Patent Grant
12139175
This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/ES2019/070481 filed Jul. 10, 2019, claiming priority based on European Patent Application No. 18382541.3 filed Jul. 19, 2018.
The system and method of the present invention enables the harmonisation of the operating status of pairs of doors formed by a train door mounted on a train and a platform door mounted on a platform, such that both doors can be actuated simultaneously or be disabled if either of them has been disabled or isolated by means of door isolating means. Furthermore, the system of the present invention enables the harmonisation of the opening actuation of the pair of doors by the user using door opening request devices.
Systems are known for harmonising the operating status of pairs of doors formed by a train door mounted on a train and a platform door mounted on a platform, once the rail system has ensured that both doors are aligned when the strain stops at the platform. However, the known systems have certain drawbacks that make their implementation difficult.
In the known harmonisation systems, communication between pairs of doors is carried out by means of a centralised communication between the train and the platform that, due to the architecture of the system, entails accumulating a delay in the communication that is considered excessive for Mass Transit Systems, such that the implementation of the on-demand opening functionality, for example by means of the use of opening request devices or buttons, is not enabled.
In order to solve this problem, harmonisation systems by means of a distributed architecture and point-to-point communications between the doors, established through the control units of each of the doors, are also known. As both door systems, the train boarding door systems and the platform door systems, are independent systems and given that the harmonisation systems establish closed communications, the implementation thereof is not viable.
Another drawback of the known systems that enable the harmonisation of the operational status (enabled/disabled) of a pair of doors is that the architecture does not enable the communication to be established with enough time to give prior notice to the passenger of the non-operating status of the doors.
Therefore, an aim of the present invention is to disclose a system for harmonising the operational status and opening actuation of pairs of doors formed by a train door mounted on a train and a platform door mounted on a platform that harmonises the operating and non-operating status of the pair of doors, and at the same time immediately harmonises the opening of the pair of door when operational.
Another aim is to disclose a system that alerts passengers of the non-operating status of a pair of doors with sufficient notice to maximise the efficiency of the boarding and disembarkation of passengers.
Another aim is to disclose an alternative to the known harmonisation systems of the operating status of pairs of doors.
The system of the present invention enables the harmonisation of the operating status of pairs of doors formed by a train door mounted on a train and a platform door mounted on a platform, the paired doors being prepared to be aligned when the train stops at the platform. The train is provided with a train control unit, and the platform is provided with a platform control unit, prepared to send door opening signals and door enabling signals of the respective doors thereof. That is to say, the system comprising a train control unit adapted to be provided, it is, supplied, in the train, and a platform control unit adapted to be provided, it is, supplied, in the platform, the train control unit and the platform control unit being prepared to send door opening signals and door enabling signals of the respective doors thereof. Each door being linked to door opening request means, prepared to send a door opening request signal and door isolating means, prepared to send a door isolating signal; the train and platform doors also being connected to respective door control units prepared to receive an opening signal to open the door, an enabling signal to enable the door, and a isolating signal to isolate the door, thus disabling it, which trigger the opening of the door when the opening signal indicates opening the door, the enabling signal indicates enabling the door and the isolating signal indicates not disabling the door. That is to say, the system further comprising respective door control units being connectable to respective door control units prepared to receive an opening signal to open the door, an enabling signal to enable the door, and a isolating signal to isolate the door, thus disabling it, which trigger the opening of the door when the opening signal indicates opening the door, the enabling signal indicates enabling the door and the isolating signal indicates not disabling the door.
Essentially, the system is characterised in that it comprises at least one pair of adapter devices, one being connected between a train control unit and the respective door control unit, and the other being connected between the platform control unit and the respective door control unit, prepared to receive at least the door opening signal, the door opening request signal, and the door isolating signal; and exchange between the adapter devices of the pair of adapter devices at least one paired door opening notification signal after the receipt of a door opening signal or door opening request signal that indicates opening the door; and a paired door isolating notification signal after the receipt of a door isolating signal that indicates isolating the door; the adapter devices being prepared to trigger the harmonised opening of the paired doors by means of sending to the corresponding door control unit the opening signal to open the door and the enabling signal to enable the door, and/or the isolating signal to not isolate the door when at least one from among the door opening signal, the door opening request signal or the paired door opening notification signal indicates opening the door, and the door isolating signal and the paired door isolating notification signal indicate not isolating the door. In this way, the opening of both paired doors is advantageously achieved when one of them receives a door opening notification signal, both paired doors also being isolated, that is, unused, when at least one of them has received a door isolating signal. In the field of the invention, the term “harmonise” must be interpreted as ensuring that both paired doors are in the same operating status, that is, both are or are not isolated, and door opening status, that is, that both are or are not open; to summarise, they operate together. Naturally, this harmonisation system could also be used for any other mass transit system, such as trams or buses. It is also envisaged that the various units and devices of the system could be formed, each, by one or more physical or logical components, as required.
The paired door adapter devices are also provided with communication means to exchange paired door opening notification signals and paired door isolating notification signals. Naturally, although it is preferably envisaged that the door opening signal or door opening request signal shall indicate opening the door, the received door enabling signal shall indicate not enabling the door and the received door isolating signal shall indicate isolating the door, it is also considered in other embodiments that these signals are the negations thereof or other equivalent signals that, respectively, enable the same information to be indicated. Naturally, it is also envisaged that the signals exchanged by the adapter devices can directly be, among others, the received opening, enabling or isolating signals, suitably processing these signals to harmonise the opening and enabling of both paired doors.
In this way, it ensures that a pair of doors is out of service when at least one of the two doors is non-operational, that is, disabled or isolated, by means of the actuation of an isolating device in any of the doors of the pair of doors, such as a locking mechanism by the operator, and by means of an external communication system that is independent from the control units of each of the doors, further enabling the opening upon request of the pair of doors, when they are enabled, both by means of the actuation of a request device in any of the doors of the pair of doors, such as a button by the user, and by means of an external communication system that is independent to the control units of each of the doors, including when the external communication system only acts on one of the doors of the pair of doors.
Naturally, the way in which the different signals indicate opening or closing the door and enabling or disabling the door can be carried out and be encoded in several ways of those known in the state of the art. These statuses can be encoded, for example, by means of voltage levels, as well as rising or falling edges of pulses transmitted by means of signals, which determine one of the statuses corresponding to logic “1” and “0”. Although it is envisaged that the adapter devices of the pair of adapter devices use the same types of signals, these can also use different types of signals, in this case having to appropriately configure the adapter devices for a correct operation.
In a variant of an embodiment, the adapter devices are prepared to combine the door opening signal and the door opening request signal, and send to the other device the paired door opening notification signal, that indicates opening the door when at least one of the door opening signal or door opening request signal indicates opening the door.
In a variant of an embodiment, the adapter devices are prepared to combine the door opening signal, the door opening request signal, and the paired door opening notification signal of the other adapter device to generate the opening signal that indicates, to the respective door control unit, opening the door when at least one of the door opening or paired door opening signals indicates opening the door.
In a variant of an embodiment, the communication means comprise point-to-point communication means between paired door adapter devices, enabling direct communication to be carried out independently between door adapter devices of the same pair of doors.
In a variant of an embodiment, the door opening request means comprise a button connected to an input of the adapter devices for generating the door opening request signal.
In a variant of an embodiment, the door isolating means comprise a locking mechanism connected to an input of the adapter devices to generate the door isolating signal.
In a variant of an embodiment, the system further comprises two connection nodes, one arranged on the train and the other on the platform, which centralise the status of the isolating means of the train and platform doors, respectively, both connection nodes being prepared to exchange the status of the isolating means of the train doors and the platform doors before the train arrives at the platform, and send an early isolating signal to the paired door adapter devices to isolate the door when the paired door isolating means indicate isolating the door.
It is also disclosed that the connection nodes are respectively arranged adjacent to ends of the train and platform.
A method for harmonising the operating status of pairs of doors formed by a train door mounted on a train and a platform door mounted on a platform is also disclosed, the paired doors being adapted to be aligned when the train stops at the platform, the train being provided with a train control unit, and the platform being provided with a platform control unit, prepared to send door opening signals and door enabling signals of the respective doors thereof; each door being linked to door opening request means, prepared to send a door opening request signal and door isolating means, prepared to send a door isolating signal; the train and platform doors being connected to respective door control units prepared to receive a door opening signal to open the door, an enabling signal to enable the door, and a isolating signal to isolate the door, thus disabling it, which trigger the opening of the door when the opening signal indicates opening the door, the enabling signal indicates enabling the door and the isolating signal indicates not disabling the door.
Essentially, the system is characterised in that it comprises the step of receiving in each adapter device of at least one pair of adapter devices, one being connected between a train control unit and the respective door control unit of the doors, and the other being connected between the platform control unit and the respective door control unit, at least the door opening signal, the door opening request signal, and the door isolating signal; and the step of exchanging between the adapter devices of the pair of adapter devices, by means of communication means at least one paired door opening notification signal after the receipt of a door opening signal or door opening request signal that indicates opening the door; and a paired door isolating notification signal after the receipt of a door isolating signal that indicates isolating the door; and the step of the adapter devices sending to the corresponding door control unit the opening signal to open the door and the enabling signal to enable the door, and/or the isolating signal to not isolate the door, to trigger the harmonised opening of the paired doors, when at least one from among the door opening signal, the door opening request signal or the paired door opening notification signal indicates opening the door, and the door isolating signal and the paired door isolating notification signal indicate not isolating the door.
In a variant of an embodiment of the method, the adapter devices carry out a step of combining the door opening signal and the door opening request signal, and sending to the other device the paired door opening notification signal, that indicates opening the door when at least one of the door opening signal or door opening request signal indicates opening the door.
In a variant of an embodiment of the method, the adapter devices carry out a step of combining the door opening signal, the door opening request signal, and the paired door opening notification signal of the other adapter device to generate the opening signal that indicates, to the respective door control unit, opening the door when at least one of the door opening signal or paired door opening signals indicates opening the door.
As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, this specification is accompanied by a set of drawings which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following.
The known systems for harmonising the operating status of pairs of doors formed by a train door 2 mounted on a train 20 and a platform door 3 mounted on a platform, enable the train and platform doors, once the paired doors are aligned, to open or close in a harmonised manner, that is, that after sending a door opening order, the door opening order is transmitted to the paired door, either a train 2 or platform 3 door as applicable.
As may be seen in
However, as can be seen in
In a known manner, the train 20 is provided with a train control unit UC, and the platform 30 is provided with a platform control unit PLC, prepared to send door opening signals (“open_command_1”) and door enabling signals (“door_enable_1”) from the respective doors thereof, each door being linked to door opening request means (5), prepared to send a door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) and door isolating means (6), prepared to send a door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”). The train 2 and platform 3 doors are connected to respective door control units DCU prepared to receive an opening signal (“open_door_2”) to open the door, an enabling signal (“door_enable_2”) to enable the door, and a isolating signal (“door_isolate_2”) to isolate the door thus disabling it, which trigger the opening of the door 2, 3 when the opening signal indicates opening the door, the enabling signal indicates enabling the door and the isolating signal indicates not disabling the door.
Advantageously, as illustrated in
The adapter devices 4 of each pair of adapter devices 4 are connected one between the train control unit (UC) and the respective door control unit (DCU), and another between the platform control unit (PLC) and the respective door control unit DCU, prepared to receive at least the door opening signal (“open_command_1”); the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”); and the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”); and to exchange between the adapter devices of the pair of adapter devices at least one paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) after the receipt of a door opening signal (“open_command_1”) or door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) that indicates opening the door; and a paired door isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) after the receipt of a door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) that indicates isolating the door.
In this way and as shall be seen in greater detail below, the adapter devices 4 are prepared to trigger the harmonised opening of the paired doors by means of sending to the corresponding door control unit DCU the opening signal (“open_door_2”) to open the door and the enabling signal (“door_enable_2”) to enable the door, and/or the isolating signal (“door_isolate_2”) to not isolate the door when at least one from among the door opening signal (“open_command_1”), the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) or the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) indicates opening the door, and the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) and the paired door isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) indicate not isolating the door.
The paired door adapter devices 4 are also provided with point-to-point communication means RF to exchange at least the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) after the receipt of a door opening (“open_command_1”) or door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) that indicates opening the door; and the paired door isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) after the receipt of a door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) that indicates isolating the door.
