METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE COUPLING DETERMINATION

• US 20170137043A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: BARNES, Sharon Ann Irma, BROOKS, Marty Charles, ERNSDORFF, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 7/14 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0018 Communication with or on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/04 Indicating or recording train identities
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

A system and method for identifying at least two transport units in coupled relationship forming a consist including determining via the presence of an electrical signal whether one end of a coupling unit at an end of a first transport unit is coupled to a second end of said coupling unit at an end of a second transport unit; determining by computer executable instructions executed by a computer processor a transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit; upon a condition in which said one end of said coupling unit is determined to be coupled to a second end of said coupling unit, identifying by said computer processor said second transport unit as said transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit.

Claims

1. A system for identifying transport units in coupled relationship comprising

a first transport unit having one end of a coupling unit at a front end thereof;

said one end of said coupling unit including a first mechanical coupling portion and first electrical coupling portion;

a second transport unit have a second end of said coupling unit at a rear end thereof;

said second end of said coupling unit including a second mechanical coupling portion and a second electrical coupling portion;

said first electrical coupling portion including a dry contact having a closed state when said first mechanical coupling portion and said second mechanical coupling portion are coupled together and an open state when said first mechanical coupling portion and said second mechanical coupling portion are uncoupled from each other;

a communications device on said first transport unit in signal communication with said dry contact;

said communications device configured to communicate a data packet identifying said first transport and a state of said dry contact to a communications receiving device;

said communications receiving device including a computer processor and computer executable instructions for determining a transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit and for providing an indication that said first transport unit is coupled to said second transport unit upon a condition in which said dry contact is in said closed state.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second transport unit further comprises

a second dry contact having a closed state when said first mechanical coupling portion and said second mechanical coupling portion are coupled together and an open state when said first mechanical coupling portion and said second mechanical coupling portion are uncoupled from each other;

a second communications device in signal communication with said second dry contact;

said second communications device configured to communicate a data packet identifying said second transport and a state of said second dry contact to said communications receiving device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said communications receiving device including computer executable instructions for determining a transport unit in closest proximity to said second transport unit and for providing an indication that said second transport unit is coupled to said first unit upon a condition in which said dry contact is in said closed state.

4. The systems according to claim 3, wherein said communications receiving device validates that said first transport unit is coupled to said second transport unit by comparing said data packet identifying said first transport unit and said data packet identifying said second transport unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second transport units are rail cars.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications device comprises an RFID tag.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said communications receiving device comprises a server receiving data directly or indirectly from said communications device.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said RFID tag is coupled to said transport unit via a power filter module.

9. A method for identifying at least two transport units in coupled relationship comprising:

determining via the presence of an electrical signal whether one end of a coupling unit at an end of a first transport unit is coupled to a second end of said coupling unit at an end of a second transport unit;

determining by computer executable instructions executed by a computer processor a transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit;

upon a condition in which said one end of said coupling unit is determined to be coupled to a second end of said coupling unit, identifying by said computer processor said second transport unit as said transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of determining via the presence of an electrical signal further comprises determining via a communications device on said first transport unit in signal communication with a dry contact have a closed state when said one end of said coupling unit is coupled to said second end of said coupling unit and an open state when said one end of said coupling unit is uncoupled from said second end of said coupling unit.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said determining by a computer executable instructions executed by a computer processor comprises determining by a communications receiving device including said computer processor and said computer executable instructions for determining a transport unit in closest proximity to said first transport unit and for providing an indication that said first transport unit is coupled to said second transport unit upon a condition in which said dry contact is in said closed state.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising repeating the method with respect to said second transport unit and validating the identification of the two transport units by confirming that said first and second transport units are both coupled and are closest to each other.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said first and second transport units are rail cars.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said communications device comprises an RFID tag.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said communications receiving device comprises a server receiving data directly or indirectly from said communications device.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)