System and method for controlling a vehicle consist
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first control module configured to be disposed on-board a first powered vehicle of a vehicle consist, the first control module configured to form control signals to coordinate tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist;
a second control module configured to be disposed on-board a second powered vehicle of the vehicle consist, the first and second powered vehicles mechanically coupled with each other by at least a third vehicle in the vehicle consist;
an energy management module configured to be disposed on-board the second powered vehicle and configured to be communicatively coupled with the second control module, the energy management module configured to form control signals that are transmitted by the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile associated with a trip of the vehicle consist while an operator of the vehicle consist is located on-board the first powered vehicle; and
a control arbitration module configured to be communicatively coupled with the first and second control modules, the control arbitration module configured to determine which of the first and second control modules controls the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist, the control arbitration module configured to cause the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist when the vehicle consist is operating according to the trip profile, the control arbitration module also configured to switch control of the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist to the first control module responsive to the operator manually changing at least one of a throttle setting or a brake setting of the first powered vehicle.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes first and second control modules, an energy management module, and an arbitration module. The first and second control modules are on-board first and second powered vehicles coupled by at least a third vehicle in a vehicle consist. The first control module forms control signals to coordinate tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist. The energy management module is on-board the second powered vehicle and is communicatively coupled with the second control module. The energy management module forms control signals that are transmitted by the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile associated with a trip of the vehicle consist. The arbitration module is communicatively coupled with the first and second control modules. The arbitration module determines which of the control modules controls the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first control module configured to be disposed on-board a first powered vehicle of a vehicle consist, the first control module configured to form control signals to coordinate tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist; a second control module configured to be disposed on-board a second powered vehicle of the vehicle consist, the first and second powered vehicles mechanically coupled with each other by at least a third vehicle in the vehicle consist; an energy management module configured to be disposed on-board the second powered vehicle and configured to be communicatively coupled with the second control module, the energy management module configured to form control signals that are transmitted by the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile associated with a trip of the vehicle consist while an operator of the vehicle consist is located on-board the first powered vehicle; and a control arbitration module configured to be communicatively coupled with the first and second control modules, the control arbitration module configured to determine which of the first and second control modules controls the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist, the control arbitration module configured to cause the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist when the vehicle consist is operating according to the trip profile, the control arbitration module also configured to switch control of the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist to the first control module responsive to the operator manually changing at least one of a throttle setting or a brake setting of the first powered vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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12. A method comprising:
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on a first powered vehicle of a vehicle consist, controlling tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and a different, second powered vehicle of the vehicle consist, the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle mechanically coupled by at least a third vehicle; switching control of the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle from the first powered vehicle to the second powered vehicle; on the second powered vehicle, controlling the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile of a trip of the vehicle consist while an operator of the vehicle consist is disposed on-board the first powered vehicle; and switching control of the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle from the second powered vehicle back to the first powered vehicle responsive to the operator manually changing at least one of a throttle setting or a brake setting of the first powered vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first control module configured for operative coupling on-board a first powered vehicle of a vehicle consist, the first control module further configured to generate first control signals that control tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and a different, second powered vehicle of the vehicle consist, the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle mechanically coupled by at least a third vehicle; wherein the first control module is configured to cede control of the tractive efforts to a second control module while an operator of the vehicle consist is disposed on-board the first powered vehicle, the second control module operatively coupled with, and receiving second control signals from, an energy management module disposed on-board the second powered vehicle based on receipt of a command signal, the second control signals controlling the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle; and wherein the first control module is configured to regain control of the tractive efforts from the second control module responsive to the operator manually changing at least one of a throttle setting or a brake setting of the first powered vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification