Wayside communication system using power grid lines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018093684-A1
Application number	US-201615281621-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wayside communication system for transmitting coded current signals through running rails of a railroad track between wayside control devices. A power line common to the wayside control devices is used as the return path for the current signals. The system features train and broken rail detection. The system allows sending signals long distances since rail to rail current leakage is no longer an issue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A communication system for transmitting through a running rail of a railroad track between wayside control devices a coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control, the system comprising two wayside control devices, each wayside control device having:
a coded current signal transceiver for electrical connection to a running rail of a railroad track and for transmission of a coded current signal to the other wayside control device and reception of a coded current signal from the other wayside control device via the running rail; and a power supply connection for connection to a power line of a power substation,
wherein the two wayside control devices are configured to, when each is connected via its transceiver to the same running rail and connected via its power supply connection to the same power line, exchange coded current signals by:
generating a coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control at a first one of the two wayside control devices;
transmitting the coded current signal from the first one of the two wayside control devices to a second one of the two wayside control devices via the running rail;
decoding the coded current signal at the second one of the two wayside control devices thus obtaining the wayside condition or control;
returning the decoded current signal back to the first one of the two wayside control devices via the power supply connections and the power line thus closing the current signal flow loop.

2 . The communication system of claim 1 having at least three wayside control devices, wherein each wayside control device has a unique identifier, each wayside control device being configured to transmit its identifier together with a coded current signal such that the other wayside control devices receiving the coded current signal can determine its origin.

3 . The communication system of claim 1 , in which each coded current signal transceiver is configured for electrical connection to both running rails of the railroad track such that different coded current signals can be exchanged in parallel between the wayside control devices via each of the two running rails.

4 . A method of transmitting through a running rail of a railroad track between wayside control devices a coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control, the method comprising the following consecutive steps:
generating a coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control at a first one of the wayside control devices; transmitting the coded current signal from the first one of the wayside control devices to a second one of the wayside control devices via the running rail; decoding the coded current signal at the second one of the wayside control devices thus obtaining the wayside condition or control; and returning the decoded current signal back to the first one of the wayside control devices via a power line common to the wayside control devices thus closing the current signal flow loop.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second one of the wayside control devices detects a break in said running rail if it fails to receive a coded current signal from the first one of the wayside control devices for a certain minimum amount of time.

6 . A method of transmitting through each of two running rails of a railroad track between wayside control devices a different coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control, wherein each coded current signal is transmitted through its associated rail with the method according to claim 4 .

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second wayside control device detects the presence of a train on the railroad track if the two different coded current signals are both present on the same running rail.

8 . A railroad track communication network comprising:
a railroad track having one running rail; a power line of a power substation for providing electrical power to wayside equipment; and two wayside control devices, each wayside control device having:
i) a coded current signal transceiver electrically connected to the running rail of the railroad track for transmission of a coded current signal to the other wayside control device and reception of a coded current signal from the other wayside control device via the running rail; and
ii) a power supply connection connected to the power line,

wherein the two wayside control devices are configured to exchange coded current signals by:
generating a coded current signal representing a wayside condition or control at a first one of the two wayside control devices;
transmitting the coded current signal from the first one of the wayside control devices to a second one of the two wayside control devices via the running rail;
decoding the coded current signal at the second one of the two wayside control devices thus obtaining the wayside condition or control;
returning the decoded current signal back to the first one of the wayside control devices via the power supply connections and the power line thus closing the current signal flow loop.

Assignees

• Alstom Transp Tech

Inventors

• Nagrodsky Nicholas
• Lawson Richard
• Fries Jeffrey
• Hounschell John
• Kiss James

Classifications

• B61L5/06 Primary

  Electric devices for operating points or scotch-blocks {, e.g. using electromotive driving means} · CPC title

• H04B3/542 Primary

  the information being in digital form · CPC title

• B61L7/06 Primary

  using electrical transmission · CPC title

• B61L1/188

  Use of coded current · CPC title

• B61L23/044

  Broken rails · CPC title