SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR DETECTING A PHYSICAL DEFECT ALONG A MISSION ROUTE

• US 20090254239A1
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• 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: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Daum, Wolfgang, McNally, Christopher, Shaffer, Glenn Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/042 Track changes detection

Abstract

A route defect detection system for a powered system, the route defect detection system including a control system connected to the powered system for application of tractive effort, and a processor to determine an unplanned change in the application of tractive effort and/or otherwise associated with the tractive effort of the powered system. Based on the unplanned change, the processor determines a type of defect encountered along a mission route. A method and computer software code stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor are also disclosed for a powered system to detect a defect along a mission route.

Claims

1. A route defect detection system for a powered system, the route defect detection system comprising:

a control system connected to the powered system for application of tractive effort; and

a processor to determine an unplanned change in the application of tractive effort and/or otherwise associated with the tractive effort of the powered system;

wherein based on the unplanned change the processor determines a type of defect encountered along a mission route.

2. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification device to notify an operator and/or a route maintainer of the unplanned change and/or the type of defect determined.

3. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a location detection device to identify a location along the mission route where the unplanned change is determined.

4. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a filter function operable with the processor to determine the unplanned change.

5. The route defect detection system according to claim 4, wherein the filter function comprises a low pass filter, a neural net filter, an infinite time series Taylor series expansion filter, a finite time series Taylor series expansion filter, and/or a Kalman filter.

6. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, wherein the unplanned change is determined by the processor identifying a repetitive unplanned decrease and/or increase in tractive effort for a plurality of axles of the powered system, application of an unplanned increase in tractive effort to meet a mission objective, a cyclic unplanned increase and/or decrease in tractive effort, and/or a short term change in a resistance associated with the tractive effort.

7. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, wherein the control system adjusts tractive effort and/or speed of the powered system in response to the type of defect determined.

8. The route defect detection system according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment is accomplished autonomously in a closed-loop configuration.

9. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, wherein the defect is a result of a change to a surface condition of the mission route and/or a change to a part of the powered system that is in contact with a surface of the mission route.

10. The route defect detection system according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a mass cargo or mass transit transportation vehicle, a marine vessel, and/or a rail vehicle.

11. A method for detecting a physical defect along a mission route of a powered system, the method comprising:

monitoring a tractive effort of the powered system;

identifying an unplanned change in the tractive effort;

determining a type of the unplanned change in the tractive effort identified, using a processor; and

determining a type of defect along the mission route based on the type of unplanned change in tractive effort identified.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising notifying an operator and/or a route maintainer of the unplanned change in the tractive effort and/or the type of defect determined.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising identifying a location along the mission route where the unplanned change in the tractive effort occurs.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining the type of the unplanned change in the tractive effort comprises identifying a repetitive unplanned decrease and/or increase in tractive effort for a plurality of axles of the powered system, application of an unplanned increase in tractive effort to meet a mission objective, a cyclic unplanned increase and/or decrease in tractive effort, and/or a short term change in a resistance associated with the tractive effort.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting tractive effort and/or speed of the powered system in response to the type of defect determined.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein adjusting is accomplished autonomously in a closed-loop configuration.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the defect is a result of a change to a surface condition of the mission route and/or a change to a part of the powered system that is in contact with a surface of the mission route.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a mass cargo or mass transit transportation vehicle, a marine vessel, and/or a rail vehicle.

19. A computer software code stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor for detecting a defect along a mission route as a powered system is performing a mission, the computer software code comprising:

a computer software module for gathering information about a tractive effort of the powered system, when executed by the processor;

a computer software module for identifying an unplanned change in the tractive effort, when executed by the processor; and

a computer software module for determining a type of defect along the mission route based on a type of unplanned change in tractive effort identified, when executed by the processor.

20. The computer software code according to claim 19, further comprising a computer software module for notifying an operator and/or a route maintainer of the unplanned change in the tractive effort and/or the type of defect determined, when executed by the processor.

21. The computer software code according to claim 19, further comprising a computer software module for identifying a location along the mission route where the unplanned change in the tractive effort occurs, when executed by the processor.

22. The computer software code according to claim 19, wherein the computer software module for identifying the unplanned change in the tractive effort comprises a computer software module for identifying a repetitive unplanned decrease and/or increase in tractive effort for a plurality of axles of the powered system, application of an unplanned increase in tractive effort to meet a mission objective, a cyclic unplanned increase and/or decrease in tractive effort, and/or a short term change in a resistance associated with the tractive effort.

23. The computer software code according to claim 19, further comprising a computer software module for adjusting tractive effort and/or speed of the powered system in response to the type of defect determined.

24. The computer software code according to claim 23, wherein the computer software module for adjusting is accomplished autonomously in a closed-loop configuration.

25. The computer software code according to claim 19, wherein the defect is a result of a change to a surface condition of the mission route and/or a change to a part of the powered system that is in contact with a surface of the mission route.