Train separation detection

• US 5,813,635 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Emilio A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/979,310
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 246/167 R, 246/168, 246/169 R, 246/187 C, 340/901, 701/19
• US Class Current: 246/168
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer

Abstract

A train separation detector for a distributed power control system in railroad trains and trains with an installed Electronic Control Pneumatic (ECP) brake system uses the distance traveled input from an axle drive generator or similar device to compute the speed of the lead locomotive and the speed of the remote locomotives and/or ECP brake system equipped cars and also the distance traveled by the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives and/or ECP brake system equipped cars per unit of time. Normally, both the distance traveled and the speed of the lead and remote locomotives and/or ECP brake system equipped cars will, on average, be the same since they are in the same train. If there is a separation, however, both the distance traveled and the speed of the lead and remote locomotives and/or ECP brake system equipped cars will be different to the extent that there is a train separation. By comparing the speed and distance traveled of the lead and remote locomotives and ECP brake system equipped cars, the lead locomotive will be able to detect train separation and take appropriate action.

Claims

1. A railroad train separation detector comprising:

a first communication and control unit in a locomotive of the railroad train, said first communication and control unit including a first microprocessor control circuit and a first transceiver, the first microprocessor control circuit periodically computing speed for the locomotive and the first transceiver transmitting and receiving messages to and from remote units in the train;

a second communication and control unit in a remote unit of the railroad train, the second communication and control unit including a second microprocessor control circuit and a second transceiver, the second microprocessor control circuit periodically computing speed for the remote unit; and

means at one of the first and second communication and control units for comparing speed computed by the first and second microprocessor units and, if the comparison is not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

2. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 1 wherein the second transceiver periodically transmits computed speed of the remote unit as a part of status messages to the first transceiver and the first microprocessor control circuit of the first communication and control unit compares a speed received in a status message from the remote unit with the computed speed of the locomotive.

3. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 1 wherein the first transceiver periodically transmits computed speed of the locomotive to the second transceiver and the second microprocessor control circuit of the second communication and control unit compares a speed received from the locomotive with the computed speed of the remote unit, and if a train separation is declared, transmitting an emergency condition to the locomotive.

4. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 1 wherein the first microprocessor control circuit additionally computes distance traveled for the locomotive, the second microprocessor additionally computes distance traveled for the remote unit, and the means for comparing additionally comparing distance computed by the first and second microprocessor units and, if the comparison is not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

5. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 4 wherein the computed distance traveled for the remote unit is transmitted in a status message to the locomotive, and the distance traveled received in the status message from the remote unit is compared by the first microprocessor control circuit with the computed distance traveled of the locomotive.

6. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 4 wherein the computed distance traveled for the locomotive is transmitted to the remote unit, and the distance traveled received from the locomotive unit is compared by the second microprocessor control circuit with the computed distance traveled of the remote unit, and if a train separation is declared, transmitting an emergency condition to the locomotive.

7. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 1 wherein in the train having an installed Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brake system and said remote unit is a car in the train, said second communication and control unit being part of the ECP brake system.

8. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for detecting speed at each of the locomotive and remote unit.

9. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 8 wherein the means for detecting speed is an axle generator connected to an axle of the car for generating an output signal proportional to a speed of rotation of the axle and wherein said second communication and control unit computes a speed of the car based on the output signal from the axle generator.

10. A railroad train separation detector for an Electronically Controlled Pneumatic brake system equipped train comprising:

a first communication and control unit in a locomotive of the railroad train, said first communication and control unit including a first microprocessor control circuit and a first transceiver, the first microprocessor control circuit periodically computing speed for the locomotive and the first transceiver transmitting and receiving messages to and from ECP brake system equipped cars in the train;

a second communication and control unit in an ECP brake system equipped car of the railroad train, the second communication and control unit including a second microprocessor control circuit and a second transceiver, the second microprocessor control circuit periodically computing speed for the ECP brake system equipped car; and

means at one of the first and second communication and control units for comparing speed computed by the first and second microprocessor units and, if the comparison is not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

11. The railroad train separation detector recited in claim 10 wherein the second transceiver periodically transmitting computed speed of the ECP brake system equipped car as a part of status messages to the first transceiver and the first microprocessor control circuit of the first communication and control unit compares a speed received in a status message from the ECP brake system equipped car to the computed speed of the locomotive.

12. The railroad train separation detector recited in claim 10 wherein the first transceiver periodically transmits computed speed of the locomotive to the second transceiver and the second microprocessor control circuit of the second communication and control unit compares a speed received from the locomotive with the computed speed of the ECP brake system equipped car, and if a train separation is declared, transmits an emergency condition to the locomotive.

13. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 10 wherein the first microprocessor control circuit additionally computes distance traveled for the locomotive, the second microprocessor additionally computes distance traveled for the ECP brake system equipped car, and the means for comparing additionally compares distance computed by the first and second microprocessor units and, if the comparison is not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

14. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 13 wherein the computed distance traveled for the ECP brake system equipped car is transmitted in a status message to the locomotive, and the distance traveled received in the status message from the ECP brake system equipped car is compared by the first microprocessor control circuit with the computed distance traveled of the locomotive.

15. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 13 wherein the computed distance traveled for the locomotive is transmitted to the ECP brake system equipped car, and the distance traveled received from the locomotive unit is compared by the second microprocessor control circuit with the computed distance traveled of the ECP brake system equipped car, and if a train separation is declared, transmitting an emergency condition to the locomotive.

16. The railroad train separation detector as recited in claim 10 further comprising means for detecting speed at each of the locomotive and ECP brake system equipped car.

17. The train separation detector as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for detecting speed are axle generators connected to axles of the locomotive and the ECP brake system equipped car for generating output signals proportional to a speed of rotation of the respective axles.

18. A method of detecting a train separation condition in a railroad train having an installed Electronic Control Pneumatic (ECP) brake system comprising the steps of:

periodically computing at a locomotive of the railroad train speed for the locomotive;

periodically computing at an ECP brake system equipped car of the railroad train speed for the ECP brake system equipped car;

comparing the computed speed for the ECP brake system equipped car with the computed speed for the locomotive;

determining if the compared speed for the ECP brake system equipped car and the locomotive are within predetermined limits; and

if not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

19. The method of detecting a train separation condition as recited in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

storing the computed speed for the locomotive; and

transmitting the speed for the ECP brake system equipped car to the locomotive, wherein the step of comparing is performed at the locomotive.

20. The method of detecting a train separation condition as recited in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

storing the computed speed for the ECP brake system equipped car;

periodically transmitting the speed for the locomotive to the ECP brake system equipped car, wherein the step of comparing is performed at the ECP brake system equipped care; and

if a train separation is declared, transmitting an emergency condition from the ECP brake system equipped car to the locomotive.

21. The method of detecting a train separation condition as recited in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

computing distance traveled for the locomotive;

computing distance traveled for the ECP brake system equipped car;

comparing the computed distance traveled for the ECP brake system equipped car with the computed distance traveled for the locomotive; and

,

if the comparison is not within predetermined limits, declaring a train separation.

22. The method of detecting a train separation condition as recited in claim 21 further comprising the step of transmitting the computed distance traveled for the ECP brake system equipped car to the locomotive, wherein the step of comparing computed distance is performed at the locomotive.

23. The method of detecting a train separation condition as recited in claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

periodically transmitting the computed distance for the locomotive to the ECP brake system equipped car, wherein the step of comparing computed distance is performed at the ECP brake system equipped car; and

if a train separation is declared, transmitting an emergency condition from the ECP brake system equipped car to the locomotive.