Two way field tester for EOT device

• US 6,227,625 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• 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: Gaughan, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARTZ, CLIFFORD T
• Application Number:
  US09/382,290
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 303/1, 303/3, 303/15, 303/86, 73/39, 73/121, 246/186
• US Class Current: 303/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/665 the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems B60T13/662 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• 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 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/08 Railway vehicles

Abstract

A portable device permits testing of an EOT unit of a two-way end-of-train (EOT) radio telemetry system. During the test, the EOT unit may be mounted to and fully installed on the railcar on which it is to be used. The portable device includes a microprocessor unit, a display, and a transceiver that enables the invention to communicate with the EOT unit. The portable device also includes a mechanism for authorizing the portable device to communicate with the EOT unit. Used to control the overall operation of the portable device, the microprocessor unit operates the transceiver in cooperation with the aforementioned mechanism so as to authorize the portable device to communicate with the EOT unit according to an arming procedure. The microprocessor unit also operates the display on which the progress and completion of the arming procedure is indicated. When the portable device is authorized to operate with the EOT unit, the display is directed to indicate operational data that it receives from the EOT unit pertaining to the railcar to which the EOT unit is connected. The portable device further includes a mechanism for initiating an emergency reduction in pressure within the brake pipe of the railcar. When the emergency initiating mechanism is activated, the microprocessor unit commands the transceiver to transmit an emergency brake signal. It is by this emergency brake signal that the EOT unit is ordered to reduce the pressure within the brake pipe of the railcar at an emergency rate.

Claims

1. A portable device for testing an EOT unit of a two-way EOT radio telemetry system, such EOT unit capable of (A) transmitting (i) authorization signals relevant to an arming procedure for such two-way EOT system and (ii) data signals indicative of operational data for an apparatus to which such EOT unit is connected and (B) responding to (i) a status update request during such arming procedure and (ii) brake signals by reducing pressure in a volume to which such apparatus is connected;

said portable device comprising;

(a) a means for authorizing said portable device to communicate with such EOT unit according to such arming procedure;

(b) a means for initiating an emergency reduction in pressure in such volume, said emergency initiating means being activatible only upon authorization of said portable device;

(c) a transceiver for communicating with such EOT unit;

(d) a display for indicating progress of such arming procedure and such operational data of such apparatus; and

(e) a microprocessor unit for controlling operation of said portable device including (i) operating said transceiver in cooperation with said authorizing means in authorizing said portable device according to such arming procedure, (ii) causing said display to indicate (A) progress and completion of such arming procedure and, upon authorization of said portable device, (B) such operational data, and (iii) causing said transceiver to transmit an emergency brake signal upon activation of said emergency initiating means thereby ordering such EOT unit to reduce pressure in such volume at an emergency rate.

2. The portable device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for authorizing includes:

(a) a memory storage device for storing at least an identification code such that said microprocessor unit in response to a first of such authorization signals received from such EOT unit during such arming procedure causes said display to indicate an ARM NOW message if such identification code currently stored in said memory storage device differs from an identification code of such EOT unit contained within such first authorization signal;

(b) an ARM/TEST button mechanism that when pushed within a preset time of said ARM NOW message being displayed causes said microprocessor unit to transmit via said transceiver said status update request; and

(c) a thumb wheel switch assembly such that said microprocessor unit in response to a second of such authorization signals received from such EOT unit during such arming procedure causes (i) said display to indicate an ARMED message and (ii) such identification code contained within such first authorization signal to overwrite in said memory storage device the identification code previously stored therein, if said thumb wheel switch assembly has been set to such identification code of such EOT unit.

3. The portable device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory storage device is nonvolatile memory.

4. The portable device, as claimed in claim 1, further including a means for initiating a service reduction in pressure in such volume upon activation of which said microprocessor unit causes said transceiver to transmit a service brake signal thereby ordering such EOT unit to reduce pressure in such volume at a service rate, said service initiating means being activatible only upon authorization of said portable device.

5. The portable device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said service initiating means includes a service toggle switch.

6. The portable device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for authorizing includes:

(a) a memory storage device for storing at least an identification code such that said microprocessor unit in response to a first of such authorization signals received from such EOT unit during such arming procedure causes said display to indicate an ARM NOW message if such identification code currently stored in said memory storage device differs from an identification code of such EOT unit contained within such first authorization signal;

(b) an ARM/TEST button mechanism that when pushed within a preset time of said ARM NOW message being displayed causes said microprocessor unit to transmit via said transceiver said status update request; and

(c) a thumb wheel switch assembly such that said microprocessor unit in response to a second of such authorization signals received from such EOT unit during such arming procedure causes (i) said display to indicate an ARMED message and (ii) such identification code contained within such first authorization signal to overwrite in said memory storage device the identification code previously stored therein, if said thumb wheel switch assembly has been set to such identification code of such EOT unit.

7. The portable device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said emergency initiating means includes an emergency toggle switch.

8. The portable device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein such operational data includes at least one of:

(a) pressure in such volume;

(b) whether such apparatus is moving or stationary; and

(c) whether an emergency condition has occurred.

9. The portable device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portable device is powered by battery.

10. The portable device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein such operational data includes at least one of:

(a) pressure in such volume;

(b) whether such apparatus is moving or stationary;

(c) whether the state of charge of said battery is low; and

(d) whether an emergency condition has been detected.

11. A portable device for testing an EOT unit of a two-way EOT radio telemetry system, such EOT unit connected to a brake pipe on a railcar of a train and capable of (A) transmitting (i) authorization signals relevant to an arming procedure for such two-way EOT system and (ii) data signals indicative of operational data for such railcar and (B) responding to (i) a status update request during such arming procedure and (ii) brake signals by reducing pressure in such brake pipe according to the dictates of the particular one of such brake signals received;

said portable device comprising;

(a) a means for authorizing said portable device to communicate with such EOT unit according to such arming procedure;

(b) a means for initiating an emergency reduction in pressure in such brake pipe, said emergency initiating means being activatible only upon authorization of said portable device;

(c) a transceiver for communicating with such EOT unit;

(d) a display for indicating progress of such arming procedure and such operational data of such railcar; and

(e) a microprocessor unit for controlling operation of said portable device including causing (i) said display to indicate an ARM NOW message if a first of such authorization signals is received from such EOT unit in accordance with such arming procedure, (ii) said transmitter to send said status update request if said authorizing means is manipulated according to such arming procedure, (iii) said display to indicate an ARMED message if a second of such authorization signals is received from such EOT unit in accordance with such arming procedure and, upon authorization of said portable device, (iv) said display to indicate such operational data, and (v) said transceiver to transmit an emergency brake signal upon activation of said emergency initiating means thereby ordering such EOT unit to reduce pressure in such brake pipe at an emergency rate.

12. The portable device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for authorizing includes:

(a) a memory storage device such that said microprocessor unit in response to such first authorization signal causes said display to indicate said ARM NOW message if the identification code currently stored in said memory storage device differs from an identification code of such EOT unit contained within such first authorization signal;

(b) an ARM/TEST button mechanism that when pushed within a preset time of said ARM NOW message being displayed causes said microprocessor unit to transmit via said transceiver said status update request; and

(c) a thumb wheel switch assembly such that said microprocessor unit in response to such second authorization signal causes (i) said display to indicate said ARMED message and (ii) such identification code contained within such first authorization signal to overwrite in said memory storage device the identification code previously stored therein, if said thumb wheel switch assembly has been set to such identification code of such EOT unit.

13. The portable device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said memory storage device is nonvolatile memory.

14. The portable device, as claimed in claim 11, further including a means for initiating a service reduction in pressure in such brake pipe upon activation of which said microprocessor unit causes said transceiver to transmit a service brake signal thereby ordering such EOT unit to reduce pressure in such brake pipe at a service rate, said service initiating means being activatible only upon authorization of said portable device.

15. The portable device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said service initiating means includes a service toggle switch.

16. The portable device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for authorizing includes:

(a) a memory storage device such that said microprocessor unit in response to such first authorization signal causes said display to indicate said ARM NOW message if the identification code currently stored in said memory storage device differs from an identification code of such EOT unit contained within such first authorization signal;

(b) an ARM/TEST button mechanism that when pushed within a preset time of said ARM NOW message being displayed causes said microprocessor unit to transmit via said transceiver said status update request; and

(c) a thumb wheel switch assembly such that said microprocessor unit in response to such second authorization signal causes (i) said display to indicate said ARMED message and (ii) such identification code contained within such first authorization signal to overwrite in said memory storage device the identification code previously stored therein, if said thumb wheel switch assembly has been set to such identification code of such EOT unit.

17. The portable device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said emergency initiating means includes an emergency toggle switch.

18. The portable device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein such operational data includes at least one of:

(a) pressure in such brake pipe;

(b) whether such railcar is moving or moving; and

(c) whether an emergency condition has occurred.

19. The portable device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said portable device is powered by battery.

20. The portable device, as claimed in claim 19, wherein such operational data includes:

(a) pressure in such brake pipe;

(b) whether such railcar is moving or stationary;

(c) whether the state of charge of said battery is low; and

(d) whether an emergency condition has been detected.