Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100089056 | INTEGRATED TURBO-BOOSTING AND ELECTRIC GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An integrated turbo-boosting system for an engine system including an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber with an intake system and an exhaust system. The integrated turbo-boosting system includes a turbo-boosting device including a compressor coupled to a turbine by a rotating shaft, the turbine driven by exhaust gas, and an electric generation system integrated into a portion of the turbo-boosting device, the electric generation system configured to generate electricity for an electrical system. The electric generation system is maintained at an operation temperature through direction of an intake gas around at least a portion of the electric generation system. The integrated turbo-boosting system is operated in a first mode to compress intake gas for supply to the engine and a second mode to generate electrical power. | 04-15-2010 |
20110284699 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A RAIL VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist includes transmitting first data at a first rail vehicle of the consist over a power supply conductor to a second, different rail vehicle in the consist, where at least one rail vehicle of the consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor. The method also includes monitoring the power supply conductor for second data at the first rail vehicle and receiving the second data over the power supply conductor at the first rail vehicle for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle. In one aspect, the transmitting step comprises transmitting the first data over one or more of a catenary line or a third rail that supplies the electrical power. | 11-24-2011 |
20120019058 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE POWER DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT - A rail vehicle system and a method for managing distribution of power in the rail vehicle system are provided. | 01-26-2012 |
20120074266 | RAIL VEHICLE CONTROL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL VEHICLE - A rail vehicle control communication system includes a vehicle management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track and of forming an instruction to control an operation of a rail vehicle travelling along the track, the vehicle management device transmitting the instruction to the rail vehicle through the conductive pathway; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with the rail vehicle, the on-board communication device configured to receive the instruction communicated through the conductive pathway from the vehicle management device, the on-board communication device configured to change the operation of the rail vehicle based on the instruction. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078452 | RAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL VEHICLE - A rail communication system includes: a communication management device capable of being communicatively coupled with a conductive pathway that extends along a track; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with a rail vehicle that travels along the track and with the conductive pathway, the communication management device and the on-board communication device configured to communicate a data signal between each other through the conductive pathway, where the data signal includes network data. A method for communicating with rail vehicles includes: coupling a vehicle management device with a conductive pathway that extends alongside a track; and coupling an on-board communication device disposed on a rail vehicle that travels along the track with the conductive pathway; where the communication management device and the on-board communication device communicate a data signal that includes network data through the conductive pathway. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078453 | RAIL APPLIANCE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL APPLIANCE - A rail appliance communication system includes: an equipment management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track that a rail vehicle travels along; and an appliance communication device capable of being coupled with a rail appliance disposed proximate to the track, the appliance communication device and the equipment management device configured to communicate a data signal with each other through the conductive pathway. A method for communicating with a rail appliance includes: coupling an equipment management device with a conductive pathway that extends along a track that a rail vehicle travels along; and coupling an appliance communication device with the rail appliance disposed proximate to the track; wherein the equipment management device and the appliance communication device communicate a data signal through the conductive pathway. | 03-29-2012 |
20120314332 | Current Sensor - There is provided a voltage or current sensing device. An exemplary voltage or current sensing device includes a drive circuitry configured to deliver a drive current to a magnetic core operably coupled with a conductor, for driving the core to cyclical magnetic saturation. The device also includes sense circuitry configured to receive a voltage signal corresponding to an application current in the conductor. The device also includes signal processing circuitry configured to sample the voltage signal, wherein a first sample is in phase with the drive current and a second sample is out of phase with the drive current. The device also includes a feedback loop configured to deliver a compensation current to the magnetic core, wherein the compensation current is configured to balance the magnetic core and wherein the compensation current is based at least in part on the first sample in phase with the drive current. | 12-13-2012 |
20130022054 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A RAIL VEHICLE - A method of communicating data signals includes receiving data from one or more data sources disposed on board a rail vehicle and allocating different portions of a data communication bandwidth to data signals that include the data based on categories of the data. The categories represent at least one of the one or more data sources that provided the data or contents of the data. The data communication bandwidth includes a bandwidth that is available on a communication pathway of the rail vehicle. The method also includes transmitting the data signals through the communication pathway using the portions of the bandwidth that are assigned to the data signals. | 01-24-2013 |
20130249280 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE POWER DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT - A rail vehicle system and a method for managing distribution of power in the rail vehicle system are provided. | 09-26-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090132113 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE ASSET - A system includes a location determination unit for determining a geographic location of a mobile asset having an engine that produces one or more emissions during use; a memory for storing a plurality of predetermined characteristic profiles, the characteristic profiles including information regarding geographic location and at least one of engine emission levels, noise emission levels, fuel usage levels, power output, load manifest, or speed level; a processor in communication with the memory for accessing the characteristic profile for the determined location of the mobile asset and generating a control command responsive to a selected characteristic profile; and a control unit on board the mobile asset controlling an operation of the mobile asset responsive to the control command. Associated methods are provided. | 05-21-2009 |
20090309370 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY - A method for generating electricity along a roadway is provided. The method includes actuating an energy transfer assembly coupled to the roadway, wherein the energy transfer assembly is actuated by a force acting upon the roadway. The method also includes generating electricity at a generator coupled to the energy transfer assembly, the generator being driven by actuation of the energy transfer assembly. | 12-17-2009 |
20100029209 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR PROVIDING AN AUXILIARY COMMUNICATION PATH WHEN A PRIMARY COMMUNICATION PATH IS UNAVAILABLE - A method for communicating on a train that has at least two locomotives, the method including determining when a primary communication path ceases to be available for a specific subsystem of the train, identifying at least one auxiliary communication path to transmit information for the specific subsystem, configuring a message for the specific subsystem which complies with a message format of the at least one auxiliary communication path, and transmitting the message on the at least one auxiliary communication path. A system and a computer software code are further disclosed for providing a communication system for a powered system. | 02-04-2010 |
20100049384 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR OPERATING A DISTRIBUTED POWER TRAIN - An embodiment of the invention for conducting a distributed power train operation, comprises a controller at the remote unit for issuing commands to control the operation of the remote unit on a track, and responsive to a communication loss between the lead unit and the remote unit. A memory, accessible by the controller, comprises data relative to a track profile including a plurality of geographical coordinates of the track and data relative to one or more throttle positions or braking operations for the remote unit that are associated with the geographical coordinates. The controller receives data relative to geographical coordinates of the remote unit and upon a detection of the communication loss, the controller compares the geographical coordinates of the remote unit to the track profile geographical coordinates and issues one more commands associated with the operation of the remote unit. | 02-25-2010 |
20100299006 | Method and System for Providing Redundancy in Railroad Communication Equipment - A railway communication system ( | 11-25-2010 |
20110249628 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REDUNDANCY IN RAILROAD COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT - A railway communication system ( | 10-13-2011 |
20110282525 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST OR OTHER VEHICLE CONSIST - A communication system for a vehicle consist includes a control module that interfaces with at least one of a first router transceiver pair or a redundant router transceiver pair. Each of the router transceiver pairs can communicate network data between vehicles of the consist over a cable bus of the vehicle consist. The control module includes a monitor module and a switch module. The monitor module monitors operation of at least one of the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair. The switch module is operably coupled with the monitor module and controls the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair to communicate the network data over the cable bus if the other of the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair enters a failure condition for being unable to communicate the network data over the cable bus. | 11-17-2011 |
20120245766 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A control system includes an energy management system and an isolation control system. The energy management system generates a trip plan that designates operational settings of a vehicle system having powered units that generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The energy management system determines a tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and a demanded tractive effort of a trip. The energy management system identifies a tractive effort difference between the tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and the demanded tractive effort of the trip and selects at least one of the powered units based on the tractive effort difference. The isolation module remotely turns the selected powered unit to an OFF mode such that the vehicle system is propelled along the route during the trip by the powered units other than the selected powered unit. | 09-27-2012 |
20120316707 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A NETWORK ACROSS A LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST OR OTHER VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for establishing a network across a plurality of locomotives in a consist includes designating one locomotive of the plurality of locomotives as a network lead locomotive and designating the other of the plurality of locomotives as network trail locomotives. | 12-13-2012 |
20120316708 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE CONSIST - A communication method for a vehicle consist (for example, for resolving a conflict between IP addresses of vehicles in the consist) includes determining that a first vehicle in the consist has a network address (e.g., IP address) that is the same as a network address of a second vehicle in the consist, identifying an unused network address, and assigning the unused network address to one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle. | 12-13-2012 |
20120316764 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for communications in a vehicle consist (e.g., for managing network services among a plurality of networked locomotives or other vehicles in the consist) includes monitoring a first available device of a first locomotive (or other first vehicle) in the consist to determine an operational status of the first available device, and maintaining information of the operational status of the first available device in a database. | 12-13-2012 |
20120317282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for communications in a vehicle consist (e.g., for managing a high-availability network for a locomotive consist) includes monitoring an operational status of a plurality of network channels across a plurality of vehicles in the consist, and routing messages through one or more of the network channels in dependence upon the monitored operational status of the network channels. | 12-13-2012 |
20130151032 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system including a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are mechanically linked with each other to travel together along a route and are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 06-13-2013 |
20130173083 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITHIN A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK - A method includes determining whether use of an energy management system (EMS) associated with a vehicle traveling in a transportation network is allowed within a region of the transportation network. The EMS obtains a trip plan for the vehicle that designates operational settings of the vehicle as a function of at least one of distance or time along a trip of the vehicle. The method also includes determining whether the EMS is being used by the vehicle when the vehicle is within the region, and sending a message to an off-board location when the EMS is not being used by the vehicle within the region. | 07-04-2013 |
20130317676 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A ROUTE DURING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM OVER THE ROUTE - A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The sensors are coupled to a vehicle system that travels along a route. The leading sensor acquires first inspection data indicative of a condition of the route as the vehicle system travels over the route. The condition may represent the health of the route. The trailing sensor acquires additional, second inspection data that is indicative of the condition to the route subsequent to the leading sensor acquiring the first inspection data. The route examining unit identifies a section of interest in the route based on the first inspection data acquired by the leading sensor. The route examining unit also directs the trailing sensor to acquire the second inspection data within the section of interest in the route when the first inspection data indicates damage to the route in the section of interest. | 11-28-2013 |
20140058623 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method includes determining a state of operational devices in a second group coupled with a second router onboard a second vehicular unit of a vehicle consist, registering an operational device in the second group based on the determined state, and transmitting a data message from an operational device in a first group of operational devices to the second router via a first router and a communication pathway of the vehicle consist. The first group is coupled with the first router onboard a first vehicular unit. The operational devices in the first and second groups perform functions of the respective first vehicular unit and second vehicular unit. The first and second routers are connected with each other by the communication pathway. The method also includes communicating the data message to the at least one of the operational devices in the second group that are registered with the second router. | 02-27-2014 |
20140059534 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT - A method includes receiving, at a data hub onboard an asset, a new configuration file, a service program, and a software update of a software application of the asset from a remote location. The data hub includes a current configuration file that indicates a current configuration state of the software application. The new configuration file indicates an updated configuration state of the software application with the software update. The service program includes work instructions for applying the updated configuration state to the software application. The method includes displaying the current configuration file and the new configuration file onboard the asset using the data hub. The method also includes updating the software application with the updated configuration state according to the work instructions of the service program using the data hub. | 02-27-2014 |
20140094998 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A control system includes an energy management system and an isolation control system. The energy management system generates a trip plan that designates operational settings of a vehicle system having powered units that generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The energy management system determines a tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and a demanded tractive effort of a trip. The energy management system identifies a tractive effort difference between the tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and the demanded tractive effort of the trip and selects at least one of the powered units based on the tractive effort difference. The isolation module remotely turns the selected powered unit to an OFF mode such that the vehicle system is propelled along the route during the trip by the powered units other than the selected powered unit. | 04-03-2014 |
20140121953 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle consist, and the second communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle consist. The first and second communication modules are communicatively coupled by first and second communication paths. The first and second communication modules are configured to communicate first information over the first communication path and second information over the second communication path. At least a portion of the first information includes a first command corresponding to a first operation of at least one of the first or second vehicles. At least a portion of the second information includes a second command corresponding to the first operation. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129154 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A ROUTE DURING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM OVER THE ROUTE - A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics. | 05-08-2014 |
20140197281 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ORDER OF VEHICLES - A system includes a first communication module and a first ordering determination module. The first communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle consist and to communicate individual messages that are targeted for communication with respective individual second vehicles of the vehicle consist. The first ordering determination module is configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle of the vehicle consist, and to determine an order of the first vehicle and one or more of the second vehicles in the consist using message characteristic information. The message characteristic information corresponds to a transmission characteristic of the individual messages. | 07-17-2014 |
20150070503 | VIDEO SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION - A camera system and method capture image data with a camera, a data storage device electrically connected to the camera and configured to store the video data and/or a communication device electrically connected to the camera and configured to communicate the image data to a system receiver located remote from the camera. The system receiver may be located onboard a vehicle such that an operator can carry the camera off board the vehicle and communicate the image data back to the vehicle, when performing, for example, work on the vehicle or inspecting the vehicle or the environs of the vehicle. | 03-12-2015 |
20150073622 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 03-12-2015 |
20150073629 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE OPERATION - A system, in a vehicle consist including at least a fuel car operably connectable to a powered vehicle via a fuel distribution path, includes a communication module and a determination module. The communication module is configured to communicate via a first channel and a second channel. The second channel is associated with the fuel distribution path and is configured to communicate a status signal. The determination module is configured to associate the fuel distribution path with the powered vehicle based at least in part on at least one of the status signal or an acknowledgment message indicating receipt of the status signal. | 03-12-2015 |
20150158513 | AERIAL CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING ROUTE-RELATED HAZARDS - An aerial camera system includes an aerial device disposed onboard a non-aerial vehicle as the non-aerial vehicle moves along a route. The aerial device also can be configured to fly above the route during movement of the vehicle along the route. The camera unit is configured to be disposed onboard the aerial device and to generate image data during flight of the aerial device. The one or more image analysis processors are configured to examine the image data and to identify a hazard disposed ahead of the non-aerial vehicle along a direction of travel of the non-aerial vehicle based on the image data. A method for identifying route-related hazards using image data obtained from a camera unit on an aerial device. | 06-11-2015 |
20150200712 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A communication system includes a router transceiver unit and a bandwidth module. The router transceiver unit includes a network adapter module and a signal modulator module. The network adapter module is configured to receive high bandwidth network data from one or more data sources disposed on board a vehicle. The signal modulator module is configured for electrical connection to a wired connection, and to convert the high bandwidth network data into modulated network data in a form suitable for transmission over the wired connection. The bandwidth module is configured to allocate different portions of a data communication bandwidth of the wired connection to the modulated network data. The allocation is based on categories representing at least one of the one or more data sources or contents of the high bandwidth network data. | 07-16-2015 |
20150210302 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle consist, and the second communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle consist. The first and second communication modules are communicatively coupled by first and second communication paths. The first and second communication modules are configured to communicate first information over the first communication path and second information over the second communication path. At least a portion of the first information includes a first command corresponding to a first operation of at least one of the first or second vehicles. At least a portion of the second information includes a second command corresponding to the first operation. | 07-30-2015 |
20150235094 | VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An imaging system and method generate image data within a field of view that includes a cab of the vehicle and a portion of a route being traveled on and/or wayside devices disposed along the route. The cab includes a space where an operator of the vehicle is located. The image data generated by the camera is examined to identify route damage, a deteriorating condition of the route, and/or a condition of the wayside devices. The condition of the wayside devices can include damage to the wayside devices, a missing wayside device, deterioration of the wayside devices, or a change in terrain. | 08-20-2015 |
20150235106 | VEHICLE IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An image management system includes a controller and one or more analysis processors. The controller is configured to receive search parameters that specify at least one of operational data or a range of operational data of one or more vehicle systems. The one or more analysis processors are configured to search remotely stored image data based on the search parameters to identify matching image data. The remotely stored image data was obtained by one or more imaging systems disposed onboard the one or more vehicle systems, and are associated with the operational data of the one or more vehicle systems that was current when the remotely stored image data was acquired. The one or more analysis processors also are configured to obtain the matching image data having the operational data specified by the search parameters and to present the matching image data to an operator. | 08-20-2015 |
20150235484 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An imaging system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is configured to be disposed on a first vehicle system or at a wayside location along a route to generate image data within a field of view of the camera. The controller is configured to monitor a data rate at which the image data is provided from the camera. The controller also is configured to identify a stimulus event within the field of view of the camera based on a change in the data rate at which the image data is generated by the camera. | 08-20-2015 |