초록 ▼

This invention relates to a system and method of detecting a broken rail in a railway system. The track sensing circuitry of the present invention applies a voltage source at each end of a block of rails and senses the current flowing through the circuitry. The present invention will detect broken r

This invention relates to a system and method of detecting a broken rail in a railway system. The track sensing circuitry of the present invention applies a voltage source at each end of a block of rails and senses the current flowing through the circuitry. The present invention will detect broken rails continuously in a block, even with a train present (except for a break directly beneath the train). Since the rail is continuously checked, the only restriction imposed on train spacing by this track circuit configuration is that only one train can be present in a block at a time.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [17.] In a track circuit comprising a first set of two electrically isolated rails, a manual throw switch and a second set of electrically isolated rails, said manual throw switch selectively moving a portion of said second set of rails adjacent said first set of rails such th

[ What is claimed is:] [17.] In a track circuit comprising a first set of two electrically isolated rails, a manual throw switch and a second set of electrically isolated rails, said manual throw switch selectively moving a portion of said second set of rails adjacent said first set of rails such that a vehicle travelling along said first set of rails may be selectively switched to travel along said second set of rails, a method of determining whether the manual throw switch is in the normal position wherein a vehicle traveling along said first set of rails continues to travel on first set of rails rather than on said second set of rails, comprising the steps of:(1) electrically interrupting the first rail of said first set of rails along its length to form plural blocks, one of said blocks including the manual throw switch;(2) applying a source of voltage having a first polarity at a first end of said one block;(3) applying a source of voltage having a second polarity at the other end of said one block;(4) electrically interrupting the first rail at the manual throw switch;(5) applying a voltage reference to the second of said rails in said first set of rails;(6) connecting contact across interrupted rail at the manual throw switch when the switch is in the normal position; and(7) measuring the current in said first rail of said first set of rails at both ends of said block.