the jerk limit control which is also in operation relative to stopping the movement of a given train vehicle. Also, the train mass is so enormous that a change of control application of 3 or 4-second variation is probably not going to have a substantial noticeable effect upon the riding comfort of the passengers.
It should be further understood that it is not necessary to use a six-bit comma-free speed command signal, but rather a three-bit signal or a four-bit signal or a 7-bit signal or other bit length coded speed command signals can be employed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 8 the frequency F-I, F-Z or F-3 is preset by the divider counter I02 which is selected for example for a particular track circuit block. The divider counter I02 will he set to some frequency such as F-I, having a high and a low frequency in itii frequency pair. The subsequent divider I08 is a simple divide by two divider circuit, such as a single stage flip-flop, to assure an on-off one-to-onc ratio and this squares up to the one-to onc on-ol'f ratio. The second sample and hold Ill determines the dividing of the 3| 1.04-kilocycle signal, with the second divider 108 squaring it up to a one-to-one onoff ratio. This provides an in phase signal and an out of phase signal from the respective outputs of the divider 108. Each time a reset signal is provided by the reset circuit 118, the trigger flip-flop 120 selects alternate AND gate 116 and I32 such that when a given reset pulse comes along, for example the high output signal is selected and the next reset pulse causes the low output signal to pass through the AND gates, a signal phase reversal occurs each time a reset pulse is provided. These phase reversed alternate output signals are applied through the amplifier 124, which can be considered to comprise a signal transmitter, for the energization of the antenna 126. To illustrate the operation of this circuitry, assume that an 80-m.p.h. speed signal were to be supplied to the antenna 126 including six bits ofinformation of the arrangement llll1. For the first ONE signal bit, a S-kilocycle signal would pass from the divider I08 through the AND circuit 116 to the transmitter amplifier 124 and energize the antenna 126. The reset pulse would then occur for the next ZERO signal bit, such that an S-kilocycle signal would pass through the AND gates to the transmitter amplifier I24 and energize the antenna 126. The third signal bit of this given speed command is a ONE which would again cause a S-kilocycle signal to pass through the transmitter and amplifier 124 to energize the an tenna 126. The fourth, fifth and sixth signal bits are ONE to provide a group of S-kilocycle signal bits. Without the provided phase reversals, the train equipment would have difficulty recognizing the occurrence of the respective signal bits and the complete six-bit speed command signal. By changing the phase of the respective bits, this permits the train equipment to sense the respective signal bits. When going from a kilocycle to an B-kilocycle signal, this is readily detected in that a frequency change has occurred; however, for the last four signal bits of the 80-m.p.h. speed command signal there is no frequency change, and the phase reversal permits the train carried receiving equipment to sense the occurrence of the respective signal bits. Between the 101 signal bits the phase reversal is not required, however, it is more simple in the operation of the flip-flop circuit 120 to reverse phase for each respective signal bit whether needed or not, and this simplifies the receipt of the speed command signal by train-carried equipment.
As shown in FIG. 9, as part of the station equipment there is provided a counter 200 and a multiplicity of sampling AND gates 202, 204, 206 and so forth through 208, and with one AND gate being provided for each time slot being used. The bit and word pulses are derived from the 311.04 kilocycle oscillator 210 in the manner previously described; thus the wayside station multiplexer serving up to 32 remote track circuit blocks requires one oscillator 210, one 5-bit counter 200, one 9-bit divider 212 and a maximum of 64 AND gates are required for interfacing with the control system. The sampling AND gate 202 is connected to the appropriate high or low level outputs of each stage to be operative to sense the count level of one within the counter 200, and provides an output signal to the AND gate 203 which is connected to the speed command providing information down line 42 from the station, such that the first time slot information bit from the speed signal encoder $1 is thereby passed through the AND gate 203 and the subsequent OR gate 197 to the information down line 42. When this first time slot information bit is a ONE, the ONE signal will pass through AND gate 203. When this first time slot information bit is a zero, the AND gate 203 will have no output signal so in effect a Zero is supplied through the OR gate 197. The other sampling time slot AND gates and associated AND gates are similarly operative for their respective time slot periods. In this manner the predetermined train vehicle speed patterns are established and sent to each signal block location.
