Method for operating a switching yard and control device for a switching yard
A particularly efficient method for operating a switching yard includes determining a position of a locomotive on an inbound track of the switching yard, determining a position of a front end of a unit to be divided facing a hump of the switching yard relative to a unit to be divided to be pushed by the locomotive from the inbound track to the hump, determining a distance between the locomotive and the front end of the unit to be divided on the basis of the determined positions, and comparing the determined distance to a reference value for the length of the unit to be divided. A control device for a switching yard is also provided.
1. A method for operating a switching yard, the method comprising the following steps:
determining a position of a locomotive on an inbound track of the switching yard;
determining a position of a front end of a unit to be divided facing a hump of the switching yard, for a unit to be divided to be pushed by the locomotive from the inbound track to the hump;
using an evaluation device for:
determining a distance between the locomotive and the front end of the unit to be divided on a basis of the determined positions;
comparing the determined distance with a reference value for a length of the unit to be divided; and
generating a control signal for the locomotive by taking a result of the comparing step into consideration.
2. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises controlling a speed of the locomotive by using the control signal.
3. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises outputting the control signal on a display device.
4. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises carrying out the step of determining the position of the locomotive relative to a reference position.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the reference position is a position of a balise.
6. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises carrying out the step of determining the position of the front end of the unit to be divided by using a track-free length measurement to determine a distance between a front-most axle of the unit to be divided facing the hump and an insulated rail joint.
7. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises additionally determining a distance between the locomotive and a rear end of the unit to be divided facing away from the hump.
8. A control device for a switching yard, the control device comprising:
a first measuring device configured to determine a position of a locomotive on an inbound track of the switching yard;
a second measuring device configured to determine a position of a front end of a unit to be divided facing a hump of the switching yard, for a unit to be divided to be pushed by the locomotive from the inbound track to the hump; and
an evaluation device:
configured to determine a distance between the locomotive and the front end of the unit to be divided on a basis of the determined positions;
configured to compare the determined distance with a reference value for a length of the unit to be divided; and
configured to generate a control signal for the locomotive by taking a result of the comparison into consideration.
9. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein a speed of the locomotive is controlled by using said control signal.
10. The control device according to claim 8 , which further comprises a display device configured to display said control signal.
11. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein said first measuring device is configured to determine said position of the locomotive relative to a reference position.
12. The control device according to claim 11 , wherein said reference position is a position of a balise.
13. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein said second measuring device is configured to determine the position of the front end of the unit to be divided by using a track free-length measurement to determine a distance between a front-most axle of the unit to be divided facing the hump and an insulated rail joint.
14. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein the control device is additionally configured to determine a distance between the locomotive and a rear end of the unit to be divided facing away from the hump.