SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING A PENALTY PERIOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED POWER TRAIN

• US 20100094489A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cox, Louis, Moffitt, Robert Lyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/665 the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems B60T13/662 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A system is provided for reducing a penalty period for a distributed power train. The distributed power train includes a braking system that switches into an application state upon commencement of the penalty period. The braking system includes a fluid carrying brake pipe which connects a first locomotive and a remote locomotive. The system includes a sensor positioned within the distributed power train, which measures a parameter related to the operation of the braking system. A control processor is positioned within the first locomotive, and is coupled to the sensor. Subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period, the control processor monitors the measured parameter and switches the braking system from the application state into a release state to reduce the penalty period, based on the measured parameter falling within a predetermined safety range. Additionally, a method is provided for reducing a penalty period for a distributed power train.

Claims

1. A reduction system for reducing a penalty period for a distributed power train, said distributed power train comprising a braking system configured to switch into an application state upon commencement of the penalty period, the distributed power train comprising a first locomotive, at least one remote locomotive, and said braking system including a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting the first locomotive and the at least one remote locomotive, said reduction system comprising:

at least one sensor positioned within the distributed power train, said sensor configured to measure a parameter related to an operation of the braking system; and

a control processor positioned within the first locomotive, said control processor coupled to the at least one sensor;

wherein subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period, said control processor is configured to monitor the at least one measured parameter, and said control processor is configured to switch the braking system from the application state into a release state to reduce the penalty period based on said at least one measured parameter being within a respective predetermined safety range.

2. The reduction system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is:

a fluid pressure sensor positioned within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive to measure a pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive; and

a speed sensor positioned on the distributed power train to measure a speed of the distributed power train.

3. The reduction system of claim 2, wherein said first locomotive includes a display coupled to the control processor, said display being configured to output the measured pressure within the brake pipe and the measured speed of the distributed power train;

wherein said control processor includes a memory configured to store a respective predetermined safety range of said measured pressure and said measured speed of the distributed power train;

and wherein subsequent to said determination of said measured pressure and said measured speed being within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to transmit an output to the display to prompt an operator of the first locomotive to switch the braking system from the application state to the release state.

4. The reduction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote processor positioned within the remote locomotive, said remote processor and control processor being communicatively coupled over a wireless link;

wherein said braking system includes a respective braking system within said first locomotive and said remote locomotive, said respective braking system comprising,

a respective brake handle;

a respective brake valve; and

a respective brake processor coupled to said respective brake handle and said respective brake valve, said respective brake processor configured to move said respective brake handle to a suppression position and further configured to switch said respective brake valve to a closed position, subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period.

5. The reduction system of claim 4, wherein said at least one measured parameter includes a measured pressure of fluid within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive and a measured speed of the distributed power train;

wherein subsequent to said control processor having determined that said measured pressure and said measured speed are within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to transmit,

a lead valve signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive to move the brake valve from the closed position to an open position;

a lead handle signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive to switch the brake handle from the suppression position to a release position; and

a first release signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive such that said braking system of the first locomotive switches from the application state to the release state to initiate an increase in the pressure within the brake pipe.

6. The reduction system of claim 5, wherein said remote processor is coupled to said at least one sensor;

wherein subsequent to said first release signal, said control processor is further configured to transmit a second release signal to the remote processor over the wireless link to switch the braking system of the remote locomotive from the application state to the release state;

wherein subsequent to receiving the second release signal from the control processor, said remote processor is configured to determine whether the measured pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive has increased from a minimum value;

subsequent to said determination, said remote processor is configured to transmit;

a remote valve signal to the respective brake processor of the remote locomotive to move the brake valve from the closed position to an open position; and

a remote handle signal to the respective brake processor of the remote locomotive to switch the brake handle from the suppression position to a release position;

and wherein upon said remote processor having moved said brake handle to said open position and switched said brake handle to said release position, said braking system of the remote locomotive is switched from the application state to the release state.

7. The reduction system of claim 4, wherein said at least one measured parameter includes a measured pressure of fluid within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive and a measured speed of the distributed power train;

wherein subsequent to said control processor having determined that said measured pressure and said measured speed are within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to pause for a predetermined lead time, said predetermined lead time being greater than a maximum time required for the pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive to approach within the predetermined safety range

wherein subsequent to said predetermined lead time, said control processor is configured to verify a communication link between said control processor and said brake processor of the first locomotive.

8. The reduction system of claim 1, wherein said at least one measured parameter includes a measured pressure of fluid within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive and a measured speed of the distributed power train;

and

wherein subsequent to said control processor having determined that said measured pressure and said measured speed are within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to pause for a predetermined lead time, said predetermined lead time being greater than a maximum time required for the pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive to approach within the predetermined safety range.

9. A reduction system for reducing a penalty period for a distributed power train, comprising:

said distributed power train including a first locomotive and at least one remote locomotive;

a braking system configured to switch into an application state upon commencement of the penalty period, said braking system including a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting the first locomotive and the at least one remote locomotive; and

at least one sensor positioned within the distributed power train, said sensor configured to measure a parameter related to an operation of the braking system;

wherein subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period, said braking system is configured to switch from the application state into a release state to reduce the penalty period based on said at least one measured parameter being within a respective predetermined safety range.

10. The reduction system of claim 9, further comprising:

a control processor positioned within the first locomotive, said control processor coupled to the at least one sensor;

wherein subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period, said control processor is configured to monitor the at least one measured parameter;

said control processor is configured to switch the braking system from the application state into the release state based on said at least one measured parameter being within a respective predetermined safety range.

11. The reduction system of claim 9, further comprising:

a remote processor positioned within the remote locomotive, said remote processor and control processor being communicatively coupled over a wireless link;

wherein said braking system includes a respective braking system within said first locomotive and said remote locomotive, said respective braking system comprising,

a respective brake handle;

a respective brake valve; and

a respective brake processor coupled to said respective brake handle and said respective brake valve, said respective brake processor configured to move said respective brake handle to a suppression position and further configured to switch said respective brake valve to a closed position, subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period.

12. The reduction system of claim 11, wherein said at least one measured parameter includes a measured pressure of fluid within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive and a measured speed of the distributed power train;

and wherein subsequent to said control processor having determined that said measured pressure and said measured speed are within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to pause for a predetermined lead time, said predetermined lead time being greater than a maximum time required for the pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive to approach within the predetermined safety range.

13. The reduction system of claim 11, wherein said at least one measured parameter includes a measured pressure of fluid within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive and a measured speed of the distributed power train;

and wherein subsequent to said control processor having determined that said measured pressure and said measured speed are within the respective predetermined safety range, said control processor is configured to transmit,

a lead valve signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive to move the brake valve from the closed position to an open position;

a lead handle signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive to switch the brake handle from the suppression position to a release position; and

a first release signal to the respective brake processor of the first locomotive such that said braking system of the first locomotive switches from the application state to the release state to initiate an increase in the pressure within the brake pipe.

14. A method for reducing a penalty period for a distributed power train, said distributed power train comprising a braking system configured to switch into an application state upon commencement of the penalty period, the distributed power train comprising a first locomotive and at least one remote locomotive, and said braking system including a fluid carrying brake pipe connecting the first locomotive and the at least one remote locomotive, said method comprising:

measuring at least one parameter related to an operation of the braking system;

monitoring the at least one measured parameter subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period;

determining whether said at least one measured parameter is within a respective predetermined safety range; and

switching the braking system from the application state into a release state to reduce the penalty period based on said at least one measured parameter being within the respective predetermined safety range.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one parameter includes a pressure within the brake pipe adjacent to the remote locomotive, and a speed of the distributed power train.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying the measured pressure within the brake pipe and the measured speed of the distributed power train;

storing a respective predetermined safety range of said measured pressure, and said measured speed of the distributed power train; and

displaying a prompt to an operator of the first locomotive to switch the braking system to the release state, subsequent to said determination of said measured pressure and said measured speed being within the respective predetermined safety range.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said braking system includes a respective braking system within said first locomotive and said remote locomotive;

and wherein subsequent to the commencement of the penalty period, said method includes,

moving a respective brake handle of the respective braking system to a suppression position, and

switching a respective brake valve of the respective braking system to a closed position.