Device and method for saving traction energy in rail vehicles

A device for a rail vehicle having a control unit, which:

• determines a distance between the rail vehicle and a respective intended next stop using a measured location measured value which indicates a location of the rail vehicle, and predetermined, stored route data,
• determines a remaining traveling time to the next stop using a measured time measured value, which indicates a respective time, and a predetermined, stored timetable, and
• forms a recommended drive switching-off time taking account of the determined distance, of the determined remaining traveling time, of a speed measured value, which indicates the speed of the rail vehicle, and predetermined coasting data, which describes the coasting behavior of the rail vehicle when a drive of the rail vehicle is switched off, from which drive switching-off time the rail vehicle will reach the intended next stop on time in accordance with the respective timetable without being driven, and
• having an output device which is connected to the control unit and is driven by the control unit, and which produces a switching-off signal which indicates the recommended drive switching-off time,
• wherein the device has a data input at which an actual value signal which indicates the actual drive switching-off time can be entered in the device, with the actual drive switching-off time indicating that time at which the drive is actually switched off after the switching-off signal was produced, and
• the control unit has a memory which stores the actual drive switching-off time and the respectively associated, recommended drive switching-off time, for evaluation, wherein
• the control unit is designed such that it forms a time difference value by forming the difference between the actual drive switching-off time and the respectively associated recommended drive switching-off time,
• the control unit is designed such that it forms a delay value using at least the respectively most recently formed time difference value, and determines the respectively most recent recommended drive switching-off time furthermore taking into account this delay value which has been formed, and
• the control unit is designed such that it calculates an auxiliary switching-off time, taking account of the determined distance, the determined remaining traveling time, the speed measured value, which indicates the speed of the rail vehicle, and the predetermined coasting data, which describes the coasting behavior of the rail vehicle when the drive is switched off, from which said auxiliary switching-off time the rail vehicle will reach the intended next stop on time in accordance with the respective timetable without being driven, and forms the difference between the auxiliary switching-off time and the delay value to determine an advanced drive switching-off time, and treats the advanced drive switching-off time as the recommended drive switching-off time.