METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING TRACK FEATURES AND CONTROLLING A RAILROAD TRAIN RESPONSIVE THERETO

• US 20080269967A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Brooks, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,120,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/006 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation track-side optimisation of operation B61L27/16

Abstract

A method for determining a control parameter of a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the method including producing a terrain profile representing a parameter of the railway system or a portion thereof, producing a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof, and using the terrain profile and representation to derive the control parameter for the vehicle or the portion thereof.

Claims

1. A method for determining a control parameter of a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the method comprising:

producing a terrain profile representing a parameter of the railway system or a portion thereof;

producing a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof; and

using the terrain profile and representation to derive the control parameter for the vehicle or the portion thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using further comprises combining the terrain profile and the representation to provide an indication of the vehicle handling characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile comprises a pattern parameter profile or an actual parameter profile.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile further comprises a profile for substantially an entire length of the vehicle, for a portion of the length of the vehicle or for segments of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a distributed power train have a lead locomotive consist, a non-lead locomotive consist, a first railcar group between the lead and non-lead locomotive consists and a second railcar group trailing the non-lead locomotive consist, and wherein the profile comprises a first profile segment for the lead locomotive consist and the first railcar group and a second profile segment for the non-lead locomotive consist and the second railcar group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile comprises multi-dimensional profiles, comprising at least two parameter features selected from a crest, sag, gradient, curve and super-elevation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile comprises one or more of a crest, a sag, a terrain gradient, a track curve and a track super-elevation.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the representation of the vehicle comprises weight distribution, vehicle length, a number of vehicle railcars, a length of each vehicle railcar, a weight of each vehicle railcar, coupler type, train type and a non-uniform weight distribution.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of producing a representation further comprises producing a representation having a normalized value of 1, and wherein vehicle characteristics produce representative values above and below 1, and wherein the step of combining further comprises multiplying the representation by the profile.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of producing the profile further comprises selecting a parameter pattern and correlating the parameter pattern to an actual parameter profile to produce a correlation value representative of the correlation between the parameter pattern and the actual parameter profile.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of using comprises integrating a product of the parameter pattern and the actual parameter profile over a length of the vehicle, wherein the correlation value is a function of a location on the railway system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the representation of the vehicle comprises a uniformly distributed representation over a length of the vehicle or comprises a non-uniformly distributed representation over the length of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the representation comprises vehicle weight.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the vehicle according to the indication.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of controlling further comprises limiting vehicle acceleration responsive to an indication comprising a terrain crest, accelerating the vehicle responsive to an indication comprising a terrain sag and limiting application of tractive effort responsive to an indication comprising a track curve.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of accelerating the vehicle responsive to the indication comprising the terrain sag, further comprises accelerating the vehicle responsive to one or more of a slope of the sag and vehicle characteristics.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of limiting the application of tractive effort further comprises limiting the application of tractive effort responsive to one or more of a degree of curvature of the curve, a degree of super-elevation of the curve, a length of railcars comprising the vehicle, a weight of railcars comprising the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of limiting vehicle acceleration responsive to the indication comprising the terrain crest, further comprises limiting the vehicle acceleration responsive to one or more of a slope of the crest and vehicle characteristics.

19. The method of claim 1 the step of using further providing an indication of a parameter of the track segment related to vehicle handling characteristics as the vehicle traverses the track segment, the method further comprising displaying the indication of the parameter of the track segment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying the indication of the parameter of the track segment including a time parameter indicating when the track segment will be encountered or a distance parameter indicating a distance when the track segment will be encountered by the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the track segment comprises a crest or a sag and wherein the indication of the parameter of the track segment further comprises a severity of the parameter, a slope of a grade change associated with the track segment, a location of the vehicle and portions of the vehicle relative to the track segment, coupler forces for different segments of the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the track segment, a peak coupler force as the vehicle traverses the track segment and a location of the peak coupler force on the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the track segment comprises a track curve, and wherein the indication of the parameter of the track segment further comprises a peak lateral-to-vertical force ratio, a lateral-to-vertical force ratio for one or more segments of the vehicle and a speed to reduce the lateral-to-vertical force ratio to a predetermined value.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the indication of the parameter comprises a display providing the indication in one of more of a graphical, numerical or textual form.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using further comprises providing an effective grade responsive to the profile and the representation of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the effective grade is responsive to the profile and a weight distribution of the vehicle.

26. A method of operating a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the method comprising:

generating a terrain profile representing a parameter of the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof;

generating a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof; and

combining the terrain profile and the representation to provide an indication of handling characteristics of the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of combining comprises combining by multiplying, adding, or some other mathematical operation to devise the indication based on the profile and representation.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising controlling the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof based on the indication.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of controlling further comprises automatically controlling the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of controlling further comprises providing advisory information based on the indication.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of controlling further comprises providing a user override control when the user has information about the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof or track information.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of controlling further comprises providing an ability for adjusting control limits.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of automatically controlling is accomplished in a closed loop process.

34. The method of claim 26 further comprising displaying indicia about the terrain profile, the representation, or the indication to a user.

35. A method for determining handling characteristics of a railway system vehicle traversing a track segment, the method comprising:

producing a profile representing a parameter of the track segment;

producing a modified profile according to a vehicle characteristic; and

comparing the modified profile and the parameter of the track segment to provide an indication of the vehicle handling characteristics.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of comparing comprises correlating the modified profile and the parameter of the track segment to provide an indication of the vehicle handling characteristics.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of correlating produces a correlation value for use by an operator of the vehicle in determining vehicle handling actions.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising comparing the correlation value with a threshold and creating a flag responsive to a relationship between the correlation value and the threshold, the flag for use by the operator in determining vehicle handling actions.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising displaying the correlation value for use by the operator in determining vehicle handling actions.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of comparing further provides an indication of the parameter of the track segment, the method further comprising displaying the indication of the parameter of the track segment.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of displaying further comprises providing the indication in one of more of a graphical, numerical or textual form.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying the indication of the parameter of the track segment including a time parameter indicating when the track segment will be encountered or a distance parameter indicating a distance when the track segment will be encountered by the vehicle.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein the track segment comprises a crest or a sag and wherein the indication further comprises a severity of the parameter, a slope of a grade change associated with the parameter, a location of the vehicle and portions of the vehicle relative to the track segment, coupler forces for different segments of the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the track segment, a peak coupler force on the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the track segment and a location on the vehicle of the peak coupler force.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the peak coupler forces comprise peak coupler forces produced by the parameter of the track segment.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein the track segment comprises a track curve, and wherein the indication of the parameter of the track segment further comprises a peak lateral-to-vertical force ratio, a lateral-to-vertical force ratio for one or more segments of the vehicle and a speed to reduce the lateral-to-vertical force ratio to a predetermined value.

46. The method of claim 35 wherein the vehicle characteristic comprises one of vehicle weight and vehicle weight distribution.

47. The method of claim 35 wherein the vehicle characteristic comprises a vehicle characteristic uniformly distributed along a length of the vehicle.

48. The method of claim 35 wherein the vehicle characteristic comprises a vehicle characteristic non-uniformly distributed along a length of the train.

49. The method of claim 35 wherein the profile comprises at least one of a crest, sag, gradient, curve and super-elevation.

50. The method of claim 35 further comprising controlling the vehicle according to the indication.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of controlling further comprises limiting vehicle acceleration responsive to an indication of a terrain crest, accelerating the vehicle responsive to an indication of a terrain sag and limiting application of tractive effort responsive to an indication of a track curve.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of accelerating the vehicle responsive to the indication of the terrain sag, further comprises accelerating the vehicle responsive to one or more of a slope of the sag and vehicle characteristics.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of limiting the application of tractive effort further comprises limiting the application of tractive effort responsive to one or more of a degree of curvature of the curve, a degree of super-elevation of the curve, a length of railcars comprising the vehicle, a weight of railcars comprising the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of limiting vehicle acceleration responsive to the indication of the terrain crest, further comprises limiting the vehicle acceleration responsive to one or more of a slope of the crest and vehicle characteristics.

55. The method of claim 35 wherein the indication further comprises an indication of vehicle handling characteristics for vehicle segments.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprises displaying the indication of vehicle handling characteristics for each vehicle segment.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising displaying on a different display, the indication of vehicle handling characteristics for each vehicle segment.

58. The method of claim 35 further comprising controlling the vehicle according to the indication and displaying a control parameter for use by an operator in controlling the vehicle.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein for a track segment comprising a crest or a curve the control parameter comprises a tractive effort limit displayed in graphical, numerical or textual form

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the tractive effort limit comprises a tractive effort notch position or a numerical tractive effort value.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein for a track segment comprising a sag the control parameter comprises an acceleration limit displayed in graphical, numerical or textual form.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the acceleration limit comprises a tractive effort notch position or an acceleration limit.

63. The method of claim 35 further comprising controlling the vehicle according to the indication, wherein an operator can override control of the vehicle according to the indication.

64. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of producing the profile further comprises allowing an operator of the vehicle to produce the profile.

65. A computer program product for determining a control parameter of a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for producing a terrain profile representing a parameter of the railway system or a portion thereof;

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for producing a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof; and

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for using the terrain profile and representation to derive the control parameter for the vehicle or the portion thereof.

66. A computer program product for operating a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for generating a terrain profile representing a parameter of the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof;

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for generating a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof; and

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for combining the terrain profile and the representation to provide an indication of handling characteristics of the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof.

67. A computer program product for determining handling characteristics of a railway system vehicle traversing a track segment, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for producing a profile representing a parameter of the track segment;

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for producing a modified profile according to a vehicle characteristic; and

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in the medium for comparing the modified profile and the parameter of the track segment to provide an indication of the vehicle handling characteristics.

68. An apparatus for determining a control parameter of a railway system vehicle or a portion thereof, the apparatus comprising:

a first element configured to produce a terrain profile that represents a parameter of the railway system or a portion thereof;

a second element configured to produce a representation of the vehicle or a portion thereof; and

a third element to use the terrain profile and representation to derive the control parameter for the vehicle or the portion thereof.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the third element is further configured to compare a modified profile and the parameter of the track segment to provide an indication of the vehicle handling characteristics.

70. The apparatus of claim 68 further comprising a fourth element configured to control the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof based on the control parameter.

71. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein fourth element automatically controls the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof.

72. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the fourth element providing advisory information based on the indication.

73. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the fourth element is configured to provide a user override control when the user has information about the railway system vehicle or a portion thereof or track information.

74. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the fourth element is configured to provide an ability for adjusting control limits.

75. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein the function of automatically controlling is accomplished in a closed loop process.

76. The apparatus of claim 68 further comprising a display configured to provide indicia about the terrain profile, the representation, or the indication to a user.