Automated railroad safety systems
AssigneeCattron North America, Inc.
InventorJeremy Jovenall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary method includes electronically determining that movement of a rolling stock should be prevented based on a failure condition of the rolling stock. And if it is electronically determined that movement of the rolling stock should be prevented based on the failure condition of the rolling stock, the method further includes preventing movement of the rolling stock including preventing the rolling stock from initiating a movement from a stationary position along a track within a work area defined around the rolling stock by: preventing brakes of the rolling stock from being released via one or more pneumatic components; and/or preventing the rolling stock from receiving or accepting a movement command.
Claims31
A method comprising:
- electronically determining that movement of a rolling stock should be prevented based on a failure condition of the rolling stock;
- and
- if it is electronically determined that movement of the rolling stock should be prevented based on the failure condition of the rolling stock, preventing movement of the rolling stock including preventing the rolling stock from initiating a movement from a stationary position along a track within a work area defined around the rolling stock by:
- preventing brakes of the rolling stock from being released via one or more pneumatic components;
- and/or
- preventing the rolling stock from receiving or accepting a movement command.
A system comprising a control unit onboard a rolling stock, the system configured to be operable for electronically determining that movement of the rolling stock should be prevented based on a failure condition of the rolling stock, and if it is electronically determined that movement of the rolling stock should be prevented based on the failure condition of the rolling stock, the system is configured to be operable for preventing movement of the rolling stock, via the control unit onboard the rolling stock, including preventing the rolling stock from initiating a movement from a stationary position along a track within a work area defined around the rolling stock by:
- preventing brakes of the rolling stock from being released via one or more pneumatic components;
- and/or
- preventing the rolling stock from receiving or accepting a movement command.
A method comprising:
- electronically receiving, via a computer system, a report of a failure condition of a rolling stock within a rail yard, the computer system including information on location(s) of one or more trains, cars, and/or other rolling stock within the rail yard;
- and
- in response to receipt of the report of the failure condition of the rolling stock, generating, via the computer system, a route for a work crew through the rail yard to the rolling stock that avoids being blocked by the one or more trains, cars, and/or other rolling stock at the location(s) within the rail yard based on the information of the computer system.
A control unit for a rolling stock, the control unit including a user interface positionable onboard the rolling stock, the control unit is configured to electronically receive, via the user interface, one or more user inputs, electronically identify and track one or more users servicing the rolling stock by analyzing the one or more user inputs, electronically determine whether at least one user of the one or more users remains servicing the rolling stock, and if it is determined that at least one user of the one or more users remains servicing the rolling stock, prevent movement of the rolling stock including initial movement of the rolling stock from a stationary position along a track within a work area defined around the rolling stock by:
- preventing brakes of the rolling stock from being released via one or more pneumatic components;
- and/or
- preventing the rolling stock from receiving or accepting a movement command.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.