B61L15/00

Remote control locomotive systems and methods
11479280 · 2022-10-25 · ·

An example remote control locomotive (RCL) system includes a consist having at least one locomotive and at least one pneumatic brake pipe, and an RCL controller. The RCL controller includes a memory configured to store at least one pressurization reference including correspondence relationships between pneumatic brake pipe pressurization time periods and pneumatic brake pipe air volumes, and a processor configured to monitor a time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe of the consist. The processor is also configured to compare the monitored time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe to the pressurization reference, and determine a fault or a number of locomotives in the consist according to the comparison of the monitored time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe to the pressurization reference.

MOBILE RAILWAY ASSET MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHODS
20230083294 · 2023-03-16 ·

In one aspect, a method of monitoring a mobile railway asset is provided including detecting a strain of a component of a mobile railway asset and gathering data associated with a vibration of the mobile railway asset. The method includes comparing the strain of the component and the data associated with the vibration of the mobile railway asset. The method includes determining a load state of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the comparison of the strain of the component and the data associated with the vibration of the mobile railway asset.

Device for processing data of rolling stock
11606433 · 2023-03-14 · ·

A device configured to process data comprised in data messages passing on message buses of a rolling stock comprises: a universal input interface receiving data messages complying with the three following physical layers: RS232; RS485; CAN. From the message buses, the data messages comprise data; a processing engine receiving a remote requested configuration comprising one or more processing rules; a standardizing unit decoding the data messages into standardized data streams in function of the remote requested configuration; and wherein the processing engine further applies one or more of the one or more processing rules of the standardized data streams in function of the remote requested configuration.

EMERGENCY BRAKING CONTROL CIRCUIT BASED ON COUPLER COUPLING DETECTION

An emergency braking control circuit based on coupler coupling detection includes a coupler status detection circuit and a coupler status relay that are connected in series with a train power loop. A normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected to an emergency braking train line in a cross-parallel manner. When a coupler is coupled normally, inductive proximity sensors located at a knuckle and a central pivot are closed to drive the coupler status relay, and the normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected in a cross-parallel manner to ensure that a corresponding node of the emergency braking loop is closed. In case of abnormal coupling or accidental uncoupling of couplers, the inductive proximity sensors of the couplers of two adjacent cars are disconnected simultaneously, the coupler status relays of the two cars are powered off, and emergency braking is applied.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING CANDIDATE VEHICLE SYSTEMS
20230129070 · 2023-04-27 ·

A system is provided that includes a controller having one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to obtain first vehicle system data from a first vehicle system of plural vehicle systems based on a common characteristic shared by the plural vehicle systems, and obtain second vehicle system data from a second vehicle system of the plural vehicle systems, the second vehicle system data based on the common characteristic shared by the two or more vehicle systems. The one or more processors may also be configured to compare the first vehicle system data to the second vehicle system data, and identify one of the first vehicle system or the second vehicle system as a candidate vehicle system for maintenance based on comparing the first vehicle system data to the second vehicle system data.

Method and control unit for detection of derailment on the basis of wheel speed signals

The invention relates to a method for determining a critical driving situation of at least one wheel of a rail vehicle, wherein a characteristic value of a fluctuation strength of a raw speed signal of at least one wheel is determined, and wherein, for the purpose of evaluating the driving situation, said characteristic value is compared with criteria which describe a critical driving situation. Upon detection of a critical driving situation, the method provides that an action is triggered in the rail vehicle, wherein the method is designed in such a way that it can be combined with or make use of a sensor system and processing devices as found in a modern rail vehicle.

VEHICLE SYSTEM WITH SECOND POWER SOURCE
20230129585 · 2023-04-27 ·

A system may be provided that includes a first power source configured to supply power to a communication system of a vehicle system to communicate a signal from a first vehicle of the vehicle system to a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The system may include a second power source configured to supply power to the communication system to communicate the signal from the first vehicle to the second vehicle, and a controller. The controller may obtain an operational parameter, and communicate the signal based on the operational parameter when the first power source supplies power to the communication system. The controller may be configured to communicate the signal utilizing the power from the second power source based on the operational parameter when the first power source does not supply power to the communication system.

Display device and on-board information display method

A display device includes a drawing processing unit displaying a status of a device mounted on a train car, and a data collection unit including a signal definition holding unit holding signal definitions to be bases of first signals requesting information on the status of the device, a signal mapping management unit acquiring configuration information on the number of cars and a traveling direction, and generating the first signals, based on the signal definitions and configuration information to request information on the device status, a signal data storage unit holding a value of a second signal as information on the device status acquired by the signal mapping management unit's request, and a signal mapping generation unit generating signal mapping information for specifying the order of the cars on a display screen, based on the configuration information, and outputting the signal mapping information to the signal data storage unit.

Train operation control apparatus, operation management apparatus, train control system, and train operation method
11634037 · 2023-04-25 · ·

A train operation control apparatus mounted on a train includes: a non-contact range sensor that measures a first train interval between a rear end of a preceding train traveling ahead of the train and a head of the train; another non-contact range sensor that measures a second train interval between a head of a following train traveling behind the train and a rear end of the train; and on-board control transmission apparatus that, when being instructed to start control using the second train interval, controls operation of the train using the second train interval on the basis of an instruction from an operation management apparatus that controls operation of a plurality of trains including the train, the preceding train, and the following train.

STATE-MONITORING DEVICE AND MAINTENANCE WORK ASSISTANCE METHOD

A state-monitoring device includes: a state estimating unit to estimate a state of an instrument using operation information of a train on which the instrument is mounted; an instrument arrangement storing unit to store instrument arrangement information indicating arrangement of the instrument in the train; and a work plan output unit to extract the instrument to be maintained that requires inspection or component replacement on the basis of a state estimation value of the instrument, and output information regarding maintenance work in which the instrument to be maintained and the instrument arrangement information are associated with each other.