Train Brake Control System And Method
First Claim
1. A brake control system for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the system comprising:
- on the lead locomotive or control car;
an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action; and
a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals;
wherein the on-board computer of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to generate data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand; and
wherein the communication device of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to directly or indirectly transmit the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand to the at least one trailing locomotive or control car.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A brake control system and method for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car. The lead locomotive or control car generates data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand and transmits the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand to the at least one trailing locomotive or control car. The at least one trailing locomotive or control car receives data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand and controls a brake cylinder pressure of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car based on the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand.
24 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A brake control system for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the system comprising:
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on the lead locomotive or control car; an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action; and a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals; wherein the on-board computer of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to generate data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand; and wherein the communication device of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to directly or indirectly transmit the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand to the at least one trailing locomotive or control car. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A brake control system for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the system comprising:
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on the at least one trailing locomotive or control car; an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action; and a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals; wherein the communication device of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to receive data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand; and wherein the on-board computer of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to control a brake cylinder pressure of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car based on the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A brake control system for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the lead locomotive or control car and the at least one trailing locomotive or control car connected by a brake pipe and a control pipe, the system comprising:
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on the lead locomotive or control car; an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action; and a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals; wherein the on-board computer of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to determine if the lead locomotive or control car is in an electronically-controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake mode; wherein, if the lead locomotive or control car is in the ECP brake mode, the on-board computer of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to generate data representing an independent brake demand based at least partially on a position of an independent brake handle of the lead locomotive or control car and data representing an automatic brake demand based at least partially on a position of an automatic brake handle of the lead locomotive or control car, and the communication device of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to transmit the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand to the at least one trailing locomotive or control car; and wherein, if the lead locomotive is not in the ECP brake mode, the on-board computer of the lead locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to control a brake cylinder pressure of the lead locomotive or control car based on a pressure of the brake pipe, a pressure of the control pipe, and a multiplier associated with the lead locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A brake control system for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the lead locomotive or control car and the at least one trailing locomotive or control car connected by a brake pipe and a control pipe, the system comprising:
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on the at least one trailing locomotive or control car; an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action; and a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals; wherein the on-board computer of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to determine if the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is in an electronically-controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake mode; wherein, if the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is in the ECP brake mode, the on-board computer of the at least one trailing locomotive is programmed or configured to determine if an ECP communications path is active, wherein if the ECP communications path is active, the communication device of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to receive data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand via the ECP communications path, and the on-board computer of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to control a brake cylinder pressure of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car based on the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand; and wherein, if the at least one trailing locomotive is not in the ECP brake mode or the ECP communications path is not active, the on-board computer of the at least one trailing locomotive is programmed or configured to control the brake cylinder pressure based on a pressure of the brake pipe, a pressure of the control pipe, and a multiplier associated with the at least one trailing locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A computer-implemented method for brake control for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the method comprising:
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generating data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand; and directly or indirectly transmitting the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand to the at least one trailing locomotive or control car. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer-implemented method for brake control for a train having a lead locomotive or control car, at least one trailing locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, the method comprising:
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receiving data representing an independent brake demand and data representing an automatic brake demand; and controlling a brake cylinder pressure of the at least one trailing locomotive or control car based on the data representing an independent brake demand and the data representing an automatic brake demand. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification