CONTROL SYSTEM ENABLING REMOTE LOCOMOTIVE CONFIGURATION SETTING

• US 20170106888A1
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: ROENSPIES, David Matthew, SHUBS, JR., Alexander, SEATON, James David
• Application Number:
  US14/886,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/02 Manual systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/30 Trackside multiple control systems, e.g. switch-over between different systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/006 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation track-side optimisation of operation B61L27/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

A control system for remotely configuring a locomotive includes a plurality of operational control devices located on-board the locomotive, the plurality of operational control devices being configured to implement a change to a designated configuration of the locomotive. A controller located on-board the locomotive is configured to activate the plurality of operational control devices to change the designated configuration of the locomotive upon receipt of a configuration command signal. An off-board remote user interface located remotely from the locomotive is configured to receive a single input from a user commanding a change in configuration of the locomotive, the single input being implemented by activation of a single input device on the remote user interface, and selectively send a configuration command signal to the on-board controller to activate the plurality of operational control devices to change the designated configuration of the locomotive.

Claims

1. A control system for remotely configuring a locomotive, the control system comprising:

a plurality of operational control devices located on-board the locomotive, the plurality of operational control devices being configured to implement a change to a designated configuration of the locomotive;

an on-board controller located on-board the locomotive and being configured to activate the plurality of operational control devices to change the designated configuration of the locomotive upon receipt of a configuration command signal; and

an off-board remote user interface located remotely from the locomotive and being configured to;

receive a single input from a user commanding a change in configuration of the locomotive, the single input being implemented by activation of a single input device on the remote user interface; and

selectively send a configuration command signal to the on-board controller to activate the plurality of operational control devices to change the designated configuration of the locomotive.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the on-board controller comprises:

a locomotive control system; and

a cab electronics system comprising at least one integrated display computer configured to;

receive and display data from the outputs of one or more of machine gauges, indicators, sensors, and controls;

process and integrate the received data;

receive the configuration command signal from the off-board remote user interface; and

supply multiple commands based on the data and the configuration command signal to the locomotive control system to activate the plurality of operational control devices to change the designated configuration of the locomotive; and

the on-board controller being in wireless communication with the off-board remote user interface.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the off-board remote user interface is configured to at least one of send the configuration command signal automatically to the on-board controller upon detection of a change in configuration of at least one of the plurality of operational control devices, or manually as a result of an operator input at the off-board remote user interface.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operational control devices include at least one of a switch and a handle.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of operational control devices include at least one of an engine run switch, a generator field switch, an automatic brake handle, and an independent brake handle.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of operational control devices is configured to be activated by an electronically controlled actuator controlled by the locomotive control system.

7. The control system of claim 2, further including:

the off-board remote user interface being configured to send a plurality of configuration command signals in parallel to a plurality of cab electronics systems on-board a plurality of locomotives based on at least one of receiving an input from a user at the off-board remote user interface or detecting an operational control device on-board at least one of the plurality of locomotives implementing a change to a designated configuration of the at least one locomotive.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of cab electronics systems on-board at least one of the plurality of locomotives is configured to receive at least one of the plurality of configuration command signals from the off-board remote user interface via a wired network connection with a lead locomotive in a consist of locomotives including the at least one of the plurality of locomotives.

9. The control system of claim 2, wherein the locomotive control system is configurable to receive one or more signals indicative of at least one of a throttle command, dynamic braking readiness, and a brake command, and output one or more corresponding command signals configured to change at least one of a throttle position for the locomotive, activation of dynamic braking, and application of a brake, respectively.

10. A control system for a train, wherein the train comprises at least a lead consist of locomotives including at least a lead locomotive and a trailing locomotive, and a trailing consist of locomotives including at least a lead locomotive and a trailing locomotive;

the control system comprising;

a plurality of operational control devices located on-board at least one of the locomotives, wherein the plurality of operational control devices may be configured to change a configuration setting for the at least one locomotive when the at least one locomotive is ready for travel;

an on-board controller located on-board the at least one locomotive, the on-board controller being configured to switch the plurality of operational control devices upon receipt of a single configuration command signal to at least one of;

set the at least one locomotive into a run configuration;

change the designation for the at least one locomotive between lead and trailing designations; and

change distributed power control for the at least one locomotive between distributed power lead, remote distributed power lead, and unlinked power, wherein;

setting the at least one locomotive into a run configuration, changing the designation of the at least one locomotive, and changing distributed power control each include changing multiple operational control settings as a result of the single configuration command signal, wherein the multiple settings that are changed include at least two of;

a fuel control setting, a traction control setting, a generator setting, a setting of an automatic brake handle, a setting of an independent brake handle, a setting of an electrically controlled pneumatic brake, and a setting of an equalizing reservoir pressure for air brakes; and

an off-board remote user interface located remotely from the train, the off-board remote user interface being configured to send the single configuration command signal upon activation of a single input on the remote user interface.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the on-board controller comprises:

a locomotive control system; and

a cab electronics system comprising at least one integrated display computer configured to;

receive and display data from the outputs of one or more of machine gauges, indicators, sensors, and controls;

process and integrate the received data;

receive the configuration command signal from the off-board remote user interface; and

supply multiple commands based on the data and the configuration command signal to the locomotive control system; and

the on-board controller being in wireless communication with the off-board remote user interface.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the off-board remote user interface is configured to at least one of send the configuration command signal automatically to the on-board controller upon detection of a change in configuration of at least one of the plurality of operational control devices, or manually as a result of an operator input at the off-board remote user interface.

13. The control system of claim 10, wherein the operational control device is at least one of a switch and a handle.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the operational control device is at least one of an engine run switch, a generator field switch, an automatic brake handle, and an independent brake handle.

15. The control system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of operational control devices is configured to be activated by an electronically controlled actuator controlled by the locomotive control system.

16. The control system of claim 11, further including:

the off-board remote user interface being configured to send a plurality of configuration command signals in parallel to a plurality of cab electronics systems on-board a plurality of locomotives in the lead and trailing consists based on at least one of receiving an input from a user at the off-board remote user interface or detecting an operational control device on-board at least one of the plurality of locomotives implementing a change to a designated configuration of the at least one locomotive.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of cab electronics systems on-board at least one of the trailing locomotives in at least one of the lead and trailing consists is configured to receive at least one of the plurality of configuration command signals from the off-board remote user interface via a wired network connection with the lead locomotive in the same consist.

18. The control system of claim 11, wherein the locomotive control system is configurable to receive one or more signals indicative of at least one of a throttle command, dynamic braking readiness, and a brake command, and output one or more corresponding command signals configured to change at least one of a throttle position for the locomotive, activation of dynamic braking, and application of a brake, respectively.

19. A method of configuring a locomotive, comprising:

selectively configuring a plurality of operational control devices located on-board the locomotive to change a configuration setting for the locomotive when the locomotive is ready for travel;

selectively configuring the plurality of operational control devices upon receipt of a single configuration command signal by an on-board controller located on-board the locomotive, wherein the plurality of operational control devices may be switched by the single configuration command signal to at least one of;

set the locomotive into a run configuration;

change the designation for the locomotive between lead and trailing designations; and

change distributed power control for the locomotive between distributed power lead, remote distributed power lead, and unlinked power, wherein;

setting the at least one locomotive into a run configuration, changing the designation of the at least one locomotive, and changing distributed power control each include changing multiple operational control settings as a result of the single configuration command signal, wherein the multiple settings that are changed include at least two of;

a fuel control setting, a traction control setting, a generator setting, a setting of an automatic brake handle, a setting of an independent brake handle, a setting of an electrically controlled pneumatic brake, and a setting of an equalizing reservoir pressure for air brakes; and

sending the single configuration command signal from an off-board remote user interface located remotely from the locomotive upon activation of a single input on the remote user interface.

20. The method of claim 19, further including:

receiving data from the outputs of one or more of machine gauges, indicators, sensors, and controls at a cab electronics system of the on-board controller;

processing and integrating the received data;

receiving the configuration command signal from the off-board remote user interface at the cab electronics system;

supplying multiple commands based on the received data and the configuration command signal to the locomotive control system; and

controlling an electronically controlled actuator with the locomotive control system to selectively configure at least one of the plurality of operational control devices.