Convertible wireless display unit

• US 8,078,346 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Newton, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, IV, Joe
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUHFUSS, ZACHARY L
• Application Number:
  US12/235,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/7, 303/8, 303/127, 303/128, 303/15, 303/20, 701/2, 701/19, 701/29, 701/36, 701/50, 701/70, 701/20, 246/182.B
• US Class Current: 701/19
• 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 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles

Abstract

An operator interface unit, includes a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source. A display and input device are on the housing. A transceiver assembly wirelessly communications with the ECP system. A controller assembly is connected to the first electrical port, the display, the input device and the transceiver assembly, and wherein the controller assembly is a node on the network via one of the first electrical port and the transceiver assembly. A portable assembly includes a battery source in a container which irremovably houses the operator interface unit.

Claims

1. An operator interface unit for an electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) system which interfaces a locomotive pneumatic train brake control system to a train of ECP brake equipped cars, the interface unit comprising:

a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals configured to be connected to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals configured to be connected to a power source;

a display and input device provided on the housing;

a controller assembly connected to the first pair of terminals as a node on a network so as to be powered by the second pair of terminals, to drive the display and to receive inputs from the input device;

a transceiver configured to provide wireless communication with the ECP system; and

an adapter connected to the transceiver and the first pair of terminals and configured to interface the transceiver with the controller assembly via the network,

wherein the controller assembly has a second electrical port connected to the first and second pairs of terminals of the first electrical port.

2. The interface unit of claim 1, including a cut-out circuit connecting the second pair of terminals to the second electrical port of the controller, the cut-out circuit disconnects the second pair of terminals and the second electrical port if the voltage at the second pair of terminals is below a predetermined voltage.

3. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein the adapter and display are connected to be powered by the controller assembly at a second voltage lower than a first voltage at the second pair of terminals.

4. The interface unit of claim 3, wherein the controller assembly includes a power port for providing the second voltage, the display and adapter each include a power port, and a splitter connects the power port of the controller assembly to the power ports of the display and the adapter.

5. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein the first electrical port includes a third pair of terminals connected to each other;

and

the unit further including a battery assembly having a first and a second battery and a connector for matting with the first electrical port and having two pairs of positive and negative terminals connected to positive and negative terminals of a respective battery;

the positive terminal of the connector of the first battery and the negative terminal of the connector of the second battery mate with the second pair of terminals of the first electrical port, and the positive terminal of the connector of the second battery and the negative terminal of the connector the first battery mate with the third pair of terminals of the first electrical port, thereby the batteries being in series to the second pair of terminals.

6. The interface unit of claim 5, wherein the connector of the battery assembly includes a third pair of terminals connected to each other;

wherein when the connector is mated with a dual battery charger, the third pair of terminals activates the charger.

7. The interface unit of claim 5, wherein the battery assembly is in a container having a third electrical port including the two pairs of positive and negative terminals connected to positive and negative terminals of a respective battery, and the connector mates with the first and third electrical ports.

8. The interface unit of claim 7, wherein the container includes a compartment to removable accommodate the operator interface unit and the connector.

9. An operator interface unit for an electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) system which interfaces a locomotive pneumatic train brake control system to a train of ECP brake equipped cars, the interface unit comprising:

a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source;

a display and input device on the housing;

a transceiver assembly for wireless communication with the ECP system; and

a controller assembly connected to the first electrical port, the display, the input device and the transceiver assembly, the controller assembly being a node on a network via one of the first electrical port and the transceiver assembly.

10. A portable operator interface assembly for an electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) system which interfaces a locomotive pneumatic train brake control system with a train of ECP brake equipped cars, the interface assembly comprising:

a container having a lid and an external first electrical port;

a battery source provided in the container and being electrically connected to the first electrical port;

an operator interface unit removably housed in the container and having a display, an input device, a transceiver, a second electrical port and an antenna port;

an antenna removably housed in the container and having a connector for mating with the antenna port; and

a cable removably housed in the container and having a pair of connectors for mating with the first and second electrical ports respectively,

wherein the container includes a pair of wheels.

11. The interface assembly of claim 10, wherein the operator interface unit and the antenna have magnetic mounts for mounting the operator interface unit and the antenna to a locomotive.