Fail-safe safety system to detect and annunciate fractured running rails in electrically propelled transit systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fail-safe safety system to detect and annunciate fractured running rails in electrically propelled transit systems using catenaries or third rail power contactors without the need to induce block by block communication signals currently required by existing systems for detecting occupancy and broken running rails. In addition, unlike existing systems, the present invention is fail-safe, fault tolerant, and self annunciating in that if any component, or connection, of the system fail, or is out of tolerance, it is immediately communicated to a central location. Further, also unlike existing systems, the present invention does not require, or interfere with, automatic train controls because it uses the propulsion power bus, itself fail-safe, as an independent means of communication without additional wiring.

1 . A system for detecting and annunciating fractured running rails in electrically propelled transit systems with said system using a difference in propulsion currents in running rails to detect fractures and comprised of transducers, communication controllers, power line communication devices, central communication controllers, computers, displays, and annunciators. 
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising central control processing with data decoding devices comprised of computer electronics and software algorithms as a means of decoding and displaying data, sending commands from, and or to, an on board automatic train control system or wayside communications controller for the purpose of detecting and annunciating fractured running rails. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said communications controller being comprised of computer electronics and software algorithms as a means of formatting, selecting, and communicating with said power line communication devices, and said central control processing and displays, to communicate a fracture in a running rail to wayside transducers, central control and/or on board train control electronics. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising electromagnetic or current transducers themselves comprised of electronics or other transducers whose purpose is to communicate a fracture in running rails by way of a communications controller and power line communications device to central control processing. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said power line communication transceivers being comprised of electronic transmitter-receiver equipment necessary to communicate a fracture in running rail to central control processing and/or on board train controls with a high degree of noise rejection and reliability. 
     
     
         6 . The central control processing with displays as recited in  claim 1 , further comprised of Liquid Crystal, Cathode Ray Tubes, Plasma or electro-fluorescent displays and annunciators communicating with central control computers. 
     
     
         7 . The displays as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said displays graphically display and pictorially annunciate the location and criticality of fractures in running rails. 
     
     
         8 . The displays as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said displays graphically display the location of a suspected fracture between mile posts and pictorially represent and display the fracture. 
     
     
         9 . The displays as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said displays graphically display the location of a suspected fracture by indicating which operating line of the transit system the suspected fracture is located. 
     
     
         10 . The displays as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said displays graphically display the entire transit system, mile posts, and physical transit line location of the suspected fracture. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising fail-safe hardware and software design for the purpose of detecting and annunciating fractured running rails in a fail-safe manner. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising bidirectional communication controllers. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising bidirectional power line communication devices