SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND PREDICTING FAULTS IN SENSORS OF LOCOMOTIVES

• US 20180017417A1
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kickham, David P.
• Application Number:
  US15/209,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00

Abstract

A system for identifying a fault in sensors disposed in two or more locomotives of a consist is disclosed. The system includes a first sensor, disposed in a first locomotive, configured to detect a first value of a parameter associated with operation of the first locomotive. The system includes a second sensor, disposed in a second locomotive, configured to detect a second value of the parameter associated with operation of the second locomotive. The system includes a receiving unit, in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, configured to receive the first value and the second value of the parameter. The system includes a controller configured to compare the first value with the second value of the parameter, and identify the fault in one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the comparison between the first value and the second value.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a fault in sensors disposed in two or more locomotives of a consist, the system comprising:

a first sensor, disposed in a first locomotive, configured to detect a first value of a parameter associated with operation of the first locomotive;

a second sensor, disposed in a second locomotive in communication with the first locomotive, configured to detect a second value of the parameter associated with operation of the second locomotive;

a receiving unit, in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, configured to receive the first value and the second value of the parameter from the first sensor and the second sensor respectively;

and

a controller, in communication with the receiving unit, configured to;

compare the first value with the second value of the parameter; and

identify the fault in one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the comparison between the first value and the second value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify the fault based on a variation between the first value and the second value, and a predefined acceptable range of the variation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a notification based on the identification of the fault.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

monitor the first value and the second value received from the first sensor and the second sensor respectively, for a predefined time duration; and

identify a pattern of the first value and the second value of the parameter over the predefined time duration.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to predict the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the pattern of the first value and the second value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the first locomotive and the second locomotive.

7. A method for identifying a fault in sensors disposed in two or more locomotives of a consist, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first sensor, a first value of a parameter associated with operation of a first locomotive;

receiving, from a second sensor, a second value of the parameter associated with operation of a second locomotive;

comparing the first value with the second value of the parameter; and

identifying the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the comparison between the first value and the second value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fault is identified based on a variation between the first value and the second value, and a predefined acceptable range of the variation.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising, generating a notification based on the identification of the fault.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

monitoring the first value and the second value received from the first sensor and the second sensor respectively, for a predefined time duration; and

identifying a pattern of the first value and the second value of the parameter over the predefined time duration.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, predicting the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the pattern of the first value and the second value.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the first locomotive and the second locomotive.

13. A method for predicting a fault in sensors disposed in two or more locomotives of a consist, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first sensor, a first value of a parameter associated with operation of a first locomotive;

receiving, from a second sensor, a second value of the parameter associated with operation of a second locomotive;

monitoring the first value and the second value received from the first sensor and the second sensor respectively, for a predefined time duration;

identifying a pattern of the first value and the second value of the parameter over the predefined time duration; and

predicting the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the pattern of the first value and the second value.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, generating a notification based on the prediction of the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the first locomotive and the second locomotive.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

comparing the first value with the second value of the parameter; and

identifying the fault in at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based on the comparison between the first value and the second value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fault is identified based on a variation between the first value and the second value, and a predefined acceptable range of the variation.