Triggering system for spotter control on train
AssigneeProgress Rail Locomotive Inc.
InventorJeffrey Edward Jensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A triggering system for a train having a spotter control system is provided. The triggering system includes a position detection system configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train. The system also includes a controller coupled to the position detection system, the spotter control system, and an engine of the train. The controller is configured to receive the position signal from the position detection system. The controller is configured to detect if the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal. The controller is configured to trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection. The controller is configured to trigger an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection.
Claims20
A triggering system for a train having a spotter control system, the triggering system comprising:
- a position detection system configured to:
- generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive the position signal from the position detection system;
- detect that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal;
- determine that a current state of charge of a battery of the train satisfies a threshold;
- trigger, based on the detection, a shutdown of an engine of the train;
- and
- trigger, based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the battery satisfies the threshold, an activation of the spotter control system, the spotter control system providing electric drive from power of the battery.
A method for triggering a spotter control system associated with a train, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, a position signal from a position detection system associated with the train, the position signal indicative of a position of the train with respect to a rail shop;
- detecting, by the controller, that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal;
- determining, by the controller, that a current state of charge of a battery of the train satisfies a threshold;
- triggering, by the controller and based on the detection, a shutdown of an engine of the train;
- and
- triggering, by the controller, an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the battery satisfies the threshold, the spotter control system providing electric drive from power of the battery.
A train comprising:
- an engine;
- a spotter control system configured to provide electric drive from power of an alternate power source that is different from the engine;
- and
- a triggering system comprising:
- a controller configured to:
- detect that the train is approaching a rail shop;
- determine that a current state of charge of the alternate power source satisfies a threshold;
- trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection;
- and
- trigger, based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the alternate power source satisfies the threshold, an activation of the spotter control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.