Vehicle coupling fault detecting system

• US 8,922,385 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Dale Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/749,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/505, 340/3.44, 340/540, 340/500, 340/531, 303/3, 303/7, 303/15, 303/20, 303/123, 303/128, 701/1, 701/19, 701/20, 701/29.1, 246/169.R, 246/182.A, 246/182.B
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance

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.

Claims

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.

2. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a first pressure sensor configured to detect a first pressure in the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit on a first side of the coupling, the coupling fault detecting system further including:

a second pressure sensor configured to detect a second pressure in the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit on a second side of the coupling opposite from the first side, and communicate a signal indicative of the second pressure to the controller; and

the controller further configured to determine whether a pressure difference across the coupling based upon the first and second pressures is indicative of a potential fault.

3. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the pressure difference across the coupling with a threshold.

4. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is further configured to include a signal indicative of a location of the coupling with the signal indicative of the pressure at the coupling.

5. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the pressure difference across the coupling as a function of time.

6. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the pressure difference across the coupling as a function of time with a threshold.

7. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 1, wherein the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit is on a first consist vehicle and the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit is on a second consist vehicle, the coupling fault detecting system further including:

a third selectively-pressurized fluid conduit on the first consist vehicle;

a fourth selectively-pressurized fluid conduit on the second consist vehicle;

the third and fourth selectively-pressurized fluid conduits forming part of a consist air brake system; and

the pressure sensor further configured to detect a pressure differential between the first and third selectively-pressurized fluid conduits on the first consist vehicle or between the second and fourth selectively-pressurized fluid conduits on the second consist vehicle.

8. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the pressure differential is indicative of a potential fault.

9. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the pressure differential with a threshold.

10. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the pressure differential as a function of time.

11. The coupling fault detecting system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the pressure differential as a function of time with a threshold.

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:

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.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

detecting a first pressure in the first selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;

detecting a second pressure in the second selectively-pressurized fluid conduit;

communicating signals indicative of the first and second pressures to the controller; and

determining whether a pressure difference between the first and second pressures is indicative of a potential fault in the connection between the fluid conduits.

14. The method of claim 13, further including comparing the pressure difference between the first and second pressures with a threshold.

15. The method of claim 12, further including communicating a signal indicative of a location at which the pressure is detected within the selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.

16. The method of claim 13, further including determining the pressure difference between the first and second pressures as a function of time.

17. The method of claim 16, further including comparing the pressure difference as function of time with a threshold.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the group of vehicles further includes at least a third fluid conduit located on a same vehicle as one of the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits, the third fluid conduit forming a portion of an air brake system for the group of vehicles, the method further including detecting a pressure differential between the third fluid conduit and the one of the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.

19. The method of claim 18, further including comparing the pressure differential as a function of time with a threshold.

20. A coupling fault detecting system for a communication conduit, 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 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.