JP2008143368A - Failure detecting device for railroad signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a failure detecting device for a railroad signal possible to be used in any case of an ordinary color-light signal and a flicker signal by detecting a failure of an LED used for a light emitting source of a lighting unit with a CPU. <P>SOLUTION: This failure detecting machine has a current sensor 8, a CPU (central processing unit) 9, and an alarm 10. The current sensor 8 detects a change of the current flowing in each of aspect signal lighting units 1a-1e of the railroad signals per signal aspect, and outputs a change of the current value to the CPU 9. The CPU 9 performs a time sharing processing of the current value detected by the current sensor 8, a processing for determining an effective stable period, a processing for comparing a failure determination threshold value, and a processing for determining a failure in this order, and when a failure of the light source of each of the aspect signal lighting units 1a-1e is determined, the CPU 9 outputs an abnormality indication signal to the alarm 10. The alarm 10 outputs an alarm with an input of the abnormality indication signal from the CPU 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a disconnection detecting device for a railway signal device, and more particularly to a device for detecting a disconnection (failure) of a current lamp used in a flicker signal device.

In Japanese railways, three- or five-color signal lights that combine three colors of green, orange, yellow, and red are usually used for on-site, departure, and blockage railway signals. A normal color light type traffic light is a signal that indicates the speed limit of the section ahead by turning on one or two lights of the lamp, that is, progress signal (maximum progress, progress), deceleration signal, attention signal, stop signal It has a function to display. The flicker signal is a maximum speed of 105 km / h before the speed is improved by blinking green (G) and orange-yellow (Y) lamps 80 times each time between the progress signal and the deceleration signal in the color lamp type traffic light. The operation is performed.
In the present invention, the railway traffic signal indicating the speed limit of the section ahead is “normal light signal”, and the railway traffic signal having a function of emitting a flicker signal to the normal light signal is “flicker traffic signal”. Are distinguished.

  Conventionally, a signal light bulb has been used as a light source of a railway traffic light. However, a high-intensity LED has been developed, and the light source of a railway traffic light is now mainly used. LED does not break like a filament of a light bulb, but when used for a long time, there is a problem that the light intensity gradually decreases, and the time until the light intensity is reduced to half is defined as the lifetime. The lifetime of the LED is generally considered to be 10,000 to 30,000 hours, but a disconnection (open) accident or a short-circuit failure occurs due to deterioration or other shortage.

  In order to solve such problems, in traffic lights using LEDs as light emitting sources, a dedicated current sensor (current transformer) is connected to each signal lamp, and the current consumption value of each lamp is monitored by the current sensor. When any of the current values detected for each signal lamp is equal to or lower than a reference value, a measure has been taken to determine that the LED of the signal lamp is broken (failed) and output an alarm. Patent Document 1 discloses a display abnormality of a complete disconnection state of an LED used as a light source of a signal lamp using fewer current sensors than the number of signal indications, a display abnormality without a disconnection, and a display abnormality of a short circuit state. An LED type traffic light failure detection device capable of determining the above is described.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an operation monitoring device for a multi-lamp color lamp traffic light that can specify six states, that is, a maximum of five current lighting states and a signal light current abnormality using two current sensors. Is described. In short, these devices are based on a discrete configuration that constantly measures the current of the signal lamp and detects the failure state. With this configuration, an attempt is made to detect a flicker signal, such as one that blinks two lights at the same time. In this case, since the green (G) and orange-yellow (Y) are turned on and the green (G) and orange-yellow (Y) are turned off and on repeatedly, it is necessary to detect whether the lights are turned on and off normally. In addition, since it is necessary to obtain the current of the non-signal portion when the light is turned off as a measurement result, it is difficult to determine whether the LED is broken.

  Of course, it is possible to assemble a device that monitors the flicker signal operation status and judges whether the operation is normal or abnormal with a discrete configuration, but when using a discrete configuration, the number of indications, blinking cycle, judgment criteria, etc. are included. Each time the monitoring target condition changes, a dedicated circuit is required for each, and there is a problem that costs increase.

For this reason, although the flicker signal itself has been used in the past, there are circumstances where the use place and quantity of the flicker signal are limited. For the flicker signal, the LED of the lamp that generates the flicker signal The actual situation was that no disconnection was detected.
Utility Model Registration No. 3051830 Japanese Patent No. 3245714

  As for the problem to be solved, no means for detecting the disconnection of the flicker signal has been considered in the past, and when trying to configure a circuit by a discrete configuration, a dedicated circuit for each change in the monitored condition Is necessary and costly.

  The main feature of the present invention is that the current of the flicker signal is measured by software without using any special hardware, and the failure detection of the LED used in the light source of the flicker signal lamp is performed. .

  According to the failure detection apparatus of the present invention, since the failure detection of the LED used as the light source of the lamp is detected by the CPU, it can be used regardless of whether it is a normal color light signal or flicker signal. In addition, it is possible to cope with differences in the monitoring target conditions of flicker traffic signals simply by changing the settings, which has the effect of minimizing the maintenance and management effort such as training, management and spare parts for parts. .

  The purpose of measuring the signal current and detecting the failure of the LED of the railway traffic light is to always sample the signal current, eliminate the no-signal part at the time of blinking, and extract the accurate signal current value to break the LED Realized by performing software to determine the presence or absence of (failure).

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for detecting a failure of a railway traffic signal according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the flicker signal 1 is a five-way railway traffic signal, and each of a plurality of LEDs 1a to 1e is built in a lamp by connecting a plurality of LEDs in series and parallel. Each of the lamps 1a to 1e (orange light, orange light, red light, orange light, and green light in order from the top) is individually connected to the relay contact circuit 3 by signal cables 2a to 2e, and relay contacts By switching the contact of the circuit 3, the current fed from the power cable 5 via the signal lamp transformer 4 is supplied to the lamps 1a to 1e to form a constant signal lamp lighting circuit, and by switching the contact conditions. It is set to operate as a flicker signal that selectively blinks 2 to 5 lights.

  The signal current that lights or blinks each of the lamps 1a to 1e is returned from the return wiring cable 6 to the relay contact circuit 3, and further returned to the power source via the return power cable 7. The device according to the present invention includes a current sensor 8, a CPU (central processing unit) 9, and an alarm device 10. In the figure, 11 is a power source for the CPU 9 and the alarm device 10, and the power between the power cable 5 and the return power cable 7 is supplied to the CPU 9. Reference numeral 12 denotes a reset button of the CPU 9.

  In the present invention, the current sensor 8 is, for example, a current transformer. In this embodiment, the relay contact circuit 3 and the point X of the return wiring cable 6 between the lamps 1a to 1e of the flicker signal device 1 are split to provide a relay contact. The circuit 3 and the flicker signal 1 are connected in series. As a result, the current sensor 8 individually detects changes in the current flowing through the lamps 1a to 1e of each flicker signal device 1 according to the contact conditions set in the relay contact circuit 3 for each signal display. The change in value is output to the CPU 9. The CPU 9 measures the current value detected by the current sensor 8, determines whether the LEDs of the respective lamps 1a to 1e are normal or failed (disconnected), and outputs an abnormality indication signal when determining that the failure (disconnected) is detected. The alarm is output to the alarm device 10. The alarm device 10 receives an abnormality instruction signal from the CPU 9 and issues an alarm by means of an alarm relay contact output, voice, sound, screen display, or the like.

  The main functions of the CPU 9 are a time-division input function, an input value rearrangement function, an effective stable period determination function, and a failure determination threshold value comparison function. An effective stable period determination process, a failure determination threshold value comparison process, and a failure determination process are sequentially performed, and an abnormality instruction signal is output to the alarm device 10 when it is determined that the light emission source of each display signal lamp is a failure. .

  The time-sharing process is a process in which the signal current value is always sampled at regular intervals, the current value averaged at regular intervals is created for each data unit, and the data is accumulated. Judgment processing includes the current value of the current value obtained by the time-division processing of the current value, the current value of the data unit when each signal lamp is turned off, the inrush current when the signal is turned on, and when switching from turning on to turning off. This is a process that determines the value of the current value of the relatively largest data unit, excluding the current value of the unstable current data unit, as the signal current value in the effective stable period, and the failure determination threshold value. The comparison process is a process of comparing the current value of the data unit determined as the signal current value of the effective stable period as a result of the determination process of the effective stable period with the failure determination threshold value. Judgment threshold comparison processing As a result, a process of outputting the alarm abnormality indication signal when the magnitude of the signal current value of the effective plateau is below the failure determination threshold. These processes are executed according to the flowchart described below.

(1) Step S1 (Indication of traffic light)
In accordance with the condition set by the relay contact circuit 3, the flicker signal 1 is selectively supplied with a signal current from one of the signal cables 2a to 2e to one or two of the lamps 1a to 1e. Turn on or blink.

