System and method for controlling automatic shut-off of an engine
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining that a control system of a first propulsion-generating vehicle in a vehicle system is switched from operating in an onboard control mode to a remote control mode, the vehicle system including the first propulsion-generating vehicle and at least one second propulsion-generating vehicle, wherein one or more of tractive effort or braking effort generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source located off-board the vehicle system during a first time period that the control system is in the remote control mode and the one or more of tractive effort or braking effort generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are controlled from onboard the first propulsion-generating vehicle during a different, second time period that the control system is in the onboard control mode;
deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to determining that the control system is switched from operating in the onboard control mode to the remote control mode, the AESS device configured to automatically turn off an engine of the first propulsion-generating vehicle responsive to operation of the engine being below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time,wherein the AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off while the AESS device is deactivated; and
subsequent to deactivating the AESS device responsive to the control system switching to the remote control mode, re-activating the AESS device despite the control system remaining in the remote control mode responsive to one or more of the first propulsion-generating vehicle entering a first designated area or the first propulsion-generating vehicle leaving a second designated area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling automatic shut off of an engine includes determining if a control system of a propulsion-generating vehicle is operating in a remote control mode or an onboard control mode. The operations of the vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source when the control system is in the remote control mode. The operations of the vehicle are controlled from onboard the vehicle when the control system is in the onboard control mode. The method also includes deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the control system being in or switched to the remote control mode. The AESS device automatically turns off an engine of the vehicle when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time. The AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining that a control system of a first propulsion-generating vehicle in a vehicle system is switched from operating in an onboard control mode to a remote control mode, the vehicle system including the first propulsion-generating vehicle and at least one second propulsion-generating vehicle, wherein one or more of tractive effort or braking effort generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source located off-board the vehicle system during a first time period that the control system is in the remote control mode and the one or more of tractive effort or braking effort generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are controlled from onboard the first propulsion-generating vehicle during a different, second time period that the control system is in the onboard control mode; deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to determining that the control system is switched from operating in the onboard control mode to the remote control mode, the AESS device configured to automatically turn off an engine of the first propulsion-generating vehicle responsive to operation of the engine being below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time, wherein the AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off while the AESS device is deactivated; and subsequent to deactivating the AESS device responsive to the control system switching to the remote control mode, re-activating the AESS device despite the control system remaining in the remote control mode responsive to one or more of the first propulsion-generating vehicle entering a first designated area or the first propulsion-generating vehicle leaving a second designated area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system having a first propulsion-generating vehicle with an engine and at least one second propulsion-generating vehicle, the controller configured to determine that the first propulsion-generating vehicle is switched from operating in an onboard control mode to a remote control mode, wherein one or more of tractive effort or braking effort that is generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source that is located off-board the vehicle system during a first time period that the first propulsion-generating vehicle is in the remote control mode and the one or more of tractive effort or braking effort that is generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle are controlled from onboard the first propulsion-generating vehicle during a different, second time period that the first propulsion-generating vehicle is in the onboard control mode, the controller also configured to deactivate an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the first propulsion-generating vehicle switching to the remote control mode from the onboard control mode, the AESS device configured to automatically turn off an engine of the first propulsion-generating vehicle while operation of the engine is below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time, wherein the AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off while the AESS device is deactivated, and wherein, subsequent to deactivating the AESS device responsive to the first propulsion-generating vehicle switching to the remote control mode from the onboard control mode, the controller is configured to re-activate the AESS device despite the first propulsion-generating vehicle remaining in the remote control mode responsive to one or more of the first propulsion-generating vehicle entering a first designated area or the first propulsion-generating vehicle leaving a different, second designated area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control system comprising:
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a wireless communication device; and a control unit operably connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit comprising a user interface and a controller, and the control unit configured to remotely control one or more of tractive effort or braking effort of a vehicle having an engine while the control unit is disposed off-board the vehicle; wherein the control unit is further configured to generate a first signal for transmission to the vehicle by the wireless communication device for switching the vehicle into a remote control mode from an onboard control mode for the one or more of tractive effort or braking effort of the vehicle to be remotely controlled by the control unit, and wherein at least one of; the vehicle is configured to deactivate an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device of the vehicle responsive to receiving the first signal, the AESS device configured to automatically turn off the engine when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time, wherein the AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated;
orthe control unit is further configured to generate a second signal for transmission to the vehicle system by the wireless communication device for deactivating the AESS device, wherein, subsequent to deactivating the AESS device, the control unit is configured to re-activate the AESS device despite the vehicle remaining in the remote control mode by communicating an override signal to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification