Integrated train control

• US 20030183729A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Stevens, Dale R., Root, Kevin B., Marra, Jon M., McLaughlin, Bryan M., Hawthorne, Michael J., Nickles, Stephen K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/167R
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/665 the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems B60T13/662 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 15/14 influencing electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• 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 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation

Abstract

An integrated train control system (FIGS. 1 and 6) is a combination of systems including: EP-60 (FIG. 2) CCBII (FIG. 3) Wired DP (FIG. 4), and LEADER (FIG. 5) The integrated train control system (FIG. 6) includes a master controller (MMI) cooperating with features of EP-60, CCBII, LEADER, and Wired DP to control car control devices (CCD) through ITC network.

Claims

1. An integrated train control system comprising:

a wire trainline and brake pipe extending through each vehicle on the train;

electropneumatic brake controller controlling the brake pipe and providing electropneumatic brake signals;

a propulsion controller providing electrical propulsion signals;

an operator interface connected to the brake controller and the propulsion controller;

an electropneumatic brake system in cars in the train and connected to the trainline and brake pipe;

propulsion systems on locomotives in the train and connected to the trainline; and

a master controller which determines conditions for each car and locomotives in the train and as a function of the determined conditions transmits over the trainline individualized brake signals to each car and locomotive and individualized propulsion signal to each locomotive.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the master controller determines the location of each car and locomotive on a track profile and determines the conditions of the cars and locomotives from the position on the track profile.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the master controller determines anticipated conditions of each car and locomotive based on upcoming track profiles and individualizes the transmitted signals as a function of the anticipated conditions.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the car brake controller and the propulsion controller each includes at least one sensor and the brake controller and the propulsion control determine the conditions from the sensor and transmits the determined conditions to the master controller.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the determined conditions are one or more of hot bearings, stuck hand brakes, flat wheel and wheel off-rail.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the determined conditions includes one or more of car load, braking effort, drawbar/draft gear forces and impact detection.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the brake controller uses the local determined conditions for controlling the local brakes.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the car and locomotive include auxiliary equipment connected to the brake controller and propulsion controller and the master controller transmits individual control signals for the auxiliary equipment.