IMPROVING THE TECHNOLOGY OF WORK OF MARSHALLING YARDS BASED ON REMOTE ACOUSTIC SOUNDING

Abstract

Purpose. The article analyzes the automatic control systems for train sorting at marshalling yards. It indicates their shortcomings and substantiates the need for digital specification of the coordinates of cars and locomotives position on humping tracks and in the marshalling yard, taking into account inventory numbers of rolling units. Methodology. The principles of influence of low-frequency physical effects on the reflected wavelength in a fiber-optic cable laid along the rails are studied. The fundamental suitability of fiber-optic technologies for distributed acoustic sounding DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) is substantiated. The use efficiency of the DAS system at marshalling yards for continuous monitoring the movement of cars and locomotives and track vacancy and occupancy at sorting stations was assessed. The simulation methodology and reflectogram setting technology for measurements in a fiber-optic cable were used. The use of coordinate-time information to control the location of the hump locomotive, which ensures the automatic positioning of rolling units, is analyzed. Findings. Of great importance is the coordinate determination of the «gaps» at the classification yard in order to reduce unproductive time losses for backup shunting or pulling of cars. The information received from the DAS floor sensors about the number and type of cars in the moving cut can be used to identify «outsiders» at the classification yard. In this case, continuous tracking of the cut will increase the information reliability in the target braking control subsystem at the descending part of the marshalling yard. For automatic determining the inventory numbers of cars using a special computer program for processing video images, it is possible to use the automatic control system of inventory numbers of cars ASKIN. To do this, the software and hardware complex must be supplemented with a driver for reading and writing information flows from video cameras when monitoring trains at the entrance of the receiving tracks of marshalling yards. Originality. Equipment of sorting station tracks with fiber-optic cables and DAS system equipment will make it possible to increase the management efficiency of train making and breaking-up in real time by accurately determining the coordinates of locomotives and cars on station tracks. Practical value. The comprehensive automatic control system of sorting process, supplemented by the DAS systems and the identification of inventory numbers of cars, will ensure maintenance of a complete digital train and car model of the sorting process at the humping and descending parts of the hump and in the sorting yard.