SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL LOCOMOTIVE DECOUPLING DETECTION

• US 20100148013A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hershey, John Erik, Davenport, David Michael, Bhotika, Rahul, Welles, Kenneth Brakeley II
• Application Number:
  US12/638,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/1.C
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 7/14 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61J 3/00 Shunting or short-distance haulage devices; Similar devices for hauling trains on steep gradients or as starting aids; Car propelling devices therefor overhead travelling cranes combined with auxiliary means for shunting railway vehicles B66C17/26; capstans B66D
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: an optical sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by an optical sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating whether a first coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or an uncoupled state, the apparatus comprising:

a visual sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled state or an uncoupled state, the coupled or uncoupled state indicating a proximity or presence of a portion of a second coupler within a receiving area of the first coupler.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the signal provided by the sensor is responsive to the wavelengths of light outside of the human-visible spectrum.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the visual sensor comprises a charge-coupled device whose field-of-view includes the coupler.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises an optical target configured to present a predetermined optical pattern within the field-of-view of the visual sensor.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a predetermined optical pattern within the field-of-view of the visual sensor.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the predetermined optical pattern is disposed upon the coupler using a surface treatment.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the surface treatment is fluorescent and the apparatus includes an illumination source whose emitted wavelengths of light are in the ultraviolet spectrum.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a control algorithm for determining whether the coupler is in a coupled or an uncoupled state.

10. A system for detecting whether a coupler of a locomotive is coupled to another rail car, the system comprising:

a sensing device configured to provide a signal indicative of a coupling state of the coupler;

a wireless transmitter in operable communication with the sensing device, the wireless transmitter being configured to receive and transmit the signal; and

a status detection system configured to receive the signal from the wireless transmitter, the status detection system comprising;

a controller including image processing algorithms for determining whether the video signals depict a coupled or uncoupled locomotive; and

a storage medium,

wherein the sensing device is a video camera configured to provide video signals to the controller.

11. The system as in claim 10, further comprising an illumination source configured to illuminate the coupler.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the illumination source provides illumination wavelengths outside of the human-visible spectrum.

13. The system as in claim 10, further including an optical target disposed upon the coupler and having a predetermined optical pattern.

14. The system as in claim 10, wherein the coupler includes a predetermined optical pattern within the field-of-view of the visual sensor.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the predetermined optical pattern is disposed upon the coupler using a surface treatment.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the surface treatment is fluorescent and the system further comprises an illumination source whose emitted wavelengths of light are in the ultraviolet spectrum.

17. The system as in claim 10, further comprising:

a display device, wherein the controller is configured to provide a graphical indication of the coupling state on the display device, wherein the graphical indication provides real time status of the locomotive.

18. A method for determining whether a coupler of a locomotive engine is coupled, the method comprising:

configuring a video camera to provide video signals indicative of either a coupled or uncoupled state of the coupler;

transmitting the video signals wirelessly to a controller;

processing the video signals with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and

providing visually perceivable indication of the coupled or uncoupled state of the coupler.

19. The method as in claim 18, further comprising:

programming the controller with image processing algorithms for determining whether the video signals depict a coupled or uncoupled locomotive.

20. The method as in claim 18, further comprising:

disposing an optical target having a predetermined optical pattern upon the coupler.

21. The method as in claim 20, further comprising:

illuminating the coupler with a light source.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein the light source provides illumination wavelengths outside of the human-visible spectrum.