The UTB type equipment of the Műszer Automatika Kft. is the first full electronic railway safety equipment developed by Hungarians. Its development began in 1994 with the support of the National Commission for Technical Development (OMFB). The prototype entered into operation in possession of the necessary permits and authority certificates in the month December of 2000. During the period passed since that time our newer pieces of equipment are taken over continuously. At present already 15 pieces of such equipment are operated in Hungary. Since 2008 two level crossings protected by UTB are operated already abroad as well.
The control of the UTB is full electronic, constructed with two microprocessors. It does not contain relays at all in addition to the relays performing the emergency shut-down.
Thanks to its modular hardware structure it can be easily adapted to the local requirements and enables the later extension of the equipment. In the given railway environment a software corresponding to the rules of the operating railway runs in each UTB. Due to the layered structure of the software the certified software performing the safety functions is based not on the individual installation sites, but on the rules of the railway operating the barrier. For the local development the equipment can be matched by setting the parameter board located in the following layer, i. e. in case of new installations or in case of the change of the protection of the existing crossing the certified software is suitable for handling the newer elements and sites.
Accordingly, during its operation time the UTB can be completed – independently of its former development – with further road signs, according to need with railway signals, respectively for the protection of the crossing with barrier rods too.
The level crossing protected by UTB can be implemented together with light- or light- and half-barriers; in addition to this the UTB is capable of cooperating with road traffic control devices. The present development of the equipment is capable of protecting a three-track line as well. The train detection can be performed optionally also with Punctiform, long track-circuit or axle-counter sections, but it can receive starting coming from another equipment too. In case of demand the installation of level crossing checking signals or protecting signals is possible too, but it is also possible that the UTB establishes dependency contact with a signal handled by another block installation.
The operation and maintenance is assisted by a diagnostic and remote supervision system, by which the operation of the UTB can be monitored continuously through a wired or wireless contact. The remote control can be fitted to any check-back operating on the Hungarian railway lines; so the so-called double-wire check-back used on the national public-traffic railway lines can be realised too. The remote handling unit makes at the same time possible that the equipment can communicate with other interlocking equipment directly or in the form of electronic telegrams. In addition, the installation of the own remote handling unit of the UTB is also possible at the railway duty places receiving the check-back, even by building into the Domino units widespread in Hungary as well.
By means of the remote supervision system, in addition to the data appearing on the remote handling unit, much deeper diagnostic tasks can be performed. With the help of the remote supervision the automatically performed tests of the equipment, the log of failure, respectively the exact log of the events generated by the railway movements can be inquired. In the equipment also operates a so-called “black box” which is capable of recording the states of the equipment exactly, provided with time stamps; so it can be used in the event-following examinations requiring the authority procedure. The „black boxes” can be demounted and replaced on the site after stopping the equipment; so the equipment can continue operating without overwriting the data necessary for the examination.
The advantage of the modular system structure appears also during the operation. The exchange of the standardized elements compatible between the pieces of equipment is easy; the procurement of a reserve spare set is more economical. The modularity also supports the already mentioned extendibility by which during its lifetime the equipment can be formed for the changed traffic requirements.
In the period past since putting the prototype into operation the UTB’s in Hungary has performed already ca. 2.5 million operating cycles, by which they compelled the admiration of the operators. The large number operating cycles also gave sufficient operating experiences for the continuous development whose result is shown well by the fact that during the examined ca. 133 thousand operations only 410 troubles occurred attributable mostly to an external reason. On demand the own national service network of the Műszer Automatika Kft. also supports the operation of the equipment. In case of the ordering of the operator we undertake the periodical maintenance of the equipment, as well as in case of occurring troubles or error dectections we can provide assistance too.
References:- 15 pieces of equipment operating in Hungary
- 2 pieces of equipment in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- 33 pieces in production for Hungarian-Austrian Common Railway Line (GySEV)
