REMOTE CONTROL OF A LOCOMOTIVE
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus for transmitting multicomponent input signals over a common carrier from a plurality of control stations to at least one remotely controlled locomotive having a unique call-on address means, responsive only to input signals having the same call-on address component and each control station includes transmitting means for selectively transmitting control signal components for governing the operation of the locomotive and the call-on address wherein the improvement comprises:
- a. means at each control point coupled to the transmitting means for providing a unique assignment address component to the input signal indicative of the associated control point;
b. address-receiving means on the locomotive having multiple channels selectively responsive to the associated assignment address for providing a manifestation of the identity of the source of said input signals;
c. assignment address command means for providing a unique address command component to the input signal; and
d. switching means governing the inputs to the address-receiving means and the call-on address means responsive to the unique address command components of the input signals for coupling the appropriate address-receiving means channel associated with the control station and subsequently decoupling the call-on address means so that only input signals from the first control station to transmit valid input signals are accepted by the address-receiving means thereby locking out all input signals from the other control points, and assuring exclusive control of the locomotive by the engaged control point at any one time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication apparatus has been provided for transmitting multicomponent input signals over a common carrier from a plurality of control stations to one or more remotely controlled locomotives each having a unique call-on address means. The callon address means is responsive only to input signals having the same call-on address component and each control station includes transmitting means for selectively transmitting control signal components for governing the operation of the locomotive and the call-on addresses. The improvement includes means at each control point coupled to the transmitting means for providing a unique assignment address component to the input signal indicative of the associated control point. Address receiving means on the locomotive having multiple channels is selectively responsive to the associated assignment address and provides a manifestation of the identity of the source of the input signals. Switching means is further included for governing the inputs to the address receiving means and the call-on address means and is responsive to unique address command components of the input signals provided by an assignment address command means located at the control point, for coupling the appropriate address receiving means channel associated with the control station and subsequently decoupling the call-on address means so that only input signals from the first control station to transmit valid input signals are accepted by the address receiving means and thereby all input signals from the other control points are locked out thus assuring exclusive control of the locomotive by the engaged control point at any one time.
78 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus for transmitting multicomponent input signals over a common carrier from a plurality of control stations to at least one remotely controlled locomotive having a unique call-on address means, responsive only to input signals having the same call-on address component and each control station includes transmitting means for selectively transmitting control signal components for governing the operation of the locomotive and the call-on address wherein the improvement comprises:
- a. means at each control point coupled to the transmitting means for providing a unique assignment address component to the input signal indicative of the associated control point;
b. address-receiving means on the locomotive having multiple channels selectively responsive to the associated assignment address for providing a manifestation of the identity of the source of said input signals;
c. assignment address command means for providing a unique address command component to the input signal; and
d. switching means governing the inputs to the address-receiving means and the call-on address means responsive to the unique address command components of the input signals for coupling the appropriate address-receiving means channel associated with the control station and subsequently decoupling the call-on address means so that only input signals from the first control station to transmit valid input signals are accepted by the address-receiving means thereby locking out all input signals from the other control points, and assuring exclusive control of the locomotive by the engaged control point at any one time.
- a. means at each control point coupled to the transmitting means for providing a unique assignment address component to the input signal indicative of the associated control point;
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2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a function generator responsive to a function command component of the input signals for providing function signals to apparatus for performing the various operations of the locomotive.
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3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including filtering means responsive to each of the components of the input signals for providing the associated signals to the call-on adDress means, address-receiving means, switching means and function generator.
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4. Apparatus of claim 3 including checking means responsive to the call-on address means and the address-receiving means coupled to the switching means for deactivating the switching means if the call-on address and subsequent assignment address manifestation are not received.
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5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the checking means is further coupled to the function generator for inhibiting function signals when said call-on address, and address receiver manifestation are absent.
Specification