Wireless display unit for ECP transition system

• US 8,346,413 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Storms, Patrick, Matusiak, Richard, LaDuc, John, McLaughlin, Bryan, Newton, Gary S., Stevens, Dale R., Marra, Jon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US12/673,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/20, 701/2, 701 291- 299, 701/36, 701/70, 701/76, 303/15, 303/7, 303/3, 303/8, 303/127, 303/128, 303/20, 303/16, 303/28, 303/86, 303/22.6, 303/22.2, 303/167, 246/182.B, 246/167.R, 246/3, 246/4, 246/182.R, 246/26, 340/438, 105/26.05
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/263 specially adapted for coupling with dependent systems, e.g. tractor-trailer systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/58 Combined or convertible systems
• 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: G05D 16/2093 with combination of electric and non-electric auxiliary power

Abstract

The present interface system includes a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical terminal in response to the pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via an train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal. A transceiver is connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller. A wireless display unit communicates via the transceiver with the controller and displays information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and provides inputs from the operator to the controller. The system also includes a three position change over valve. An event recorder and a GPS system may be connected to the controller.

Claims

1. An interface system for interfacing a pneumatic train brake control system to a train of electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake equipped cars, the interface system comprising:

a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, the controller controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, the controller providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical trainline terminal in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via the train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal;

a transceiver connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller; and

a wireless display unit for communication via the transceiver with the controller and displaying information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and providing inputs from the operator to the controller,

wherein communication is not established between the controller and the display unit if the controller is communicating with a device other than the display unit, and wherein once, and as long as, communication is established between the display unit and the controller, the controller rejects all request for links from devices other than the display unit to ensure secure, bidirectional communication between the display unit and the controller to enable error checking and interface heartbeat.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a chargeable power source and the interface system includes a charger for receiving the display unit and charging the power source.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller communicates one of train brake system status and prompts of required action by the operator to the display unit and the display unit communicates display unit status to the controller.

4. The system according to claim 1, including a GPS receiver connected to the controller and the controller performs speed limit enforcement using data from the GPS and the controller communicates loss of data from the GPS receiver to the display unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit transmits one of empty/load setting and power on/off to the controller.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller, the ECP brake equipped cars and the display unit are nodes on a network.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller resets an ECP penalty and emergency after the locomotive brake pipe ports have a pressure in a predetermine range after a predetermined period of time.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines a release pressure form the locomotive brake pipe port by averaging a given number of samples of pressure during release.

9. An interface system for interfacing a pneumatic train brake control system to a train of electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake equipped cars, the interface system comprising:

a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, the controller controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, the controller providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical trainline terminal in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via the train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal;

a transceiver connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller; and

a wireless display unit for communication via the transceiver with the controller and displaying information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and providing inputs from the operator to the controller,

wherein communication is not established between the controller and the display unit if the controller is communicating with a device other than the display unit, and

wherein the display unit has an antenna electrically connected to the display unit and removable mounted to the display unit by a mount and the mount allows mounting the antenna to a locomotive.

10. An interface system for interfacing a pneumatic train brake control system to a train of electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake equipped cars, the interface system comprising:

a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, the controller controlling pressure on a train brake port in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, the controller providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical trainline terminal in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via the train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal;

a transceiver connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller; and

a wireless display unit for communication via the transceiver with the controller and displaying information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and providing inputs from the operator to the controller,

wherein communication is not established between the controller and the display unit if the controller is communicating with a device other than the display unit, and

wherein the controller maintains an ECP brake applied command until communication has been established with the display unit and generates one of an ECP brake applied command and a pneumatic brake applied command upon loss of communication with the display unit.

11. An interface system for interfacing a pneumatic train brake control system to a train of electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake equipped cars, the interface system comprising:

a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, the controller controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, the controller providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical trainline terminal in response to the monitored pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via the train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal;

a transceiver connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller; and

a wireless display unit for communication via the transceiver with the controller and displaying information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and providing inputs from the operator to the controller,

wherein communication is not established between the controller and the display unit if the controller is communicating with a device other than the display unit, and

wherein the controller assumes control of the train brake pipe port and the ECP trainline after release of interlocks and one of the interlocks includes a feed valve of the locomotive having a value in a predetermined pressure range.