SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLD MOVEMENT DETECTION

• US 20150274183A1
• Filed: 03/11/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lozano, Francisco, Malesci, Andrea, Papini, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0018 Communication with or on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed

Abstract

A system includes a motion switch module, an energy storage module, a resistive module, and an interface. The motion switch module includes at least one motion activated switch that is movable between an open and a closed position responsive to movement of an axle to which the motion switch module is coupled. The energy storage module includes at least one energy storage element that discharges a stored charge responsive to a motion of the corresponding at least one motion activated switch from the open to the closed position. The resistive module includes least one resistive element that dissipates energy discharged by the corresponding at least one energy storage module. The interface is configured to provide information regarding a change in charge state of the at least one energy storage element, wherein the change in charge state corresponds to a movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A cold movement detection system comprising:

a motion switch module configured to be operably coupled with an axle of a vehicle, the motion switch module comprising at least one motion activated switch, the at least one motion activated switch movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to movement of the axle;

an energy storage module operably coupled to the motion switch module, the energy storage module comprising at least one energy storage element corresponding to the at least one motion activated switch, wherein the at least one energy storage element is configured to discharge a stored charge responsive to the corresponding at least one motion activated switch moving from the open to the closed position;

a resistive module operably coupled to the energy storage module, the resistive module comprising at least one resistive element corresponding to the at least one storage element, the at least one resistive element configured to dissipate energy of the stored charge discharged by the corresponding at least one energy storage module; and

an interface configured to provide information regarding a change in charge state of the at least one energy storage element, wherein the change in charge state corresponds to the movement of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy storage element comprises a capacitor connected in series with the corresponding at least one resistive element and the corresponding at least one motion activated switch, wherein a discharging of the capacitor corresponds to the movement of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion activated switch of the motion switch module comprises three motion activated switches spaced about 120 degrees apart from each other.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion activated switch comprises a corresponding at least one button, and wherein the motion switch module comprises:

an inner ring configured to accept the at least one button of the at least one motion activated switch;

an outer ring disposed radially outward and concentric with the inner ring; and

an actuator configured to rotate with the axle about a center of the inner ring and outer ring, the actuator including an opening arm configured to move the at least one button radially inward to move the at least one motion activated switch from the closed position to the open position responsive to a rotating of the axle, the actuator including a closing shoulder configured to move the at least one button radially outward to move the at least one motion activated switch from the open position to the closed position responsive to the rotating of the axle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one motion activated switch of the motion switch module comprises three motion activated switches spaced about 120 degrees apart from each other.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the opening arm includes an opening leading surface configured to initiate radially inward movement of the button and the closing shoulder includes a closing leading surface configured to initiate radially outward movement of the button, the opening leading surface and the closing leading surface spaced at least 120 degrees apart.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the outer ring comprises at least one cap corresponding to the at least one button, the at least one cap contacting the corresponding at least one button when the at least one motion activated switch is in the closed position, the at least one cap spaced a distance apart from the corresponding at least one button when the at least one motion activated switch is in the open position, wherein the charge stored in the at least one storage element is discharged when the corresponding at least one cap contacts the corresponding at least one button.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the inner ring and the at least one cap are electrically coupled to the at least one energy storage element.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the outer ring is electrically insulated.

10. A method comprising:

providing an arming charge to at least one energy storage element operably coupled to a motion switch module, the motion switch module operably coupled with an axle of a vehicle, the motion switch module comprising at least one motion activated switch, the at least one motion activated switch movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to movement of the axle;

storing an initial charge status of the at least one energy storage element, the initial charge corresponding to the position of the at least one motion activated switch at an arming time;

reading a subsequent charge status of the at least one storage element; and

comparing the subsequent charge status of the at least one storage element to the initial charge status of the at least one energy storage element to determine a motion of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the initial charge status is about zero when the at least one motion activated switch is in the closed position, and wherein the initial charge status corresponds to the arming charge when the at least one motion activated switch is in the open position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one energy storage element comprises a capacitor connected in series with a corresponding at least one resistive element and the corresponding at least one motion activated switch, the method further comprising discharging energy stored in the capacitor when the corresponding motion activated switch is moved from the open position to the closed position.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating the determined motion to an off-board system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating a request for movement authorization to the off-board system.

15. A motion switch module configured to be operably coupled with an axle of a vehicle, the motion switch module comprising:

plural motion activated switches movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to movement of the axle, each motion activated switch comprising a button;

an inner ring comprising plural openings corresponding to the motion activated switches, each opening configured to accept a corresponding button of the corresponding motion activated switch;

an outer ring disposed radially outward and concentric with the inner ring; and

an actuator configured to rotate with the axle about a center of the inner ring and outer ring, the actuator including an opening arm configured to move at least one button radially inward to move a corresponding at least one motion activated switch from the closed position to the open position responsive to a rotating of the axle, the actuator including a closing shoulder configured to move at least one other button radially outward to move a corresponding least one motion activated switch from the open position to the closed position responsive to the rotating of the axle.

16. The motion switch module of claim 15, wherein the plural motion activated switches comprise three motion activated switches spaced about 120 degrees apart from each other.

17. The motion switch module of claim 16, wherein the opening arm includes an opening leading surface configured to initiate radially inward movement of the at least one button and the closing shoulder includes a closing leading surface configured to initiate radially outward movement of the at least one other button, the opening leading surface and the closing leading surface spaced at least 120 degrees apart.

18. The motion switch module of claim 15, wherein the outer ring comprises plural caps corresponding to the buttons, each cap contacting the corresponding button when the corresponding motion activated switch is in the closed position, each cap spaced a distance apart from the corresponding when the corresponding motion activated switch is in the open position.

19. The motion switch module of claim 18, wherein the inner ring and the caps are electrically coupled to plural corresponding energy storage elements.

20. The motion switch module of claim 19, wherein the outer ring is electrically insulated.