Model based assessment of locomotive engines

• US 6,246,950 B1
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Azzaro, Steven Hector, Bessler, Warren Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/303,753
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 701/99, 701/19, 701/20, 701/100, 701/34, 701/29, 706/50, 706/45, 702/34, 702/183, 702/187, 702/185, 340/438, 340/439, 340/679, 318/473, 731/173
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/16 concerning coolant temperature F01P11/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A locomotive for model-based incipient failure detection includes at least one replaceable unit and at least one sensor to generate signals representative of current engine conditions related to the at least one replaceable unit. A controller includes an embedded replaceable unit model algorithm. Current operating conditions and ambient conditions are utilized within the algorithm to generate a model-based predicted value for the at least one sensor. The controller compares the at least one sensor signals to the model-based predicted values for calculating deviations therebetween and detecting incipient failure of the at least one replaceable unit.

Claims

1. A locomotive for model-based incipient failure detection, said locomotive comprising:

at least one locomotive replaceable unit;

at least one sensor to generate signals representative of current engine conditions related to said at least one replaceable unit; and

a controller including an embedded replaceable unit model algorithm wherein current operating conditions and ambient conditions are utilized to generate a model-based predicted value for said at least one sensor;

wherein said controller compares said at least one sensor signals to said model-based predicted values for calculating deviations therebetween.

2. A locomotive in accordance with claim 1, wherein said algorithm is programmed in a language selected from the group of C, C++, JAVA, Basic, MATLAB and Fortran.

3. A locomotive in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is selected from the group consisting of a work station, a minicomputer, a microcomputer or a super computer, an onboard locomotive control sub-system, or an onboard locomotive monitoring system.

4. A locomotive in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group of sensors consisting of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, speed sensors, notch position sensors, gross horse power sensors, RPM current sensors, and voltage sensors.

5. A locomotive in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a communications link.

6. A locomotive in accordance with claim 5 wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a geo-synchronous L-Band satellite system and a little LEO system.

7. A model based incipient failure detection system for detecting incipient failure in at least one locomotive replaceable unit, said system comprising:

at least one sensor to generate signals representative of current engine conditions related to said at least one replaceable unit; and

a controller including an embedded replaceable unit model algorithm wherein current operating conditions and ambient conditions are utilized to generate a model-based predicted value for said at least one sensor;

wherein said controller compares said at least one sensor signal to said model-based predicted values for calculating deviations therebetween.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said algorithm is programmed in a language selected from the group of C, C++, JAVA, Basic, MATLAB and Fortran.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said controller is selected from the group consisting of a work station, a minicomputer, a microcomputer or a super computer, or an onboard locomotive control sub-system.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group of sensors consisting of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, speed sensors, notch position sensors, gross horse power sensors, RPM current sensors, and voltage sensors.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a communications link.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a geo-synchronous L-Band satellite system and a little LEO system.

13. A model-based incipient failure detection system for detecting incipient failure in at least one locomotive replaceable unit onboard a locomotive, said system comprising:

at least one sensor to generate signals representative of current engine conditions related to said at least one replaceable unit;

a communications link between said locomotive and a remote service center;

a control structure including an embedded replaceable unit model algorithm wherein current operating conditions and ambient conditions are received through said communication link and are utilized to generate a model-based predicted value for said at least one sensor;

wherein said control structure compares said at least one sensor signal to said model based predicted values for calculating deviations therebetween.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said control structure is inputted into circuitry by programming into an application specific integrated circuit.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said control structure is inputted into one or more computers.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said algorithm is programmed in a language selected from the group of C, C++, JAVA, Basic, MATLAB and Fortran.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said computer is selected from the group consisting of a work station, a minicomputer, a microcomputer or a super computer.

18. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group of sensors consisting of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, speed sensors, notch position sensors, gross horse power sensors, RPM current sensors, and voltage sensors.

19. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a geo-synchronous L-Band satellite system and a little LEO system.