JP7303706B2 - Rail break detector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rail break detection device for detecting breakage of railroad rails.

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for detecting breakage of railroad rails, there is known a device that utilizes return current, as exemplified in Patent Document 1, for example.

However, for example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is possible to detect a breakage by using the return current, when the return current is not flowing, that is, when the train is not running , rail breaks cannot be detected. For this reason, for example, it is not always possible to respond to a request for constant detection of rail breakage.

Japanese Patent No. 5827465

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a rail break detection device capable of detecting a rail break even when, for example, a return current is not detected.

A rail break detection device for achieving the above object includes a signal generator that applies a detection AC signal to the rail, and a break detection unit that detects rail breakage based on the detection AC signal.

In the above-described rail break detection device, the signal generator applies the detection AC signal to the rail, and the break detection unit detects the rail break based on the detection AC signal. Even if it is not detected, it is possible to detect rail breakage based on the AC signal for detection.

In a specific aspect of the present invention, the breakage detector detects breakage based on a predetermined threshold value for the detection AC signal. In this case, the presence or absence of rail breakage can be determined, for example, by determining whether or not the value measured for the AC signal for detection is equal to or less than the threshold value.

In another aspect of the present invention, the signal generator applies the detection AC signal to one rail to form one closed circuit, and the break detection unit applies the detection AC signal to the rail in the closed circuit. Detects rupture of In this case, the presence or absence of rail breakage can be determined from the state of the detection AC signal applied to the formed closed circuit.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the breakage detection unit detects a breakage based on an alternating current extracted by interrupting a direct current when a return current is flowing. As a result, even when a return current is flowing, the influence of the return current can be eliminated, and rail breakage can be detected.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the signal generator has a capacitor that blocks direct current. In this case, the capacitor can cut off a direct current such as a return current.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the signal generator applies a sensing AC signal across the rail from one end to the other in response to an insulated joint in the rail. In this case, the range in which rail breakage can be detected can be made appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows an outline about an example of the rail break detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing a track on which a rail break detection device is installed and a running train. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of a rail break detection apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing how breakage detection is performed when there is a rail breakage except when the train is running; It is a block diagram which shows another example of 1 structure of a rail break detection apparatus.

An example of a rail break detection device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rail breakage detection device 500 of the present embodiment includes a pair of first rail breakage detection device 500A and a second rail breakage detection device 500A corresponding to a pair of rails RL. 500B.

In the rail breakage detection device 500, for example, one of the first rail breakage detection devices 500A is one of the paired rails RL of the first and second rails RL1 and RL2, the range of which is defined by the insulation seam IN. With respect to the first rail RL1 in one detection section, the presence or absence of rail breakage is detected from one insulation joint IN to the other insulation joint IN. Similarly, the second rail break detection device 500B detects whether there is a rail break between one insulation joint IN and the other insulation joint IN for the second rail RL2 defined by the insulation joints IN.

Further, the first rail breakage detection device 500A and the second rail breakage detection device 500B have the same structure, and each can function as a rail breakage detection device independently. Therefore, the structure of the first rail break detection device 500A will be described below, and the detailed description of the structure and the like of the second rail break detection device 500B will be omitted.

The first rail break detection device 500A includes a signal generator 50 that applies a detection AC signal DAS to the first rail RL1 that constitutes the rail RL to be detected, and a signal generator 50 that applies a detection AC signal DAS to the first rail RL1 based on the detection AC signal DAS. and a break detection unit 60 for detecting breakage of the.

The signal generator 50 constantly applies the detection AC signal DAS to the first rail RL1 to be detected. That is, the signal generator 50 applies the detection AC signal DAS regardless of the presence or absence of the retrace current RC (see FIG. 2). More specifically, the signal generator 50 is, as shown in the drawing, wired by conductors PW1 and NW1 to the first rail RL1 to form one closed circuit RP1 for detection. A first detection AC signal DAS1 is applied as an AC signal DAS for detection.

The break detection unit 60 detects breakage of the first rail RL1, which is a detection target, based on the first AC signal DAS1 for detection. That is, the first rail breakage detection device 500A detects whether rail breakage has occurred from the state of the first detection AC signal DAS1 applied to the first rail RL1. A more specific example of the detailed configuration will be described later.

Further, the second rail breakage detection device 500B includes the signal generator 50 and the breakage detection unit 60 in the same manner as the first rail breakage detection device 500A described above, and includes the target rail RL, that is, the second rail RL2. Whether rail breakage has occurred is detected from the state of the second detection AC signal DAS2 applied to the formed closed circuit RP2.