(2) Step S2 (Current detection)
The signal current returned to the return wiring cable 6 from one or two lamps 1a to 1e in operation is individually detected for each signal display by the current sensor 8 according to the relay contact conditions, and the current value is determined. Input to CPU9. A waveform a shown in FIG. 3 is an example of the flicker signal current. In this example, the flicker signal is ON 80 times per minute, and the OFF signal (rectangular wave) a is intermittently supplied to the orange and green lights of the lamps (1a to 1e) through the signal cable (2a to 2e). This is an example. In the figure, K indicates the threshold value. This is a reference value for determining that the LED of the lamp is broken when the magnitude of the current value of the ON signal of the lamp in the flicker signal falls below the threshold value K. The current sensor 8 detects a signal current returned to the return wiring cable 6, converts the current value into a digital signal, and inputs the digital signal to a storage device of a central processing unit (CPU) 9.

(3) Step S3 (Time division input)
In the CPU 9, first, the “time division input function” is operated, and the signal current value is always sampled at regular time intervals, for example, every 1.66 ms, and every constant time, for example, every 100 ms (1.66 × 60 times). A data unit is created for each averaged current value, and the data unit is recorded. The data unit is recorded as a data unit d1, a data unit d2, a data unit d3... In FIG.

(4) Step S4 (input value rearrangement)
Next, the CPU 9 executes the “input rearrangement function”, and records the current values for each of the data units d1, d2, d3... Recorded by the time-division input in step 3 in the order of the magnitudes. After the unit is accumulated a certain number of times, for example, 10 times (= 1 second has elapsed), the accumulated data units are rearranged in ascending order by the CPU. An example of the rearranged result is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, in this example, the data unit set A at the bottom of the graph is the data unit when each signal lamp is turned off, and the data unit set B located at the middle is the data unit at the time of lighting. Unit. The uppermost data unit set C is a data unit of inrush current at the time of signal lighting. By connecting each data unit with a line, measurement data in ascending order (descending order) of current values in a signal lamp that is lit or blinking can be obtained (in the present invention, it will be described as measurement data in ascending order (descending order) of current values). ).

(5) Step S5 (Determination of effective stable period)
Next, the CPU 9 executes the “effective stable period determination function”, and is located in the middle of the graph of FIG. Is selected as the measurement result of the effective stable period. The effective stable period means the effective value of the energization current when the LED is turned on.

  The set C of the upper data unit in the ascending order measurement data of the current value is a data unit of the inrush current at the time of turning on the signal and the unstable current at the time of switching from turning on to turning off, so this is not used as a measurement result. By eliminating these data units together with the data unit set A at the bottom of the graph which is the data unit when the signal lamp is turned off, a stable detection current for one second can be obtained as a measurement result. it can. Since the upper data unit set C representing the inrush current at the time of signal lighting and the unstable current at the time of switching from turning on to turning off is relatively smaller than the number of data set sets B, The distinction from C is easy.

(6) Step S6 (Record of failure determination threshold value comparison result)
Next, the CPU 9 executes the “failure determination threshold value comparison function”, and uses the measurement result of the data unit set B obtained in step S5 as a failure determination threshold value. Compared to the value K or a lower limit value (for example, 50 mA) R set below it, if the disconnection determination threshold value K is exceeded, OK is recorded as the alarm determination result, and the disconnection determination is made. When the threshold value K is lower than the lower limit value R, NG is recorded as the alarm determination result. Note that the value of the failure determination threshold value (K and R) can be set according to the change of the condition.

(7) Step S7 (Warning judgment)
If the recorded alarm determination result is a certain number of times, for example, 4 times, that is, 4 seconds continuous NG, it is determined as a failure. It is convenient to set two types of faults: broken core and half broken core. In this embodiment, in FIG. 3, for example, the total breakage is NG when the lower limit value (50 mA) R or less, and the half breakage is the breakage determination threshold value K or less and the lower limit value R or more. It is set when it becomes NG. Each alarm notifies the user of the type of alarm, for example, by changing the color of the alarm lamp. If OK is determined even once in the middle of the process, it is treated as a failure (disconnection) unless it becomes NG four times again. Normally, when the light is turned off, at least the signal current is halved, so an alarm is always given within 4 to 5 seconds.

  In short, the present invention measures the current value at the time of lighting of the signal lamp, and when the current value at the time of lighting decreases below a certain level, it is determined as a failure including the determination of disconnection and half disconnection, and outputs an alarm. In a flicker traffic light that has both a constantly lit and blinking lighting function, regardless of whether each lamp is always lit or blinking lit, the signal current for each signal display is constantly measured and LED failure is detected. The presence or absence can be detected.