As may be seen, the adapter devices 4 are also connected to a respective door control unit DCU for paired doors and are prepared to trigger the harmonised opening of the paired doors by means of sending to the corresponding door control unit DCU thereof the opening signal (“open_door_2”) to open the door and the enabling signal (“door_enable_2”) to enable the door, and, alternatively or additionally, the isolating signal (“door_isolate_2”) to not isolate the door when at least one from among the door opening signal (“open_command_1”), the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) or the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) indicates opening the door, and the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) and the paired door isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) indicate not isolating the door. Different embodiments of this method are described in detail below based on the logic circuits that describe, by way of example, operation modes of the adapter devices 4. Naturally, in addition to the embodiments described, other embodiments can be implemented that entail the same functionality and that would likewise form part of the invention.
Preferably, the pair of adapter devices 4 generate and send to the respective door control unit DCU thereof the same opening signals (“open_door_2”) and enabling signals (“door_enable_2”) or isolating signals (“door_isolate_2”), thus harmonising the operating status and opening of both paired doors, that is, that both paired doors only open when an opening request is made in one of them and none of them has been isolated.
Naturally, although pairs of train and platform doors are described, the present system could be used for other elements paired between the train and platform, such as another type of door, walkway, barrier, etc. such that the operating status is perfectly harmonised in a way similar to that described for the presented train 2 and platform 3 doors.
In addition, as can be seen in
By means of said connection nodes 7, it can be known, before the arrival of the train 20 to the platform 30, the doors 2, 3 that are out of service, that is, the isolating means 6 thereof indicate isolating the door, and in this way not only harmonise the enabling of paired doors, but also advantageously warn passengers 8 sufficiently in advance that a door will not open, since the paired door thereof is disabled. In this way, it is advantageously achieved that the passengers 8 distribute themselves beforehand over the rest of the doors that will open. It is envisaged that the use of the connection nodes 7 to exchange the status of the isolating means 6 of the train doors and platform doors can even be used independently from the system to harmonise the opening of the doors. In order to exchange as quickly as possible the status of the isolating means 6 of the train doors 2 and the platform doors 3, it is envisaged that each connection node 7 is preferably arranged adjacent to one end of the train 20 and the platform 30.
Naturally, it is envisaged that each door has elements or screens linked, by way of warning means 9, which enable the passengers 8 to be suitably warned about whether the door will be operational or not at the following station, that is, if the doors will be enabled for the opening thereof when the train reaches the platform, as well as being provided with buttons by way of door opening request means 5, which can be actuated by the passengers 8, as well as door isolating means 6, which preferably can be actuated by an operator to disable not only this door, but advantageously all the doors that can be paired with this door.
In order to present in a more detailed manner how the information between adapter devices 4 are combined,
As may be seen in
In addition, each adapter device 4 is adapted to notify the other adapter device 4 of the pair of adapter devices of the receipt of a door opening signal (“open_command_1”) or door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) that indicates opening the door; and the door enabling signal (“door_enable_1”) that indicates not enabling the door or the receipt of a door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) that indicates sealing the door; each adapter device of the pair of adapter devices being prepared to generate and send to the respective door control unit DCU thereof, the opening signal (“open_door_2”) and at least one from among the enabling signal (“door_enable_2”) or the isolating signal (“door_isolate_2”) to trigger the opening of the door when at least one from among the door opening signal, the door opening request signal, the paired door opening signal or the paired door opening request signal indicates opening the door, and the door enabling signal, the door isolating signal, the paired door enabling signal and the door isolating signal indicates enabling and not isolating the door, thus harmonising the opening of both paired train 2 and platform 3 doors.
The logic diagram shown in
Moreover, as can be seen, the paired door adapter devices 4 are provided with communication means RF to exchange and notify the other adapter device of the pair of paired door adapter devices of the receipt of a door opening signal or door opening request signal that indicates opening the door; and the receipt of a door enabling signal that indicates not enabling the door or the receipt of a door isolating signal that indicates isolating the door.
In this way, as can be deduced from the set of logic gates shown in
As can be seen, the adapter device 4 is provided with an input connected to door opening request means 5, such as a button, to generate the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”), the adapter device 4 being adapted to notify the receipt of this door opening order signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) to the paired adapter device 4 thereof by means of communication means RF, such that not only is the operating status of the pair of doors 2, 3 harmonised, but the transmission time is also considerably reduced by means of the point-to-point connection. It is estimated that the frequency band in which the communication means RF operate is in the 863 to 870 MHz band, although it is envisaged that any other band can be used. In this way, it means that the opening or opening request signal is propagated to the paired door.
Moreover, the adapter device 4 is also provided with an input connected to isolating means 6 of the door that generate the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”), the adapter device 4 being prepared to notify the receipt of this isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) to the paired adapter device 4 thereof by means of communication means RF, such that if one of the doors is isolated by means of the isolating means 6, this isolating signal is propagated to the paired door. It is envisaged that the communication means RF of the paired adapter devices 4 are facing each other and enable communication between them when the doors are aligned when the train stops at the platform. Naturally, although it is envisaged that the communication means RF comprise point-to-point radio frequency communication means, it is also envisaged that the communication means can be any other type, for example, optical, enabling communication between them when the paired doors are aligned when the train stops at the platform.
As can be seen, the adapter devices 4 are prepared to combine the door opening signal (“open_command_1”) and the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) and send to the other device the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”), that indicates opening the door when at least one of the door opening signal (“open_command_1”) or door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) indicates opening the door.
In addition, the adapter devices 4 are prepared to combine the door opening signal (“open_command_1”), the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”), and the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) from the other adapter device to generate the opening signal (“open_door_2”) that indicates, to the respective door control unit (DCU), opening the door when at least one of the door opening or paired door opening signals (“paired_open”) indicates opening the door.
As can also be seen, in order to notify the other adapter device 4 of the pair of adapter devices 4 of the receipt of a door enabling signal that indicates not enabling the door or the receipt of a door isolating signal that indicates isolating the door, the adapter devices 4 combine the door enabling signal (“door_enable_1”) with the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) to generate and send to the other device a paired door non-enabling or isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) to the other adapter device of the pair of adapter devices, that indicates not enabling the door when the door enabling signal (“door_enable_1”) indicates not enabling the door and isolating the door when the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) indicates isolating the door.
In order to exchange the notification of the receipt of at least one door enabling signal that indicates not enabling the door or the receipt of a door isolating signal that indicates isolating the door, the adapter devices 4 combine the door enabling signal (“door_enable_1”) and/or the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) with the paired door non-enabling or isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) of the other adapter device to generate the enabling signal (“door_enable_2”) and/or isolating signal (“door_isolate_2”) that indicates, to the respective door control unit DCU, not enabling or isolating the door when at least one of the door enabling or isolating or paired door signals indicate not enabling or isolating the door.
It can be seen in
Moreover, it is additionally envisaged, indicated by means of the dashed line, that the adapter devices 4 can send the status of the isolating means 6 to the respective connection nodes thereof and receive the isolating status of the isolating means 6 of the paired door through the connection nodes 7, such that an early isolating signal is received that enables a warning to be provided before the train arrives at the station that the door will not open. Naturally, this early isolating signal must be suitably processed, for example, by substituting the isolating signal.
In this way, by means of the system 1 of the present invention, it means that the sequence illustrated above in
In this case, as seen in
The rest of the pairs of adapter devices 4 trigger the harmonised opening of the paired doors 2, 3 when at least one from among the door opening signal (“open_command_1”), the door opening request signal (“open_pushbutton_1”) or the paired door opening notification signal (“paired_open”) indicates opening the door, given that the door isolating signal (“door_isolate_1”) and the paired door isolating notification signal (“paired_status”) indicate not isolating the door.
In addition, the sequence of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18382541 | Jul 2018 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/ES2019/070481 | 7/10/2019 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/016470 | 1/23/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4551944 | Donaldson | Nov 1985 | A |
| 20110184621 | Bock | Jul 2011 | A1 |
| 20160059874 | Miyajima | Mar 2016 | A1 |
| 20160207546 | Komura | Jul 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1814485 | Aug 2006 | CN |
| 10 2009044 843 | Jun 2011 | DE |
| Entry |
|---|
| European Search Report for EP 18 38 2541 dated Jan. 23, 2019. |
| International Search Report for PCT/ES2019/070481 dated Nov. 8, 2019 (PCT/ISA/210). |
| Written Opinion for PCT/ES2019/070481 dated Nov. 8, 2019 (PCT/ISA/237). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210293076 A1 | Sep 2021 | US |
