Fuel efficient control of multiple unit locomotive consists

Fuel conserving control apparatus for a multiple unit locomotive consist headed by a lead locomotive and having air brakes for slowing the consist when applied and a plurality of trail locomotives having throttle circuits normally controlled by the setting of the lead locomotive throttle to normally maintain the locomotives at the same power output level, said apparatus comprising:

• means for setting a selected speed at which the consist is to travel;
• means for sensing the actual speed of travel of the consist;
• means for automatically adjusting the throttle circuits of the trail locomotives to incrementally increase or incrementally decrease the power output levels of the trail locomotives in sequence until the actual speed of the consist substantially conforms with the selected speed thereof;
• means for sensing application of the air brakes;
• and
• means responsive to the application of the air brakes for overriding said adjusting means in a manner to adjust the throttle circuits of the trail locomotives to effect a minimal output power condition of each trail locomotive operating at a power level higher than the minimal level at the time of application of the air brakes.

In a fuel conserving control apparatus for a multiple unit locomotive consist having a lead locomotive, a plurality of trail locomotives, and throttle circuits for the locomotives all normally having the same condition as the throttle circuit of the lead locomotive to operate all locomotives at substantially the same power level in a manual mode of operation, the improvement comprising:

• means for setting a set speed at which it is desired for the consist to operate;
• means for sensing the actual speed of the consist;
• means for operating the consist in a fuel save mode of operation in which the throttle circuits of the trail locomotives are adjusted automatically to sequentially increase or decrease the power levels of the locomotives in discrete increments to effect substantial conformity of the actual speed with the set speed;
• means for establishing minimum and maximum speeds of the consist;
• and
• means for confining the set speed to the range between said minimum and maximum speeds.

In a fuel conserving control apparatus for a multiple unit locomotive consist having lead and trail locomotives, a dynamic brake for slowing the consist when applied, throttle control circuits for the locomotives all normally having the same condition as the throttle circuit of the lead locomotive to operate all locomotives at substantially the same power level in a manual mode of operation, and fuel saver means for automatically controlling the throttle circuits in a manner to substantially achieve a desired speed of travel of the consist with the throttle circuits of the locomotives in fuel efficient conditions thereof in a fuel save mode of operation, the improvement comprising:

• means for sensing application of the dynamic brake;
• means for sensing elapse of a preselected time following application of the dynamic brake;
• and
• means for disabling the fuel save mode of operation and effecting the manual mode of operation for a predetermined override period following release of the dynamic brake if the dynamic brake is applied throughout said preselected time.

In a fuel conserving control apparatus for applying power reduction signals to a diesel electric locomotive engine having a plurality of governor solenoids energized and deenergized in predetermined patterns to effect a plurality of different throttle conditions including a minimal power condition in which all solenoids are deenergized, the combination of:

• a circuit for each solenoid leading thereto and receiving control signals for energizing the solenoid in a normal operating mode of the locomotive engine;
• transistor means for each circuit maintaining same in a completed state in the normal operating mode when a control signal is applied to the circuitry, thereby energizing each solenoid having a control signal applied to its circuit in the normal operating mode;
• and
• means for selectively applying a power reduction signal to said transistor means in a fuel save operating mode of the locomotive engine, said power reduction signal overriding the control signals and influencing said transistor means in a manner to effect interruption of each circuit to deenergize all solenoids, thereby effecting the minimal power throttle condition in response to application of the power reduction signal.

A method of operating a multiple unit locomotive consist having a plurality of locomotives normally operative at the same power level and air brakes for slowing the consist when applied, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a set speed at which it is desired to operate the consist;
• sensing the actual speed of the consist;
• adjusting the power levels of the individual locomotives sequentially in discrete increments in a manner to achieve substantial conformity between the actual speed and the set speed with the consist operating in a fuel efficient manner;
• sensing application of the air brakes;
• delaying for a preselected time period following application of the air brakes;
• and
• then dropping the locomotives sequentially to a minimal power level when the air brakes have been applied for said preselected time period.