Protection against exceeding the braking capability of remote controlled locomotives
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train to insure effective braking, the method comprising:
- a) calculating an estimated total energy of a train;
b) calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive;
c) determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold; and
d) decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded.
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Abstract
A method for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train to insure effective braking, the method including calculating an estimated total energy of a train, calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive, determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold, and decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train to insure effective braking, the method comprising:
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a) calculating an estimated total energy of a train;
b) calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive;
c) determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold; and
d) decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
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3. The method of clam 1 wherein decreasing the velocity of the train comprises autonomously decreasing the velocity of the train.
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7. Computer readable media containing program instructions for remotely controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train that has at least one of excessive weight and operating at an excessive speed and with a computer as part of the locomotive that can control operation of the locomotive, the computer readable media comprising:
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a) a computer program code for calculating an estimated total energy of a train;
b) a computer program code for calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive;
c) a computer program code for determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold; and
d) a computer program code for decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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9. The computer readable media of clam 7 wherein decreasing the velocity of the train comprises a computer program code for autonomously decreasing the velocity of the train.
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14. A monitoring and control system for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train having at least one of excessive weight and operating at an excessive speed, the system comprising:
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a) a first sensor for detecting work output data from the locomotive;
b) a second sensor for measuring a speed of the locomotive;
c) a processor for accepting work output data from the first sensor and speed of the locomotive from the second sensor so as use a program to estimate a weight of the train based on the work output data and to calculate an acceptable stopping distance based on the estimated train weight, locomotive speed, and an elevation grade; and
d) wherein the processor factors at least a second time estimated train weight, locomotive speed, and elevation grade to determine whether the train can stop within the acceptable stopping distance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification