Method of determining train and track characteristics using navigational data

• US 20020010531A1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Hawthorne, Michael J., Nickles, Stephen K., Haley, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,480,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0092 Memory means reproducing during the running of the vehicle or vehicle train, e.g. smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0094 Recorders on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/047 Track or rail movements
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 35/00 Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate or record bad track sections B61K9/00; measuring angles, linear dimensions, or irregularities in general G01B, G01C

Abstract

A method using the position data being determined on the train to determine characteristics of the train and/or the track. This is achieved by providing position determining devices at two or more spaced locations along the train. The position of the two locations are determined by the position determining devices. A processor determines the difference between the two locations from the positions determined by the position determining devices and determines the characteristics of the train from the determined difference between the two locations.

Claims

1. A method of determining characteristics of a train having rail vehicles traveling along a track, the method comprising:

providing a position determining device at two or more locations along the train;

determining the positions of the locations using the position determining devices;

determining the difference between the locations from the positions determined by the position determining devices; and

determining a characteristic of the train from the determined difference between the two locations.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein two locations are at a head end and a rear end of the train and the characteristic determined is the length of the train.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the position is determined when the train is traveling along a flat straight track.

4. A method according to claim 2, including repeating the determining steps a plurality of times to determine lengths of the train and selecting the largest determined length as the length of the train.

5. A method according to claim 2, including determining the number of vehicles in the train, determining an estimate of length using the number of vehicles and determining any discrepancy between the determined and estimated lengths.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the number of vehicles is determined from a listing of on the train.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the number of vehicles is determined from the number of axles recorded in a hot box detection system on the train.

8. A method according to claim 1, including repeating the position and distance determining steps a plurality of times;

determining the changes of the differences; and

determining the characteristic of the train from the difference changes of distance between the two locations.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the characteristic determined is run-in and run-out.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the characteristic determined is in-train forces.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the position determining devices also determine the elevation of its location;

and the characteristic determined is the grade of the track occupied by the train from determined differences of positions and elevations.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the position determining devices are global positioning systems.

13. A method according to claim 1, including using longitude, latitude and elevation data as a function of time and position from the position determining devices to derive a track profile.

14. A method according to claim 13, further including using heading data as a function of time from the position determining devices to derive track curvature.

15. A method according, to claim 13, further including using track structures information as a function of time and position from at least one of the position determining devices to derive track profile.

16. A method according to claim 15, including manually collecting the track structure information with the automatic collecting of the other data.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the track structure includes one or more of mileposts, bridges, tunnels, signals, crossings, overpasses, underpasses, siding, parallel track, and whistle posts.

18. A method according to claim 13, further including using distance traveled data along the track as a function of time to derive track profile.

19. A method according to claim 13, including collecting the data on a vehicle as the vehicle travels the track.

20. A method according to claim 19, including deriving the track profile on a vehicle as the vehicle travels the track.

21. A method according to claim 1, including providing a track profile data base on the train and determining the location of the train on the track from a comparison of the positions determined by the position determining devices and the data base.

22. A method according to claim 21,including determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track;

and if so, determining which branch track the train is on from a comparison of the positions determined by the position determining devices and the data base.

23. A method according to claim 22,wherein determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track includes determining the location of the train to the data base from the positions determined by the position determining devices.

24. A method according to claim 22,wherein determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track includes receipt of a past switch input.

25. A system on a train having rail vehicles for determining characteristics of the train as it traveling along a track, the system comprising:

position determining device at two or more locations along the train; and

a processor on the train receiving position data from each of the position determining device, determining the difference between the locations from the data and determining a characteristic of the train from the determined difference between the locations.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the two locations are at a head end and a rear end of the train and the characteristic determined is the length of the train.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the position is determined when the train is traveling along a flat straight track.

28. A system according to claim 26,wherein the processor determines a plurality of lengths of the train and selects the largest determined length as the length of the train.

29. A system according to claim 25, wherein the processor determines changes of differences between the two locations and determines the characteristic of the train from the determined changes of differences between the two locations.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the characteristic determined is one of run-in and run-out and in-train forces.

31. A system according to claim 25, wherein the position determining devices also determine the elevation of its location;

and the characteristic determined by the processor is the grade of the track occupied by the train from determined differences of positions and elevations.

32. A system according to claim 25, wherein the position determining devices are global positioning systems.

33. A system according to claim 25, wherein the processor uses longitude, latitude and elevation data as a function of time from the position determining devices to derive a track profile.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the processor uses heading data as a function of time from the position determining devices to derive track profile.

35. A system according to claim 33,wherein the processor uses track structures information as a function of time from at least one of the position determining devices to derive track profile.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the track structure includes one or more of mileposts, bridges, tunnels, signals, crossings, overpasses, underpasses, siding, parallel track, and whistle posts.

37. A system according to claim 25, including position determining device at more than two locations along the train and providing position data to the processor.

38. A system according to claim 25, including a transceiver at each position determining device.

39. A method of determining location of a train having rail vehicles on a track, the method comprising:

providing a position determining device at two locations along the train and a track profile data base on the train;

simultaneously determining the positions of the two locations using the position determining devices;

comparing the positions determined by the position determining devices to the data base; and

determining the location of the train on the track from the comparison.

40. A method according to claim 39,including determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track;

and if so, determining which branch track the train is on from a comparison of the positions determined by the position determining devices and the data base.

41. A method according to claim 40,wherein determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track includes determining the location of the train to the data base from the positions determined by the position determining devices.

42. A method according to claim 40,wherein determining if a portion of the train has passed a switch in the track includes receipt of a past switch input.

43. A method according to claim 39,wherein determining the location of the train on the track from the comparison includes determining an error between a first determined position and the data base and assume the same error for a second determined position.

44. A method of determining location of a train having rail vehicles on a track, the method comprising:

determining a first position of a portion of the train prior to or at a switch in the track;

determining a second position of a portion of the train after the switch in the track;

comparing the determined first and second positions to a data base on the train; and

determining which branch track the train is on from a comparison of the positions to the data base.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the first and second positions are determined simultaneously at two spaced portions of the train.

46. A method according to claim 44, wherein the first and second positions are determined sequentially at the same portion of the train.

47. A method according to claim 44, wherein determining the location of the train on the track from the comparison includes determining an error between the first determined position and the data base and assume the same error for the second determined position.

48. A method of determining discrepancies in a train having rail vehicles traveling along a track comprising:

storing a list on the train of the vehicles in the train;

storing a report on the train from a hot box detector system positioned along the track, the report including the number of axles of the train monitored by the detector system;

comparing the list to the report for the number of cars or axles for discrepancies; and

reporting any discrepancies.