Method and apparatus for distributed power train control
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a rail vehicle consist including a first rail vehicle and a second rail vehicle, the rail vehicle consist coupled to at least one rail car forming a train, each of the first and second rail vehicles being operable in a traction mode and a braking mode, the method comprising:
- determining an operational status of a communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle;
determining an operational mode of each of the first and the second rail vehicles;
determining a direction of travel of the train; and
activating an alarm in the first rail vehicle in response to a shift of the operational mode of the first vehicle from traction to a braking mode, the step of activating an alarm requiring the communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle to be inoperable, the direction of travel of the train being reverse, and the operational mode of both of the first and the second rail vehicles being traction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling a railroad train (10) comprising a lead unit (14), a remote unit (12A) and a communications system communicating information between the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A), wherein the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A) are each operable in a traction operational mode and a dynamic brake operational mode. The method comprises determining operability of the communications system; determining a direction of train travel; determining an operational mode of the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A); and indicating a train condition responsive to the operability of the communications system, the direction of train travel and the operational mode of the lead (14) and remote units (12A).
45 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a rail vehicle consist including a first rail vehicle and a second rail vehicle, the rail vehicle consist coupled to at least one rail car forming a train, each of the first and second rail vehicles being operable in a traction mode and a braking mode, the method comprising:
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determining an operational status of a communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle; determining an operational mode of each of the first and the second rail vehicles; determining a direction of travel of the train; and activating an alarm in the first rail vehicle in response to a shift of the operational mode of the first vehicle from traction to a braking mode, the step of activating an alarm requiring the communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle to be inoperable, the direction of travel of the train being reverse, and the operational mode of both of the first and the second rail vehicles being traction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a rail vehicle consist including a first rail vehicle and a second rail vehicle, the rail vehicle consist coupled to at least one rail car forming a train, each of the first and second rail vehicles being operable in a traction mode and a braking mode, the method comprising:
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determining an operational status of a communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle; determining an operational mode of each of the first and the second rail vehicles; determining a direction of travel of the train; and locking of the operational mode of the first rail vehicle for preventing braking of the first rail vehicle, the step of locking requiring the communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle to be inoperable, the direction of travel of the train being reverse, and the operational mode of both of the first and the second rail vehicles being traction. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for controlling a rail vehicle consist including a first rail vehicle and a second rail vehicle, the rail vehicle consist coupled to at least one rail car forming a train, each of the first and second rail vehicles being operable in a traction mode and a braking mode, the method comprising:
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determining an operational status of a communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle; determining an operational mode of each of the first and the second rail vehicles; determining a direction of travel of the train; and activating an alarm in the first rail vehicle in response to a shift of the operational mode of the first vehicle from braking to a traction mode, the step of activating an alarm requiring the communications link between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle to be inoperable, the direction of travel of the train being forward, and the operational mode of both of the first and the second rail vehicles being braking. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification