Wayside communication system using power grid lines
AssigneeAlstom Transport Technologies
InventorsNicholas Nagrodsky, Richard Lawson, Jeffrey Fries, John Hounschell, James Kiss
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims8
A communication system for transmitting through an individual 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 comprising:
- a coded current signal transceiver for electrical connection to an individual 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
- an electrical return path for the individual running rail through a power supply connection to a power line of a power substation,
- wherein the two wayside control devices, when each is connected via its transceiver to the same individual running rail and connected through the power supply connection to the same power line of the power substation, 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 individual running rail;
- decoding the coded current signal at the second one of the two wayside control devices thus obtaining the wayside condition or control;
- and
- returning the decoded current signal back to the first one of the two wayside control devices via the power supply connection and the power line thus closing the current signal flow loop.
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 supply connection and a power line of a power substation, thus closing the current signal flow loop.
A railroad track communication network comprising:
- a railroad track having one individual running rail;
- a power line of a power substation for providing electrical power to a wayside equipment;
- and
- two wayside control devices, each wayside control device comprising:
- i) a coded current signal transceiver electrically connected to the individual 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 individual running rail;
- and
- ii) an electrical return path through 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 individual running rail;
- decoding the coded current signal at the second one of the two 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 the power supply connection and the power line thus closing the current signal flow loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.