Patent Publication Number: US-8522690-B2

Title: Identification of an anomalous orientation definition condition of a remote locomotive of a train

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of locomotive control, and more particularly to identifying an anomalous orientation definition of a remote locomotive of a distributed power train. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Distributed power train operation supplies motive power from a lead locomotive and one or more remote locomotives spaced apart from the lead locomotive in a train consist. Remote locomotives may be equipped with onboard remote control system responsive operation commands transmitted from the lead locomotive to the remote locomotive over a wired or wireless communications link for controlling an operation of the remote locomotive. 
     In assembling a distributed power train, a remote locomotive of the train may be setup to operate in the same orientation as the lead locomotive, such as lead short hood forward and remote short hood forward. Accordingly, when the lead is being operated in a forward direction, the remote is also commanded via the distributed power system to operate in the forward direction. Alternatively, a remote locomotive of the train may be setup to operate in an opposite orientation for the lead locomotive, for example, lead short hood forward and remote long hood forward. Accordingly, when the lead is being operated in a forward direction, the remote is commanded via the distributed power system to operate in the opposite, or reverse direction. This ability allows remote locomotives of the distributed power train to be assembled in the train in a forward or reverse and still provide traction in the same direction as the lead locomotive. 
     Typically, an orientation of a remote locomotive is established by an operator as part of a distributed power setup procedure when assembling a distributed power train. For example, an operator may use a “Same/Opposite” direction indicator, such as a switch or setup screen, on-board a distributed power enabled remote locomotive to define the remote&#39;s orientation with respect to the lead locomotive of a distributed power train being assembled. For example, if the remote locomotive&#39;s in-train orientation is the same as the lead locomotive&#39;s orientation, the orientation indicator is set to “Same.” Conversely, if the remote locomotive&#39;s orientation is opposite to the lead locomotive&#39;s orientation, the orientation indicator is set to “Opposite.” The remote on-board control system interprets traction commands provided by the lead locomotive according to the setting of the orientation indicator. For example, when the orientation indicator is set to the same orientation and a forward traction command is given by the lead locomotive, the remote locomotive interprets this command by applying traction in the forward direction. Conversely, when the orientation indicator is set to the opposite orientation and a forward traction command is given by the lead locomotive, the remote locomotive interprets this command by applying traction in the reverse direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The sole FIGURE is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for identifying an anomalous orientation definition of a remote locomotive of a distributed power train. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In conventional distributed power trains, there is no indication provided to an operator at a lead locomotive of the setup condition, or defined orientation, of a remote locomotive of the train. In particular, there is no indication that notifies an operator at the lead locomotive that a remote locomotive may have had its orientation improperly defined. Consequently, there have been cases of a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive having an improper orientation definition pulling a distributed power train in different directions, resulting in damage to the locomotives and railcars of the distributed power train. Accordingly, the inventors have developed an innovative system and method for detecting an improperly defined orientation of a remote locomotive of a distributed power train so that an undesired operation of the remote locomotive may be avoided. 
     The sole FIGURE is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system  10  for detecting an improperly defined orientation of a remote locomotive  12  of a distributed power train. The system  10  may include a processor  14  on board the remote locomotive  12  in communication with an orientation indicator  16  for allowing an operator to setup, or define, an orientation of the remote locomotive  12  with respect to an orientation of a lead locomotive (not shown). Processor  14  may take any form known in the art, for example an analog or digital microprocessor or computer, and it may be integrated into or combined with one or more controllers used for other functions related to the operation of the remote locomotive  12 . The system  10  may also include a wireless communication system  18  for communicating wirelessly with a lead locomotive via communication link  20 . The processor  14  may interpret commands received via the wireless communication system  18  according to an orientation of the remote locomotive  12  defined via the orientation indicator  16  to directly or indirectly control a traction control system  22  of the remote locomotive  12  responsive to the commands. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the processor  14  may receive remote locomotive location information via a global position satellite (GPS) receiver  32  in communication with a GPS satellite  30 . In another embodiment, the processor  14  may receive locomotive location information relative to a rail bed transponder  26 , such as a track magnet, via one or more transponder detectors  24 . Transponder detectors  24  may be positioned at certain locations on the remote locomotive  12 , such as at front and back ends and/or left and right sides of the locomotive  12 . The transponder detector(s)  24  enable the processor  14  to determine an orientation of the locomotive  12  with respect to the rail bed transponder  26 , for example, depending on which of the detectors  24 , such as a left side detector or a right side detector, senses the transponder  26 . In another embodiment, the processor  14  may receive wheel speed and/or wheel rotation direction information from one or more axle generators  28 . The processor  14  may also receive wheel slip information from a wheel slip detector  34 . The wheel slip information may be derived wheel slip detector  34  from information provided by an axle generator  28 . 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the processor  14  may be configured to implement steps for identifying an anomalous orientation definition of a remote locomotive in response to a sensed operating condition of the locomotive, such as a movement or function of the locomotive. For example, the processor  14  may identify the anomalous orientation definition based on a setting of the orientation indicator  16  and inputs provided by one or more sources  24 ,  28 ,  32 ,  34 . The steps necessary for such processes may be embodied in hardware, software and/or firmware in any form that is accessible and executable by processor  14  and may be stored on any medium that is convenient for the particular application. 
     The steps performed by the processor  14  may include monitoring an operating condition of the remote locomotive  12  being identified, for example, by an operator using the orientation indicator, as having a defined orientation with respect to a lead locomotive of the train. The steps may also include identifying an operating condition of the remote locomotive indicative of the remote locomotive operating, such as moving or functioning, contrary to an operating condition of the lead locomotive, such as by pulling the train in an opposite direction from the lead locomotive. When the operating condition of the remote locomotive  12  indicates that the remote locomotive  12  is operating contrary to the lead locomotive, the steps may include providing a notification to an operator of the train indicative of an anomalous orientation definition condition, thereby allowing the operator to correct the anomalous condition if necessary. In another aspect, when the operating condition of the remote locomotive  12  indicates that the remote locomotive  12  is operating contrary to the lead locomotive, the steps may include automatically reducing a traction condition of the remote locomotive  12 , such as by setting the traction condition of the remote locomotive  12  to an idle state so that the remote locomotive  12  provides no motive power to the train. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the step of identifying an operating condition of the remote locomotive  12  may include identifying a movement of remote locomotive  12  opposite to a direction commanded by the lead locomotive. The steps may include sensing a direction of movement of the remote locomotive  12  and determining when a sensed direction of movement is opposite to a direction commanded by the lead locomotive, even though the direction of movement of the remote locomotive  12  may be correct according to its defined orientation. For example, by monitoring a lead locomotive commanded traction direction, the defined orientation of the remote locomotive, and a sensed movement of the remote locomotive, an incorrect orientation designation of the remote locomotive  12  may be identified. In an aspect of the invention, movement direction information may be obtained, for example, via an axle generator  28  providing wheel rotation direction information, a GPS signal indicative of movement from one location to another location, and/or transponders positioned along a track over which the remote locomotive  12  is traveling. 
     In another embodiment, identifying an operating condition may include identifying an anomalous wheel slip and/or skid condition of the remote locomotive  12 . Identifying an anomalous wheel slip condition may including identifying a sustained wheel slip condition of the remote locomotive  12 , such as wheel slip being sustained for longer than about a minute. In another aspect, identifying an anomalous wheel slip condition may include identifying a relatively higher frequency of occurrence of a wheel slip condition than would be expected to occur when the remote locomotive  12  is operating according to the defined orientation. For example, when a number of wheel slip events exceed a predefined limit within a predefined time period, such as about  10  wheel slip events in about 2 minutes, a remote direction orientation fault may be declared and the operator of the train notified. 
     In another embodiment, identifying an operating condition indicative of an anomalous remote locomotive orientation setting may include identifying a speed difference between the remote locomotive  12  and the lead locomotive indicative of the locomotives traveling in opposite directions. When traveling in the same direction, the lead locomotive&#39;s and remote locomotive&#39;s speeds should be about the same speed. However, if the remote locomotive  12  has an improper orientation setting and is attempting to pull the train in an opposite direction than the lead locomotive, the remote locomotive  12  may experience wheel slip and/or skid resulting in a different speed being sensed at the remote locomotive  12  due to slipping and/or skidding of the wheels. 
     In another embodiment, identifying an operating condition indicative of an anomalous orientation setting may include identifying an anomalous track transponder  26  sensing condition indicative of the remote locomotive  12  being physically oriented in the train contrary to the defined orientation. For example, if a transponder  26  is detected on of the remote locomotive  14  opposite to a side on which detection was expected, or if a track transponder  26  is unexpectedly sensed at one end of the remote locomotive  12  before an opposite end at which first detection was expected, an anomalous orientation designation may be declared. 
     Based on the foregoing specification, the invention may be implemented using computer programming or engineering techniques including computer software, firmware, hardware or any combination or subset thereof, wherein the technical effect is to identify an anomalous orientation definition of a remote locomotive of a distributed power train. Any such resulting program, having computer-readable code means, may be embodied or provided within one or more computer-readable media, thereby making a computer program product, i.e., an article of manufacture, according to the invention. The computer readable media may be, for instance, a fixed (hard) drive, diskette, optical disk, magnetic tape, semiconductor memory such as read-only memory (ROM), etc., or any transmitting/receiving medium such as the Internet or other communication network or link. The article of manufacture containing the computer code may be made and/or used by executing the code directly from one medium, by copying the code from one medium to another medium, or by transmitting the code over a network. 
     One skilled in the art of computer science will easily be able to combine the software created as described with appropriate general purpose or special purpose computer hardware, such as a microprocessor, to create a computer system or computer sub-system embodying the method of the invention. An apparatus for making, using or selling the invention may be one or more processing systems including, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, communication links and devices, servers, I/O devices, or any sub-components of one or more processing systems, including software, firmware, hardware or any combination or subset thereof, which embody the invention. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.