System And Method For Controlling A Vehicle System

• US 20140180511A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Daum, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 9,233,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0628 Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 related to particular drive situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/31 Locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle system includes determining when the vehicle system approaches an airflow restricted area and distributing a total power output of the vehicle system among first and second vehicles of the vehicle system. The total power output is distributed by directing the first vehicle to decrease power output relative to a power output generated by the second vehicle and/or by directing the second vehicle to increase power output relative to the power output generated by the first vehicle. The method includes monitoring the power output of the second vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area to determine when the second vehicle derates and redistributing the total power output of the vehicle system among the at vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second vehicle derating.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining when a vehicle system traveling along a route is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area, the vehicle system including at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other;

distributing a total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system approaches the entrance of the airflow restricted area, the total power output distributed by at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle;

monitoring the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area to determine when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates; and

redistributing the total power output of the vehicle system among the at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second propulsion-generating vehicle derating, wherein distributing and redistributing the total power output of the vehicle system causes the vehicle system to travel through and exit from the airflow restricted area at least one of within a designated time period, with at least a designated speed, within a designated speed range, with at least a designated power output, or within a designated power output range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an available amount of power output from the vehicle system, wherein the total power output is determined based on the available amount of power output from the vehicle system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the airflow restricted area includes at least one of a tunnel or a ravine through which the route passes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first propulsion-generating vehicle is disposed ahead of the second propulsion-generating vehicle along a direction of travel of the vehicle system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system includes an intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle disposed between the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles, and wherein distributing the total power output of the vehicle system includes directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle more than a power output generated by the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle is decreased and directing the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle to maintain the power output generated by the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle above the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the total power output based on one or more restrictions on operation of the vehicle system, the one or more restrictions including at least one of a lower speed limit, an upper speed limit, an audible noise limitation, a limit on an amount of electric energy stored onboard the vehicle system, or a limit on an amount of at least one of electric current or voltage that is available from an off-board source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a derating speed at which the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle is derated during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area by limiting the power output that is generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the derating speed is based on a distance that the route extends through the airflow restricted area, the derating speed increased for shorter distances that the route extends through the airflow restricted area and decreased for longer distances that the route extends through the airflow restricted area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the derating speed is based on a separation distance between an exit of the airflow restricted area and an entrance of one or more additional airflow restricted areas through which the route extends, the derating speed decreased for smaller separation distances and increased for larger separation distances.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the derating speed is based on a grade of the route that exits from the airflow restricted area along a direction of travel of the vehicle system, the derating speed decreased for smaller grades and increased for larger grades.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first propulsion-generating vehicle is associated with at least one of a coolant temperature limit of a cooling system of the first propulsion-generating vehicle, a lubricant temperature limit of an engine of the first propulsion-generating vehicle, or a limit on a temperature difference between a temperature of a coolant of the cooling system and a temperature of lubricant of the engine, and further comprising:

increasing at least one of the coolant temperature limit, the lubricant temperature limit, or the limit on the temperature difference while the vehicle system is in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the vehicle system approaching an exit of the airflow restricted area.

12. A control system comprising:

a location unit configured to determine when a vehicle system is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area along a route, the vehicle system having at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other;

an allocation unit configured to distribute a total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles in response to determining that the vehicle system is approaching the entrance to the airflow restricted area, the total power output being distributed by at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease a power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output that is generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle; and

a monitoring unit configured to determine when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area based on one or more decreases in the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle,

wherein the allocation unit also is configured to redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the monitoring unit determining that the second propulsion-generating vehicle is derating, the allocation unit being configured to distribute and redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system such that the vehicle system travels through and exits from the airflow restricted area at least one of within a designated time period, with at least a designated speed, within a designated speed range, with at least a designated power output, or within a designated power output range.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the allocation unit is configured to determine an available amount of power output from the vehicle system, and wherein the allocation unit is configured to determine the total power output based on the available amount of power output from the vehicle system.

14. The control system of claim 12, wherein the airflow restricted area includes a volume through which the route passes that has at least one of a reduced supply of oxygen capable of being combusted by one or more engines of the vehicle system when the vehicle system travels through the volume or a reduced airflow capable of cooling one or more components of the vehicle system relative to one or more locations that are outside of the airflow restricted area.

15. The control system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the designated time period or the total power output is determined from a schedule of the vehicle system.

16. The control system of claim 12, wherein the allocation unit is configured to distribute the total power output of the vehicle system by directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle and directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle as the vehicle system approaches the entrance to the airflow restricted area.

17. The control system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle system includes an intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle disposed between the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles, and wherein the allocation unit is configured to distribute the total power output of the vehicle system by directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle more than a power output generated by the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle is decreased and by directing the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle to maintain the power output generated by the intermediate propulsion-generating vehicle above the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle.

18. The control system of claim 12, wherein the allocation unit is configured to determine the total power output based on one or more restrictions on operation of the vehicle system, the one or more restrictions including at least one of a lower speed limit, an upper speed limit, an audible noise limitation, a limit on an amount of electric energy stored onboard the vehicle system, or a limit on an amount of at least one of electric current or voltage that is available from an off-board source.

19. The control system of claim 12, wherein the allocation unit is configured to control a derating speed at which the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle decreases during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area by controlling a demand for the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle.

20. The control system of claim 12, further comprising a cooling unit configured to initiate cooling of a propulsion system of the first propulsion-generating vehicle responsive to the location unit determining that the vehicle system is approaching the entrance to the airflow restricted area.

21. A control system comprising:

a first control system configured to be disposed onboard a first propulsion-generating vehicle of a vehicle system; and

a second control system configured to be disposed onboard a second propulsion-generating vehicle of the vehicle system, the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles interconnected with each other in the vehicle system,

wherein the first control system is configured to determine when the vehicle system is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area along a route and to distribute a total power output of the vehicle system among the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles in response thereto, the total power output being distributed by the first control system decreasing a power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle and by directing the second control system to maintain a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle above the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle,

wherein at least one of the first or second control system is configured to determine when the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle decreases due to derating of a propulsion system of the second propulsion-generating vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area,

wherein the first control system also is configured to redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system among the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to determining that the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle is decreasing due to derating of the propulsion system, the first control system configured to distribute and redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system such that the vehicle system travels through and exit from the airflow restricted area within a designated time period.

22. The control system of claim 21, wherein the airflow restricted area includes at least one of a tunnel or a ravine through which the route passes.

23. The control system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the designated time period or the total power output is determined from a trip plan that designates operational settings of the vehicle system as a function of at least one of time elapsed or distanced traveled during a trip along the route, and wherein the vehicle system traveling along the route using the operational settings that are designated by the trip plan causes the vehicle system to reduce at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the vehicle system relative to the vehicle system traveling the trip along the route according to one or more different operational settings.

24. The control system of claim 21, wherein the first control system is configured to distribute the total power output of the vehicle system by decreasing the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle and increasing the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle as the vehicle system approaches the entrance to the airflow restricted area.

25. The control system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first control system or the second control system is configured to determine an available amount of power output from the vehicle system, wherein the total power output is determined based on the available amount of power output from the vehicle system.

26. The control system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first control system or the second control system is configured to determine the total power output based on one or more restrictions on operation of the vehicle system, the one or more restrictions including at least one of a lower speed limit, an upper speed limit, an audible noise limitation, a limit on an amount of electric energy stored onboard the vehicle system, or a limit on an amount of at least one of electric current or voltage that is available from an off-board source.

27. A method comprising:

determining when a vehicle system traveling along a route is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area, the vehicle system including at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other;

as the vehicle system approaches the entrance of the airflow restricted area, at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle;

determining when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area; and

as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second propulsion-generating vehicle derating, changing the respective power outputs generated by the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles to cause the vehicle system to travel through and exit from the airflow restricted area at least one of within a designated time period, with at least a designated speed, within a designated speed range, with at least a designated power output, or within a designated power output range.