System for determining the presence of a non-operative local control means in a convoy of vehicles, and convoy of vehicles

A system for determining the presence of a non-operative local control means in a convoy of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, particularly in a railway convoy comprising a plurality of railway vehicles;

• wherein, said system comprises a convoy communication line installed in said vehicles of the convoy;
• said convoy communication line, for each vehicle, comprises:
• a first line section arranged to be associated with a first end of a respective vehicle;
• a second line section arranged to be associated with a second end of said respective vehicle, opposite to said first end;
• wherein, the second line section of a vehicle is arranged to be connected in series to the first line section of another vehicle;
• between said first line section and said second line section of each respective vehicle, said convoy communication line comprises:
• a control line section arranged to comprise a respective local control means;
• a bypass line section arranged to be electrically arranged in parallel with said control line section;
• wherein said control line section of each respective vehicle comprises a third line section and a fourth line section;
• the local control means of each respective vehicle comprised in the control line section is arranged to be connected to the third line section and to the fourth line section of said respective vehicle, so that it faces the third line section on a first side and said fourth line section on a second side;
• for each respective vehicle, said convoy communication line further comprises:
• a first switching means and a second switching means;
• wherein said first switching means is arranged to:
• normally assume a first state in which it allows connection of the first line section to the bypass line section of said respective vehicle;
• assume a second state in which it allows connection of the first line section to the third line section of said control line section of said respective vehicle;
• wherein said second switching means is arranged to:
• normally assume a first state in which it allows connection of the second line section to the bypass line section of said respective vehicle;
• assume a second state in which it allows connection of the second line section to the fourth line section of said control line section of said respective vehicle;
• wherein the system comprises power supply means arranged to provide a power supply to the respective local control means installed in the vehicles;
• the system further comprising, for each respective vehicle:
• a resistive load arranged to be connected to the first line section of said respective vehicle and having a predetermined resistance value;
• an electrical power generation means arranged to provide a predetermined voltage value to said second line section of said respective vehicle;
• a third switching means;
• the third switching means of each respective vehicle being arranged to:
• normally assume a first state in which it prevents the supply of the predetermined voltage value from the electrical power generation means of said respective vehicle to the second line section of said respective vehicle;
• assume a second state in which it allows supply of the predetermined voltage value from the electrical power generation means of said respective vehicle to the second line section of said respective vehicle;
• the system further comprising:
• an activation control means arranged to be installed in a vehicle of said plurality of vehicles;
• an activation line arranged for connecting said activation control means to the respective local control means of the vehicles of the convoy;
• the activation control means being arranged for transmitting an activation signal to the respective local control means of the vehicles;
• each local control means installed in a respective vehicle, in response to receiving the activation signal and when powered by the power supply means, is arranged to:
• cause the first switching means of said respective vehicle to assume the second state enabling connection of the first line section of said respective vehicle to the third line section of said control line section of said respective vehicle;
• cause the second switching means of said respective vehicle to assume the second state which allows connection of the second line section of said respective vehicle to the fourth line section of said control line section of said respective vehicle
• cause the third switching means of said respective vehicle to assume the second state enabling the supply of the predetermined voltage value from the electrical power generation means to the second line section of said respective vehicle;
• measure a current value provided by the electrical power generation means to said second line section of said respective vehicle;
• determine that at least the vehicle directly connected in series to the second line section of said respective vehicle has a local control means which is not operative, according to the measured current value, the predetermined voltage value provided by the electrical power generation means of said respective vehicle and the predetermined resistance value of the resistive loads.