System and method for determining whether a locomotive or rail engine is coupled to a rail car or other engine

• US 7,845,504 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hershey, John Erik, Welles, Kenneth Brakeley, Davenport, David Michael, Bhotika, Rahul, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Mitchell, Robert James
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano; S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarry, Jr.; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/317,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 246/1.R, 246/1.C, 246/167.R, 213/75.R, 213/77, 213/100.R, 213/109, 213/1.3, 213/1.6
• US Class Current: 213/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 7/14 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61J 3/00 Shunting or short-distance haulage devices; Similar devices for hauling trains on steep gradients or as starting aids; Car propelling devices therefor overhead travelling cranes combined with auxiliary means for shunting railway vehicles B66C17/26; capstans B66D
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/02 Head or tail indicators, e.g. light

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by a sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating whether a first coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or an uncoupled state, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled state or an uncoupled state, the coupled or uncoupled state indicating a proximity or presence of a portion of a second coupler within a receiving area of the first coupler, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic circuit configured to provide a detectable permeability when the first coupler is proximate to or coupled to the second coupler, and wherein the magnetic circuit is provided by a pair of coils located in a facing space relationship on the first coupler and the apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting an induced current greater than a predetermined value through the pair of coils, the induced current being generated when the first coupler is secured to the second coupler.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is an inductive proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of the second coupler proximate to a throat of the first coupler.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor.

4. A coupler configured to indicate whether the coupler is coupled to another rail car, the coupler comprising:

a main body portion comprising a neck portion and a receiving area defined by a portion of the main body portion;

a knuckle pivotally mounted to the main body portion and configured for movement between a coupled position and an uncoupled position wherein the knuckle pivots into the receiving area as the knuckle pivots from the uncoupled position to the coupled position; and

a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state, the coupled or uncoupled state dependent upon the presence or proximity of a portion of a second coupler within the receiving area, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic circuit configured to provide a detectable permeability when the coupler is coupled to another rail car, and wherein the magnetic circuit is provided by a pair of coils located in a facing space relationship on the coupler and the coupler further comprises a sensor for detecting an induced current greater than a predetermined value through the pair of coils, the induced current being generated when the coupler is coupled to the another rail car.

5. The coupler as in claim 4, wherein the sensor is an inductive proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of another coupler proximate to a throat or the knuckle of the coupler the sensor is positioned on.

6. The coupler as in claim 4, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor.

7. A method for determining whether a coupler of a locomotive engine is coupled, the method comprising:

providing a signal indicative of either a coupled or uncoupled state of the coupler;

transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller;

processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller;

providing visually perceivable indication of the coupled or uncoupled state of the coupler,

configuring a video camera to provide video signals to the controller; and

programming the controller with image processing algorithms for determining whether the video signals depict a coupled or uncoupled locomotive.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising:

disposing a pair of inductive proximity sensors on a knuckle of the coupler;

configuring a first one of the pair of inductive proximity sensors to provide a first signal indicating that the coupler is pulling another coupler; and

configuring a second one of the pair of inductive proximity sensors to provide a second signal indicating that the coupler is pushing another coupler.

9. The method as in claim 7, further comprising:

positioning a strain sensor on a neck of the coupler; and

configuring the strain sensor to provide nonzero voltage output signals when either a pushing or pulling force is applied to the coupler.

10. The method as in claim 7, further comprising configuring a magnetic circuit to provide a detectable permeability when the coupler is coupled to another coupler.

11. A system for detecting whether a coupler of a locomotive has been coupled to another rail car, the system comprising:

a sensing device configured to provide a signal indicative of a coupling state of the coupler;

a transmitter in operable communication with the sensing device, the transmitter being configured to receive and transmit the signal;

a status detection system configured to receive the signal from the transmitter, the status detection system comprising;

a controller; and

a storage medium; and

wherein the sensing device is a video camera configured to provide video signals to the controller, wherein the controller further comprises image processing algorithms for determining whether the video signals depict a coupled or uncoupled locomotive.