Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120130562 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR A RAIL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA WITH A RAIL VEHICLE - A data communication system for a rail vehicle includes a data reading device and a processing module. The data reading device is disposed on the rail vehicle and is configured to at least one of electromagnetically interrogate or optically read identification data that is visually presented on a first operator control unit. The first operator control unit is configured to remotely control operations of one or more powered units of a rail vehicle consist when the operator control unit is disposed outside of the one or more powered units. The processing module is disposed on the rail vehicle and is communicatively coupled with the data reading device. The processing module receives the identification data from the data reading device and uses the identification data to identify the first operator control unit and allow the first operator control unit to remotely control operations of the one or more powered units. | 05-24-2012 |
20120318931 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ESTABLISHMENT OF A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal. | 12-20-2012 |
20130015298 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVEYING INFORMATION FROM A WAYSIDE DEVICEAANM COOPER; Jared K.AACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP COOPER; Jared K. Melbourne FL USAANM Eldredge; DavidAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Eldredge; David Melbourne FL USAANM Schoonmaker; WilliamAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Schoonmaker; William Melbourne FL USAANM Brand; JohnAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Brand; John Melbourne FL USAANM Wawrzyniak; FrankAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Wawrzyniak; Frank Melbourne FL US - A system, method and device for communicating information from a wayside device to a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the device comprises. a first light unit configured to emit a first pattern of light in a non-visible spectrum; a second light unit configured to emit a second pattern of light in the non-visible spectrum; wherein said first pattern is distinct from said second pattern; an interface in communication with the first and second light units and configured to receive information of an operational mode of the wayside device; wherein the first and second light units are responsive to one or more first control signals from said interface to operate in a first mode, corresponding to a first operational mode of the wayside device, in which said first pattern of light is on and said second pattern of light is off; and wherein the first and second light units are responsive to one or more second control signals from said interface to operate in a second mode, corresponding to a second operational mode of the wayside device, in which said first pattern of light is off and said second pattern of light is on. | 01-17-2013 |
20130325258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VELOCITY OF A VEHICLE - A control system includes an onboard controller, a location determination system, and a speed sensor. The controller identifies a designated area along a route that includes a downhill section, an airflow restricted area, a banked section, a section to be cleaned, an adverse environmental area, an adverse vehicular condition area, and/or a section where travel is restricted. The designated area is associated with an operating rule that requires the vehicle to travel at least as fast as a lower speed limit. The location determination system monitors actual locations of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route. The speed sensor obtains speed data representative of an actual velocity of the vehicle. The controller restricts control of the vehicle such that the actual velocity of the vehicle is at least as fast as the lower speed limit of the designated area when the vehicle is in the designated area. | 12-05-2013 |
20140249699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ESTABLISHMENT OF A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140343835 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SLACK CONDITION OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A method for determining a slack condition of a vehicle system includes determining when each of first and second vehicles reaches a designated location along a route. The method also includes communicating a response message from the second vehicle to the first vehicle responsive to the second vehicle reaching the designated location, calculating a separation distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a time delay between a first time when the first vehicle reached the designated location and a second time when the second vehicle reached the designated location, and determining a slack condition of the vehicle system based on the separation distance. The slack condition is representative of an amount of slack in the vehicle system between the first and second vehicles. | 11-20-2014 |
20150360700 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ESTABLISHMENT OF A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal. | 12-17-2015 |
20160090112 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for controlling a vehicle system control movement of the vehicle system along a route. The vehicle system includes one or more propulsion-generating vehicles. A propulsion-generating helper vehicle is temporarily added to the vehicle system such that the helper vehicle increases one or more of an amount of tractive force or an amount of braking effort generated by the vehicle system. The helper vehicle may be added during movement of the vehicle system. The system and method may add the helper vehicle without de-linking the propulsion-generating vehicles in the vehicle system from each other. The system and method optionally may control movement of the propulsion-generating vehicles and the helper vehicle according to a trip plan that designates operational settings as a function of at least one of time or distance along the route. | 03-31-2016 |