Vehicle movement control system for railroad terminals

• US 3,944,986 A
• Filed: 01/16/1974
• Issued: 03/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Union Switch & Signal, Inc. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Staples, Crawford E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US05/433,775
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5, 340/147 P, 444/1, 235/150.2, 235/150.24, 104/26 R, 104/88, 246/3, 246/4, 246/5, 246/167 R, 325/53, 325/55, 325/64
• US Class Current: 104/88.04
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards

Abstract

Data and voice communication links are provided between a movement direction center, a data processing center, and all mobile work units of a railroad terminal control system. A work assignment input from the movement direction center, e.g., an order to assemble a train, activates the data processing center to prepare and transmit to the selected switching locomotive an itemized work list, which is recorded in printed form at the locomotive to serve as specific instructions for accomplishing the assignment. The work unit crew reports readiness to begin and subsequent completion of each work list item. The data processing center responds to these and other information inputs, e.g., vehicle movement indications, to check the work done and to remotely establish the field conditions, e.g. track routes, necessary to accomplish the successive work items until the entire assignment is completed. The data processing center sets up the next route and authorizes the locomotive crew to perform the next work step only when the checking process indicates that the prior work step was correctly completed.

Claims

1. In a railroad terminal control system having a central control location, a digital computer central data processing means programmed to respond to the recording of a selected work assignment for developing from stored vehicle inventory data an itemized list of successive work steps necessary to complete that work assignment and further programmed to respond to the reception of a work list item completion report from a selected work unit for checking the correctness of the work item completed, and a plurality of mobile work units;

the combination comprising,

a. communication apparatus coupled for providing a data transmission channel between said control location, said central data processing means, and said mobile work units,

b. movement control means at said control location operable for selecting a work assignment and connected for recording that assignment in said central data processing means,

c. said central data processing means connected to said communication apparatus for transmitting the corresponding itemized work list to a selected mobile work unit,

d. recording means at each mobile work unit connected to said communication apparatus for receiving and recording an itemized work list transmitted to that work unit, and

e. information transmitting means at each work unit connected to said communication apparatus for successively reporting completion of each item of a recorded work list to said central data processing means,

f. said central data processing means also connected for transmitting control signals to authorize said selected work unit to undertake the successive item on the recorded work list only when the reported work item was correctly completed.

2. A railroad terminal control system as defined in claim 1 in which said combination further comprises,

a. control and information function transmitting apparatus connected for providing communication between said central data processing means remotely located field devices of said terminal control system,said function transmitting apparatus controlled by said central data processing means for periodically transmitting control functions to selected ones of said field devices for establishing conditions necessary for said work units to complete work assignments,

said function transmitting apparatus further controlled by others of said field devices for reporting to said central data processing means information of the movements of work units in completing each item of work assignments,

b. said central data processing means being responsive to information received from said other field devices for checking the correct completion of an item of a particular work list when the corresponding item-complete report is received from the corresponding work unit,

c. said central data processing means being further responsive to each item-complete report from said corresponding work unit for actuating the transmission of control functions for establishing the necessary field conditions to perform the next item of said particular work list and an authorizing signal to said corresponding work unit to perform that next work list item only when the checks of the preceding item indicate correct completion.

3. A railroad terminal control system as defined in claim 2 in which,

a. said function transmitting apparatus is further controlled by said selected ones of said field devices for reporting to said central processing means the establishment of the field conditions directed by each periodic transmission of control functions, and

b. said central data processing means is also responsive to the field condition reports from said selected field devices for transmitting to said corresponding work unit said authorizing signal to perform the next work list item only when the necessary field conditions for that next item have also been established by said field devices.

4. In a railroad terminal control system including a central control location with a programmable data processing unit, a plurality of remote vehicle work units each capable of performing a selected type of work assignment, and a communication system connecting said control location, said vehicle units, and said data processing unit, a method for controlling the work movements of said vehicle work units comprising the steps of,

a. entering a selected work assignment into said data processing unit,

b. selected by said data processing unit in accordance with preregistered programmed instructions a particular remote vehicle unit and a work format to be performed thereby, to accomplish said selected work assignment,

c. transmitting said work format to said particular vehicle unit over said communication system as an itemized work list,

d. recording said transmitted work list on said particular vehicle unit,

e. periodically transmitting from said data processing unit the necessary terminal condition controls and authority signals for successively performing items of said work list,

f. authorizing said particular vehicle unit to perform in order the successive items of said work list when each corresponding authority signal is successively received,

g. transmitting from said particular vehicle unit, alternately with each authority signal received, a signal to said data processing unit when each work list item is completed, and

h. checking by said data processing unit in accordance with the preregistered programmed instructions and said selected work format, the correct completion of the preceding work list item prior to transmitting to said particular vehicle unit an authority signal for performing the next successive work list item.

5. The method of controlling the movement of vehicles in a railroad terminal control system as defined in claim 4, further comprising the additional steps of,

a. transmitting an initial ready-to-work signal from said particular vehicle unit to said data processing unit after the recording of said itemized work list and prior to the transmission of an initial authority signal,

b. transmitting in response to the reception of an initial ready-to-work signal and each work item completed signal from said particular vehicle, terminal condition control functions to prepare for performing the next item of the work list recorded on said particular vehicle only when the completion of that preceding item checks correct, and

c. checking also the existence of proper terminal conditions for performing the next work list item recorded on said particular vehicle prior to transmitting a corresponding authority signal.

6. In a railroad terminal which includes a storage area for cars and a train assembly area, mobile work units for moving cars between the areas, a car movement control location with a car information data processing means programmed to respond to the input of a train assembly work assignment to develop an itemized work list, to respond to a work list item completion report received from a work unit for checking correctness of the work item as completed in accordance with the work assignment input and the stored car location data, and to respond to a work list to successively select command functions to establish track routes for the train assembly assignment;

and a communication network connecting said control location and all said work units, a train assembly control system comprising, in combination,

a. a readout means at said control location connected to said data processing means and operable for activating and displaying the readout of train details and existing car locations for a particular train to be assembled,

b. decision input means associated with said readout means and connected also to said data processing means for activating the preparation and transmission of an itemized work list over said communication network to a selected work unit for accomplishing the assembly of that particular train when a corresponding work assignment decision is input.

c. printout means at each work unit connected to said data processing means by said communication network for selectively receiving and recording an itemized work list transmitted from said data processing means,

d. transmission means at each work unit connected to said communication network for selectively reporting the completion of each item of a recorded work list to said data processing means,

e. said data processing means coupled for transmitting signals to authorize that work unit to perform the next work item only when the reported previous item has been correctly completed.

7. A train assembly control system for railroad terminals as defined in claim 6, further comprising,

a. wayside apparatus coupled for establishing track routes and detecting car movements,

b. a control and indication function transmitting system connected to said wayside apparatus and controlled by said data processing means for transmitting control function commands to selected elements of said wayside apparatus to establish track routes for said work units to accomplish selected train assembly operations,

c. said function transmitting system being further controlled by said wayside apparatus for reporting to said data processing means the establishment of the commanded routes and the movements of a work unit and cars during the performance of each item of a train assembly work list,

d. said data processing means being jointly responsive to the reception of both the movement reports for said selected work unit and cars and an item completed report from that work unit for checking in accordance with the recorded work list and stored car location data the correctness of the completion of the preceding item on said recorded work list and for activating the transmission of route control functions to establish the required route for the next item on said recorded work list only when the preceding item has been correctly completed.

8. In a railroad terminal control system for an area including at least a classification and a train make-up yard, said system having a central control location with a computer type central data processing means, switching locomotives operable to perform selected work assignments, and a common communication channel between said control location and each of said locomotives, the method of remotely controlling switching locomotive operations, to move railroad cars from existing locations to desired locations in the yards, comprising the steps of,

a. recording a work assignment for a switching locomotive in said data processing means,

b. transmitting a step-by-step format of the work assignment prepared in accordance with preregistered program instructions by said data processing means over said communication channel to only a single selected locomotive for recording as an itemized work list,

c. transmitting a ready-to-work signal over said communication channel from said selected locomotive to said data processing means,

d. authorizing the performance of each successive step of said recorded work list with said selected locomotive as the proper yard apparatus conditions are successively established,

e. transmitting a step-completed signal from said selected locomotive to said data processing means as each step on said recorded work list is accomplished,

f. periodically transmitting control functions to selected yard apparatus from said data processing means in response to the periodic reception of said ready-to-work and step-completed signals, in accordance with the programmed instructions and said recorded work assignment, for successively establishing the yard conditions required to perform the steps of said recorded work list,

g. recording in said data processing means indications, of the operations of said selected locomotive as it performs the successive steps of said recorded work list, received from other selected yard apparatus,

h. checking by said data processing means, in response to the reception of each step-completed signal from said selected locomotive and the recorded operations indications, the correct completion of the preceding step of said recorded work list prior to the transmission of the control functions for establishing yard apparatus conditions required for the next step of said recorded work list, and

i. transmitting from said data processing means a signal authorizing said selected locomotive to perform the next step of said recorded work list, only when the completion of the preceding work step checks correct and the yard apparatus conditions required by the next step are established.

9. In a railroad terminal which includes a storage area for cars and a train assembly area, a car movement control location with a programmed computer type data processing means which stores and processes car information, mobile work units for moving cars between the areas, and a communication network connecting said control location and all said work units, the method of assembling a train comprising the steps of,

a. establishing by said data processing means, a work assignment to assemble a selected train comprising selected car blocks, in accordance with the recorded information of car storage locations and programmed instructions preregistered in said data processing means,

b. preparing and transmitting an itemized work list, to accomplish said selected train assembly work assignment, from said data processing means to a selected mobile work unit,

c. authorizing the performance step-by-step of said itemized work list by said selected work unit,

d. transmitting a ready-to-work signal from said selected work unit to said data processing means in response to the reception of said itemized work list,

e. transmitting, from said data processing means in response only to the reception of said ready-to-work signal and in accordance with programmed instructions, the control function commands for establishing the track route required to perform the first item of said work list,

f. periodically transmitting reports of the completion of each work list item from said selected work unit to said data processing means,

g. checking the correct completion of each work list item by said data processing means jointly in accordance with the corresponding periodic completion report and received indications of the selected work unit operations occurring during its performance of the preceding work list item,

h. transmitting control function commands from said data processing means to establish the track route required for performing the next work list item when a periodic item complete report checks correct, and

i. transmitting a signal from said data processing means authorizing said selected work unit to perform said next step of the recorded work list when said processing means receives other indications that said required track route is established.

10. In a railroad terminal system with mobile work units for moving other vehicles and further including vehicle movement detectors at selected locations within the terminal area, route control apparatus operable for establishing selected routes through a particular switching track layout for vehicle movement, and a digital computer data processor programmed to respond to the registration of a work assignment for selecting in order routes through said particular track layout to enable the successive performance of the steps of that designated work assignment and also programmed for comparing received vehicle movement indications against the corresponding requirements of the registered work assignment to determine completion of each work step, a vehicle movement control arrangement comprising in combination,

a. communication apparatus connected for transmitting data and control functions between said computer data processor and said vehicle detectors and route control apparatus,

b. control means operable for designating a work assignment, including a series of at least two successive work steps, of moving other vehicles to new locations through said particular track layout,

11. said control means connected for registering each designated work assignment in work step format in said computer data processor,

c. said computer data processor connected to said communication apparatus for normally transmitting each successive route selection to said route control apparatus as the prior work step is completed,

d. said vehicle movement detectors coupled to said communication apparatus for transmitting indications of vehicle movements to said computer data processor as each work step is performed,

e. said computer data processor responsive to vehicle movement indications received during the performance of a particular work step for transmitting the route selection for the succeeding work step only when the requirements of said particular work step have been completed.

12. In a railroad terminal control system, including a programmable digital computer data processor, a plurality of railroad car storage tracks interconnected by a switch network, switching locomotives for moving cars, vehicle detectors at selected locations along said storage tracks and switch network, and route control apparatus for establishing selected routes through said switch network, a method of controlling the movement of cars between storage tracks comprising the steps of,

a. entering a selected car movement work assignment for a selected locomotive into said data processor,

b. transmitting from said data processor a developed work list format of selected steps to accomplish said selected work assignment for use by the selected locomotive crew,

c. controlling from said data processor the switch network to successively establish predetermined routes for said selected locomotive to perform each work step on the transmitted work list in sequence,

d. recording within said data processor the movement of said selected locomotive and cars through each established route as detected by said vehicle detectors during the performance of each successive work step,

e. checking by said data processor each recorded movement data against the corresponding recorded work step requirement and recording the new location of each moved car, and

f. transmitting from said data processor the route controls for a next work step only when the preceding work step is correctly completed.

13. In a railroad yard control system including a programmable data processor which also maintains a data and location inventory of cars stored in the yard, vehicle movement detectors at selected locations within the yard, route control apparatus operable for establishing selected routes for car movements through a track switching network, switching locomotives for moving cars, and communication apparatus connecting said data processor, said vehicle detectors, and said route control apparatus to transmit vehicle movement data and route controls, the method of controlling trimming movements of cars through said switching network comprising the steps of,

a. entering into said data processor a sequence of car trimming movements to be performed by a selected switching locomotive within said switching network area,

b. registering said entered movement sequence by said data processor as an itemized work list assignment for said selected locomotive,

c. selecting in work list order, by said data processor, track routes through said switching network to permit said selected locomotive to successively accomplish said assignment,

d. normally transmitting over said communication apparatus each successive route control function from said data processor to said route control apparatus as the prior work list item is completed,

e. successively performing each item of said work list by said selected locomotive as each required track route is established,

f. transmitting vehicle movement indications from said vehicle detectors over said communication apparatus to said data processor as each work item is performed,

g. comparing in said data processor the vehicle movement indications received during a particular work list item with the requirements of that particular item in said registered work assignment in accordance with the stored car inventory to determine correct completion of that particular item,

h. enabling the transmission of the route control for the succeeding work list item only when the requirements of said particular work list item have been completed, and

i. adjusting the car inventory stored in said data processor in accordance with the received car movement indications.