Methods and systems for determining an integrity of a train

• US 20080243320A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Otsubo, Tom, Stull, Craig A., Oberkramer, William Crain
• Application Number:
  US11/731,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 21/00 Systems for transmitting the position of an object with respect to a predetermined reference system, e.g. tele-autographic system
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A method for determining an integrity of a train is provided. The method includes coupling at least one head-of-train device to the train. The head-of-train device includes at least one first radio. The method also includes coupling at least one end-of-train device to the train. The end-of-train device includes at least one second radio. The method also includes communicating between the first and second radios using radio-ranging to determine a length of the train, and determining the integrity of the train based on the length of the train.

Claims

1. A method for determining an integrity of a train, said method comprising:

coupling at least one head-of-train device to the train, wherein the head-of-train device includes at least one first radio;

coupling at least one end-of-train device to the train, wherein the end-of-train device includes at least one second radio;

communicating between the first and second radios using radio-ranging to determine a length of the train; and

determining the integrity of the train based on the length of the train.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the radios includes an antenna, said method further comprising coupling each radio to the train such that the antenna of each radio extends a distance above a height of the train.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising integrating at least the second radio with at least one of a brake pressure monitor and a device configured to determine movement of the train.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein integrating at least the second radio with a device configured to determine movement of the train further comprises integrating at least the second radio with at least one of a GPS receiver and an accelerometer.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising verifying the integrity of the train based on data received from at least one of the brake pressure monitor and the device configured to determine movement of the train.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising integrating each radio with a processor configured to process data associated with at least one of the head-of-train device and the end-of-train device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said communicating between the first and second radios using radio-ranging to determine a length of the train facilitates determining the length of the train without manual data entry.

8. A system for determining an integrity of a train, said system comprising:

at least one head-of-train device comprising at least one first radio; and

at least one end-of-train device comprising at least one second radio, wherein said radios are configured to communicate using radio-ranging to determine a length of the train, wherein the integrity of the train is based on the length of the train.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said radios comprises an antenna that extends a distance above a height of the train.

10. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least said second radio is integrated with at least one of a brake pressure monitor and a device configured to determine movement of the train.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said device configured to determine movement of the train is at least one of a GPS receiver and an accelerometer.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein data received from at least one of said brake pressure monitor and said device configured to determine movement of the train is used to verify the integrity of the train.

13. A system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a processor coupled to each said radio, said processor configured to process data associated with at least one of said head-of-train device and said end-of-train device.

14. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said system facilitates determining the length of the train without manual data entry.

15. A train comprising:

a head and an end, said train having a length measured from between said head and said end;

at least one head-of-train device coupled to said train at said head, said head-of-train device comprising at least one first radio; and

at least one end-of-train device coupled to said train at said end, said end-of-train device comprising at least one second radio, said first and second radios are configured to communicate using radio-ranging to determine a length of said train, wherein an integrity of said train is based on the length of said train.

16. A train in accordance with claim 15 wherein each of said radios comprises an antenna that extends a distance above a height of said train.

17. A train in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least said second radio is integrated with at least one of a brake pressure monitor and a device configured to determine movement of said train.

18. A train in accordance with claim 17 wherein said device configured to determine movement of said train is at least one of a GPS receiver and an accelerometer.

19. A train in accordance with claim 17 wherein data received from at least one of said brake pressure monitor and said device configured to determine movement of said train is used to verify the integrity of said train.

20. A train in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a processor coupled to each said radio, said processor configured to process data associated with at least one of said head-of-train device and said end-of-train device.