VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION TAG AND TRAIN CONTROL INTEGRATION

• US 20110238241A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Safetran Systems Corp. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: BRADY, JAMES, HICKENLOOPER, HARRISON THOMAS
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/048 using programmable tags
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/20 Trackside control of safe travel of vehicle or train, e.g. braking curve calculation

Abstract

An identification tag reader reads identification tags on vehicles of a train consist. Identification tag identifiers are used to retrieve weights and lengths of the vehicles, and the weight and length information is used by an onboard train control system either to verify weight and length information already stored in the system or input the information initially, in either case for use in controlling the train such as in the calculation of braking curves. In another embodiment, an identification tag reader is paired with a sensor capable of detecting a condition on a train vehicle requiring maintenance, and the condition and an identification tag identifier are transmitted to maintenance personnel. The identification tag is preferably an AEI tag.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a train consist comprising:

receiving a plurality of identification tag identifiers from an identification tag reader;

determining a weight and length of a vehicle associated with each of the identification tag identifiers;

controlling the train using the weights and lengths of vehicles determined using the identification tag identifiers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the train is controlled using an onboard train control system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlling step comprises using the weights and lengths of vehicles determined using the identification tag identifiers to confirm train consist weight and length information previously stored in an onboard train control system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating a total weight and a total length of the train based on the weight and length of the vehicles associated with the identification tag identifiers received from the identification tag reader.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the calculating step is performed by an onboard train control system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving and determining steps are performed by an information authority processor located off of the train and in communication with the identification tag reader.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the train includes calculating a braking curve based on the weights determined using the identification tag identifiers calculated in the calculating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag reader is a stationary device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag reader is a handheld device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the handheld device further comprises a global positioning system receiver and the handheld device associates a location from the global positioning system reader with each identification tag read by the handheld device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an expected composition of the train consist is received from a device located on the train, and further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the train in the event of a mismatch between the identification tag identifiers received from the identification tag reader and the expected composition.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is an automatic equipment identification (AEI) tag.

14. A method for dispatching a train comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of identification tag identifiers from an identification tag reader, each of the identification tag identifiers being associated with a respective vehicle of a train consist;

performing a comparison of the identification tag identifiers with an expected composition of the train consist;

authorizing a train movement based at least in part on a result of the comparison.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification tag is an AEI tag.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the train movement is a movement on a main line.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the train movement is a movement in the train yard.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the expected composition of the train consist is received from a device located on the train, and further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the train in the event of a mismatch between the identification tag identifiers received from the identification tag reader and the expected composition.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the message includes train consist information based on the identification tag identifiers received from the identification tag reader.

20. A method for identifying a train vehicle in need of repair comprising the steps of:

reading an identification tag mounted on a train vehicle;

detecting, using a sensor, a condition on a train vehicle indicating a need for maintenance; and

creating a message including an identification tag identifier corresponding to the identification tag and the condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identification tag is an AEI tag and the identification tag reader is an AEI tag reader.