US 5,950,967 A · Enhanced distributed power

Abstract

A train throttle and brake control apparatus is provided for use in a train having a master locomotive and one or more slave locomotives remotely located in the train. In a first embodiment, the apparatus includes a train force calculator which approximates train coupler forces based on computations as a function of the track topography. In a second embodiment, a coupler sensor is provided which senses the forces transmitted by the couplers on the slave locomotives. In either embodiment, a position determining device is included which provides a position signal based on the position of the train. A storage device stores a track database containing track topography information. A controller uses the coupler force computations or measurements, the position information, the track topography information, train consist information, and locomotive control settings to generate slave control signals which are provided to the slave locomotives through a communication device.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A train control apparatus for use in a train having a master locomotive and a slave locomotive, the control apparatus comprising:

a position determining device determining a position of the train and providing a position signal based on the train position;
a storage device storing a track database containing track topography information and train consist information;
a controller coupled to the position determining device and the storage device and generating slave control signals as a function of the track topography information associated with the position of the train indicated by the position signal and a position of the slave locomotive in the train based on the consist information, the controller providing the slave control signals to the slave locomotive for use in controlling throttle and brake settings of the slave locomotive;
and
communication means for providing communication between the controller and the slave locomotive to thereby provide the slave control signals to the slave locomotive for use in controlling throttle and brake settings of the slave locomotive.

2 more elements

A train control apparatus for use in a train having a master locomotive, a first slave locomotive having a first set of throttle and brake controls, and a second slave locomotive having a second set of throttle and brake controls, the train control apparatus comprising:

a position determining device for determining a position of the train and providing position information indicative of the position of the train;
a storage device storing a track database containing track topography information and consist information;
and
a controller on the master locomotive coupled to the position determining device to receive said position information and accessing said storage device for generating independent first and second slave control signals as functions of the track topography information associated with a determined position of the train and the consist information, the controller providing the first and second slave control signals to the first and second slave locomotives for use in independently controlling the throttle and brakes of the first and second slave locomotives.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Enhanced distributed power

Life of this patent

Enhanced distributed power

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21