Automatic train control system and method
First Claim
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1. A method of control of a plural freight trains with varying numbers of cars and varying loads over a pre-determined track layout, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a railway with both periodic and non-periodic freight train service;
(b) providing a realizable movement plan for all trains over the track layout, the plan including ETAs and ETDs at all stations of significance calculated on the basis of track parameters, train handling constraints, actual train position and velocity data, wind data to the extent available, and track condition data to the extent available to cause the freight trains to operate on the trajectories indicated by the plan;
(c) updating the movement plan in response to unplanned or deviant movements of freight trains over the track layout; and
(d) alternatively displaying commands (to comply with the movement timeline profile derived from the updated movement plan) to the train engineer or automatically executing power and brake settings for the locomotive in response thereto for immediate execution of the updated movement plan.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling the movement of plural freight trains through a multiple route railway system with improved efficiency and safety. Freight train movements are precisely monitored and orchestrated in accordance with a dynamic schedule that is determined through an evaluation of delivery requirements, coordination among all trains, speed restrictions and the effects of the track topography and train consist on train response to brake and power application.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of control of a plural freight trains with varying numbers of cars and varying loads over a pre-determined track layout, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a railway with both periodic and non-periodic freight train service; (b) providing a realizable movement plan for all trains over the track layout, the plan including ETAs and ETDs at all stations of significance calculated on the basis of track parameters, train handling constraints, actual train position and velocity data, wind data to the extent available, and track condition data to the extent available to cause the freight trains to operate on the trajectories indicated by the plan; (c) updating the movement plan in response to unplanned or deviant movements of freight trains over the track layout; and (d) alternatively displaying commands (to comply with the movement timeline profile derived from the updated movement plan) to the train engineer or automatically executing power and brake settings for the locomotive in response thereto for immediate execution of the updated movement plan. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of adjusting the planned movement of plural trains traveling on a network of track in response to addition of a previously unplanned train to the network of track, or to an anomaly in the trains or in the network of track which affects movement of the trains there across, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing train characteristics for each of the planned trains in a central computer for the network of track, the train characteristics including the number of cars and train handling constraints; (b) storing track characteristics for the network of track in a central computer, the track characteristics including the topography of the network of track and track parameters; (c) providing to a central computer from each of the planned trains the locations of their respective beginning of train; (d) revising the planned movement of the planned trains in response to an unplanned train or an anomaly, the revised planned movement including a planned movement for the previously unplanned train (if present) and a new planned movement for the planned trains, the revised planned movement taking into consideration (i) the locations of the planned and unplanned trains, (ii) the topography of the network of track along which the planned and unplanned trains are to move, and (iii) an effect of the topography on speed adjustment points in consideration of locations of the beginnings of the trains and of their respective cars; and (e) communicating the revised planned movements to the trains for immediate execution. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for precisely controlling the movement of plural trains along a network of track according to a predetermined movement plan comprising:
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(a) providing to each of the plural trains its respective portion of the movement plan (i.e., its "trip plan") before departure on the planned movement; (b) determining the position of each train along the track; (c) evaluating the adherence of each train to its trip plan; (d) determining trip plan and/or speed adjustments needed by any train not adhering to its trip plan, taking into consideration the effects of the topography of the track on the adjustments; and (e) communicating the trip plan adjustments to each train. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for precisely controlling the movement of plural trains along a network of track according to a predetermined movement plan comprising:
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(a) means for providing to each of the plural trains its trip plan before departure on the planned movement; (b) means for determining the position of each of the plural trains along the track; (c) means for evaluating the adherence of each of the plural trains to the predetermined movement plan (its trip plan); (d) means for determining the movement plan adjustments needed by any of the plural trains not adhering to the predetermined movement plan and all others affected, said means comprising means for determining the effects of the topography of the track on the adjustments; and
,(e) means for communicating said trip plan adjustments to the plural trains. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of controlling movement of a freight train having a multiplicity of cars over a track having a known topography, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a trip plan for the train which takes into account the effect of the track topography on train speed adjustment points; (b) revising the trip plan in response to deviations from the movement plan, the revisions taking into account the effect of the track topography on train speed adjustment points; and (c) wherein the effect of track topography is determined by the method comprising the step of evaluating the effect of track topography on each of the cars in the train. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of controlling plural freight trains moving over a network of tracks, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining a movement plan of operating the plural trains over the track; (b) communicating the relevant portion of the movement plan (i.e. the trip plan) to each one of the trains; (c) generating planned trajectories for each of the trains in accordance with its determined trip plan; (d) determining throttle and brake settings related to the first planned movement timeline profile; (e) controlling the one train in accordance with said settings; (f) communicating a second trip plan before the one train reaches the end of the first trip plan; and (g) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) for the second planned movement timeline profile. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification