Containerized locomotive distributed power control

• US 9,033,285 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific Corporation)
• Inventors: Iden, Michael E., Henry, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jason C
• Application Number:
  US13/831,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20140263860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 246/186, 246/187.R, 246/187.A, 246/187.B, 246/187.C
• US Class Current: 246/187.A
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

A distributed power (DP) control system is contained within a non-freight carrying intermodal container for communicating with and receive instructions and/or commands from a command system of a lead distributed power locomotive within a train. The container is configured to be provided on a car adjacent to a remote non-distributed powered (non-DP) locomotive provided within a length of the train. One or more connection hoses connect the distributed power control system within the container to the non-DP locomotive to control application of at least its brake system.

Claims

1. A non-freight carrying intermodal container comprising:

a non-freight carrying body configured for stacking with another intermodal container, the body having an intermodal container compatible configuration comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, end walls, and side walls connected together to form a box with corners at each junction of three of the walls and having corner fittings at each corner, the corner fittings comprising a plurality of connection openings each configured to receive a part of a mounting device;

a distributed power control system contained within the body comprising at least a controller for controlling application of a brake system, the controller configured to communicate with and receive instructions and/or commands from a command system of a lead distributed power locomotive within a train, and

one or more connection hoses configured to connect the distributed power control system within the body to a non-distributed powered locomotive positioned adjacent to the non-freight carrying intermodal container to control application of at least the brake system of the non-distributed powered locomotive.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured to be provided on a car for moving the container along a train track.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the car is a gondola car.

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the car is provided adjacent to a remote locomotive provided within a length of a train for moving along the train track.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the container is configured for placement on the car directly in front of the remote locomotive in the train.

6. The container according to claim 2, wherein the car is a well car.

7. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication device associated with the distributed power control system that is configured to receive commands for supplying power to the braking system from the command system of the lead distributed power locomotive.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the wireless communication device receives instructions via radio frequency communication or GPS.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the distributed power control system is further configured to control a throttle of the non-distributed powered locomotive.

10. A train comprising:

a lead locomotive having track engaging wheels for pulling the train along a pair of tracks, the lead locomotive being located at a front end of the train and having a distributed power command system for sending instructions and/or commands to one or more remote locomotives within the train;

a plurality of container cars coupled rearward of the lead locomotive, each container car comprising track engaging wheels for moving along the pair of tracks, wherein one or more of the container cars comprises a set of intermodal containers stacked one atop each other;

a remote, non-distributed power locomotive having track engaging wheels for pulling the train along the pair of tracks, the remote, non-distributed power locomotive being located within the length of the train; and

a non-freight carrying body having an intermodal container compatible configuration configured for stacking with another intermodal container in a container car, the non-freight carrying body having a distributed power control system contained within the body for receiving instructions and/or commands from the lead locomotive and one or more connection hoses extending from the distributed power control system and connected to the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive to control application of at least the brake system of the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive.

11. The train according to claim 10, wherein the non-freight carrying body is an intermodal container comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, end walls, and side walls connected together to form a box with corners at each junction of three of the walls and having corner fittings at each corner with connection openings configured to receive a part of a mounting device.

12. The train according to claim 11, wherein the intermodal container is provided on a car for moving the intermodal container along the pair of tracks.

13. The train according to claim 12, wherein the car is provided adjacent to the remote, non-distributed power locomotive.

14. The train according to claim 12, wherein the car is a well car.

15. The train according to claim 12, wherein the car is a gondola car.

16. The train according to claim 13, wherein the intermodal container is placed on the car directly in front of the remote, non-distributed power locomotive.

17. The train according to claim 16, wherein the intermodal container is a top container in a stack of at least two containers, and wherein a bottom container is a freight-carrying container.

18. The train according to claim 16, wherein the intermodal container is a bottom container or a middle container in a stack.

19. The train according to claim 16, further comprising a wireless communication device associated with the distributed power control system that is configured to receive commands for supplying power to the braking system from the command system of the lead locomotive.

20. The train according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communication device receives instructions via radio frequency communication or GPS.

21. The train according to claim 10, wherein the distributed power control system is further configured to control a throttle of the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive.

22. A train comprising:

a lead locomotive having track engaging wheels for pulling the train along a pair of tracks, the lead locomotive being located at a front end of the train and having a distributed power command system for sending instructions and/or commands to one or more remote locomotives within the train;

a plurality of cars coupled rearward of the lead locomotive, each car comprising track engaging wheels for moving along the pair of tracks;

a remote, non-distributed power locomotive having track engaging wheels for pulling the train along the pair of tracks, the remote, non-distributed power locomotive being located within the length of the train; and

a non-freight carrying body having an intermodal container compatible configuration configured for stacking with another intermodal container in or on a car adjacent to the remote, non-distributed power locomotive, the non-freight carrying body having a distributed power control system contained within the body for receiving instructions and/or commands from the lead locomotive and one or more connection hoses extending from the distributed power control system and connected to the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive to control application of at least the brake system of the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive.

23. The train according to claim 22, wherein the non-freight carrying body is an intermodal container comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, end walls, and side walls connected together to form a box with corners at each junction of three of the walls and having corner fittings at each corner with connection openings configured to receive a part of a mounting device.

24. The train according to claim 22, wherein the non-freight carrying body is provided on a car for moving the non-freight carrying body along the pair of tracks.

25. The train according to claim 24, wherein the car is a well car.

26. The train according to claim 24, wherein the car is a gondola car.

27. The train according to claim 22, further comprising a wireless communication device associated with the distributed power control system that is configured to receive commands for supplying power to the braking system from the command system of the lead locomotive.

28. The train according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication device receives instructions via radio frequency communication or GPS.

29. The train according to claim 22, wherein the distributed power control system is further configured to control a throttle of the remote, non-distributed powered locomotive.

30. The train according to claim 22, wherein the non-freight carrying body is provided on the car directly adjacent to the remote, non-distributed power locomotive.