System, Method and Computer Software Code for Optimizing Train Operations Considering Rail Car Parameters

• US 20100262321A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 10/14/2010
• 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: Borntraeger, John, Hershey, John Erik, Daum, Wolfgang, Kumar, Ajith, Peltz, David Michael, Shaffer, Glenn Robert, Noffsinger, Joseph Forrest
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• 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 improving train performance, the method including determining a rail car parameter for at least one rail car to be included in a train, and creating a train trip plan based on the rail car parameter in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

Claims

1. A method for improving train performance, the method comprising:

a) determining a rail car parameter for at least one rail car to be included in a train; and

b) creating a train trip plan based on the rail car parameter in accordance with at least one operational criteria for the train.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rail car parameter includes at least one of weight, axial load, friction, wind resistance, wheel axial loads, vertical loads, and lateral loads.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises determining a location of a rail car within the train based on at least one rail car parameter.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprises optimizing at least one of speed versus fuel consumption of the train and emission output of the train based on at least one rail car parameter.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprises communicating rail car parameter data to a remote central database.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprises protecting communications to and from the remote central database.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprises determining whether a change in an axle load is caused by at least one of liquid displacement and shifting fixed cargo.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprises reducing yard setup time of the train based on the rail car parameter.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprises determining a load characterization of the rail car in the train based on at least one of weight, resistance, and curve performance.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprises optimizing operating performance of at least one of a distributed power train and a non-distributed power train based on the rail car parameter.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprises providing a plurality of rail cars wherein an order of arranging the rail cars in the train is based on the rail car parameters.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprises operating the train based on the trip plan created.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining a rail car parameter further comprises determining the rail car parameter by traversing a predetermined track portion.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprises determining rail car data by reading information contained on an identification tag attached to the rail car.

15. A computer software code for use in a processor for improving train performance, the computer software code comprising:

a) a computer software module for determining a rail car parameter of at least one rail car of the train; and

b) a computer software module for creating a train trip plan based on the rail car parameter in accordance with at least one operational criteria for the train.

16. The computer software code according to claim 15, wherein a rail car parameter includes at least one of weight, axial load, friction, wind resistance, wheel axial loads, vertical loads, and lateral loads.

17. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for determining a location of a rail car within the train based on at least one rail car parameter.

18. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for optimizing at least one of speed versus fuel consumption of the train and emission output of the train based on the rail car parameter.

19. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for communicating rail car parameter data to a remote central database.

20. The computer software code according to claim 19, further comprises a computer software module for protecting communications to and from the remote central database.

21. The computer software code according to claim 16, further comprises a computer software module for determining whether a change in an axle load is caused by at least one of liquid displacement within the rail car and sifting fixed cargo.

22. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for determining a load characterization of the car in the train based on at least one of weight, resistance, and curve performance.

23. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for optimizing operating performance of at least one of a distributed power train and a non-distributed power train based on the rail car parameter.

24. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a providing a plurality of rail cars wherein a computer software module determines an order of the rail cars in the train is based on the rail car parameters.

25. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for operating the train based on the trip plan created.

26. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprises a computer software module for determining rail car data by reading information contained on an identification tag attached to the rail car.

27. A system for improving train performance by determining a rail car parameter, the system comprising:

a) a rail car parameter measurement system;

b) a central controller;

c) a communication network for allowing communications between the measurement system and the central controller;

d) wherein a rail car parameter measured and provided to the central controller which determines at least one of a train make up profile for all rail cars in the train and a trip plan for the train mission based on the rail car parameters.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the parameter measurement system further comprises at least one of an on-board sensor and an off-board sensor to determine rail car parameters.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the on-board sensor and off-board sensor determines at least one of weight, axial load, friction, wind resistance, wheel axial loads, vertical loads, and lateral loads.

30. The system according to claim 27, further comprises at least one of a remote database and a portable data collection unit.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the communication network provides for communicating between at least two of the measurement system, the central controller, the remote database, the portable data collection unit, a wayside device, off-board sensor, and a locomotive.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the communication network is a protected communication network.

33. The system according to claim 27, wherein the central controller further comprises a processor.

34. The system according to claim 30, wherein the remote database comprises rail car parameter data for a plurality of rail cars.

35. The system according to claim 27 further comprises:

a) an identification marker attached to a rail car;

b) an identification marker reader located proximate a track upon which the rail car is upon to communicate with the marker to gather information from the markers;

c) wherein the central controller is in communication with the identification marker reader and the information associated with the identification marker is used to determine characteristics of the rail car.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the information associated with the identification marker is provided to a trip optimizer for use in determining a trip plan.