B61L15/0054

COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN END OF TRAIN DEVICES AND HEAD OF TRAIN DEVICES ON MULTIPLE TRAINS
20230063525 · 2023-03-02 ·

An electronic train device suitable of use on a railway vehicle includes a radio module configured, through operation of at least one processor, to support and monitor a plurality of communication channels for messages transmitted between multiple electronic train devices on multiple railway vehicles, and to repeat and/or route a transmitted message using a channel of the plurality of communication channels to provide reliable communication between the multiple electronic train devices.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FAILURE OF TRAINS INSIDE TUNNELS
20230066917 · 2023-03-02 ·

A system and method for monitoring failure of a train within a tunnel is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by the central server, an estimated crossing time for the train to cross the tunnel and the latest location of the train from a telemetry system onboard the train. The telemetry system comprises a Head-of-Train device communicatively coupled to an End-of-Train device. The method further comprises detecting a failure event associated with the train, by the central server, if an attempt to establish communication with the telemetry system is unsuccessful after the estimated crossing time. The method further comprises broadcasting, by the central server, an emergency alert message indicating the failure event to one or more receiving devices based on the latest location of the train. The receiving device is associated with at least one of an operator control station and an adjacent train.

MULTI-CHANNEL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN END OF TRAIN DEVICE AND HEAD OF TRAIN DEVICE
20230065249 · 2023-03-02 ·

An automatic train communications system includes a plurality of electronic train devices and a multi-channel communications network, wherein each electronic train device comprises a radio module configured to support a plurality of communications protocols and a plurality of frequency bands, and select a communications protocol and/or a frequency band from the plurality of communications protocols and frequency bands based on at least one performance criterium to reliably communicate with one or more electronic train devices via the multi-channel communications network.

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and software for train control and tracking using multi sensors, SSD/QR signs, and/or RF reflectors
11465660 · 2022-10-11 · ·

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and software for train control and tracking using multi sensors, SSD/QR signs, and/or RF reflectors are disclosed, which enable determination of train location on a guideway, train movement authority, train length, and coupler status of each vehicle (married pair) and the consist (integrity) of the train.

MOVING BLOCK TRAIN OPERATION CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM BASED ON TRAIN AUTONOMOUS POSITIONING

The present invention relates to a moving block train operation control method and system based on train autonomous positioning, where the method is centered on a train-mounted device, autonomous positioning and integrity checking are implemented for the train-mounted device through satellites, and a movement authority and a target distance curve are calculated according to a real-time position, speed, and line state of a preceding train and in combination with train-to-train communication train safety protection technology, thereby achieving moving block. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantages that line use efficiency, system work efficiency and operation efficiency are improved, a quantity of railside devices is reduced, and system construction and maintenance costs are reduced.

End of vehicle device with integrated antenna

A device adapted for attachment to a coupler of a trailing railcar of a train includes an enclosure defining an internal compartment, a port adapted for connection to an air brake hose receiving air from a brake pipe of the train, a handle extending from the enclosure, a communication device disposed within the internal compartment of the enclosure, and at least one antenna connected to the communication device and extending at least partially through the internal compartment of the enclosure and into an internal cavity of the handle.

END OF TRAIN DEVICE WITH SELF-ALIGNMENT AND MOUNTING INTEGRITY MONITORING CAPABILITIES
20230202538 · 2023-06-29 ·

An end of train device (EOT) suitable of use on a railway vehicle includes a mounting unit for installation on a car of a railway vehicle, a position sensor configured to detect vertical alignment and orientation during the installation, and a feedback mechanism configured to provide feedback during the installation with respect to the vertical alignment and orientation. Further, a monitoring and communications system and a method for monitoring mounting integrity of an EOT are described.

POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD

A positive train control may comprise a plurality of different sensors coupled to a processor that determines whether there is an anomaly of a track way, and if there is, provides an alert and/or a train control action. The plural sensors may include a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and/or an acoustic ranging device. Data from the plural sensors is geo-tagged and time tagged. Some embodiments of the train control employ track monitors, switch monitors and/or wayside monitors, and some employ locating devices such as GPS and inertial devices.

TRAIN WIRELESS SYSTEM AND TRAIN LENGTH CALCULATION METHOD

A train wireless system includes a train detecting apparatus on the ground and a controller on a train. The detecting apparatus includes a detector and a calculator. The detector detects that the train is on rails in a block. The calculator measures an on-rail time during which the detector detects the train in the block, and calculates an on-rail detecting time during which the train has been on the rails in the block. The controller includes a distance measurer, a time measurer, a recorder, and a train-length calculator. The distance measurer measures a travelling distance of the train from a beginning of the block, the time measurer measures an elapsed time since the distance measurer starts the measurement, the recorder records the elapsed time and the travelling distance, and the train-length calculator searches the recorder based on the detecting time, and calculates the train length using a selected travelling distance.

VEHICLE AND ROUTE MONITORING SYSTEM

A system is provided that may include a first communication controller that may communicate with a vehicle system formed from two or more vehicles. The first communication controller may operate in different modes, including a first mode to control movement of the vehicle system without repeating any control signals communicated between the vehicles, and in a second mode to monitor different frequencies for receipt of the control signals, receive and repeat a first control signal of the control signals at a first frequency, and receive and repeats a second control signal of the control signals at a second frequency. The first communication controller may also operate in a third mode in which the first communication controller may monitor the first frequency but not the second frequency for the first control signal, receives the first control signal at the first frequency, and repeats the first control signal at the first frequency.