Vehicle coupling fault detecting system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coupling fault detecting system, comprising:
- a first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
a first communication cable disposed within the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal;
a second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
a second communication cable disposed within the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal;
a coupling, the coupling including at least a first connector and a second connector, wherein;
the first connector is connected to the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;
the second connector is connected to the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; and
the first and second connectors are connectable to each other and are configured to transmit a communication signal from the first communication cable to the second communication cable when the first and second connectors of the coupling are connected together; and
a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the coupling and configured to communicate a signal indicative of the pressure at the coupling through at least one of the first communication cable and the second communication cable; and
a controller configured to receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second connectors.
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Abstract
A vehicle coupling fault detecting system is disclosed. The system may include first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits containing first and second communication cables that are communicatively coupled when the first and second fluid conduits are connected together. A pressure sensor may detect a pressure within the fluid conduits when the conduits are connected together, and communicate a signal indicative of the pressure through at least one of the first and second communication cables. A controller may receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A coupling fault detecting system, comprising:
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a first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; a first communication cable disposed within the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal; a second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; a second communication cable disposed within the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit and configured to transmit a communication signal; a coupling, the coupling including at least a first connector and a second connector, wherein; the first connector is connected to the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; the second connector is connected to the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; and the first and second connectors are connectable to each other and are configured to transmit a communication signal from the first communication cable to the second communication cable when the first and second connectors of the coupling are connected together; and a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the coupling and configured to communicate a signal indicative of the pressure at the coupling through at least one of the first communication cable and the second communication cable; and a controller configured to receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of detecting a fault in a group of vehicles, wherein the group of vehicles includes at least first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits containing first and second communication cables that are communicatively coupled when the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits are connected together, the method comprising:
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detecting a pressure within the selectively-pressurized fluid conduits when the conduits are connected together; communicating a signal indicative of the pressure through at least one of the first and second communication cables; receiving the signal at a controller for the group of vehicles; and determining from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A coupling fault detecting system for a communication conduit, comprising:
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a first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; a first communication cable disposed within the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit, and configured to transmit a communication signal; a second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; a second communication cable disposed within the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit, and configured to transmit a communication signal; a first coupling, the first coupling having a first end and a second end, and being connected at the first end of the first coupling to the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; a second coupling, the second coupling having a first end and a second end, and being connected at the first end of the second coupling to the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit; the first and second couplings being connectable to each other at their respective second ends, and being configured to transmit a communication signal from the first communication cable to the second communication cable when the first and second couplings are connected together; a first pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the first coupling, and configured to communicate a first signal indicative of the pressure at the first coupling to the first communication cable; a second pressure sensor configured to detect pressure at the second coupling, and configured to communicate a second signal indicative of the pressure at the second coupling to the second communication cable; and a controller configured to receive the first and second signals and determine from the first and second signals whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second couplings.
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Specification