System and method for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, and related portable signal analyzing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10778271-B1
Application number	US-201916506255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2019
Priority date	Jul 9, 2019
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

System, method and portable device for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, wherein at least one antenna captures, in a contactless manner, a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit, and a demodulator is adapted to separate into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by the antenna and selectively demodulate one or more of the captured signals. An interface is adapted for transferring, to a user interface, data indicative of the demodulated signals. Each demodulated signal is displayed on a screen for a user to trigger any needed corrective action.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal analyzing system for track circuits of railway lines, comprising:
at least one antenna for contactlessly capturing a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit,
at least one demodulator adapted to separate into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by said at least one antenna and selectively demodulate at least one of the separated signals, and
an interface adapted at least for transferring, to a user interface, data indicative of the at least one demodulated signal,
wherein said at least one demodulator comprises a digital signal processor adapted to output signals including electrical parameters indicative of the at least one demodulated signal and an electronic board adapted to receive the signals output by the digital signal processor and transfer the received electrical signals towards said interface.

2. The signal analyzing system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one antenna is configured to capture signals travelling along the track circuit having a frequency in the range comprised between 50 Hz and 50 kHz, preferentially between 1 kHz and 20 kHz.

3. The signal analyzing system according to claim 1 , wherein said least one antenna comprises an antenna selected from the group comprising a magnetic antenna, a capacitive antenna or a combination thereof.

4. The signal analyzing system according to claim 1 , wherein said interface comprises a module adapted to graphically display on a screen at least one of the demodulated signal and one or more parameters indicative of the information content carried out by the demodulated signal.

5. The signal analyzing system according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic board is adapted to automatically select the electrical signals indicative of a corresponding demodulated signal output by the digital signal processor to be transferred towards said interface.

6. The signal analyzing system according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a plurality of antennas positioned along the track circuit spaced apart from each other and a plurality of demodulators each operatively connected to an associated antenna of said plurality of antennas.

7. The signal analyzing system according to claim 4 , wherein said module is adapted to detect an indicator contained in at least one demodulated signal indicative of a defective status of the track switch or part thereof.

8. A method for analyzing signals travelling along track circuits of railway lines, comprising at least the following steps:
capturing, in a contactless manner, a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit via at least one antenna,
separating into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by said at least one antenna and selectively demodulating at least one of the separated signals via at least one demodulator, and
transferring, via an interface, data indicative of the at least one demodulated signal towards a user interface,
wherein said step of transferring comprises graphically displaying on a screen at least one of the demodulated signal and one or more parameters indicative of the information content carried out by the demodulated signal.

9. A portable track circuit signal analyzing device comprising at least:
an antenna for contactlessly capturing a plurality of signals travelling along a track circuit,
at least one demodulator adapted to separate into individual signals the plurality of signals captured by said at least one antenna and selectively demodulate at least one of the separated signals, and
an interface adapted at least for transferring, to a user interface, data indicative of the at least one demodulated signal,
wherein said interface further comprises a screen and a module adapted to graphically display on the screen at least one of the demodulated signal and one or more parameters indicative of the information content carried out by the demodulated signal.

Assignees

• Alstom Transp Tech

Inventors

• Casulli Giuseppe

Classifications

• B61L27/53

  for trackside elements or systems, e.g. trackside supervision of trackside control system conditions · CPC title

• B61L1/188

  Use of coded current · CPC title

• B61L1/187

  Use of alternating current · CPC title

• H04B1/18 Primary

  Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) · CPC title

• B61L23/00

  Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains · CPC title