US 2012/0259488 A1 · CONTROL OF THROTTLE AND BRAKING ACTIONS AT INDIVIDUAL DISTRIBUTED POWER LOCOMOTIVES IN A RAILROAD TRAIN

Abstract

A method for controlling first and second locomotives of a railroad, train, the first and the second locomotives separated by at least one railcar. The method comprises determining a location of the first locomotive and a location of the second locomotive, determining an operating condition of the first locomotive and an operating condition of the second locomotive, determining a first control aspect of the first locomotive responsive to the operating condition and the location of the first locomotive, determining a second control aspect of the second locomotive responsive to the operating condition and the location of the second locomotive, and controlling the first and the second locomotives according to the first control aspect and the second control aspect, respectively.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive of a rail vehicle consist, the lead and the remote locomotives separated by one or more railcars, the method comprising:

determining a drawbar force at a rear end of the lead locomotive to determine when the lead locomotive has crested a hill;
determining at least one of a speed or an acceleration of the lead locomotive subsequent to the lead locomotive cresting the hill;
selecting an upper train speed;
and
controlling the lead locomotive to maintain the speed of the lead locomotive below the upper train speed after the lead locomotive has crested the hill.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/530,436Filed 22 Jun 2012

Priority

14 Mar 2009

Published

11 Oct 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B61L 15/0058
Indicators provided on the vehicle or train for signalling purposes: on-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
B61C 17/12
Arrangement or disposition of parts; Details or accessories not otherwise provided for; Use of control gear and control systems: control gear;…
B61L 25/025
Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains: absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
B61L 2205/04
Communication or navigation systems for railway traffic: satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]

Control of throttle and braking actions at individual distributed power locomotives in a railroad train

Life of this patent

Control of throttle and braking actions at individual distributed power locomotives in a railroad train

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23