System and method for automatic train operation

• US 6,135,396 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ge-Harris Raliway Electronics LLC
• Inventors: Furtney, Barbara S., Ford, Fred A., Basta, Wayne, Whitfield, Russell U., Peek, Ernest L., Gipson, Charles F., Matheson, William L., Guarino, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,165
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 246/3, 246/4, 246/5, 246/122 R, 246/167 R, 246/182 R, 246/182 B, 246/182 C, 246/186, 246/187 R, 246/187 A, 246/218, 246/219, 246/220
• US Class Current: 246/182.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/12 Preparing schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/14 Following schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/125 using short-range radio transmission

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically controlling the operation of a plurality of unmanned freight trains operating over a predetermined track layout. The method includes generating a movement plan that provides for the operation of the freight trains over several alternative routes within the track layout. A wireless communication system is used to transmit speed and braking commands to the freight trains. Commands for the wayside resources are transmitted, using wireless communications, as necessary to carry out the movement plan.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operation of plural unmanned railway freight trains operating over a predetermined track layout, said trains being dynamically scheduled to operate over plural alternative routes between plural destinations within said track layout, and said track layout including plural switches which alter the path of trains running along said track layout, said system comprising:

means for generating a movement plan by scheduling plural freight trains to operate at desired times between plural destinations within said track layout, said movement plan providing for the safe operation of the trains by eliminating conflicts in the use of particular portions of said track layout by different trains;

means for dynamically commanding said freight trains to carry out the movement plan, said commanding means including the wireless transmission of speed commands for at least a portion of the transmission path from a central location to said trains;

means for determining the location of each of said trains along the track layout;

means for communicating said determined location to said means for dynamically commanding, said means including wireless transmission of said determined location;

means for commanding wayside resources to carry out the movement plan, said commanding means including the wireless transmission of wayside resource commands for at least a portion of the transmission path from the central location to said wayside resources;

means for determining the state of each of said wayside resources; and

,

means for communicating said determined state to said means for dynamically commanding, said means including wireless transmission of said determined state;

whereby the operation of said trains along said track layout is dynamically controlled by said means for dynamically commanding.

2. The system for controlling of claim 1 wherein said means for dynamically commanding includes means for determining the stopping distance of said trains based on train composition, location of said trains within said track layout, and train speed.

3. The system for controlling of claim 2 wherein said means for dynamically controlling dynamically determines the stopping distance of said trains and maintains a distance between adjacent trains on the same track based on said stopping distance.

4. The system for controlling of claim 1 wherein said means for dynamically commanding provides a movement authority to said trains based in part on said determined locations and on said determined states.

5. The system for controlling of claim 4 wherein said means for dynamically commanding provides said movement authority based in part on the stopping distance of each train taking into account train composition and train location.

6. The system for controlling of claim 1 wherein said means for commanding wayside resources controls the operation of plural track switches.

7. The system for controlling of claim 1 wherein said means for determining said determined state operates to determine the state of plural track switches.

8. A system for controlling the movement of plural freight trains providing a periodic service over a track layout using an unmanned locomotive, comprising:

a track layout interconnecting plural destinations, said track layout including one or more sets of tracks providing plural different routes between two or more of the plural destinations and said layout accommodating plural trains simultaneously;

plural wayside resources associated with the tracks at various points along the length thereof, said wayside resources comprising one or more of switches, hot box detectors, broken rail detectors, train occupancy detectors, tunnel door monitoring and control systems, and visual indicators;

plural wayside communication devices, each communicating in a two way communication with one or more of said wayside resources and each said wayside communication device communicating with a central control station at least in part through a wireless communication;

plural locomotive control devices, each device controlling the throttle and brakes of a locomotive;

plural train position detecting devices, each device carried onboard a train for detecting the position of the train on the track layout;

plural train communication devices, each device carried onboard a train and establishing communications between said locomotive control devices and said central control station at least in part through a wireless communication and each said device establishing communications between said train position detecting devices and said central control station;

a resource input device to receive signals indicating the service desired from trains operating over the track layout;

a movement planner which generates a specific movement plan which will operate trains over the track layout to meet the desired service, said movement planner including the track layout, rules regarding the operation of trains within the track layout, and the identification and location of the wayside resources;

a vital control module which receives signals indicating the current position of the trains and the current status of the wayside resources and which generates signals specifying the speeds at which each of the trains are to be run in accordance with the movement plan and which generates signals controlling the operation of the wayside resources; and

,

wherein the central station provides the speed specifying signals and the wayside resource controlling signals to the train communication devices and said wayside resource communication devices and which provides the current train position signals and the current status of wayside resource signals to said control module.

9. The system for controlling of claim 8 wherein plural of said trains have a stopping distance different from each other and wherein the movement planner maintains stopping distance between said plural trains based on said stopping distances.

10. The system for controlling of claim 8 wherein the movement planner attempts to slow trains instead of stopping them to avoid a conflicting use of a track segment.

11. The system for controlling of claim 8 wherein the movement planner causes a train to stop by using dynamic braking followed by frictional braking.

12. In a railway system comprising a track layout over which plural trains operate simultaneously on a nonperiodic basis, said track layout providing plural alternate routes between various points along said track layout, said track layout having associated plural wayside resources at various points, and said trains having means for automatic operation of their throttle and brakes, a method for controlling the movement of trains within the track layout comprising the steps of:

(A) generating a movement plan which schedules the trains to use the track and the wayside resources on a non-conflicting basis;

(B) receiving by wireless communication the location and speed of each train controlled by the system;

(C) receiving by wireless communication the operational status of each of the wayside resources controlled by the system;

(D) determining from said generated movement plan the movement of the trains which will carry out the movement plan;

(E) determining from said generated movement plan the operation of the wayside resources which will carry out the movement plan;

(F) transmitting by wireless communication from a central station to each of the trains the determined movement of the trains; and

,

(G) transmitting by wireless communication from said central station to the wayside resources the determined operation of the wayside resources.

13. The method of controlling of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

(H) operating the trains in accordance with said transmitted movement;

(I) operating the wayside resources in accordance said transmitted operation; and

,

(J) repeating steps (A) through (I) continuously.

14. The method of controlling of claim 12 wherein said transmitted movement comprises a commanded speed and a movement authority.