Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to wheel slide protection. In particular, the present disclosure relates to approaches for controlling, providing redundancy, and preventing failure of the wheel slide protection systems of a train.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, in a braking system of a train, wheel slide protection may be used. When brakes of the trains are applied, the wheels of the train may tend to slide on the rail tracks. Uncontrolled sliding may tend to cause damage to the wheels of the train and increase the stopping distance, i.e., the distance which the train covers after application of the brakes. This may increase the risk of train colliding with any object on the rail tracks. The wheel slide protection system may detect conditions that may indicate of the application of brakes, and may help in preventing the sliding of wheels.

SUMMARY
[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to wheel slide protection. In particular, the present disclosure relates to approaches for controlling, providing redundancy, and preventing failure of the wheel slide protection systems of a train.
[0004] An embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to a system for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train. The system may include a controller. The controller may be configured to detect an actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems. Thereafter, an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection system may be detected. The controller may then cause to activate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems other than the said wheel slide protection system.
[0005] In another aspect, each of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems may be coupled to and associated with a braking mechanism of at least one of a plurality of bogies of the train.
[0006] In yet another aspect, at least one of plurality of wheel slide protection systems is to prevent a sliding of wheels of the train.
[0007] In yet another aspect, the controller may be further configured to, based on a determined axle speed of the train, determine one of an instantaneous retardation, reference speed estimation, or a combination thereof. Thereafter, the controller may determine presence of a slide condition. Based on the determined presence of the slide condition, the controller may then actuate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems.
[0008] In yet another aspect, the system may further include a sensor. The sensor is to monitor at least one of the plurality of axles of the train.
[0009] In yet another aspect, the sensor may be a speed sensor.
[0010] In yet another aspect, activation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems other than the said wheel slide protection system is to provide redundancy to and prevent failure of the wheel slide protection of the train.
[0011] Another embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to a method for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train. The method includes: detecting an actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems; detecting an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection system; and causing to activate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems other than the said wheel slide protection system.
[0012] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary system for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts flowchart of an exemplary system for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter; and
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a system architecture of an exemplary system controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosures as defined by the appended claims.
[0018] Embodiments explained herein relate to wheel slide protection. In particular, the present disclosure relates to approaches for controlling, providing redundancy, and preventing failure of the wheel slide protection systems of a train.
[0019] A braking system may be a crucial aspect of the operation and functioning of any vehicle. Owing to the complexity involved with functionalities and operation of trains, the importance of braking systems and requirement for its efficient working may further increase in trains. Generally, various functionalities may be associated with braking systems and mechanisms of trains.
[0020] One such functionality is wheel slide protection. Generally, when brakes of the trains are applied, depending upon the coefficient of friction available at the interface of the trains and the rails, the wheel-set circumferential may tend to become lower than the train speed. This condition may be referred to as sliding condition. Uncontrolled sliding may tend to cause damage to the wheels of the train and increase the stopping distance, i.e., the distance which the train covers after application of the brakes. This may increase the risk of train colliding with any object on the rail tracks.
[0021] As a result, conventionally, wheel slide protection may be used. Wheel slide protection may be used to control the wheel slide in trains. The wheel slide protection system may detect conditions that may indicate of the application of brakes, and may help in preventing the sliding of wheels. As would be understood, wheel slide protections may improve the adhesion between the wheels of the train and rails. This may further allow the train to be stopped at the required instance, thereby reducing the risk of a collision. Generally, various wheel slide protection units may be installed and implemented in the trains, which may be in turn coupled to the braking mechanism of the train. As would be understood, the train may include a plurality of bogies. The wheel slide protection may be associated with the bogies of the train.
[0022] Conventionally, in one example, the wheel slide protection system in the train may be implemented using car control type or bogie control type. In car control type, the sliding of the wheels of the train may be controlled by a wheel slide protection unit of a certain bogie. In the case of failure of such wheel slide protection unit, the sliding control of the entire train may be unavailable.
[0023] In the case of bogie control type, different bogies may have their corresponding wheel slide protection units. However, in the case of failure of any of the wheel slide protection unit, the corresponding bogie may be subjected to unavailability of sliding control. As a result, this may result in damaging of wheels of the train and further increase in the stopping distance.
[0024] To this end, approaches for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train are described. As would be appreciated, the approaches of the present subject matter may provide redundancy to and prevent failure of the wheel slide protection of the train. Each of the wheel slide protection systems, as per the proposed approach, may be in communication with the braking mechanism of each of the bogie of the train. In cases where any of the wheel slide protection unit fails in the train, then any other wheel slide protection unit may take the control and thus helps in maintaining the continuity in the wheel slide protection in the train. This may further result in prevention of wheel damage and may also allow the train to be stopped at the required distance and instance.
[0025] These and other aspects have been described in further details in conjunction with FIGs. 1-3. It may be noted that these figures are only illustrative, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the subject matter in any manner. It may be further noted that the figures have been explained together for describing the proposed system and its operation, and same reference numerals have been used wherever necessary.
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary system 100, for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter. The system 100 may be part of the braking system of the train, and may be in communication or coupling with other components of the braking system. Such components have not been depicted here for the sake of brevity, and may be well understood by a person skilled in the art. Specifically, the system 100 may be used for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a vehicle, trains in the present example. Examples of such trains may include, but are not limited to, passenger trains and cargo trains.
[0027] It may be further noted that, although the present description has been explained with respect to the system 100 being implemented in a braking system of a train, the same is not to be construed to limit the scope of the present subject matter in any manner. The proposed system 100 may be implemented in any other vehicle as well. Even further, the proposed system 100 can also be implemented in other industrial areas of application other than vehicles. Such examples would also be covered within the scope of the present subject matter.
[0028] As depicted in FIG. 1, the system 100 may include a controller 102. The controller 102 may be any hardware-based, software-based, or network-based computing device known to a person skilled in the art. Such controller may be operatively coupled to other components of the system 100. The system may include a plurality of wheel slide protection systems 104. The wheel slide protection system 104, upon application of brakes, is to prevent a sliding of wheels of the train. As would be understood, the train may include a plurality of bogies (not depicted in FIG. 1). Each of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems 104 may be coupled to and associated with a braking mechanism of at least one of the plurality of bogies of the train. In one example, each of the bogie may have its corresponding wheel slide protection system 104. In another example, multiple bogies may be controlled by a single wheel slide protection system 104. However, such examples are only illustrative, and the wheel slide protection systems 104 may be coupled to the bogies in any other manner as well without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0029] Continuing further, the system 100 may further include more components, which have not been depicted here for the sake of brevity, and known to a person skilled in the art. The manner in which the system 100 may be implemented, is also depicted in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 depicts a system architecture of an exemplary system, such as system 100, for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems 104 of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0030] In operation, a driver of the vehicle (not depicted in FIG. 1), a train in the present example, may apply brakes and activate the braking mechanism. As would be understood, upon application of brakes, the operating conditions of the train may start to change. For example, axle speed of the train may be decreased. Based on the determined axle speed of the train, the controller 102 may determine one of an instantaneous retardation, reference speed estimation, or a combination thereof. In one example, the system 100 may further a sensor (not shown in FIG. 1). The sensor may monitor at least one of the plurality of axles of the train. In another example, the sensor may be a speed sensor. However, it may be noted that such examples are only illustrative, and any other method known to a person skilled in the art or any technique may be used to determine the axle speed.
[0031] Continuing further, the controller 102 may then determine presence of a slide condition. Based on the determined presence of the slide condition, the controller 102 may ascertain that a wheel slide protection 104 needs to be actuated. The controller 102 may attempt to actuate the wheel slide protection system 104.
[0032] Continuing further, the controller 102 may then detect the actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems 104. As would be understood and as described previously, there may be certain issue with the said wheel slide protection system 104, and the said wheel slide protection system 104 may be unable to be activated under normal circumstances upon requirement. As a result, the controller 102 may then detect an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection system 104.
[0033] Thereafter, the controller 102 may cause to activate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems 102 other than the said wheel slide protection system. As would be appreciated the activation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems 102 other than the said wheel slide protection system may provide redundancy to and prevent failure of the overall wheel slide protection of the train.
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems of a train, as per an implementation of the present subject matter. The method 200 may be implemented in the system 100 as described in conjunction with FIG. 1.
[0035] At block 202, an actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems may be detected. At block 204, an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection may be detected. At block 206, one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems other than the said wheel slide protection system may be caused to be activated.
[0036] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
, Claims:1. A system (100) for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) of a train, the system (100) comprising:
a controller (102), wherein the controller (102) is to:
detect an actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104);
detect an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection system (104); and
cause to activate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) other than the said wheel slide protection system (104).

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) is coupled to and associated with a braking mechanism of at least one of a plurality of bogies of the train.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) is to prevent a sliding of wheels of the train.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (102) is to further:
based on a determined axle speed of the train, determine one of an instantaneous retardation, reference speed estimation, or a combination thereof;
determine presence of a slide condition; and
based on the determined presence of the slide condition, actuate one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104).

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the system further comprises a sensor, and wherein the sensor is to monitor at least one of the plurality of axles of the train.

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor is a speed sensor.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein activation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) other than the said wheel slide protection system (104) is to provide redundancy to and prevent failure of the wheel slide protection of the train.

8. A method (200) for controlling at least one of a plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) of a train, the method (200) comprising:
detecting (202) an actuation of one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104);
detecting (204) an absence of the activation of the said wheel slide protection system (104); and
causing to activate (206) one of the plurality of wheel slide protection systems (104) other than the said wheel slide protection system (104).