Methods and systems for continually measuring the length of a train operating in a positive train control environment
First Claim
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1. A system for determining the integrity of a train in real-time by continually monitoring a train length between a first car of the train and a second car of the train, the system comprising:
- an interrogator at the first car of the train that transmits a communication signal;
a transponder at the second car of the train that receives the communication signal and transmits a receiving signal back to the interrogator;
a location determination unit coupled to the interrogator, the location determination unit is configured to calculate an actual line of sight distance based on the receiving signal, and calculate an expected line of sight distance based on the location of the train on a mapped train track;
wherein the system determines the integrity of the train by comparing the actual line of sight distance with the expected line of sight distance.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for continually measuring the length of a train operating in a positive train control environment are provided. Particularly, the methods and systems provided herein equate repetitive line of sight ranging measurements from the head end to the rear end of a train with the physically draped length of the train along a mapped track with various horizontal and vertical curvature characteristics.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for determining the integrity of a train in real-time by continually monitoring a train length between a first car of the train and a second car of the train, the system comprising:
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an interrogator at the first car of the train that transmits a communication signal; a transponder at the second car of the train that receives the communication signal and transmits a receiving signal back to the interrogator; a location determination unit coupled to the interrogator, the location determination unit is configured to calculate an actual line of sight distance based on the receiving signal, and calculate an expected line of sight distance based on the location of the train on a mapped train track; wherein the system determines the integrity of the train by comparing the actual line of sight distance with the expected line of sight distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining the integrity of a train in real-time, the method comprising:
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transmitting, via an interrogator disposed on a first car of the train, a communication signal to a transponder disposed on a second car of the train; upon receiving the communication signal, the transponder transmitting a receiving signal to the interrogator; the transponder receiving the receiving signal and determining an actual line of sight distance between the first car and the second car; calculating, via a location determination unit coupled to the interrogator, an expected line of sight distance between the first car and the second car that is determined based on the location of the train on a mapped train track; comparing the actual line of sight distance to the expected line of sight distance to determine whether the integrity of the train is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification