SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING PARAMETERS OF MULTIPLE RAIL VEHICLES OPERATING OVER MULTIPLE INTERSECTING RAILROAD NETWORKS

• US 20080033605A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Daum, Wolfgang, Eryurek, Evren, Shaffer, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation

Abstract

In a railway network a method for linking at least one of train parameters, fuel efficiency emission efficiency, and load with network knowledge so that adjustments for network efficiency may be made as time progresses while a train is performing a mission. The method includes dividing the train mission into multiple sections with common intersection points, and calculating train operating parameters based on other trains in a railway network to determine optimized parameters over a certain section. The method further includes comparing optimized parameters to current operating parameters, and altering current operating parameters of the train to coincide with optimized parameters for at least one of the current track section and a pending track section.

Claims

1. In a railway network, a method for linking at least one of train parameters, fuel efficiency, emission efficiency, and load with network knowledge so that adjustments for network efficiency may be made as time progresses while a train is performing a mission, the method comprising:

a. dividing a train mission into multiple sections;

b. calculating train operating parameters based on other trains in a railway network to determine optimized parameters over a certain section;

c. comparing optimized operating parameters to current operating parameters; and

d. altering current operating parameters of the train to coincide with optimized operating parameters for at least one of the current track section and a pending track section in view of other rail vehicles using the railway network.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises comparing at least one of emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of altering is accomplished based on a result determined from the step of comparing at least one emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current operating parameters are optimized operating parameters determined by the train.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprises altering current operating parameters to avoid conflicts with other trains using the railway network.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein altering current operating parameters is performed by a trip optimizer aboard the train.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein altering current operating parameters is accomplished based on prioritizing an arrival time of the train when compared to other trains in the railway network.

8. A system for linking train parameters, fuel efficiency and load with network knowledge so that adjustments for network efficiency may be made as time progresses, the system comprising:

a. a network optimizer that determines optimum operating conditions for a plurality of trains within a railway network over segments of each train'"'"'s mission;

b. a wireless communication system for communicating between the network optimizer and a train; and

c. a data collection system that provide at least one operational condition about the train to the network optimizer.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a transfer function located within at least one of the network optimizer and another processor for comparing at least one emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the data collection system comprises an on-board optimizer that determines at least one optimum operating condition for the train.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the network optimizer varies the at least one optimum operating conditions determined by the on-board optimizer for the train in accordance with the optimum operating condition determined by the network optimizer.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the on-board optimizer overrides the at least one operating condition determined by the network optimizer when the network optimizer operating condition exceeds an actual operating parameter of the train.

13. A computer software code for linking train operating parameters, fuel efficiency and load with network knowledge so that adjustments for network efficiency may be made as time progresses, the computer software code comprising:

a. a computer software module for dividing a train mission into multiple sections with common intersection points;

b. a computer software module for calculating at least one train operating parameter based on other trains in a railway network to determine at least one optimized parameter over a certain section;

c. a computer software module for comparing the at least one optimized parameter to at least one current operating parameter; and

d. a computer software module for altering the at least one current operating parameter of the train to coincide with the at least one optimized parameter for at least one of the current section and a future section.

14. The computer software code according to claim 13, further comprises a computer software module for comparing at least one of emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

15. The computer software code according to claim 13, wherein the at least one current operating parameter is at least one optimized parameter determined by the train.

16. The computer software code according to claim 13, further comprises a computer software module for altering at least one current operating parameter to avoid conflicts with other trains.

17. A method of optimizing train operations using a network optimizer and an on-board trip optimizer, the method comprising:

a. providing a network optimizer that evaluates train operations when determining a mission plan;

b. providing a train an initial set of train parameters from the network optimizer;

c. motoring the train through a mission;

d. reporting train operating conditions to the network optimizer as the train progresses through the mission;

e. on-board the train, considering real-time operational conditions of the train in view of the network optimizer provided train parameters; and

f. if at least one of the train parameters established by the network optimizer exceed limitations realized on-board the train, overriding the at least one train parameter provided by the network optimizer.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprises comparing at least one of emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of comparing is accomplished by at least one of off-board and on-board the train.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein providing a train an initial set of train parameters includes determining at least one of an initial time of arrival, emission limits, and a speed setting.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprises altering at least one current operating parameter to avoid a conflict with another train using the railway network.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein altering the at least one current operating parameters is performed by a trip optimizer aboard the train.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprises directing the train to a certain track to optimized mission objectives of a plurality of trains.

24. In a railway network having a plurality of tracks where some may intersect with other tracks in the network, a method for optimizing rail vehicles operating within the railway network, the method comprising:

a. determining a mission objective for each rail vehicle at a beginning of each respective mission;

b. determining an optimized trip plan for each rail vehicle based on the mission objective; and

c. adjusting each respective trip plan while motoring based on at least one of a respective rail vehicle'"'"'s operating parameter and other rail vehicles proximate another rail vehicle.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprises comparing at least one of emission output to speed, fuel efficiency to speed, and emissions to speed to fuel efficiency.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of adjusting is accomplished based on a result determined from the step of comparing.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises at least one of fuel parameters, emission parameters, and speed parameters.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein current operating parameters are optimized parameters determined by at least one of the rail vehicle and a central network optimizer.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein a first respective rail vehicle may be directed to pull onto a side track for a meet and pass based on a priority mission of a second respective rail vehicle.

30. The method according to claim 24, further comprises altering current operating parameters of a respective rail vehicle to avoid a conflict with another rail vehicle using the railway network.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein altering respective current operating parameters for a specific rail vehicle is performed by a trip optimizer aboard the respective rail vehicle.