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AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorsStephen K. Nickles, John E. Haley, Michael J. Lynch
Estimating the term…
A respective microcomputer-based dynamic braking proportioning unit is disposed on each locomotive of a group of locomotives of a train consist. Each unit is connected to the brake setup and brake control wires of a trainline communicating with all of the locomotives, and each unit is connected to the dynamic braking equipment of its respective locomotive. Each unit includes two data entry mechanisms, such as switches, by which the respective microcomputer is advised of the total number of locomotives and of a unique number identifying the respective locomotive within the group. From the two signals from the trainline and the total locomotive and unique locomotive identification data, the respective microcomputer determines and outputs appropriate dynamic brake equipment control signals for the respective locomotive. These control signals are generated so that not all of the locomotives necessarily need to be placed in a dynamic braking mode for all levels of total dynamic braking required, thereby allowing any unneeded locomotive to be operated at a lower fuel consuming power level.
An apparatus for conserving fuel during dynamic braking of a train consist including a plurality of locomotives, each of which locomotives comprises dynamic braking means for dynamically braking the respective locomotive and through all of the which locomotives a common electrical trainline is connected so that a master brake control signal, defining a total required dynamic braking within a range between no dynamic braking and full dynamic braking, is provided over the trainline to each locomotive when the train consist is to be dynamically braked, said apparatus comprising:
A system for conserving fuel during dynamic braking of a train consist including a plurality of locomotives, each of which locomotives comprises dynamic braking means for dynamically braking the respective locomotive and through all of which locomotives a brake setup signal and a brake control signal are communicated, which brake control signal defines a total required dynamic braking, said system comprising a plurality of dynamic braking proportioning units, each of said units disposed on a respective one of the locomotives and each of said units including:
A method of conserving fuel during dynamic braking of a plurality of locomotives to which a brake setup signal, having a magnitude B, and a brake control signal, having a magnitude BC, of a 74-volt trainline are provided, each locomotive including respective dynamic braking means for dynamically braking the respective locomotive, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.