Locomotive consist configuration control
First Claim
1. A railroad train, comprising:
- a first locomotive, wherein said first locomotive includes a first locomotive electronic processor, a first locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor, and a first locomotive operator interface in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor; and
a second locomotive, wherein said second locomotive includes a second locomotive electronic processor, a second locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor and in communication with the first locomotive communication device, a second locomotive sensor in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for monitoring operation of the second locomotive and generating signals indicative of the monitored operations, and a second locomotive controller device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for controlling the operation of the second locomotive, with the second locomotive processor receiving the signals indicative of the operation of the second locomotive, determining faults in the operation of the second locomotive, and communicating signals indicative of the faults to the second locomotive communication device for transmission to the first locomotive operator interface via the first locomotive communication device and the first locomotive processor, and with the second locomotive controller device being controllable from the first locomotive interface via the first and second locomotive processors and the first and second locomotive communication devices, wherein faults in the operation of the second locomotive are communicated to the first locomotive operator interface and control actions on the operation of the second locomotive in response to the faults may be effected by an operator on the first locomotive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A railroad train is provided and includes a first locomotive having a first locomotive electronic processor, a first locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor, and a first locomotive operator interface in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor. The railroad train also includes a second locomotive having a second locomotive electronic processor, a second locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor and the first locomotive communication device, a second locomotive sensor in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for monitoring the operation of the second locomotive and generating signals indicative of the monitored operations, and a second locomotive controller device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for controlling the operation of the second locomotive, with the second locomotive processor receiving the signals indicative of the operation of the second locomotive, determining faults in the operation of the second locomotive, and communicating signals indicative of the faults to the second locomotive communication device for transmission to the first locomotive operator interface via the first locomotive communication device and the first locomotive processor, and with the second locomotive controller device being controllable from the first locomotive interface, wherein faults in the operation of the second locomotive are communicated to the first locomotive operator interface and control actions on the operation of the second locomotive in response to the faults may be effected by an operator on the first locomotive.
77 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A railroad train, comprising:
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a first locomotive, wherein said first locomotive includes a first locomotive electronic processor, a first locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor, and a first locomotive operator interface in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor; and
a second locomotive, wherein said second locomotive includes a second locomotive electronic processor, a second locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor and in communication with the first locomotive communication device, a second locomotive sensor in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for monitoring operation of the second locomotive and generating signals indicative of the monitored operations, and a second locomotive controller device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for controlling the operation of the second locomotive, with the second locomotive processor receiving the signals indicative of the operation of the second locomotive, determining faults in the operation of the second locomotive, and communicating signals indicative of the faults to the second locomotive communication device for transmission to the first locomotive operator interface via the first locomotive communication device and the first locomotive processor, and with the second locomotive controller device being controllable from the first locomotive interface via the first and second locomotive processors and the first and second locomotive communication devices, wherein faults in the operation of the second locomotive are communicated to the first locomotive operator interface and control actions on the operation of the second locomotive in response to the faults may be effected by an operator on the first locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communication/control system for a railroad train having a first locomotive and a second locomotive, the communication/control system comprising:
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a first locomotive electronic processor, a first locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor, and a first locomotive operator interface in electrical communication with the first locomotive processor; and
a second locomotive electronic processor, a second locomotive communication device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor and in communication with the first locomotive communication device, a second locomotive sensor in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for monitoring operation of the second locomotive and generating signals indicative of the monitored operations, and a second locomotive controller device in electrical communication with the second locomotive processor for controlling the operation of the second locomotive, with the second locomotive processor receiving the signals indicative of the operation of the second locomotive, determining faults in the operation of the second locomotive, and communicating signals indicative of the faults to the second locomotive communication device for transmission to the first locomotive operator interface via the first locomotive communication device and the first locomotive processor, and with the second locomotive controller device being controllable from the first locomotive interface via the first and second locomotive processors and the first and second locomotive communication devices, wherein faults in the operation of the second locomotive are communicated to the first locomotive operator interface and control actions on the operation of the second locomotive in response to the faults may be effected by an operator on the first locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for ensuring control of a locomotive within a locomotive consist, wherein the locomotive consist includes a first locomotive processor, a second locomotive processor and a second locomotive controller device communicated with the second locomotive processor, wherein the first locomotive processor is communicated with the second locomotive processor and wherein the second locomotive processor is configurable to allow the first locomotive processor to control the second locomotive controller device, the method comprising:
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monitoring the second locomotive controller device to determine whether a fault condition of the second locomotive controller device has occurred;
if a fault condition has occurred, communicating said fault condition to an operator of the locomotive consist; and
operating the first locomotive processor to control the second locomotive controller device.
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Specification