Serial train communication system
First Claim
1. A serial train communication system for a railway train, said serial train communication system comprising:
- (a) a power source;
(b) a controller coupled to said power source;
(c) a first means for transmitting a sound wave associated with a command signal provided from at least one locomotive, said sound wave having a predetermined frequency, said first means engageable with one end of one of said at least one locomotive, a railway car and a combination thereof and coupled to said power source and said controller, said controller enabling said first means to transmit said sound wave in a first direction;
(d) a second means coupled to said power source and said controller for receiving said sound wave and for providing an output signal to said controller upon receiving said sound wave, said second means engageable with an opposed end of said one of said at least one locomotive, said railway car and said combination thereof and in alignment with said first means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A serial train communication system employs a pair of ultrasonic transceivers oppositely mounted at each end of a railway car. Each ultrasonic transceiver is coupled to a controller and to an independent power source. The controller is further coupled to various apparatuses installed on the railway car and is capable of controlling operation thereof. A command signal sent from a locomotive cab travels between railway cars enabling control of various apparatuses of such railway cars and status signals from such apparatuses may be sent back to a locomotive cab event recorder. The controller and the power source may be attached to the railway car or to any such apparatus. In another embodiment, a single ultrasonic transceiver is installed within an air brake pipe enabling communication within a mixed railway car configuration.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A serial train communication system for a railway train, said serial train communication system comprising:
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(a) a power source;
(b) a controller coupled to said power source;
(c) a first means for transmitting a sound wave associated with a command signal provided from at least one locomotive, said sound wave having a predetermined frequency, said first means engageable with one end of one of said at least one locomotive, a railway car and a combination thereof and coupled to said power source and said controller, said controller enabling said first means to transmit said sound wave in a first direction;
(d) a second means coupled to said power source and said controller for receiving said sound wave and for providing an output signal to said controller upon receiving said sound wave, said second means engageable with an opposed end of said one of said at least one locomotive, said railway car and said combination thereof and in alignment with said first means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A serial train communication system for a railway train having at least one locomotive and a predetermined plurality of railway cars serially coupled to said at least one locomotive, said serial train communication system comprising a plurality of communication assemblies, each of which is installed on said at least one locomotive and on a respective railway car, said communication assembly including:
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(a) a power source;
(b) a controller coupled to said power source;
(c) a first sound transmission means associated with a sound wave having a predetermined frequency, said first sound transmission means attached at one end of said railway car and said locomotive and coupled to said power source and said controller; and
(d) a second sound transmission means associated with said sound wave, said second sound transmission means attached at an opposed end of said railway car and said locomotive in alignment with said first sound transmission means, said second sound transmission means coupled to said power source and said controller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A serial train communication system for a railway train having at least one locomotive and a predetermined plurality of railway cars serially coupled to said at least one locomotive, said serial train communication system comprising:
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(a) a first sound transmission means associated with a sound wave having a predetermined frequency, said first sound transmission means installed within one of a first brake pipe and a first brake hose of said at least one locomotive;
(b) a first power source disposed within said locomotive and coupled to said first sound transmission means;
(c) a first controller coupled to said first power source, to said first sound transmission means and to a control means disposed within a cab of said at least one locomotive;
(d) at least one second sound transmission means associated with said sound wave, said at least one second sound transmission means installed within one of a second brake pipe and a second brake hose of at least one of said predetermined plurality of said railway cars;
(e) at least one second power source coupled to said at least one second sound transmission means; and
(f) at least one second controller coupled to said at least one second power source and to said at least one second sound transmission means, whereby a command signal initiated by said control means and received by said first controller enables said first sound transmission means to transmit said sound wave in a first direction, said sound wave is received by said at least one second sound transmission means enabling thereof to provide at least one output signal to said at least one second controller. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification