Locomotive remote control system with diagnostic display

• US 20050205720A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peltz, David Michael, Kraeling, Mark Bradshaw
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/187.A
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• 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 3/127 for remote control of locomotives remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12

Abstract

An operator control unit (OCU) (12) for a locomotive remote control system (10) for displaying information to an operator of the OCU for use in controlling operation of a locomotive (16) from a location off-board of the locomotive. The OCU includes a receiver (e.g., 22) receiving data indicative of a fault condition of a locomotive and a processor (24) processing the data to generate locomotive operational recommendation information responsive to the fault condition of locomotive. The OCU also includes an operator display (20) on the OCU showing information indicative of the locomotive operational recommendation information to allow an OCU operator to respond to the fault condition.

Claims

1. An operator control unit (OCU) for a locomotive remote control system for displaying information to an operator of the OCU for use in controlling operation of a locomotive from a location off-board of the locomotive comprising:

a receiver receiving data indicative of a fault condition of a locomotive;

a processor processing the data to generate locomotive operational recommendation information responsive to the fault condition of locomotive; and

an operator display on the OCU showing information indicative of the locomotive operational recommendation information to allow an OCU operator to respond to the fault condition.

2. The OCU of claim 1, further comprising a memory storing system diagnostic and corresponding fault recovery routines responsive to fault conditions of the locomotive being accessible by the processor to generate appropriate locomotive operational recommendation information.

3. A system for displaying information to an operator of a portable operator control unit (OCU) for use in controlling operation of a locomotive from a location off-board of the locomotive comprising:

an OCU off-board of the locomotive having a transceiver for wireless communications;

a locomotive control unit (LCU) responsive to the OCU to control a locomotive;

sensors on board the locomotive generating data indicative of conditions of the locomotive;

a transmitter transmitting the data from the locomotive; and

a processor within the OCU for processing the data to generate locomotive operational recommendation information responsive to the conditions of locomotive; and

a display on the OCU for displaying information from the processor to an operator.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the OCU further comprises an actuator allowing the operator to selectively access information available for display on the OCU.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a control center receiving the data from the locomotive and transmitting the data to the OCU.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the data comprises locomotive health information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data comprises troubleshooting information enabling the OCU to analyze the health data for correcting faults on the locomotive.

8. A method for displaying information to an operator of a portable operator control unit (OCU) for use in controlling operation of a locomotive from a location off-board of the locomotive comprising:

receiving information indicative of respective operating parameters of a locomotive at the OCU;

allowing the operator to selectively access information for display on the OCU from a menu of information available for display; and

displaying the desired information selected by the operator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the desired information further comprises sequentially scrolling the desired information on a display of the OCU.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the desired information comprises locomotive brake charging data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is provided by the locomotive being controlled.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is provided by the control center monitoring the operating parameters of the locomotive being controlled.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an operating mode of the locomotive; and

tailoring the information being displayed responsive to the operating mode.