Visual diagnostic system for railroad network

• US 10,421,472 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shubs, Alexander, Seaton, James David, Roenspies, David Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kleinman, Lail A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kazimi, Mahmoud M
• Application Number:
  US14/826,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management

Abstract

A visual diagnostic system for a railroad network is disclosed. The visual diagnostic system may have a sensor associated with a train asset in the railroad network and configured to generate a signal indicative of an operational status of the train asset, and a user interface associated with the train asset. The visual diagnostic system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor and the user interface. The controller may be configured to display on the user interface a graphical representation of the train asset in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A visual diagnostic system for a railroad network, comprising:

a sensor associated with a train asset in the railroad network and configured to generate a signal indicative of an operational status of the train asset, wherein the train asset is at least one of a locomotive, a non-locomotive rail vehicle, or stationary wayside equipment located in the railroad network;

a user interface associated with the train asset; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the user interface, wherein the controller is configured to display on the user interface a graphical representation of the train asset in response to the signal, and display a warning on the user interface corresponding to a fault condition associated with a component on the train asset, wherein selection of the train asset on the user interface results in a display of data relating to the selected train asset, and selection of the warning results in a visual indicator highlighting the component on the graphical representation of the train asset.

2. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display on the user interface a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different train in the railroad network;

receive by way of the user interface a selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

display on the user interface an electronic map corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

3. The visual diagnostic system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to display a first train on the electronic map having a different visual indicator than a second train displayed on the electronic map.

4. The visual diagnostic system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to display data relating to at least one train corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

5. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display on the user interface a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different train asset in the railroad network;

receive by way of the user interface a selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

display on the user interface an electronic map corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

6. The visual diagnostic system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to display data relating to at least one train asset corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

7. A method of visually identifying a fault condition associated with a train asset in a railroad network, the method comprising:

detecting the fault condition via a sensor located on the train asset;

displaying on a user interface a graphical representation of the train asset in response to the detected fault condition;

displaying a warning on the user interface corresponding to the fault condition associated with a component on the train asset;

selecting the train asset on the user interface;

displaying data relating to the selected train asset;

selecting the warning on the user interface; and

generating a visual indicator highlighting the component on the graphical representation of the train asset in response to selecting the warning on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further including:

displaying a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different train in the railroad network;

receiving a selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

displaying an electronic map corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

9. The method of claim 8, further including displaying a first train on the electronic map having a different visual indicator than a second train displayed on the electronic map.

10. The method of claim 8, further including displaying data relating to at least one train corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

11. The method of claim 7, further including:

displaying a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different train asset in the railroad network;

receiving a selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

displaying an electronic map corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

12. The method of claim 11, further including displaying data relating to at least one train asset corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

13. A railroad network, comprising:

a network of trains, each train including a plurality of assets, wherein each asset is at least one of a locomotive, a non-locomotive rail vehicle, or stationary wayside equipment located in the railroad network;

a sensor associated with one asset of the plurality of assets and configured to generate a signal indicative of a fault condition of the asset;

a user interface associated with the asset; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the user interface, wherein the controller is configured to display on the user interface a graphical representation of the asset in response to the signal, and display a warning on the user interface corresponding to the fault condition associated with a component on the asset, wherein selection of the asset on the user interface results in a display of data relating to the selected asset, and selection of the warning results in a visual indicator highlighting the component on the graphical representation of the asset.