Remote transmission of control signals

Abstract

Abstract THE REMOTE TRANSMISSION OF CONTROL SIGNALS FOR THE PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO CONTROL THE PERFORMANCE OF A MOVING TRAIN VEHICLE OR THE LIKE REQUIRES A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF FAIL-SAFE CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION. THE APPARATUS HERE DESCRIBED IN THE EVENT OF ANY COMPONENT FAILURE IS DESIGNED TO REVERT TO A PREDETERMINED AND LOWER PRIORITY COMMAND SIGNAL CONDITION OF OPERATION. ANY SUCH COMPONENT FAILURE, FOR EXAMPLE DURING SPEED CONTROL OF THE TRAIN, IS DESIGNED TO CAUSE A SIGNAL INTERPRETATION TO OCCUR SUCH THAT A LOWER THAN DESIRED SPEED WILL RESULT OR THE VEHICLE WILL RECEIVE A COMMAND TO STOP SINCE HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY ARE INVOLVED. THE CONTROL SIGNALS ARE BINARY CODED IN A SERIAL CODING ARRANGEMENT WHCH REQUIRES NO SEPARATE SYNCHRONIZATION OF RECEIVER EQUIPMENT, AND SPECIAL SIGNAL FILTERS ARE PROVIDED TO HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF FAILING TO THE MODE OF A LOWER PRIORITY OUTPUT SIGNAL OR NO OUTPUT SIGNAL FOR EITHER INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL FAULT CONDITIONS. A FREQUENCY MODULATED SIGNAL IS TRANSMITTED FROM THE REMOTE LOCATION WAYSIDE TRANSMITTER TO THE VEHICLE, SAID SIGNAL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND FREQUENCIES CORRESPONDING TO THE BINARY COMMAND INFORMATION TO BE TRANSMITTED. A VEHICLE-CARRIED RECEIVER SEPARATES THE BINARY COMMAND INFORMATION INTO A REPETITIVE COMMA FREE COMMAND SIGNAL WHICH IS CONVERTED BY A LOGIC MATRIX CIRCUIT INTO THE DESIRED VEHICLE COMMAND SIGNAL INFORMATION. A FAIL-SAFE COUPLING OF THIS SIGNAL TO THE DESIRED OPERATION CONTROL DEVICE IS NOW ACCOMPLISHED TO ASSURE THE DESIRED SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.

Inventors

• 👤 George M Thorne-Booth
• 👤 Chauncey S Miller

Bibliographic Details