Coded track circuit with diagnostic capability
US5769364A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61L23/044
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A track circuit with diagnostic capability differentiates between an occupied track circuit and one in which a conductor of the track circuit (one of the rails) is broken. Transceiver units are provided at the respective ends of the track circuit and operate alternately in transmit and receive modes. The applied voltage and current are measured at the transmitting unit, and the received voltage and current are sensed and measured at the receiving unit. From these measurements made successively as the units alternately transmit and receive, each unit can determine whether the track is available or unavailable and, if unavailable, whether the track has a broken rail. A microprocessor in each unit distinguishes a broken rail from an occupied track when an increase in the applied transmitting voltage at the unit occurs simultaneously with a decrease in each of the other voltage and current measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.