  In addition, the failure detection point of the LED of each lamp is detected at the point X of the relay contact circuit 3 and the return wiring cable 6 between the lamps as shown in the above embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the Y point of the power cable 5 between the signal lamp transformer 4 and the relay contact circuit 3 or the return between the signal lamp transformer 4 and the relay contact circuit 3 is described. Also by measuring the magnitude of the signal current flowing through the power cable 5 or the return power cable 7 between the signal lamp transformer 4 and the relay contact circuit 3 by connecting the current sensor 8 at the Z point of the power cable 7. It is possible to detect the presence or absence of LED failure while measuring the magnitude of the signal current when each signal lamp is constantly lit or blinking.

  According to the present invention, it can be used not only in a flicker signal but also in a normal color light signal that lights up and displays one or two lights of a lamp.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow of a system. It is a graph which shows the processing procedure of signal current. It is a figure which shows the process of input value rearrangement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flicker signal machine 1a-1e Lamp 2a-2e Signal cable 3 Relay contact circuit 4 Signal lamp transformer 5 Power cable 6 Return wiring cable 7 Return power cable 8 Current sensor 9 CPU (central processing unit)
10 Alarm 11 Power supply 12 Reset button

Claims (5)

A failure detection device for a railway traffic signal having a current sensor, a CPU (central treatment device), and an alarm device,
The current sensor individually detects a change in current flowing through each indication signal lamp of the railway traffic signal for each signal indication, and outputs the change in the current value to the CPU.
The CPU sequentially performs a time-sharing process of the current value detected by the current sensor, an effective stable period determination process, a failure determination threshold value comparison process, and a failure determination process, and the light emission source of each indication signal lamp Is output to the alarm device when it is determined that the
The time-sharing process is a process of always sampling the signal current value every fixed time, making the magnitude of the current value converted into an effective value every fixed time for each data unit, and accumulating the data.
The effective stable period judgment process is based on the current value of the current value obtained by time-division processing of the current value, the current value of the data unit when each signal lamp is turned off, and the inrush current and lighting when the signal is turned on. Except for the current value of the unstable current data unit at the time of switching off, it is a process of determining the value of the current value of the relatively largest data unit set as the signal current value of the effective stable period,
The failure determination threshold value comparison process is a process of comparing the current value of the data unit determined as the signal current value of the effective stabilization period with the failure determination threshold value as a result of the determination process of the effective stabilization period.
The failure determination process is a process of outputting an abnormality instruction signal to the alarm device when the magnitude of the signal current value in the effective stable period falls below the failure determination threshold as a result of the failure determination threshold comparison process,
A failure detection device for a railway traffic signal, wherein the alarm device issues an alarm in response to an input of an abnormality instruction signal from a CPU. Using a CPU, the following steps are sequentially performed, and a failure detection device for a railway traffic signal that identifies an abnormality in the display of each lamp of a railway traffic signal including a flicker traffic signal,
Illuminating or blinking the selected lamp according to the set conditions of the flicker signal; and
Converting a signal lamp current from a signal lamp by a current sensor into a digital signal by a current sensor;
Sampling the signal current value at regular time intervals for the digital signal, creating a data unit that has been converted into effective values at regular time intervals, and recording,
After storing the data units a predetermined number of times, rearranging the stored data units in ascending order by the CPU to form a set of data units;
Selecting a set of data units located in the middle among a set of data units of a certain number of times rearranged in ascending order as a measurement result of an effective stable period;
Comparing the current value of the effective stable period with a failure determination threshold value, and outputting a failure indication signal to an alarm device when the current value is below the failure determination threshold value. Detection device.   The step of comparing the current value of the effective stable period with a failure determination threshold value and outputting an abnormality instruction signal to the alarm device when the current value of the effective stable period is below the failure determination threshold value If the judgment threshold value is exceeded, OK is recorded as the alarm judgment result, and if it is below the failure judgment threshold value, NG is recorded as the alarm judgment result, and the alarm judgment result is constant. The failure detection device for a railway traffic signal according to claim 2, wherein a step of determining as an alarm in the case of NG continuously is performed over the number of times.   The failure determination threshold value is a disconnection determination threshold value set to a signal current value indicating a half-disconnection of the LED, and a current value equal to or lower than the disconnection determination threshold value, which is a lower limit value of 2 indicating a complete disconnection. The failure detection device for a railway traffic signal according to claim 3, wherein the failure detection device is set to a type.   The railway traffic signal is a flicker traffic signal, and the time division processing of the current value detected by the current sensor, the determination processing of the effective stable period, the failure determination threshold value comparison processing, and the failure determination processing are blinking of the lamp. The failure detection device for a railway traffic signal according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the failure detection device is used for a signal current at the time.

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