Vehicle coupling fault detecting system
AssigneeElectro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
InventorDale Alexander BROWN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle coupling fault detecting system is disclosed. The system may include first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits containing first and second communication cables that are communicatively coupled when the first and second fluid conduits are connected together. A pressure sensor may detect a pressure within the fluid conduits when the conduits are connected together, and communicate a signal indicative of the pressure through at least one of the first and second communication cables. A controller may receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.
Claims20
A coupling fault detecting system, comprising:
- a first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- a first communication cable disposed within the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal;
- a second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- a second communication cable disposed within the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal;
- a coupling, the coupling including at least a first connector and a second connector, wherein:
- the first connector is connected to the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- the second connector is connected to the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- and
- the first and second connectors are connectable to each other and are configured to transmit a communication signal from the first communication cable to the second communication cable when the first and second connectors of the coupling are connected together;
- and
- a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the coupling and configured to communicate a signal indicative of the pressure at the coupling through at least one of the first communication cable and the second communication cable;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second connectors.
A method of detecting a fault in a group of vehicles, wherein the group of vehicles includes at least first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits containing first and second communication cables that are communicatively coupled when the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits are connected together, the method comprising:
- detecting a pressure within the selectively-pressurized fluid conduits when the conduits are connected together;
- communicating a signal indicative of the pressure through at least one of the first and second communication cables;
- receiving the signal at a controller for the group of vehicles;
- and
- determining from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.
A coupling fault detecting system for a communication conduit, comprising:
- a first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- a first communication cable disposed within the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit, and configured to transmit a communication signal;
- a second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- a second communication cable disposed within the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit, and configured to transmit a communication signal;
- a first coupling, the first coupling having a first end and a second end, and being connected at the first end of the first coupling to the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- a second coupling, the second coupling having a first end and a second end, and being connected at the first end of the second coupling to the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
- the first and second couplings being connectable to each other at their respective second ends, and being configured to transmit a communication signal from the first communication cable to the second communication cable when the first and second couplings are connected together;
- a first pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the first coupling, and configured to communicate a first signal indicative of the pressure at the first coupling to the first communication cable;
- a second pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the second coupling, and configured to communicate a second signal indicative of the pressure at the second coupling to the second communication cable;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the first and second signals and determine from the first and second signals whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second couplings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.