When the counter 200 has a 32 count level, corresponding to the 32nd bit position, the AND gate 220 has been wired in a predetermined manner to sense the stage output signals so as to provide an output signal which is inverted by the NOT 222 such that AND gate 224 passes the 576-cycle output signal from the divider 212 except when the output signal corresponding to the 32nd time slot is supplied by the AND gate 220. The analog summing junction 226 adds the 3! 1.04 kilo cycle signal from the oscillator 210 to the 576cycle signal from the divider 212 and supplies the resulting control signal through the amplifier 228 to the control line 40. Thusly, when the AND gate 220 senses the 32nd time slot, the control line 40 receives no 576-cycle signal through the AND gate 224 and the 32nd time slot bit shown in FIG. 5 is thereby provided.
In P16. 10 there is illustrated the operation of the reset circuit 62, such as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 10 there is shown the control line 40 which carries the control signal shown in waveform 10A. This latter waveform is supplied to one input of the AND gate 300. The waveform 10A is also supplied to the tuned circuit 302, where a ringing effect occurs when the 32nd bit pulse occurs as shown in waveform 10B, and the amplifier 304, which includes a limiter circuit, provides the output waveform 10C. It should be noted at the position 306 of the 32nd time slot signal having a ZERO value in waveform l0A, there occurs a reproduced signal bit in waveform 10C. Due to the signal inversion which occurs because of signal delay, the AND gate 300 senses similar signals only during the 32nd bit signal time slot period to provide an output reset signal only during the 32nd bit signal of control waveform 10A.
in one particular application of the present signalling control system, some miles of double track rapid transit system is operative including 33 wayside stations which control the energization of approximately 2,000 track circuit blocks and I40 switches. in a signal block system of train control, speed commands for the individual train are communicated to any train vehicle positioned within a particular signal block through track circuits. The feedback of the speed control signals from the same track circuits is used for detecting the presence of a train vehicle in each block. Coded audiofrequency speed command signals are sent to the track signal blocks for this purpose and then received back to indicate train vehicle presence.
A signal multiplex system utilizing four pairs of twisted conductors rather than a larger number of hardwire pairs is employed. The traffic control system receives back signal information in regard to each track circuit block occupancy as well as the condition of the provided switches, and delivers switch position control signals and train vehicle speed command signals to each train vehicle. A command signal terminal is located at each wayside station which communicates with up to 32 track circuit blocks associated with each wayside station. The individual track circuit blocks are driven by respective signal transmitters operative with the end of each circuit block. The track circuits operate in the audiofrequency range and the signals are coupled into the individual track circuit blocks by a simple loop antenna system generally shown in FIG. 8 and placed about a low impedance conductor connected between the two rails at this location. The latter conductor is provided to simplify and balance the conduction of substantial traction currents within the rails. Receivers are in ductively coupled to the short circuit conductors by means of small pickup coils or antennas which can if desired in addition be coupled to the rail at intermediate points between the shorting conductors for a secondary train control operation. The transmitter loop antenna and the receiver coils are essentially air core transformers. Two-way running capability is achieved by extending the transmitter loops to both sides of the respective shorting conductors.
it was decided in the operation of the present system to utilize transmitted constant voltage signals and current signal de tection, from the viewpoint of signal attenuation as a function of distance, which is implemented by the transmitter loops in the small detection coils and the short circuit conductors between the rails; this is compared to the various combinations of constant voltage signal transmission, constant current signal transmission, track signal voltage sensing and track signal current sensing that could otherwise be employed. This permits a longer track circuit signal block with a given degree of assurance that the system will operate properly over the full range of valid operation conditions such as dry and wet track conditions.
The transmitter is modulated with frequency shift modulation, which offers the considerable advantage that useful information is transmitted all of the time instead of leaving the receiver with no signal half of the time, and during which time the receiver would otherwise be highly susceptible to noise conditions. Frequency shift keying provides a signal which can be noise reduced through limiting.
The frequency shift modulation information signal is carried by an information down line which communicates in serial bit form all of the desired vehicle command signal information to each of the respective track circuit blocks. Each block location has its own assigned time slot which is built into the translating equipment. This time slot signal enables the information down line to deliver its information into a memory circuit where it is stored for the duration of the one signal bit code cycle. The information that is delivered to the memory tells the wayside transmitter to go to either of two frequencies, and in this way the actual shift of frequency of each track circuit block transmitter is controlled from the wayside station and can be coded in its own unique way so as to communicate the desired speed signals to the train vehicle. The information down line contains the speed command signal, and the control line contains a predetermined code including synchronizing pulses, which latter signal consists of a train of 3| successive pulses followed by a reset or synchronizing pulse followed by 31 more information pulses and so on. The space between the 31st and the first pulse is for synchronizing and reset purposes so that the proper time is thereby selected. A time slot select circuit counts these pulses and at its prewired count level delivers a signal to enable the pulse occurring in the speed command information down line through to the memory circuit which is then set at either a ONE or a ZERO depending on the information pulse which occurs on the information down line at the time assigned to the particular block location. This memory circuit will not change until the cycle is repeated during the next 3l pulses, with the signal stored in memory being used to shift the frequency of the local transmitter between its two assigned frequencies. In the actual operation of the multiplex system it is desirable to have all transmitters shifted simultaneously, so the information in each of the track circuit block memory circuits is stored until the reset space between the 31st and the first pulse occurs, at which time whatever is stored is respectively used to set the frequency of the local transmitter. In this way, although information is delivered to all local transmitters on a serial basis, all local transmitters are actually modulated in synchronism with each other.
In reference to the train presence information back signal receivers, these include crystal filters which allow them to only respond to the frequency of the corresponding crystal controlled transmitters associated with and located at the opposite end of the respective track circuit blocks. When transmitters and receivers are combined at one wayside block location, the same time slot selector that was used for the transmitters is also used to enable the receiver output to deliver the information it is receiving to the receiver information back line. The latter information is decoded into a ONE or a ZERO signal depending on which of the two assigned frequency pairs is being received.
The time slot generator drive enable circuits allow each multiplex system to transmit and receive in the assigned time slots. During the receive operation of the system the information is first delivered to a speed signal code comparison cir cuit, and if it passes this test, it is then delivered to a final relay safety protection system of conventional design. This safety protection system, including the speed signal encoder 51, develops speed commands for the vehicles located in the track circuit signal block with which it is connected. The speed commands are delivered to the transmitter information down line through appropriate time slot enable circuits. The feature which makes the present system substantially immune to errors in synchronization is the feedback and signal comparison taking place between the speed signal code generator and the speed signal code comparison circuit; if the receiver operative with a given track circuit signal block doe not receive exactly, pulse bit by pulse bit, the same signal information introduced to this track circuit signal block by its associated transmitter, no speed command signal information will be released to the safety protection circuit. This provides double protection of the track circuit block; first, the frequency must be correct in order to be received by the crystal filtered receiver and, second, the receiver must receive exactly what the associated transmitter transmits before a valid signal condition is recognized.
The safety integrity of the communication system is further enhanced by the use of comma-free coded speed command signals, which reduce to a vanishing point the possibility of etc ternal interference producing a recognizable but erroneous vehicle speed command. The speed signal code consists of six bits of information to transmit nine desired speed command signals. Only those signals which have the comma-free characteristic are utilized. A repetitive sequence of any of these coded command speed signals will never be confused with any other code regardless of the time or random signal bit selected as the beginning ofa vehicle command signal message. In this way no synchronization is required in the vehicle decoding system in order to recognize a speed command signal. The additional bits required for this type of code are an advantage in the track circuits, since the more bits that are compared at the receiving end with those introduced in the transmitting end before validity is recognized reduces the probability that a false signal will not be detected. Six bits of signal information reduces this possibility as a function of time down to a mathematically insignificant level. The comma-free speed command signal now offers a further opportunity to protect adjacent track circuits from receiving erroneous information over and beyond that which is provided by the frequency separation; if all track circuits were being commanded at the same speed, it otherwise would be only the frequency separation and attenuation that keeps the respective adjacent track circuits separated. This is a situation that exists in prior art conventional audiofrequency track circuit operation; however with comma-free coded speed command signals, it is possible to phase-shift or delay each successive transmitter by one pulse of the speed command code without the vehicle recognizing the difference. This phase shift of one pulse then makes it possible to get a signal separation between the command signals of successive track circuit blocks even if each were asking for the same vehicle speed. Three sets of frequency pairs are utilized for the respective track circuit blocks and there are six possible time positions for each signal frequency for a given speed command. It then follows that [8 uniquely identifiable track circuit signals, when consideration of the three frequency pairs used and the six phase shifts obtainable, are thereby possible before it is necessary to repeat an identi cal speed command signal format. This provides high attenua tion of signals through any given length of train track and the negligible probability of occurrence of l8 multiple failures before an unsafe operating condition might occur.
The train control equipment carried by each train vehicle consists of two systems; the first system is for the control of the speed of the vehicle, and the second system is for the control of the vehicle during station stopping. The train vehicle carries a speed control antenna system suitably shielded and coupled to the train rails to receive all three frequency pairs from the track. The train-carried receiver filters this speed control in formation and delivers it to a speed decoder aboard the train. The speed decoder recognizes a comma-free code without benefit of word synchronization and delivers one of up to nine speed commands to the train These speed commands are interpreted by the speed regulation equipment and compared with a tachometer, with the resulting output signal then controlling as desired the propulsion equipment and the brake equipment. The same speed command signals are delivered to an overspeed protection equipment carried by the train which also compares the speed commands with a tachometer and provides independent overriding control of the brake equip ment in the event that an overspeed condition exists. The second subsystem carried by the train vehicle is concerned with station stopping.
The safety system thereby provided is dynamic in operation and demands that it continually be checking itself before delivering the vehicle speed commands to the train propulsion equipment and further utilizes fail-safe comma-free coding to make it substantially impossible for interference and noise signals to cause unsafe train vehicle operation.
One advantage of using only four twisted pairs of conductors, plus the above-described interface equipment for a complete system covering many miles, is the attractiveness from the standpoint of cost and cable density as compared to the use of individual hardwired cables to each remote location. The 3| 1.04-kilocycle frequency standard transmitted to each track signal block locations allows precise crystal control of all track signal block transmitters while requiring only a single crystal oscillator in each of the associated wayside control stations. The implementation of the time division multiplexing system and digital circuitry allows for greater flexibility, greater reliability, more fail-safe operation and lower cost than can be achieved with prior art train control systems.
In general it should be understood that the scope of this invention is not limited to the above specifically described system. For example, if desired, any other suitable frequency could be used in place of the 3| l.04-kilocycle frequency standard, with the 31 1.04-kilocycle frequency being chosen to obtain signalling frequencies between S to 10 kc. by an even integer number of divisions within a divider circuit, and none of which are harmonics of the power supply and other presently used signalling frequencies. The number of destinations or track circuit signal blocks operative with a given wayside controi station could be modified by factors of two by the addition or deletion of counterstages, and the type of command signal information is not limited to that described.
While the invention has been described with respect to AF track signal circuits, it should be recognized that certain ofthc telecontrol multiplexing features may be utilized with other types of signal transmission lines. For example, the commafree code control signals could be multiplexed to remote stations via a radio transmission link using the technique of time slot multiplexing with phase shifting of the multiple bits of the multiple bit multiplex word. The remote station would in this instance include a means for sensing the status of operation which is being controlled, and would provide a local TRUE state signal when the operation status and the command status match. The sensed signal would be anded with this TRUE signal and returned to the telecontrol transmission station for comparison to provide assurance of proper operation of the telecontrol multiplex. Suitable time buffering is provided in the coupling channels to effect comparison of corresponding parts of the transmitted and returned signals.
An article generally descriptive of a relative train vehicle centralized traffic control system was published in Railway Signaling and Communications magazine for Dec. 1967 at pages 1810 23.
The present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity. However it should be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the arrangement and operation of the individual parts without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.
We claim:
I. In a control system for a vehicle operating along a predetermined path with a sequence of linearly extending vehicle movement control signal circuits disposed along said path, each signal circuit being operative with the vehicle when the latter is traveling along the section of the path coextensive with the signal circuit, said vehicle in its movement being selectively responsive to any one of a predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals introduced into the signal circuit which is operative with the vehicle, the combination of, transmitter means for providing a selected one of said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals to each of said signal circuits in accordance with the respective desired movement conditions for the operation of said vehicle along the sections of the path coextensive with those same signal circuits,
receiver means for sensing the repetitive binary sequence signal in each of said signal circuits,
and signal comparison means operative with said transmitter means and with said receiver means for comparing the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to each of said signal circuits with the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit and upon a mismatch of said signals operative to modify the movement condition of said vehicle within at least the portion of the path coextensive with an adjacent signal circuit.
2. The control system of claim I, each sequence of said repetitive binary sequence signal being composed of a predetermined number of bits,
said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to each signal circuit with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit.
3. The control system of claim 1, including signal memory means operative with each of said signal circuits for storing the last-received signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal from said transmitter means,
with said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated signal circuit with the stored signal bit upon the occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse.
4. The control system of claim I, with said transmitter means providing multiplexed binary signal bits over a common signal transmission path to the respective signal circuits such that the signal bits of each said selected one of said repetitive binary sequence signals are assigned a particular time period associated with the corresponding signal circuit,
said transmitter means further providing a different time period selected pulse for each signal circuit such that the repetitive binary sequence signal bit provided for each signal circuit is selected for application to that signal circuit during the occurrence of said time period selection pulse associated with that same signal circuit.
5. The control system of claim 4, with said receiver means being cooperative with said time period selection pulses such that the signal sensed in each of said signal circuits is selected for application to said signal comparison means during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with that signal circuit.
6. The control system ofclaim 2,
said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
7. The control system of claim I,
said signal comparison means being responsive to a mismatch between the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to a signal circuit and the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit to select for application to at least an adjacent signal circuit a repetitive binary sequence signal representing a reduced speed of movement condition,
said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to a given signal circuit and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given signal circuit.
9. The method of controlling the operation of a vehicle along a predetermined path with a sequence of linearly extending vehicle movement control signal circuits disposed along said path, each movement control circuit being operative with the vehicle when the latter is traveling along the section of the path coextensive with that same control circuit, said vehicle in its movement being selectively responsive to any one of a predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals introduced into the signal circuit which is operative with the vehicle; including the steps of sending a selected one of said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals to each of said signal circuits for controlling the operation of said vehicle in accordance with the respective desired movement conditions for the operation of said vehicle along the sections of the path coextensive with those same signal circuits,
sensing and returning from each oi" said signal circuits the repetitive binary sequence signal in those same circuits,
and comparing the repetitive binary sequence signal sent to each of said signal circuits with the repetitive binary sequence signal returned from that same signal circuit and when said repetitive sequence signals sent to and sensed in a signal circuit do not match, selecting a repetitive binary sequence signal representing a reduced speed of movement condition for sending to at least an adjacent signal circuit.
10. The method of claim 9, including providing a different characteristic to the vehicle control signal sent to each of said signal blocks relative to the control signal characteristics for the adjacent signal blocks,
and sensing said control signal characteristic for each signal block in relation to the comparison of the control signal sent to that same signal block with the vehicle presenceindicating signal returned from that same signal block.
11. The method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal to comprise a plurality of ONE and ZERO digital bits suitable for comma-free signal control of said vehicle in one of a selected number of vehicle operation conditions within each of said signal blocks.
12. The method of claim 11, with said coding being such that a ZERO digital bit is a higher frequency signal than is a ONE digital bit,
with the assignment of a predetermined vehicle operating conditions being related to the greater portion of ONE digital bits.
13. The method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal to comprise a multiple bit comma-free signal for the control of said vehicle within each of said signal blocks,
phase-shifting the multiple bits of the control signal sent to each signal block relative to the control signals sent to the adjacent signal blocks M. The method oi'claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal for each one of said signal blocks to control the respective speeds of the vehicle when operating within said signal blocks,
and sending a reduced speed vehicle control signal to a given signal block when it is determined that another vehicle is present within the last said signal block.
The method ofclaim 9, with said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
16. In a train presence detection system for a railway vehicle operating along a track divided into a plurality of track circuit blocks, the combination of transmitter means for providing a predetermined multiple bit digital signal over a single path to each of said track circuit blocks, a given bit of said predetermined multiple bit digital signal being provided to each of said track circuit blocks at the same time,
receiver means for sensing any multiple bit digital signals in each of said track circuit blocks, said signal receiver means being operative with said vehicle such that the presence ol said vehicle in a given track circuit block will prevent the receiver means from sensing the predetermined multiple bit digital signal transmitted to said given track circuit block,
and signal comparison means operative with said transmitter means and said receiver means for comparing the multiple bit digital signal sent to said given track circuit block with the multiple bit digital signal sensed within said given track circuit block for determining the presence of said vehicle within said given track circuit block.
17. The train presence detection system of claim 16, the predetermined multiple bit digital signal sent to each of said track circuit blocks being a repetitive binary sequence signal composed ofa predetermined number of bits,
said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to said given circuit block with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
[8. The train presence detection system of claim 16,
said signal comparison means being operative to determine presence of a vehicle through cooperation of said transmitter means and said receiver means such that the multiple bit digital signal is not present in a track circuit block when the block is occupied due to the short-circuiting effect of said vehicle between the tracks.
19. The train presence detection system of claim 17 includmg signal memory means operative with each of said track circuit blocks for storing the signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal last received from said transmitter means, with said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated track circuit signal block with the stored signal bit upon occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse. 20. The train presence detection system of claim 17 said transmitter means providing multiplexed signal hits over a common signal transmission path to the respective track circuit blocks such that the signal bits of the repetitive binary sequence signal to be provided to said given track circuit block are assigned a particular time period associated with that same track circuit block, said transmitter means further providing a different time period selection pulse for each track circuit block such that the binary sequence signal bit provided for said given track circuit block is selected for application to said given track circuit block during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit signal block. 21. The train presence detection system of claim 20, with said receiver means being cooperative with the time period selection pulses such that the signal sensed in said given track circuit block is supplied to said signal comparison means during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit block. 22. The time presence detection system of claim 21,
said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to said given track circuit block and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
23. The time presence detection system of claim 16, with signal means for providing a different characteristic to the multiple bit digital signal sent to said given track circuit block relative to said multiple bit digital signals sent to at least the next adjacent track circuit blocks,
said receiver means in sensing the signal in each track circuit block being selectively responsive to the different characteristic associated with the respective blocks.
24 The time presence detection system of claim 17,
said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.

Claims (22)

1. In a control system for a vehicle operating along a predetermined path with a sequence of linearly extending vehicle movement control signal circuits disposed along said path, each signal circuit being operative with the vehicle when the latter is traveling along the section of the path coextensive with the signal circuit, said vehicle in its movement being selectively responsive to any one of a predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals introduced into the signal circuit which is operative with the vehicle, the combination of, transmitter means for providing a selected one of said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals to each of said signal circuits in accordance with the respective desired movement conditions for the operation of said vehicle along the sections of the path coextensive with those same signal circuits, receiver means for sensing the repetitive binary sequence signal in each of said signal circuits, and signal comparison means operative with said transmitter means and with said receiver means for comparing the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to each of said signal circuits with the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit and upon a mismatch of said signals operative to modify the movement condition of said vehicle within at least the portion of the path coextensive with an adjacent signal circuit.
2. The control system of claim 1, each sequence of said repetitive binary sequence signal being composed of a predetermined number of bits, said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to each signal circuit with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit.
3. The control system of claim 1, including signal memory means operative with each of said signal circuits for storing the last-received signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal from said transmitter means, with said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated signal circuit with the stored signal bit upon the occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse.
4. The control system of claim 1, with said transmitter means providing multiplexed binary signal bits over a common signal transmission path to the respective signal circuits such that the signal bits of each said selected one of said repetitive binary sequence signals are assigned a particular time period associated with the corresponding signal circuit, said transmitter means further providing a different time period selected pulse for each signal circuit such that the repetitive binary sequence signal bit provided for each signal circuit is selected for application to that signal circuit during the occurrence of said time period selection pulse associated with that same signal circuit.
5. The control system of claim 4, with said receiver means being cooperative with said time period selection pulses such that the signal sensed in each of said signal circuits is selected for application to said signal comparison means during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with that signal circuit.
6. The control system of claiM 2, said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
7. The control system of claim 1, said signal comparison means being responsive to a mismatch between the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to a signal circuit and the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in that same signal circuit to select for application to at least an adjacent signal circuit a repetitive binary sequence signal representing a reduced speed of movement condition, said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to a given signal circuit and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given signal circuit.
9. The method of controlling the operation of a vehicle along a predetermined path with a sequence of linearly extending vehicle movement control signal circuits disposed along said path, each movement control circuit being operative with the vehicle when the latter is traveling along the section of the path coextensive with that same control circuit, said vehicle in its movement being selectively responsive to any one of a predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals introduced into the signal circuit which is operative with the vehicle; including the steps of sending a selected one of said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals to each of said signal circuits for controlling the operation of said vehicle in accordance with the respective desired movement conditions for the operation of said vehicle along the sections of the path coextensive with those same signal circuits, sensing and returning from each of said signal circuits the repetitive binary sequence signal in those same circuits, and comparing the repetitive binary sequence signal sent to each of said signal circuits with the repetitive binary sequence signal returned from that same signal circuit and when said repetitive sequence signals sent to and sensed in a signal circuit do not match, selecting a repetitive binary sequence signal representing a reduced speed of movement condition for sending to at least an adjacent signal circuit.
10. The method of claim 9, including providing a different characteristic to the vehicle control signal sent to each of said signal blocks relative to the control signal characteristics for the adjacent signal blocks, and sensing said control signal characteristic for each signal block in relation to the comparison of the control signal sent to that same signal block with the vehicle presence-indicating signal returned from that same signal block.
11. The method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal to comprise a plurality of ONE and ZERO digital bits suitable for comma-free signal control of said vehicle in one of a selected number of vehicle operation conditions within each of said signal blocks.
12. The method of claim 11, with said coding being such that a ZERO digital bit is a higher frequency signal than is a ONE digital bit, with the assignment of a predetermined vehicle operating conditions being related to the greater portion of ONE digital bits.
13. The method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal to comprise a multiple bit comma-free signal for the control of said vehicle within each of said signal blocks, phase-shifting the multiple bits of the control signal sent to each signal block relative to the control signals sent to the adjacent signal blocks.
14. The method of claim 9, including coding said vehicle control signal for each one of said signal blocks to control the respective speeds of the vehicle when operating within said signal blocks, and sending a reduced speed vehicle control signal to a given signal block when it is determined that another vehicle is present within the last said signal block.
