SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTING RAILCAR SWITCHING SOLUTIONS IN A SWITCHYARD USING EMPTY CAR SUBSTITUTION LOGIC
First Claim
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1. A method for assembling a train block in a railway switchyard that includes a section for holding a plurality of railcars including empty railcars and non-empty railcars to be classified into a plurality of classification tracks, the method including:
- a. electronically receiving data from a railway management system, the data identifying a train block to be assembled at the railway switchyard, the train block having a plurality of non-empty railcars and one particular empty railcar;
b. on the basis of the data switching non-empty railcars that belong to the train block into a selected one of the classification tracks;
c. switching an empty railcar from the plurality of empty railcars other than the particular empty railcar into the selected one of the classification tracks;
d. generating and sending an electronic message to the railway management system, the electronic message including data conveying information that identifies the empty railcar other than the particular empty railcar.
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Abstract
A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for assembling a train block in a railway switchyard that includes a section for holding a plurality of railcars including empty railcars and non-empty railcars to be classified into a plurality of classification tracks, the method including:
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a. electronically receiving data from a railway management system, the data identifying a train block to be assembled at the railway switchyard, the train block having a plurality of non-empty railcars and one particular empty railcar; b. on the basis of the data switching non-empty railcars that belong to the train block into a selected one of the classification tracks; c. switching an empty railcar from the plurality of empty railcars other than the particular empty railcar into the selected one of the classification tracks; d. generating and sending an electronic message to the railway management system, the electronic message including data conveying information that identifies the empty railcar other than the particular empty railcar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for assembling a train block in a railway switchyard that includes a section for holding a plurality of railcars including empty railcars and non-empty railcars to be classified into a plurality of classification tracks, the method including:
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a. electronically receiving data from a railway management system, the data identifying a train block to be assembled at the railway switchyard, the train block having a plurality of non-empty railcars and one particular empty railcar; b. selecting among the plurality of classification tracks one classification track on which the train block is to be assembled; c. on the basis of the data performing a switching operation to direct non-empty railcars that belong to the train block from the plurality of railcars into the selected classification track; d. selecting an empty railcar among the plurality of railcars to be substituted to the particular empty railcar; e. switching the selected empty railcar into the selected classification track; f. whereby the train block is assembled into the selected classification track with the selected empty railcar in lieu of the particular empty railcar. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for assembling a train block in a railway switchyard that includes a section for holding a plurality of railcars including several empty railcars and non-empty railcars to be classified into a plurality of classification tracks, the method including:
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a. electronically receiving data from a railway management system, the data identifying a train block to be assembled at the railway switchyard, the train block having a plurality of non-empty railcars and at least one empty railcar; b. selecting among the plurality of classification tracks one classification track on which the train block is to be assembled; c. on the basis of the data performing a switching operation to direct non-empty railcars that belong to the train block from the plurality of railcars into the selected classification track; d. selecting an empty railcar among the several empty railcars to use in assembling the train block; e. switching the selected empty railcar into the selected classification track; f. generating and sending an electronic message to the railway management system, the electronic message including data conveying an identifier the selected empty railcar; g. the data from the railway management system identifying the train block being free of information that identifies the selected empty railcar. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification