Abstract:
A device for interconnecting two locomotive Multiple Unit (MU) control receptacles together. The invention provides for the introduction of a multi-piece cable assembly that includes two end-sections and a mid-section cable optionally employing a unisex connector. The invention also includes a two-section cable assembly comprising two end-sections cables each equipped with unisex connectors. The invention also includes improved methods of interconnecting two locomotive control receptacles that are less strenuous and less difficult to operate.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application of provisional U.S. Application No. 60/347,955, which was filed on Nov. 7, 2001.  
           [0002]    The invention generally relates to a cable and method for linking locomotives and, in particular, to a multi-section cable which interconnects locomotive controls.  
           [0003]    Currently, when two or more locomotives are coupled in a multiple locomotive configuration (e.g., a consist), they must be interconnected to provide for the coordinated operation and control of propulsion and braking systems so that one locomotive can control the other(s). Such coordinated control and operation is enabled by a control Multiple Unit connection located on each locomotive. Such connection is made through a cable connection referred to as a 27-Point Control Plug and Receptacle or as a Locomotive Multiple Unit (MU) Cable.  
           [0004]    The present implementation of the industry standard MU cable connection is both difficult and strenuous for the operator who is required to make these connections. The traditional MU cable is a single section having a large heavy connector on each end. A male receptacle located on each of the locomotives receives one of the connectors at the end of the MU cable. The male receptacle is equipped with a large spring-loaded cover that also acts as a plug locking mechanism when a female plug is inserted in the male receptacle. In addition, the MU cable receptacle on the locomotive is often placed in a position that is at or above eye level.  
           [0005]    When the operator is connecting or disconnecting the current MU cable connector, one hand must be used to hold the receptacle cover in the open unlocked position while the second hand handles and lifts the bulky connector to place it in or remove it from the receptacle on the locomotive. As a result, the operator is exposed to potential operational safety hazards such as pinching of the hands, back injuries and tripping.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    The invention provides an improved interconnection between two locomotive control systems that will provide for a more convenient, less hazardous and less strenuous connection between two locomotives. The invention also provides improved methods of interconnecting two locomotives. Additionally, the invention provides an improved Multiple Unit (MU) cable assembly for use in interconnecting two locomotive control systems.  
           [0007]    In one aspect, the invention comprises a railroad locomotive multiple-connector electrical control line cable for connecting a first control receptacle of a first locomotive to a second control receptacle of a second locomotive, with the cable being of multiple section construction. The two end-sections each have an end adapted to connect to the control receptacle of a locomotive. A mid-section has both ends adapted to connect to either the first or second end-sections, whereby an electrical connection is effected between the first and second locomotives by making up connections via the mid-section at locations spaced from the control receptacles of the locomotives.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of connecting a railroad locomotive multiple-connector electrical control line between a first control receptacle of a first locomotive to a second control receptacle of a second locomotive. An electrical control line cable of multiple section construction is provided. The electrical control line cable comprises a first end-section having a control plug at a first end thereof adapted to be connected to the control receptacle of the first locomotive and a second end remote from the first end. The electrical control line cable further comprises a second end-section having a control plug at a first end thereof adapted to be connected to the control receptacle of the second locomotive and a second end remote from the first end. A mid-section has ends adapted to be connected to the second ends of the end-sections. A first end of a first end-section is connected to the first control receptacle of the first locomotive. A first end of a second end-section is connected to the second control receptacle of the second locomotive. The second end of a first end-section is connected to a first end of a mid-section. The second end of the second end-section is connected to a second end of the mid-section to complete the electrical connection at a location spaced from the control receptacles.  
           [0009]    In yet another aspect, the invention is a cable for connecting a plurality of N first wire terminations of a first control receptacle of a first locomotive to a plurality of N corresponding second wire terminations of a second control receptacle of a second locomotive. The number of wire terminations N can be any number greater than 2. In current practice, N is 27. The cable assembly is a three-section cable. A first end-section that has N first conductors terminates in first and second ends. The first end is adapted to connect to the first control receptacle such that each of the plurality of N first wire terminations of the first control receptacle is connected to a corresponding one of the N first conductors. A second end-section has N second conductors that terminate in first and second ends. The first end of the second end-section is adapted to connect to the second control receptacle such that each of the plurality of N second wire terminations of the second control receptacle is connected to a corresponding one of the N second conductors. A mid-section that has N mid-conductors terminates in first and second ends. The first end of the mid-section is adapted to connect to the second end of the first end-section such that each of the plurality of N first conductors is connected to a corresponding one of the N mid-conductors. The second end of the mid-section is adapted to connect to the second end of the second end-section such that each of the plurality of N second conductors is connected to a corresponding one of the N mid-conductors. Each of the first wire terminations of the first control receptacle of the first locomotive is electrically connected via one of the first conductors, via one of the mid-conductors and via one of the second conductors to its corresponding second wire termination of the second control receptacle of the second locomotive.  
           [0010]    In another aspect, the invention provides for a locomotive consist which includes the interconnection of two or more locomotives by connecting a three-section cable assembly from the receptacle of a first locomotive to the receptacle of a second locomotive.  
           [0011]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a non-biased unisex connector is provided on the second ends of the first and second end-sections and also on both ends of the mid-section. Such connector provides for the mating of any connector with any other connector of the same type and such connector does not have a male or female bias.  
           [0012]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the cable assembly is a two-section cable assembly one section for each locomotive. The two-section cable assembly is comprised of two end-sections each of which have their second ends terminated in a non-biased unisex connector. Each cable section comprises a first end adapted to be connected to the control receptacle of the respective locomotive and having a second end terminating in a unisex connector. An electrical connection is effected between the first and second locomotives via the cable sections when connected to the control receptacles by making up a connection via the unisex connectors of the cable sections at a location spaced from the control receptacles of the locomotives.  
           [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, a method connects a first control receptacle of a first locomotive to a second control receptacle of a second locomotive. A first end of a first end-section is connected to the first control receptacle of the first locomotive. A first end of a second end-section is connected to the second control receptacle of the second locomotive. A first unisex connector of a second end of the first end-section is connected to a second unisex connector of a second end of the second end-section.  
           [0014]    Other aspects, forms and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the three-section cable assembly for connecting two locomotives together between control receptacles.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side view illustration of a connector in the connected position that provides for the interconnection of the various sections of the three-section cable assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an end perspective illustration of a single end of the cable connector as provided in FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic side view illustration of the pin contacts at the initial stage of interconnection before the connector is locked.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustration of the pin contacts after the connector has been locked.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a second schematic side view illustration of the pin contacts after the connector is in the locked connected position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a third schematic side view illustration of the pin contacts after the connector is in a locked connected position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the two-section cable assembly for connecting two locomotives together between control receptacles using a unisex connector. 
     
    
       [0023]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    Referring to FIG. 1, a cable assembly  10  connects a first control receptacle  100  of a first locomotive  101  to a second control receptacle  102  of a second locomotive  103 . Receptacle  100  has a plurality of wire terminations (such as male pins and/or female receptors), each of which needs to be electrically connected to its corresponding wire terminations of receptacle  102 . Presently, each receptacle has  27  terminations so that the MU cable used to interconnect the receptacles has  27  isolated conductors of various gauge wires. In general, it is contemplated that the cable assembly  10  may be any number N of conductors.  
         [0025]    In one embodiment of the invention, the cable assembly  10  comprises three-sections including a first end-section  104  of N conductors, a mid-section  110  of N conductors and a second end-section  107  of N conductors. The assembly  10  electrically connects each of the terminations of first control receptacle  100  via one of the conductors in the first end-section  104 , via one of the mid-section conductors and via one of the conductors in the second end-section  107  to its corresponding termination of the second control receptacle  102 .  
         [0026]    The first end-section  104  has a first end  105  for engaging the first control receptacle  100  and connects the first end-section conductors to the receptacle&#39;s terminations. The second end  106  of the first end-section  104  is terminated in a connector  106  which can be any connector that will provide for the necessary connection of the first end-section conductors to the mid-section  110 .  
         [0027]    The second end-section  107  has a first end  108  that connects to the second control receptacle  102  and connects to its terminations. A second end  109  terminates in a connector that can be any connector that will provide for the necessary connection of its conductors to mid-section  110 .  
         [0028]    A mid-section  110  provides for the electrical interconnection of the first end-section  104  and the second end-section  107 . The mid-section  110  has ends  111  and  112  terminating in a connector adapted to connect with the connectors of the second ends  106  and  109  of both the end-sections  104  and  107 . The mid-section  110  provides an adaptor function between the two end-sections  104  and  107  by enabling the electrical connection.  
         [0029]    While it is anticipated that the mid-section  110  will have a defined length of cable, in an alternative embodiment the mid-section  110  could be an assembly with substantially no length and comprises a back-to-back connector arrangement to enable the connection of the second end  106  of the first end-section  104  to the second end  109  of the second end-section  107 .  
         [0030]    In an optional embodiment, a hanger  113  connects the mid-section  110  to one of the locomotives  101  or  103  through a length of chain or other such standard device  115 , for supporting or engaging the mid-section  110  so that the mid-section  110  is physically attached to one of the two locomotives  101  or  103  on an existing attachment  114 . The hanger  113  supports at least part of the weight of the mid-section  110 , as well as in the connected state, at least part of the weight of both the first and second end-sections  104  and  107 .  
         [0031]    In one alternative embodiment of the invention, cable assembly  10  is used in combination with dummy receptacles. A first dummy receptacle  116  on the first locomotive  101  receives the second end  106  of the first end-section  104 . A second dummy receptacle  117  on the second locomotive  103  receives the second end  109  of the second end-section  107 . The dummy receptacles  116  and  117  physically engage the second ends  106  and  109 , respectively but do not necessarily provide for the electrical termination of the conductors contained therein.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment of the invention, the connector that provides the interconnection of the end-sections  104  and  107  with the mid-section  110  is a standardized male-female connector arrangement. The first end  111  and second end  112  of the mid-section  110  are each a male connector and the second ends  106  and  109  of the first end-section  104  and the second end-section  107  are female connectors. In the connected state, the male connectors of the mid-section  110  electrically connect to the female connectors of the end-sections  104  and  107  thereby completing an end-to-end electrical connection for each of the N conductors.  
         [0033]    An alternative embodiment of this cable assembly  10  provides for the female-male connector arrangement. In this alternative, both ends  111  and  112  of the mid-section  110  are female connectors and the second ends  106  and  109  of the first end-section  106  and the second end-sections  109  are male connectors. In the connected state, the female connectors of the mid-section  110  electrically connect to the male connectors of the first and second end-sections,  104  and  107  respectively, thereby completing an end-to-end electrical connection for each of the N conductors.  
         [0034]    An alternative embodiment of the invention is to provide the connectors for connecting the mid-section  110  with each of the end-sections  104  and  107  through a non-biased connector. Such non-biased connector is referred to as a unisex connector. The unisex connector provides for the electrical connection of the N conductors between any two such connectors without the restriction of a proper mating of a male-female or female-male connection. Both the first  111  and second  112  ends of the mid-section  110  and each of the second ends  106  and  109  of the first end-section  104  and the second end-section  107  are unisex connectors  300  for engaging each other. In the connected state, the unisex connectors  300  of the mid-section  110  electrically connect to the unisex connectors  300  of the end-sections  104  and  107  thereby completing an end-to-end electrical connection for each of the N conductors.  
         [0035]    In the operation of the invention, a first control receptacle  100  of a first locomotive  101  is connected to a second control receptacle  102  of a second locomotive  103  through the cable assembly  10 . One step in the operation is the connection of the first end  105  of a first end-section  104  to the first control receptacle  100  of the first locomotive  101 . The receptacles are standard receptacles found on many locomotives. Another step connects the first end  108  of a second end-section  107  to the second control receptacle  102  of the second locomotive  103 . Another step connects the second end  106  of a first end-section  104  to the first end  111  of a mid-section  110 . Yet another step connects the second end  109  of the second end-section  107  to the second end  112  of the mid-section  110 . Once each of these steps is complete, the complete assembly  10  provides for the electrical connection for each individual N conductor.  
         [0036]    Another operation of the invention provides for disconnecting a connected cable assembly  10 . One step in this process is the disconnecting of the second end  106  of the first end-section  104  from the first end  111  of the mid-section  110 . Another step includes disconnecting the second end  109  of the second end-section  107  from the second end  112  of the mid-section  110 .  
         [0037]    A further method of the invention provides for the storage of the end-sections  106  and  109  when the end-sections  106  and  109  are not connected with the mid-section  110 . Once the end-sections  104  and  107  are disconnected from the mid-section  110 , the second ends  106  and  109  of the end-sections  104  and  107  are free and need to be stored so that they are not left hanging. One solution is to store the free or non-connected second-ends  106  and  109  of the end-sections  104  and  107  in dummy receptacles  116  and  117 , respectively. As one step, the second end  106  of the first end-section  104  is connected to a first dummy receptacle  116  mounted on the first locomotive  101 . Another step connects the second end  109  of the second end-section  107  to the second dummy receptacle  117  mounted on the second locomotive  103 . Once this process is complete, the free ends of the end-sections  104  and  107  are physically mounted in the dummy receptacles.  
         [0038]    A further method is provided in order to reconnect the cable assembly  10  when the second ends  106  and  109  of the end-sections  104  and  107  are terminated in the dummy receptacles  116  and  117  that are mounted on the locomotives  101  and  103 . The second end  106  of the first end-section  104  is disconnected from the first dummy receptacle  116 . The second end  109  of the second end-section  107  is disconnected from the second dummy receptacle  117 . Once the second ends  106  and  109  of the first  104  and second  107  end-sections are in a non-connected state or free, they can be connected to one of the ends of the mid-section  110 . The second end  106  of the first section  104  is reconnected to the first end  111  of the mid-section  110 . The second end  109  of the second end-section  107  is reconnected to the second end  112  of the mid-section  110 .  
         [0039]    An additional embodiment of the invention includes a consist of a first locomotive  101 , a second locomotive  103  and the three-section cable assembly  10 .  
         [0040]    An additional embodiment of the invention is a non-biased unisex connector  300  and  301  as shown in a mated state in FIG. 2 and in the unmated state in FIG. 3 with N pins  310 . In one embodiment of the invention, a mechanical interconnection between the mid-section  110  and each of the end-sections  104  and  107  may be made using mated unisex connectors as shown in FIG. 2. For example, FIG. 4 shows one embodiment where there are two unisex connectors,  300  and  301 . In one embodiment, a first end-section  104  may be terminated in a first non-biased unisex connector  300  with N pins  310  and mid-section  110  may be terminated in a second non-biased unisex connector  301  with N pins  320 . The individual electrical conductor pins  310  and  320  may be movably mounted in connectors  300  and  301  for axial movement while maintaining relative alignment to each other. For a mated connector arrangement there would be N such relative pin arrangements. In one embodiment, pins  310  and  320  are biased to their outward positions as shown in FIG. 4. The mechanical interconnection of pins  310  and  320  may be made in a quarter turn of the one or both of connectors  300  or  301  relative to each.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIG. 5, the first connector  300  is equipped with N pins  310  each of which are electrically connected to one of N wires  510 . In a similar manner, the second connector  301  is equipped with N pins  320  each of which is electrically connected to one of N wires  520 . As shown in FIG. 5, connector pins  310  and  320  are brought into registry when the mated connectors  300  and  301  are locked through a quarter-turn relative to each other. The mechanical connection is made to form a series of N electrical connections, one for each set of N pins  310  and N pins  320 .  
         [0042]    Other pin arrangements are also consistent with the invention. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of the pin connections after connector  300  is in the locked position relative to connector  301  wherein pin  310  of connector  300  is in alignment with pin  320  of connector  301 . In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, pin  310  of connector  300  mechanically couples with pin  320  of connector  301 .  
         [0043]    Another embodiment of the invention is for the placement of dummy receptacles  116  and  117  on each of the locomotive  101  and  103 . Such dummy receptacles may be compatible with the unisex connector  300 , thereby enabling the first end-section  104  equipped with a unisex connector at the second end  106  to be placed in a first dummy receptacle  116  when the first section  104  is not in use. In a similar manner, the second end-section  107  may be equipped with a unisex connector at the second end  109  which may be placed when not in use in the second dummy receptacle  117 .  
         [0044]    Now referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the invention is for the cable assembly  20  to be a two-section assembly  20  comprising two-end-sections  104  and  107 . The two-end-sections  104  and  107  are each terminated in unisex connectors  300  and  301  that engage each other. In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, a first control receptacle  100  of a first locomotive  101  is connected to a second control receptacle  102  of a second locomotive  103  through the cable assembly  20 . One step in the operation is the connection of the first end  105  of a first end-section  104  to the first control receptacle  100  of the first locomotive  101 . Another step is connecting the first end  108  of a second end-section  107  to the second control receptacle  102  of the second locomotive  103 . Another step connects the unisex connector  300  of the second end  106  of a first end-section  104  to the unisex connector  301  of the second end  109  of the second end-section  107 . Once the unisex connectors  300  and  301  are mated together, the two-section cable assembly  20  provides for the electrical connection between the wire terminations of the receptacles. As noted above, when the two second-ends  106  and  109  are not in use, a dummy receptacle is available to store the cables. As in FIG. 8, the second end  106  of the first end-section  104  may be stored in dummy receptacle  116  when not engaged with the second end-section  109  of a second locomotive  103 . Similarly, the second end  109  of the second end-section  107  may be stored in dummy receptacle  114  when not engaged with the first end-section  104 . This embodiment provides improved operation of interconnecting locomotives in a consist due to its improved design and ease of operation.  
         [0045]    An additional embodiment of the invention includes a consist of a first locomotive  101 , a second locomotive  103  and the two-section cable assembly  20 .  
         [0046]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the sections of the assembly  10  is shown to have a length. Alternatively, it is contemplated that any one or more of the sections have essentially no length and would be an adapter. For example, as noted above, mid-section  110  may be an adapter for engaging the free ends  106  and  109  of the sections  104  and  107 . As another example, either or both sections  104 ,  107  may be an adapter for converting the receptacles  100  and  102  into a unisex or other connector for engaging the free ends of the mid-section  110 .  
         [0047]    In view of the above, the invention provides advantages and improvements over the prior art.  
         [0048]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. As various changes could be made in the above products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.