METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE RECONFIGURATION

• US 20120089537A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cooper, Jared Klineman, Shaffer, Glenn, Brand, John, Goodermuth, Todd William, Eldredge, David, Foy, Robert, Rekuchi, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/32 Control or regulation of multiple-unit electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0063 Multiple on-board control systems, e.g. "2 out of 3"-systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a locomotive (or other rail vehicle) owned by a first entity when borrowed and operated by a second entity. The locomotive includes an operating control system having a first mode and a second, different mode of operation, the first mode including settings configured for the first entity, the second mode including settings configured for a second, different entity. The method includes enabling the first mode and disabling the second mode of the operating control system when the locomotive is operated by the first entity, and enabling the second mode and disabling the first mode of the operating control system when the locomotive is operated by the second entity.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a rail vehicle, comprising:

receiving a control signal indicating that a first rail vehicle is intended for temporary use with a second rail vehicle, wherein the first rail vehicle is owned or controlled by a first entity and operates according to a first operating control system, and wherein the second rail vehicle is owned or controlled by a second, different entity and operates according to a second, different operating control system;

based on the received control signal, temporarily disabling the first operating control system on the first rail vehicle, and configuring the first rail vehicle for operation according to the second operating control system; and

controlling the first rail vehicle with the second operating control system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the first rail vehicle includes changing an operator control interface of the first rail vehicle from a first configuration according to the first operating control system to a second, different configuration according to the second operating control system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rail vehicle is controlled with the first rail vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating control system includes a first group of settings for operating the first rail vehicle, and the second operating control system includes a second, different group of settings for operating the second rail vehicle, and wherein configuring the first rail vehicle for operation according to the second operating control system includes operating the first rail vehicle with the second group of settings.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first group of settings includes a first mode of a trip optimization software included in the first operating control system, and wherein the second group of settings includes a second mode of the trip optimization software included in the second operating control system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, determining a cost for the temporary use of the first rail vehicle based at least on the configuring of the first rail vehicle according to the second operating control system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cost determination for the temporary use of the first rail vehicle includes, charging a higher rate when the first rail vehicle is operated according to the second operating control system, and charging a lower rate when the first rail vehicle is operated according to the first operating control system.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determination includes, charging a higher rate to configure the first rail vehicle for operation according to the second operating control system and charging a lower rate to configure the first rail vehicle for operation according to the first operating control system.

9. A method of operating a train including a first locomotive owned by a first entity and operated according to a first mode of a locomotive operating control system, and a second locomotive owned by a second, different entity and operated according to a second, different mode of the locomotive operating control system, comprising:

temporarily disabling the first mode of the operating control system on the first locomotive;

temporarily enabling the second mode of the operating control system on the first locomotive; and

operating the first locomotive and the second locomotive according to the second mode of the operating control system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the reconfiguration includes adjusting an operator interface of the first locomotive from a first configuration according to the first mode to a second, different configuration according to the second mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein temporarily enabling the second mode includes wirelessly downloading a software corresponding to the second mode of the operating control system onto the first locomotive.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein temporarily enabling the second mode includes pre-loading a software corresponding to the second mode of the operating control system onto the first locomotive, and changing a mode of operation of the operating control system from the first mode to the second mode in response to a request for train operation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the software includes a trip optimization software for the train.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising, estimating a cost of first locomotive usage, the cost based on whether the first locomotive was operated according to the second mode and/or based on an amount of first locomotive usage in the second mode.

15. A train system comprising:

a first locomotive owned by a first entity, the first locomotive including an operating control system having a first mode of operation and a second, different mode of operation, the first mode including settings configured for the first entity, the second mode including settings configured for a second, different entity; and

a controller with computer readable instructions for,

enabling the first mode and disabling the second mode of the operating control system when the first locomotive is operated by the first entity; and

enabling the second mode and disabling the first mode of the operating control system when the first locomotive is operated by the second entity.

16. The train system of claim 15, wherein the first locomotive further includes a display for displaying an operator interface, and wherein enabling the first mode of the operating control system includes enabling a first configuration of the operator interface, and wherein enabling the second mode of the operating control system includes enabling a second, different configuration of the operator interface.

17. The train system of claim 16, further comprising a second locomotive owned and operated by the second entity according to the second mode of the operating control system, wherein the controller further includes instructions for,

receiving an indication that the first locomotive is to be temporarily operated with the second locomotive by the second entity;

in response to the indication, disabling the first mode and enabling the second mode of the operating control system of the first locomotive;

operating the first and second locomotives according to the second mode of the operating control system; and

controlling the second locomotive with the first locomotive.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first locomotive is a lead locomotive and the second locomotive is a remote locomotive.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller further includes instructions for,

determining a cost charged to the second entity for the temporary operation of the first locomotive, the cost based on an amount of usage of the first locomotive with the operating control system in the second mode.