Turnout Monitoring System

• Main Authors: Yung-Chuan Shih, 施勇全
• Other Authors: Ping-Shou Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/54181521054934965387

碩士 === 國立高雄應用科技大學 === 電子工程系碩士班 === 101 === Railway Transportation is widely popular by many advanced countries and cities due to high convenience and reliable safety. Therefore railway line is continuously extended and constructed, meanwhile, Turnout system is widely applied and installed at intensive-transport station and maintenance depot, so as to enhance the capability of flexible and efficient train operation. Turnout is responsible for a required equipment of a running train transferring form original track to another appointed track. The functionality and safety of Turnout under a strict control and monitoring is absolutely necessary, especially high speed rail requires more high-level requirement of safety and reliability for Turnout specification. In case of wrong side failure (WSF) or malfunction, minor effect causes train operation delay and lose, the worst case possibly makes train derailed and terrible accident happened, especially in high speed train. A review of railway accident history in the world, the accident happened at Turnout area is common occurrence. Normally a Turnout requires the driving device, switch machine to achieve a moving process. By using connective rods with Turnout, switch machine push or pull the tongue rail of Turnout to reach a specified position and firmly lock, so as to the wheels of a running train can safely enter to Turnout area. In case that switch machine cannot successfully push or pull Turnout to specified position with required end detection signal, Turnout will be determined as a malfunction. For safety concern, any train is prohibited to enter or pass this Turnout without detection. In order to fulfill the high safety requirement of Turnout in railway system, the research approach, Turnout monitoring system adopts non-invasive proximity sensor, stress sensor and current sensor to monitor some critical parameters, including close side of tongue rail of Turnout, throwing and resistance force of Turnout and motor current of switch machine. To seek for enhancement of safety and reliability of Turnout operation, improving maintenance quality and efficiency. Before Turnout failure happened, to identify relevant irregular deviation or variety and indicate a warning for maintenance staff to early implement corrective adjustment or inspection. It can improve the present maintenance manner that Turnout status requires sight of inspection by maintenance staff in person at site of Turnout at maintenance period, to reduce maintenance cost of manpower and confirm that maintenance performance is fulfilled as expected. In duration of Turnout failure, help maintenance staff to accurately identify the failed point or symptom and accelerate troubleshooting efficiency to decrease the negative effect of train regular timetable of departure or arrival due to emergency Turnout handling.