Method and apparatus for operation of a railway branch line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9061691-B2
Application number	US-201113994450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2011
Priority date	Dec 14, 2010
Publication date	Jun 23, 2015
Grant date	Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for operation of a railway branch line, which has line devices, in particular points, signals, axle counters, beacons and/or approach signaling devices, for specific functions. At least one first line device can be operated in an active mode and in a power-saving mode. In order to simplify the switching from the power-saving mode to the active mode, the active mode of the first line device is activated by a second line device when a rail vehicle moves over the second line device, possibly after a predetermined delay time has elapsed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for operating a railway branch line, comprising:
at least one first track-mounted device configured for selective operation in an active mode and in a power-saving mode;
a second track-mounted device including a train passage detection device for detecting when a rail vehicle passes over said second track-mounted device; and
a communications link connecting said train passage detection device to said first track-mounted device;
said active mode of said first track-mounted device configured to be activatable on a train passage detection or after a predetermined delay time has elapsed; and
said first track-mounted device also configured to serve as another second track-mounted device, said first track-mounted device including a train passage detection device for detecting when a rail vehicle passes over said first track-mounted device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one first track-mounted device and said second track-mounted device are each selected from the group consisting of points, signals, axle counters, balises and train approach annunciators.

Assignees

• Ernst Horst
• Geduhn Norbert
• Ziegler Peter
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Ernst Horst
• Geduhn Norbert
• Ziegler Peter

Classifications

• B61L1/08

  magnetically actuated; electrostatically actuated · CPC title

• B61L1/02 Primary

  Electric devices associated with track {, e.g. rail contacts} · CPC title

• B61L1/06 Primary

  actuated by deformation of rail; actuated by vibration in rail · CPC title