Patent Publication Number: US-10766503-B2

Title: Triggering system for spotter control on train

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a triggering system, and more specifically, to the triggering system for spotter control on a train. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For conducting maintenance services on a train or locomotive, it may be required to move (or spot) the train within or outside of a railway maintenance facility or shop in many cases, it may be desirable to do this without operating a diesel engine or other power source of the train that is usually used for driving the train. It may be preferable to move the train to the railway shop in another manner. 
     Spotter control systems are in use that are operated from a cab of the train and drive the train by applying voltage from an alternate source of power, for example, locomotive batteries across at least one of the traction motors of the locomotive, to develop power. Braking is achieved by operation of brake controls present on the train after the brake control has been charged with air pressure. 
     Generally, the spotter control systems may be manually controlled such that an operator seated in the operator cab may need to activate the spotter control system when the train is approaching or is in the railway shop. This may be a laborious, time consuming process, and may even be prone to human errors due to reliance on the operator. Further, if the spotter control system is activated when the train is in the railway shop, additional lead time may be incurred in the servicing or maintenance activities. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,339 (hereinafter referred to as &#39;339 patent) describes a GPS controlled multiple source material application or ballast spreading system. The system includes tracking the position of a plurality of ballast hopper cars using GPS derived coordinates and controlling the opening of multiple ballast doors to spread ballast on desired sections of track for railroad maintenance. The process involves tracking the current hopper loads, the opened or closed state of the ballast doors, and the concurrent amount of ballast which has been spread on the desired track sections. 
     However, the &#39;339 patent does not provide an effective means for controlling the spotter control system on the train. Hence, there is a need to provide an improved system and method for the control of the spotter control system on the train. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a triggering system for a train having a spotter control system is provided. The triggering system includes a position detection system configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train. The system also includes a controller coupled to the position detection system, the spotter control system, and an engine of the train. The controller is configured to receive the position signal from the position detection system. The controller is configured to detect if the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal. The controller is configured to trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection. The controller is configured to trigger an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for triggering a spotter control system associated with a train is provided. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a position signal from a position detection system associated with the train. The position signal is indicative of a position of the train with respect to a rail shop. The method includes detecting, by the controller, if the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal. The method includes triggering, by the controller, a shutdown of the engine of the train based on the detection. The method includes triggering, by the controller, an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a train is provided. The train includes an engine, a spotter control system, and a triggering system. The triggering system includes a position detection system configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train. The triggering system includes a controller coupled to the position detection system, the spotter control system and the engine. The controller is configured to receive the position signal from the position detection system. The controller is configured to detect if the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal. The controller is configured to trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection. The controller is configured to trigger an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection. 
     Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary train, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a triggering system associated with the train of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the train approaching a rail shop, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for triggering a spotter control system associated with the train, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary train  100  is illustrated. The train  100  includes a locomotive  102 , chassis  104 , and a number of cars  106 . The locomotive  102  and the cars  106  have a number of wheels  108 . Further, the locomotive  102  includes a body  110 , an operator cab  112 , and a walking platform  114 . The cars  106  are utilized for carrying goods or services, or carrying goods or passengers from one location to another. 
     The train  100  includes the locomotive  102  having a combustion engine (not shown), specifically a diesel engine, which drives an alternator (not shown). The alternator provides electrical power to traction motors (not shown), which are mounted on the chassis  104  to drive the wheels  108 . Further, the locomotive  102  has the operator cab  112  and the walking platform  114  that surrounds the body  110  of the locomotive  102 . The train  100  further includes various other components such as, but not limited to, a number of doors and windows. For the purpose of simplicity, the various other components of the train  100  are not labeled in  FIG. 1 . The train  100  may include more than one locomotive  102  as well, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The train also includes a spotter control system  206  (see  FIG. 2 ). The spotter control system  206  provides a short distance and low speed electric drive from the existing power in batteries, alternators, traction motors, and so on. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the spotter control system  206  relates to existing locomotive equipment on the train  100  and enables an operator to efficiently move the train  100 . 
     The present disclosure relates to a triggering system  200  associated with the spotter control system  206  for the train  100  that is approaching a rail shop  300  (see  FIG. 3 ). Referring to  FIG. 2 , the triggering system  200  includes a position detection system  202 . The position detection system  202  is configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of the train  100  relative to the rail shop  300 . The position detection system  202  may be a GPS system, an RFID sensor, an optical sensor, and/or a proximity sensor. In one example, the position detection system  202  is provided on the train  100 . 
     Further, the triggering system  200  includes a controller  204  that is coupled to the position detection system  202 . The controller  204  is configured to receive the position signal from the position detection system  202 . The controller  204  automatically controls an activation of the spotter control system  206  on detection of the train  100  approaching the rail shop  300  and twill be explained in detail later in this section. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the train  100  is shown moving towards the rail shop  300 . More particularly, the train  100  is headed in a direction towards the rail shop  300  and is travelling at a given speed. 
     In this case, the position detection system  202  generates the position signal indicative of a distance between a fixed point on the train  400  to a predetermined location at the rail shop  300 . For example, the fixed point on the train  100  may be a location at a start  302  of the train  100 , a location at an end  304  of the train  100 , a center point of the locomotive of the train, a center point of an exhaust stack  306  of the train  100 , or any other similar fixed point on the train  100 . Further, the predetermined location at the rail shop  300  may be any suitable predefined location, for example, a door or entrance of the rail shop  300 . 
     The controller  204  also receives signals indicative of the speed of the train  100  and a direction of heading of the train  100 . The controller  204  may either receive this data directly from an electronic control module (ECM) or any other sensor module (not shown) of the train  100 . Alternatively, the controller  204  may determine the speed and direction of heading based on signals received from a control panel in the operator cab  112 . In other embodiments, the controller  204  may indirectly determine the speed and the direction of heading of the train  100  using any other known methods. 
     Further, in some embodiments, the controller  204  may be coupled to an image capturing device (not shown) provided on the train  100 . The image capturing device may be a camera, a camcorder, or any video or image capturing device. The image capturing device is configured to capture an image or video feed of train  100  as the train  100  approaches the rail shop  300 . The controller  204  receives the feed captured by the image capturing device and performs image analysis on the video feed to determine if the train  100  is approaching the rail shop  300 . The controller  204  may analyze the feed on a frame by frame basis to determine if the train  100  is at a predetermined distance from the rail shop  300 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that known image analysis and comparison techniques may be used to analyze the feed. 
     After receiving the position signal, and based on the direction of heading and the speed of the train  100 , the controller  204  determines if the train  100  is approaching the rail shop  300  when the distance between the train  100  and the rail shop  300  becomes less than the predetermined distance in one example, the controller  204  is coupled to database  212 . The database  212  is any known data storage device for storing the predetermined distance. The controller  204  may access and retrieve the predetermined distance from the database  212 . Alternatively, the predetermined distance may be input by an operator. While the tram  100  is headed towards the rail shop  300 , when the current distance between the train  100  and the rail shop  300  is less than the predetermined distance, the controller  204  automatically triggers the activation of the spotter control system  206 . 
     In some embodiments, the controller  204  is also coupled to the battery or alternate source of power of the train  100 . The controller  204  is configured to receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery. In this case, the controller  204  compares the current state of charge of the battery with a predetermined threshold value. The controller  204  may retrieve the predetermined threshold value from the database  212 . Further, the controller  204  may then trigger the activation of the spotter control system  206  if the current state of charge of the battery is more than the predetermined threshold value, indicating that the battery is sufficiently charged for the spotter control activation. 
     The controller  204  is coupled to the engine  208  and the spotter control system  206  on the train  100 . The controller  204  triggers the shutdown of the engine  208  and the activation of the spotter control system  206  on detection that the train  100  is approaching the rail shop  300 . The controller  204  is configured to time the activation of the spotter control system  206  such that based on the speed and the distance between the train  100  and the door of the rail shop  300 , the spotter control system  206  is activated by the time the train  100  reaches the door of the rail shop  300 . 
     The controller  204  is also coupled to a display unit  210 . The display unit  210  may be present in the operator cab  112  of the train  100 . Alternatively, the display unit  210  may be present a remote location away from the train  100   100 . The display unit  210  may include any known output unit such as a screen, a monitor, a touchscreen, a control panel display, and so on. The controller  204   204  is configured to provide the notification of the activation of the spotter control system  206  through the display unit  210 . 
     In some embodiments, the operator may manually activate this triggering system  200  by press of a button or any other suitable control provided within the operator cab  112 . Also, in some situations, the operator may be able to manually override the functionality of the triggering system  200 . Additionally or optionally, the triggering system  200  may deactivate the spotter control system  206  when the train  100  starts to head away from the rail shop  300 . 
     Based on the requirements of the system, the triggering system  200  related logic may either be present on-board or off-board the train  100 . Further, the triggering system  200  may either be an integrated device or may include separate subassemblies. The controller  204  may be a microprocessor or other processor as known in the art. The controller  204  may embody a single microprocessor or multiple microprocessors for receiving signals from components of the system. Numerous commercially available microprocessors may be configured to perform the functions of the controller  204 . A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the controller  204  may additionally include other components and may also pert grin other functions not described herein. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure relates to the system and method  400  for triggering the spotter control system  206  on the train  100 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , at step  402 , the controller  204  receives the position signal from the position detection system  202  associated with the train  100 . The position signal is indicative of the position of the train  100  with respect to the rail shop  300 . At step  404 , the controller  204  detects if the train  100  is approaching the rail shop  300  based on the position signal. At step  406 , the controller  204  triggers the shutdown of the engine  208  of the train  100  based on the detection. At step  408 , the controller  204  triggers the activation of the spotter control system  206  based on the detection. 
     The triggering system  200  is a robust and effective system that automatically activates the spotter control system  206  when the train  100  is approaching the rail shop  300 . The system does not rely on operator intervention and can ready the train  100  prior to arrival at the rail shop  300 . By effectively utilizing the spotter control system  206  on-board the train  100 , the triggering system  200  allows maintenance of the train  100  to be quicker and less laborious. Further, the system deactivates the spotter control system  206  when the train  100  begins to head out of the rail shop  300 . The system is cost effective and can be easily retro-fitted onto existing trains having the spotter control system  206 . 
     While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.