System and method for determining whether a locomotive in a consist is in leading mode or trailing mode
AssigneeZTR Control Systems
InventorAldo Liberatore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
By taking a pressure reading at a particular port on a multiple-unit braking valve, e.g. the MU-2-A valve, and comparing such a reading to a main reservoir pressure, one can identify whether the locomotive in which the valve is situated is in trailing mode or leading mode. In particular, it was found that the pressure on port 63 of the MU-2-A valve is indicative of which mode the locomotive is in since port 63 is exhausted to atmosphere in lead mode whereas it is at or near the pressure in the main reservoir which is readily distinguishable from atmosphere.
Claims28
A system for determining whether a locomotive in a consist is in a leading mode or a trailing mode, the system comprising:
- a first fluidly communicative connection to a port of a valve on the locomotive, the port providing different pressure readings when the locomotive is in the leading mode and the trailing mode;
- a pressure measurement device in communication with the first fluidly communicative connection for obtaining a pressure measurement at the port, wherein a comparison of the pressure measurement at the port to a value associated with a pressure of another component in the locomotive is indicative of whether the locomotive is in the leading mode or the trailing mode.
A method for determining whether a locomotive in a consist is in a leading mode or a trailing mode, the method comprising:
- obtaining a first pressure measurement indicative of pressure at port on a valve of the locomotive, the port providing different pressure readings when the locomotive is in the leading mode and the trailing mode;
- comparing the first pressure measurement to a value associated with a pressure of another component in the locomotive;
- and
- using the comparison to provide an output indicative of whether the locomotive is in the leading mode or the trailing mode.
A method for retrofitting an existing locomotive configured to be used in a consist for determining whether the locomotive is in a leading mode or a trailing mode, the method comprising:
- providing a first fluidly communicative connection to a port of a valve on the locomotive, the port providing different pressure readings when the locomotive is in the leading mode and the trailing mode;
- providing a pressure measurement device in communication with the first fluidly communicative connection for obtaining a pressure measurement at the port;
- and
- enabling an output provided by the pressure measurement device to be obtained, the output being indicative of the pressure measurement at the port to enable comparison of the pressure measurement to a value associated with a pressure of another component of the locomotive.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for determining whether a locomotive in a consist is in a leading mode or a trailing mode, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:
- obtaining a first pressure measurement indicative of pressure at port on a valve of the locomotive, the port providing different pressure readings when the locomotive is in the leading mode and the trailing mode;
- comparing the first pressure measurement to a value associated with a pressure of another component in the locomotive;
- and
- using the comparison to provide an output indicative of whether the locomotive is in the leading mode or the trailing mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.