15. The method of claim 9, with said predetermined set of repetiTive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
16. In a train presence detection system for a railway vehicle operating along a track divided into a plurality of track circuit blocks, the combination of transmitter means for providing a predetermined multiple bit digital signal over a single path to each of said track circuit blocks, a given bit of said predetermined multiple bit digital signal being provided to each of said track circuit blocks at the same time, receiver means for sensing any multiple bit digital signals in each of said track circuit blocks, said signal receiver means being operative with said vehicle such that the presence of said vehicle in a given track circuit block will prevent the receiver means from sensing the predetermined multiple bit digital signal transmitted to said given track circuit block, and signal comparison means operative with said transmitter means and said receiver means for comparing the multiple bit digital signal sent to said given track circuit block with the multiple bit digital signal sensed within said given track circuit block for determining the presence of said vehicle within said given track circuit block.
17. The train presence detection system of claim 16, the predetermined multiple bit digital signal sent to each of said track circuit blocks being a repetitive binary sequence signal composed of a predetermined number of bits, said signal comparison means comparing each bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal provided to said given circuit block with the corresponding bit of the repetitive binary sequence signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
18. The train presence detection system of claim 16, said signal comparison means being operative to determine presence of a vehicle through cooperation of said transmitter means and said receiver means such that the multiple bit digital signal is not present in a track circuit block when the block is occupied due to the short-circuiting effect of said vehicle between the tracks.
19. The train presence detection system of claim 17 including signal memory means operative with each of said track circuit blocks for storing the signal bit of said repetitive binary sequence signal last received from said transmitter means, with said transmitter means providing a stored signal bit release pulse to said signal memory means for supplying the associated track circuit signal block with the stored signal bit upon occurrence of said stored signal bit release pulse.
20. The train presence detection system of claim 17 said transmitter means providing multiplexed signal bits over a common signal transmission path to the respective track circuit blocks such that the signal bits of the repetitive binary sequence signal to be provided to said given track circuit block are assigned a particular time period associated with that same track circuit block, said transmitter means further providing a different time period selection pulse for each track circuit block such that the binary sequence signal bit provided for said given track circuit block is selected for application to said given track circuit block during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit signal block.
21. The train presence detection system of claim 20, with said receiver means being cooperative with the time period selection pulses such that the signal sensed in said given track circuit block is supplied to said signal comparison means during the occurrence of the time period selection pulse associated with said given track circuit block. 22. The time presence detection system of claim 21, said signal comparison means including time buffering means to provide a predetermined delay between the time a signal is selected for application to said given track circuit block and the time it is compared with the signal sensed in said given track circuit block.
23. The time presence detectIon system of claim 16, with signal means for providing a different characteristic to the multiple bit digital signal sent to said given track circuit block relative to said multiple bit digital signals sent to at least the next adjacent track circuit blocks, said receiver means in sensing the signal in each track circuit block being selectively responsive to the different characteristic associated with the respective blocks.
24. The time presence detection system of claim 17, said predetermined set of repetitive binary sequence signals being of the comma-free code type.
US762563A 1968-09-25 1968-09-25 Control of a vehicle along a path divided into a plurality of signal blocks Expired - Lifetime US3593022A (en)

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US4278900A (en) * 1979-02-15 1981-07-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Fail-safe pulse providing apparatus
US4387870A (en) * 1981-04-29 1983-06-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Transit vehicle shunt determination
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US5465926A (en) * 1992-10-08 1995-11-14 Union Switch & Signal Inc. Coded track circuit repeater having standby mode
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US3810099A (en) * 1972-10-26 1974-05-07 Westinghouse Electric Corp Means for providing a vehicle control signal containing direction and speed information
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US20170089964A1 (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-03-30 Alstom Transport Technologies Method, controller and system for detecting a leakage of a track signal on at least one railway track
US10527660B2 (en) * 2015-09-30 2020-01-07 Alstom Transport Technologies Method, controller and system for detecting a leakage of a track signal on at least one railway track

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