Methods and Systems for Improved Throttle Control and Coupling Control for Locomotive and Associated Train

• US 20080077285A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Worden, Bret D., Kumar, Ajith K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0062 On-board target speed calculation or supervision
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/008 On-board target speed calculation or supervision track-side control of safe travel B61L27/20; speed control circuitry B60L3/08; speed control of electric drives B60L15/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/127 for remote control of locomotives remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12

Abstract

A multi-mode control system for a locomotive includes a throttle control device having notch settings corresponding to, for a first, long haul mode, control signals for providing respective tractive effort or power from the locomotive, a master controller in communication with the throttle control device and adapted to receive said control signals from the throttle control device and to transmit respective command signals to power-train components of the locomotive to achieve the respective tractive effort or power, the master controller also adapted for sending alternative command signals when a user-operable mode selector is set to one of one or more alternative modes. The user-operable mode selector includes one or more user interface devices in communication with the master controller for selecting one alternative mode of the one or more alternative modes.

Claims

1. A multi-mode control system for a locomotive comprising:

a throttle control device comprising notch settings corresponding to, for a first, long haul mode, control signals for providing respective tractive effort or power from the locomotive;

a master controller, in communication with the throttle control device, and adapted to receive said control signals from the throttle control device and to transmit respective command signals to power-train components of the locomotive to achieve the respective tractive effort or power, the master controller also adapted for sending alternative command signals when a user-operable mode selector is set to one of one or more alternative modes; and

the user-operable mode selector comprising a user interface device in communication with the master controller for selecting one alternative mode of the one or more alternative modes.

2. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, the user-operable mode selector comprising a yard-type speed mode, wherein in the yard-type speed mode the master controller sends alternative command signals to provide a speed for each notch setting.

3. The multi-mode control system of claim 2, wherein the master controller is adapted to provide alternative command signals for a particular notch setting that comprise a speed set point maintenance effectuated by reduction of tractive effort upon attaining a desired speed.

4. The multi-mode control system of claim 2, the user-operable mode selector additionally comprising a distance mode, wherein in the distance mode the master controller sends alternative command signals to move the locomotive a specific distance for each notch setting.

5. The multi-mode control system of claim 2, the user-operable mode selector additionally comprising a distance mode, wherein in the distance mode the master controller sends alternative command signals to move the locomotive a total distance based on data input at a distance mode user-interface other than the throttle control device.

6. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, the user-operable mode selector comprising a yard-type distance mode, wherein in the yard-type distance mode the master controller sends alternative command signals to move the locomotive a specific distance for each notch setting.

7. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, the user-operable mode selector comprising a yard-type distance mode, wherein in the yard-type distance mode the master controller sends alternative command signals to move the locomotive a total distance based on data input at a distance mode user-interface other than the throttle control device.

8. The multi-mode control system of claim 7, wherein the user-interface comprises one or more data input fields on a display also providing the user-operable mode selector user interface device.

9. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, additionally comprising a couple detected stop software module selectable with a couple detected stop user interface device, effective for terminating a selected alternative mode upon detection of a negative change in speed exceeding a calculated speed change.

10. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, wherein the throttle control device is off-board of the locomotive.

11. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, wherein the user-operable mode selector is off-board of the device.

12. The multi-mode control system of claim 1, wherein the throttle control device and the user-operable mode selector are located off-board the locomotive.

13. A method for multi-mode operation of a locomotive, comprising:

selecting an operating mode from one or more operating modes;

selecting a locomotive throttle notch position by moving a throttle to the selected notch position; and

controlling the locomotive to deliver an amount of tractive effort responsive both to the selected operating mode and the selected notch position.

14. The method of claim 13, the selecting the operating mode comprising selecting a speed mode wherein the amount of tractive effort is further responsive to the speed of the locomotive.

15. The method of claim 13, the selecting the operating mode comprising selecting a distance mode wherein a specified distance for locomotive movement is determined by the selected notch position.

16. A computer software code for providing multi-mode operation of a locomotive where a computer with a processor is in communication with motoring, braking, control and speed sensing components of the locomotive, the computer software code comprising:

a software module for the computer for receiving control signals from a user-operable mode selector;

a software module for the computer for receiving control signals from a throttle control device; and

a software module for the computer for sending command signals to motoring and braking components to operate the locomotive based on a particular mode established by the user-operable mode selector and a particular setting of the throttle control device.

17. The computer software code of claim 16, additionally comprising a couple detected stop software module for computing a change in speed, comparing the change in speed to a calculated impact speed delta, and sending a control signal to stop locomotive motion upon the change in speed exceeding the calculated impact speed delta.

18. The computer software code of claim 16, additionally comprising a couple detected stop software module for computing a change in speed, comparing the change in speed to a calculated impact speed delta, and sending a control signal to stop locomotive motion upon both 1) the change in speed exceeding the calculated impact speed delta and 2) the change in speed exceeding a specified fraction of a determined zero impact locomotive speed.

19. A couple detected stop computer software code for use in a locomotive, communicating with speed data input and at least one of motoring and braking functions, for computing a change in speed, comparing the change in speed to a calculated impact speed delta, and sending a control signal to stop locomotive motion upon the change in speed exceeding the calculated impact speed delta.

20. A couple detected stop computer software code for use in a locomotive, communicating with speed data input and at least one of motoring and braking functions, for computing a change in speed, comparing the change in speed to a calculated impact speed delta, and sending a control signal to stop locomotive motion upon both 1) the change in speed exceeding the calculated impact speed delta and 2) the change in speed exceeding a specified fraction of a determined zero impact locomotive speed.