Automatic neutral section control system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in the train in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
- determining, using a first technique and a second technique different from the first technique, when a remote locomotive of a train has arrived proximate a neutral section of a catenary; and
performing a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive when the remote locomotive is determined to have arrived proximate the neutral section by either of the first and second techniques.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train (14) including a lead locomotive (16) and at least one remote locomotive (12) in communication with the lead locomotive. The locomotives are electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary (22) having at least one neutral section (26). The method includes sensing when a lead locomotive is proximate the neutral section of the catenary. The lead locomotive then commands the remote locomotive to perform a neutral section operation when the lead locomotive has traveled a distance equal to a distance (20) between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive. The lead locomotive determines when to issue a neutral section command based on a speed of the lead locomotive and an elapsed time from when the lead locomotive senses its location proximate the neutral section.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in the train in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
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determining, using a first technique and a second technique different from the first technique, when a remote locomotive of a train has arrived proximate a neutral section of a catenary; and performing a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive when the remote locomotive is determined to have arrived proximate the neutral section by either of the first and second techniques. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Computer readable media containing program instructions for controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in the train in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the computer readable media comprising:
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a computer program code for determining, using a first technique and a second technique different from the first technique, when a remote locomotive of a train has arrived proximate a neutral section of a catenary; and a computer program code for performing a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive when the remote locomotive is determined to have arrived proximate the neutral section by either of the first and second techniques.
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7. A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in the train in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
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determining, in a first technique, when a remote locomotive of a train has arrived proximate a neutral section of a catenary by calculating, at a lead locomotive of the train, when the lead locomotive has traveled a distance equal to a predetermined distance between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive, based on a speed of the lead locomotive and an elapsed time from when the lead locomotive senses its location proximate the neutral section; determining, in a second technique, when the remote locomotive has arrived proximate the neutral section by calculating, at the remote locomotive, when the remote locomotive has traveled the predetermined distance from a point when the remote locomotive receives an indication of the lead locomotive sensing its location proximate the neutral section, based on a speed of the remote locomotive and an elapsed time from receipt by the remote locomotive of the indication; determining, in a third technique, when the remote locomotive has arrived proximate the neutral section by sensing, from the remote locomotive, a location of the remote locomotive proximate the neutral section; and performing a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive when the remote locomotive is determined to have arrived proximate the neutral section by any one of the techniques.
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8. A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
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sensing when a lead locomotive of a train is proximate a neutral section of a catenary; and commanding, from the lead locomotive, a remote locomotive of the train to perform a neutral section operation when the lead locomotive has traveled a distance equal to a distance between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive, based on a speed of the lead locomotive and an elapsed time from when the lead locomotive senses its location proximate the neutral section. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Computer readable media containing program instructions controlling a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the Computer readable media comprising:
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a computer program code for sensing when a lead locomotive of a train is proximate a neutral section of a catenary; and a computer program code for commanding, from the lead locomotive, a remote locomotive of the train to perform a neutral section operation when the lead locomotive has traveled a distance equal to a distance between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive, based on a speed of the lead locomotive and an elapsed time from when the lead locomotive senses its location proximate the neutral section.
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14. A method of compensating for a time delay for timing a neutral section operation of a train comprising a lead locomotive and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in the train in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
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sensing a location of a lead locomotive of a train relative to a neutral section of a catenary; generating a signal comprising a time stamp corresponding to a time when the location is sensed; transmitting the signal from the lead locomotive to a remote locomotive; receiving the signal at the remote locomotive; determining a time delay between the time corresponding to the time stamp and a time measured on the remote locomotive when the remote locomotive receives the signal; and controlling a timing of a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive in response to the time delay. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for calibrating a distance measurement between a lead locomotive of a train and at least one remote locomotive following the lead locomotive in communication with the lead locomotive, the locomotives electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary having at least one neutral section, the method comprising:
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calculating a first distance traveled based on a speed of a lead locomotive of a train and an elapsed time from a time of the lead locomotive moving past a geographic point to a time of the lead locomotive receiving an indication of a remote locomotive of the train moving past the geographic point; calculating a second distance traveled by the remote locomotive based on a speed of the remote locomotive and an elapsed time from a time of the remote locomotive receiving an indication of the lead locomotive moving past the geographic point to a time of the remote locomotive moving past the geographic point; and if a difference between the first and second distances is within a predetermined range, then using one of the first and second distances in a control scheme for controlling, from the lead locomotive, a neutral section operation of the remote locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification