System and method for train position sensing

• US 9,061,692 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rail-Veyor Technologies Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rail-Veyor Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Dibble, Merton F., Capers, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US13/858,878
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 246/122.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/02 Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/048 using programmable tags

Abstract

Train position is sensed using a position sensing unit having plurality of position sensors arrayed in the direction of train travel. The sensors respond to the presence and absence of a detection element on each train car, the detection element being longer than the spacing between adjacent position sensors. A confirmed count of a train car passing the position sensing unit requires detection of a series of related position sensor activations and deactivations. Alternately, the position sensing unit senses data tags on the train cars, reading unique identifiers therefrom. A list of identifiers corresponding to the car order is stored and compared to the identifiers read in order to determine train position.

Claims

1. A train system comprising:

a track extending in a travel direction;

a plurality of cars riding on the track and connected in a car order to form a train;

a plurality of data tags on the plurality of cars, each of the plurality of data tags storing a unique identifier;

a position sensing unit including;

a data tag reader arranged along the track and operable to detect each of the plurality of data tags in sequence and read the unique identifiers therefrom; and

a programmable logic controller in signal communication with the position sensing unit, the programmable logic controller storing a list of the unique identifiers corresponding to the car order and being configured to determine a train position based on inputs from the position sensing unit and the stored list.

2. The train system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data tags are radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and the data tag reader is a RFID tag reader.

3. The train system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

4. The train system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data tags are not located on outer surfaces of the plurality of cars.

5. The train system of claim 1, further comprising a drive station arranged along the track and operable by the PLC to impart motion to the train.

6. The train system of claim 5, wherein the PLC is configured to bring the train to a controlled stop if one of the unique identifiers is not read at its place in the car order.

7. The train system of claim 5, wherein the position sensing unit is located at the drive station.

8. The train system of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of additional drive stations arranged along the track at intervals and operable by the PLC to impart motion to the train; and

a plurality of additional position sensing units identical to the position sensing unit, each of the plurality of additional position sensing units being located a respective one of the plurality of additional drive stations.

9. The train system of claim 8, wherein the PLC is configured sequentially operate the drive stations based on the input from the position sensing units.