Automatic identification method and system for train information

A method of providing identification information of a train, comprising:

• arranging an array of sensors along one rail, the array comprising a first, a second and a third up sensor groups (S1, S2, S3) arranged in an order and a first, a second and a third down sensor groups (X1, X2, X3) arranged in an opposite order, wherein each of said groups comprise at least two sensors;
• using a signal from the second up/third down sensor group (S2/X3) to calculate the speed and wheelbases of a train, and using known segmenting flow in a system database to segment the calculated wheelbases;
• the method provides one of a first, a second and a third information, wherein
• in the case of a goods train, reading the time (T1) at which the second wheel of the second carriage of two successive carriages that have been segmented arrives at the position of the second up/third down sensor group (S2/X3), thereby providing the first information that is hook locating information comprising a given amount of delay (T) for use by an X-ray system;
• in the case of a passenger/goods train, reading the time (T1′) at which the second wheel of the second carriage of two successive carriages that have been segmented arrives at the position of the third up/second down sensor group (S3/X2), thereby providing the second information that is hook locating information comprising a given amount of delay (T′) for use by a photograph system;
• and
• reading the carriage numbers from the electronic tags on the segmented carriages successively by the up/down carriage number reading device, determining that the electronic tag being read the maximum times belongs to the carriage being run over the carriage number reading device, thereby providing the third information that is the numbering information of the train.

A method of providing identification information of a train, comprising:

• i) arranging an array of sensors along one rail, the array comprising a first, a second and a third up sensor groups (S1, S2, S3) arranged in an order and a first, a second and a third down sensor groups (X1, X2, X3) arranged in an opposite order, wherein each of said groups comprise at least two sensors;
• ii) in the signal from the first up/down sensor group (S1/X1), if the signal from former appears first, then it can be determined that there is a up train, otherwise there is a down train, and the signal from the first up/down sensor group (S1/X1) is used to calculate the speed and wheelbases of the train, and a known segmenting flow in a system database is used to segment the wheelbases;
• iii) using known type distinguishing flow in the database to determine the type of carriages corresponding to the segmented wheelbases, and if one carriage is determined to be locomotive and the number of wheelbases that are read successively exceeds the maximum number of wheelbases of a known locomotive, it is determined that an up/down-running train arrives, thereby providing first information on the arrival of an up/down-running train;
• iv) successively determining the types of the two carriages behind said locomotive, and if at least one of them is a passenger carriage, it is determined that the train is a passenger train, otherwise a goods train, thereby providing second information on the arrived train being a passenger/goods train;
• v) for a goods train, reading the time point (T1) at which the second wheel of the second one of two successive carriages arrives at the position of the second up/third down sensor groups (S2/X3), thereby providing third information on the train hook locating information that comprises a given amount of time delay (T) and is for use by a X-ray source;
• vi) reading the carriage numbers from the electronic tags on the segmented carriages successively by the up/down carriage number reading device, and determining that the electronic tag being read the maximum times belongs to the carriage being running over the carriage number reading device, thereby providing fourth information on the number of each carriage;
• vii) for a passenger/goods train, reading the time point (T1′) at which the second wheel of the second one of two segmented carriages arrives at the position of the second up/third down sensor groups (S3/X2), thereby providing fifth information on vehicle hook locating that comprises a given amount of time delay (T′) and is for use by a photograph system;
• viii) monitoring the time intervals between the pulses of respective wheels from respective sensor groups, and if the finish time of the signal pulse from any one sensor group has exceeded the extreme time interval (Tm) determined by the maximum wheelbase (hm) of a carriage and a defined minimum speed of the train (Vm), it is determined that the signal from said sensor group has stopped, and if signals from all sensor groups stop, a sixth information on the train's departure will be provided.

A system for automatically identifying information of a train, comprising:

• a sensor array arranged along the rail, comprising three up sensor groups (S1, S2, S3) arranged in an order and three down sensor groups (X1, X2, X3) arranged in an opposite order, each of said groups comprise at least two sensors;
• a signal conditioning circuit box connected to the sensor array, comprising mean for processing the signals from sensors into a sequence of regular pulse signal;
• a data collecting card connected to the signal conditioning circuit box, comprising mean for calculating the speed and wheelbases of a train from the signals of the sensors;
• a carriage number reading device, comprising up and down carriage number reading mean mounted between rails for reading information from the electronic tags on carriages of a train;
• an industrial personal computer connected to the data collecting card and carriage number reading device, comprising means for executing steps of:
• i) in the signal from a first up/down sensor group (S1/X1), if the signal from former appears first, then it can be determined that there is a up train, otherwise there is a down train, and the signal from the first up/down sensor group (S1/X1) is used to calculate the speed and wheelbases of the train, and a known segmenting flow in a system database is used to segment the wheelbases;
• i) using known type distinguishing flow in the database to determine the type of carriages corresponding to the segmented wheelbases, and if one carriage is determined to be locomotive and the number of wheelbases that are read successively exceeds the maximum number of wheelbases of a known locomotive, it is determined that an up/down-running train arrives, thereby providing first information on the arrival of an up/down-running train;
• ii) successively determining the types of the two carriages behind said locomotive, and if at least one of them is a passenger carriage, it is determined that the train is a passenger train, otherwise a goods train, thereby providing second information on the arrived train being a passenger/goods train;
• iv) for a goods train, reading the time point (T1) at which the second wheel of the second one of two successive carriages arrives at the position of the second up/third down sensor groups (S2/X3), thereby providing third information on the train hook locating information that comprises a given amount of time delay (T) and is for use by a X-ray source;
• v) reading the carriage numbers from the electronic tags on the segmented carriages successively by the up/down carriage number reading device, and determining that the electronic tag being read the maximum times belongs to the carriage being running over the carriage number reading device, thereby providing fourth information on the number of each carriage;
• vi) for a passenger/goods train, reading the time point (T1′) at which the second wheel of the second one of two segmented carriages arrives at the position of the second up/third down sensor groups (S3/X2), thereby providing fifth information on vehicle hook locating that comprises a given amount of time delay (T′) and is for use by a photograph system
• as to process the speed, wheelbases and information from the electronic tags, thereby obtaining train information including an up/down-running train arrival, whether a passenger train or a goods train arrives, locomotive hook locating, carriage number and train departure.