Further, in the first and second rail break detection devices 500A and 500B, the conductors PW1, PW2, NW1 and NW2 of the rails RL1 and RL2 correspond to the insulation seams IN that define the boundaries of the rails RL1 and RL2. First and second AC signals DAS1 and DAS2 for detection are applied from one end to the other end. In the illustrated example, each conductor PW1, PW2, NW1, NW2 is connected to each rail RL1, RL2 in the vicinity of the insulating seam IN. Thereby, rail breakage can be detected in one detection section that can be detected by one rail breakage detection device 500 . That is, the range in which rail breakage can be detected can be made appropriate. Here, the one end and the other end, ie, the end portion of the rail, can be considered in various ways. , RL2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the rail break detection device 500 includes first and second rail break detection devices 500A and 500B located near the rail RL on the ground and not interfering with the running of the train TR. installed and configured. In addition, as illustrated, each part of the rail break detection device 500 is connected to the rail RL (the first and second rails RL1 and RL2).

In the present embodiment, the rail break detection device 500 is configured to detect the detection AC signal DAS described with reference to FIG. For this reason, the measurable ranges of the current value and the voltage value are appropriately adjusted in the break detection unit 60 . On the other hand, the retrace current RC described with reference to FIG. 2 has a configuration for avoiding the influence upon detection of the detection AC signal DAS.

As shown in the drawing, in the rail RL, the detection AC signal DAS and the return current RC flow along the extending directions (±Z direction, +Z direction) of the rail RL.

Hereinafter, a more specific configuration example of the rail break detection device 500 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and the like. Again, the first rail break detection device 500A will be described as a representative.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one configuration example of the rail break detection device 500, and is also a block diagram showing how break detection is performed when there is no rail break except when the train is running. Further, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing how breakage detection is performed when there is a rail breakage, except when the train is running.

Further, as described above, the first rail breakage detection device 500A forms one closed circuit RP1 for applying the detection AC signal DAS (first detection AC signal DAS1) to one rail RL1. The break detection unit 60 detects breakage of the first rail RL1 from the first detection AC signal DAS1 in the closed circuit RP1.

First, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the signal generator 50 of the first rail break detection device 500A includes an output transformer OU and a capacitor CO. As shown, the output transformer OU and the capacitor CO are arranged in series in a closed circuit RP1.

The capacitor CO is provided in series with the output transformer OU in order to cut off direct current. By cutting the direct current that causes the rail breakage, it is possible to detect the rail breakage based on the alternating current extracted by cutting off the direct current in the breakage detection unit 60 .

Next, an example of the configuration of the break detection unit 60 in the first rail break detection device 500A will be described. As shown in the figure, the breakage detection unit 60 is configured by the current transformer CU of the first rail breakage detection device 500A together with each part of the signal generator 50 described above. In the illustrated example, the current transformer CU is provided in series between the output transformer OU and the capacitor CO in the closed circuit RP1.

A current transformer CU serving as the break detection unit 60 detects the current of the detection AC signal DAS, and based on this, detects a value for determining rail breakage. More specifically, the current transformer CU takes the current to be the first detection AC signal DAS1 as a primary current, transforms it into a secondary current proportional to the primary current, and this secondary current is input to the detection circuit RE. and becomes a voltage value, and this voltage value can be measured as a value corresponding to the first sensing AC signal DAS1. Here, the AC voltage obtained as described above is assumed to be V1 (effective value).

In one example here, a threshold value V1d is set for the detected AC voltage V1, thereby making it possible to detect rail breakage in the first rail RL1.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when a rail break occurs where a break point RR occurs on the first rail RL1, the formed closed circuit RP1 is interrupted. The value of the measured voltage V1 becomes smaller. Therefore, the threshold value V1d is predetermined based on the value of the voltage V1 assumed as the value at the time of rail breakage, and it is determined whether or not the threshold value V1d is equal to or higher than the threshold value V1d. You can check whether For example, if the first detection AC signal DAS1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value V1d in the break detection unit 60, it is determined that a rail break has not occurred. It is determined that rail breakage has occurred.

When the break detection unit 60 or the first rail break detection device 500A determines that there is a rail break, it notifies the other device of the determination result. For example, the first rail break detection device 500A sends the determination result to a monitoring device (not shown) or the like. Based on the result sent from the first rail break detection device 500A, the monitoring device performs processing such as preventing the train TR from entering the target area to be monitored.

In the second rail break detection device 500B, as in the first rail break detection device 500A described above, the signal generator 50 includes an output transformer OU and a capacitor CO, and the break detection unit 60 includes a current transformer. CU, a value corresponding to the second detection AC signal DAS2, which is the detection AC signal DAS applied to the second rail RL2, can be measured in the current transformer CU. to Here, the AC voltage obtained as described above is assumed to be V2 (effective value). Also in this case, similarly to the first rail break detection device 500A, for example, a threshold value V2d is predetermined for the AC voltage V2, and it is determined whether or not the threshold value V2d is equal to or higher than the threshold value V2d. It is possible to judge the presence or absence of the occurrence of , and perform various processing according to the judgment result. For example, in FIG. 4, in the second rail RL2 without rail breakage, the closed circuit RP2 formed for the second rail RL is maintained without interruption, so that the voltage V2 exhibits a value equal to or higher than the threshold value V2d. become a thing. That is, it can be detected that the first rail RL1 and the second rail RL2 in FIG. 4 are in different situations.

Although detailed illustration is omitted, the rail breakage detection device 500 can detect the breakage of the rail RL as described above even when the train TR is running. When the train TR is running, the return current RC flows through the first and second rails RL1 and RL2 that make up the rail RL, as described above. A DC component resulting from this is cut off by the capacitor CO of the break detection unit 60 . Since the value of the return current RC is large, if a part of it flows into the rail break detection device 500 side, the output transformer OU and the current transformer CU may be saturated due to the flow of current exceeding the allowable amount. be. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, by preventing the inflow of the return current RC by the capacitor CO, such a situation is avoided, and even when the train TR is running, the break detection unit 60 detects breakage. can be done.

Another configuration example of the rail break detection device 500 will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Note that the block diagram of FIG. 5 corresponds to the block diagram illustrated in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, each section of each signal generator 50 and each breakage detection section 60 (current transformer CU) constituting the first and second rail breakage detection devices 500A and 500B, respectively, are provided in one housing. It is configured to be incorporated internally. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the signal generator 50 and the break detection unit 60 (current transformer CU) may be separately arranged as illustrated in FIG. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the current transformer CU is not installed between the output transformer OU and the capacitor CO as shown in FIG. 3, but arranged in another position in series in the closed circuit RP1. Even in such a configuration, the DC component is cut off by the capacitor CO to cut off the retrace current RC, and the voltage value measured by the current transformer CU is applied only to the first and second detection AC signals DAS1 and DAS2. can be attributed. Further, the position of the capacitor CO is not limited to the one shown in the drawing, and various modes are conceivable.

〔others〕
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

First, each of the thresholds described above can be appropriately determined based on the range of the current value and the voltage value of the detection AC signal DAS, taking into account possible noise and the like.

In addition, the signal generator 50, the break detection unit 60, and the like can take various forms as long as they can apply and detect the AC signal DAS for detection that is sufficient. As for the configuration, it is possible to use a plurality of configurations, and to arrange them in various manners.

In the above description, the rail break detection device 500 is configured to have a pair of the first rail break detection device 500A and the second rail break detection device 500B, thereby detecting the pair of rails RL. As described above, the first rail breakage detection device 500A and the second rail breakage detection device 500B can each function independently as a rail breakage detection device, and for example, correspond to the first rail breakage detection device 500A. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a single-track rail is provided with a single-track rail.

50 Signal generator 60 Break detection unit 500 Rail break detector 500A First rail break detector 500B Second rail break detector CO Capacitor CU Current transformer DAS For detection AC signal, DAS1... AC signal for first detection, DAS2... AC signal for second detection, IN... Insulated seam, OU... Output transformer, PW1, PW2, NW1, NW2... Lead wire, RC... Return line current, RE... Detection Circuit RL...Rail RL1...First rail RL2...Second rail RP1, RP2...Closed circuit RR...Break point TR...Train V1, V2...AC voltage

Claims (5)

a signal generator that applies a detection AC signal to one rail to form one closed circuit ;
A rail breakage detection device comprising: a breakage detection unit that detects a breakage of the rail from the detection AC signal in the closed circuit . 2. The rail break detection device according to claim 1, wherein said break detector detects a break based on a predetermined threshold value for said detection AC signal. The rail break detection device according to any one of claims 1 and 2 , wherein when a return current is flowing, the break detection unit detects a break based on an alternating current extracted by interrupting direct current. The rail break detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the signal generator has a capacitor that blocks direct current. The rail according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the signal generator applies the detection AC signal from one end to the other end of the rail corresponding to an insulating joint of the rail. Break detection device.

Images