Automatic train serialization utilizing comparison between a measured parameter and a synchronization signal
First Claim
1. In a train including at least one locomotive and a plurality of cars, each car being serially connected to an adjacent car and having a local communication node, and a controller in said locomotive in a network with said communication nodes, a method of serializing said cars comprising:
- providing a parameter which varies along the length of said train;
transmitting a synchronization signal along the length of said train to the local node of each car;
measuring said parameter at each node with respect to the occurrence of the synchronization signal at each node; and
serializing said cars as a function of said measured parameters.
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Abstract
A method of serialization including providing a parameter which varies along the length of the train and transmitting a synchronization signal along the length of the train to the local nodes at each car. The parameter is measured at each node with respect to the occurrence of the synchronization signal at the node. Serialization of the cars is then performed as a function of the measured parameters. One method is to provide the parameters by transmitting a serial signal which propagates through the train at a slower rate than the synchronization signal and then measuring the difference in time between the receipt of the synchronization and the serial signal at each node. A second method of implementation is to create a pressure gradient in the brake pipe along the length of the train. The brake pipe pressure or flow rate is read at each node upon receipt of the synchronization signal. As a third alternative, an electric load is provided at each node in parallel to a trainline running through the train. The current or voltage of the trainline at each node is then measured upon receipt of the synchronization signal.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. In a train including at least one locomotive and a plurality of cars, each car being serially connected to an adjacent car and having a local communication node, and a controller in said locomotive in a network with said communication nodes, a method of serializing said cars comprising:
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providing a parameter which varies along the length of said train; transmitting a synchronization signal along the length of said train to the local node of each car; measuring said parameter at each node with respect to the occurrence of the synchronization signal at each node; and serializing said cars as a function of said measured parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a train including at least one locomotive and a plurality of cars, each car being serially connected to an adjacent car and having a local communication node, and a controller in said locomotive in a network with said communication nodes, wherein:
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said controller transmits a synchronization signal along the length of said train to the local node of each car; each node measures a parameter which varies along the length of said train at each node with respect to the occurrence of the synchronization signal at each node; and each node transmits the measurement with a node identifier on said network for serialization of said cars as a function of said measured parameters. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification