Distributed power train operation responsive to an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition
First Claim
1. In a railroad train comprising a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives, further comprising a communication system for use by the lead locomotive to issue communication system commands to the remote locomotives, wherein the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives comprise a brake control system in fluid communication with the brake pipe via a brake pipe valve, wherein the brake control system at each of the lead and remote locomotives controls the brake pipe fluid flow, a method of propagating a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive along the brake pipe from a first remote locomotive to a second remote locomotive downstream of the first remote locomotive comprising:
- identifying an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition at a first remote locomotive inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a lead locomotive and last received by the first remote locomotive; and
disabling an ability of the first remote locomotive to control a brake pipe flow so that a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive is propagated along a brake pipe to a second remote locomotive with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first remote locomotive.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of propagating a brake pipe braking command along a fluid carrying brake pipe (14) interconnecting members of a transportation system, the transportation system comprising a communication system (24) for exchanging information between a controlling member of the system and controlled members of the system includes identifying an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition at a first controlled member (e.g. 12) of the transportation system inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a controlling member of the transportation system. The method also includes disabling an ability of the first controlled member to control a brake pipe flow so that a brake pipe braking command issued by the controlling member is propagated along a brake pipe to a second controlled member of the transportation system downstream of the first controlled member with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first controlled member
14 Citations
27 Claims
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1. In a railroad train comprising a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives, further comprising a communication system for use by the lead locomotive to issue communication system commands to the remote locomotives, wherein the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives comprise a brake control system in fluid communication with the brake pipe via a brake pipe valve, wherein the brake control system at each of the lead and remote locomotives controls the brake pipe fluid flow, a method of propagating a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive along the brake pipe from a first remote locomotive to a second remote locomotive downstream of the first remote locomotive comprising:
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identifying an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition at a first remote locomotive inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a lead locomotive and last received by the first remote locomotive; and
disabling an ability of the first remote locomotive to control a brake pipe flow so that a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive is propagated along a brake pipe to a second remote locomotive with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first remote locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a railroad train comprising a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives, further comprising a communication system for use by the lead locomotive to issue communication system commands to the remote locomotives, wherein the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives comprise a brake control system in fluid communication with the brake pipe via a brake pipe valve, wherein the brake control system at each of the lead and remote locomotives controls the brake pipe fluid flow, a method of propagating a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive along the brake pipe from a first remote locomotive to a second remote locomotive downstream of the first remote locomotive comprising:
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identifying, when a first remote locomotive'"'"'s brakes are in a released state, a brake pipe flow condition at the first remote locomotive inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a lead locomotive and last received by the first locomotive;
performing, at the first remote locomotive, a communication system communication check with the lead locomotive; and
when the communication check indicates a loss of communication with the lead locomotive and a sensed brake pipe pressure at the remote locomotive drops below a predetermined level for a predetermined amount of time, applying the brakes of the first remote locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a railroad train comprising a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives, further comprising a communication system for use by the lead locomotive to issue communication system commands to the remote locomotives, wherein the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives each comprise a brake control system in fluid communication with the brake pipe via a brake pipe valve, wherein the brake control system at each of the lead and remote locomotives controls the brake pipe fluid flow, a system for propagating a brake pipe braking command responsive to a braking operation of the lead locomotive along the brake pipe from a first remote locomotive to a second remote locomotive downstream of the first remote locomotive comprising:
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a fluid flow condition sensor at the first remote locomotive for sensing a fluid flow condition in the brake pipe at the first remote locomotive and for providing a fluid flow condition signal representative of a sensed fluid condition;
a brake pipe valve operable for disabling the first remote locomotive from controlling a brake pipe fluid flow condition; and
a controller for operating the brake pipe valve responsive to the fluid flow condition signal being indicative of a brake pipe braking command to disable the first remote locomotive from controlling a brake pipe fluid flow condition so that the brake pipe braking indication is propagated along the brake pipe to a second remote locomotive downstream of the first remote locomotive with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first remote locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of propagating a brake pipe braking command along a fluid carrying brake pipe interconnecting members of a transportation system, the transportation system comprising a communication system for exchanging information between a controlling member of the system and controlled members of the system, the method comprising:
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identifying an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition at a first controlled member of a transportation system inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a controlling member of the transportation system; and
disabling an ability of the first controlled member to control a brake pipe flow so that a brake pipe braking command issued by the controlling member is propagated along a brake pipe to a second controlled member of the transportation system downstream of the first controlled member with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first controlled member.
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Specification