System and method for managing two or more locomotives of a consist

• US 20030213875A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Chen, Shuo, Hess, Gerald James Jr., Slomski, Randall, Nagle, Jan Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,021,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/167R
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• 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 25/025 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
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/006 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation track-side optimisation of operation B61L27/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

The system and method for controlling a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The method comprises receiving a control command and determining a power operating mode of the first locomotive and a power operating mode of the second locomotive as a function of the control command and an optimization parameter. The power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive in at least one mode of operation of the method. The method further comprises controlling the first locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of the first locomotive and controlling the second locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of second locomotive.

Claims

6-1. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic position of the first locomotive and a geographic position of the second locomotive, wherein the power operating mode of the first locomotive and the power operating mode of the second locomotive are determined as function of the determined geographic position of the first locomotive and the determined geographic position of the second locomotive.

19. A method for controlling a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes, said method comprising:

receiving a control command from an operator;

controlling an operation of the first locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of the first locomotive, said power operating mode of the first locomotive being indicative of the control command;

determining a power operating mode of the second locomotive as a function of the control command, said power operating mode of the second locomotive being different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive in at least one mode of operation of the method;

communicating the power operating mode of the second locomotive over a communication link to the second locomotive; and

controlling an operation of the second locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of the second locomotive.