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Brand, FL

John Brand, Melbourne, FL US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100039514System and Method for Image Projection of Operator Data From An Operator Control Unit - A system is provided for projecting images of operator data from an operator control unit. The system includes an imaging device configured to collect and transmit one or more visual images of a portion of a locomotive (or other vehicle) or an area surrounding the locomotive. In addition, the system includes an off-board operator control unit configured to receive the one or more visible images from the imaging device and comprising a projector configured to project the received one or more images onto a substrate. Additionally, a method for projecting images of operator data from an operator control unit is provided.02-18-2010
20100089056INTEGRATED 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
20100163687APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REMOTE TRAIN OPERATION - A method of verifying clearance of a rail crossing includes: (a) detecting the presence of a train near the crossing, the train being equipped with a locomotive control unit; (b) in response to detection of the train near the crossing, generating a unique code; (c) capturing an image of the crossing; (d) transmitting the unique code along with the image to a remote operator control unit; (e) using the locomotive control unit, waiting for a response from the operator control unit containing the unique code; and (f) if the response containing the unique code is received by the locomotive control unit, permitting further operation of the train and, if the unique code is not received by the locomotive control unit, carrying out an automatic response which prevents movement of the train through the crossing.07-01-2010
20110060486CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A RAIL VEHICLE SYSTEM - A control system for a rail vehicle system including a lead powered unit and a remote powered unit is provided. The system includes a user interface, a master isolation module and a slave controller. The user interface is disposed in the lead powered unit and is configured to receive an isolation command to turn on or off the remote powered unit. The master isolation module is configured to receive the isolation command from the user interface and to communicate an instruction based on the isolation command. The slave controller is configured to receive the instruction from the master isolation module. The slave controller causes the remote powered unit to supply tractive force to propel the rail vehicle system when the instruction directs the slave controller to turn on the remote powered unit. The slave controller causes the remote powered unit to withhold the tractive force when the instruction directs the slave controller to turn off the remote powered unit.03-10-2011

John William Brand, Melbourne, FL US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090231097SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING AN OPERATING STATE USING RFID - Systems and methods for determining a binary status of a device are provided. A method for detecting an operating status of a device using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided. The method includes coupling a first portion of the RFID tag to a first portion of the device and coupling a second portion of the RFID tag to a second portion of the device, wherein the first portion of the device is moveable with respect to the second portion of the device, changing a position of the first portion of the device with respect to a position of the second portion of the device, detecting the change in position of the first device portion based on the movement of the first RFID tag portion, wherein the movement causes a change in a status of an RFID signal emitted by the RFID tag, and determining the status of the device based on the change in the RFID signal status.09-17-2009
20090309370METHOD 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
20100049384SYSTEM, 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
20110015876METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR VERIFICATION OF VALIDITY OF A PRESSURE TRANSDUCER - A system for verifying validity of a pressure reading from a transducer on a remote powered system, the system including a comparator subsystem configured to evaluate a pressure reading differential taken between a first transducer that is part of a braking system on a lead powered system and a second transducer that is a part of a braking system on a remote powered system, wherein the pressure reading differential is taken when the lead powered system and the remote powered system are operating in a distributed power application. A method and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed for verifying validity of a pressure reading from a transducer on a remote powered system.01-20-2011
20110051663COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A RAIL VEHICLE - A rail vehicle includes of one or more locomotives and may further include one or more rail cars, and the rail vehicle further includes a locator element, a communications device and a control module located on the rail vehicle. The locator elements provide a location information of the rail vehicle to a control module. The control module is coupled to the communications device and the locator element. The control module determines control settings for controlling the operations of the communications device based on the location of the rail vehicle. The communications device sends and/or receives data, including communications data, off-board the rail vehicle.03-03-2011

Patent applications by John William Brand, Melbourne, FL US