Patent ID: 7680566

Claim:
A method for controlling horsepower output in a consist of at least two locomotives, each locomotive being controlled using a plurality of notch positions, said consist being controlled by said at least two locomotives according to a notch combination dictated by a physical notch position for a lead locomotive of said at least two locomotives, said method comprising: during operation of said consist, receiving an input indicative of a requested incremental change in horsepower, said incremental change in horsepower being independent of a change in horsepower due to a change in said physical notch position for said lead locomotive; determining a current horsepower output for said consist and a current notch combination for said at least two locomotives generating said current horsepower; if said current notch combination is equivalent to one dictated by said physical notch position for said lead locomotive, determining a next notch combination for said at least two locomotives in the direction of said incremental change that would occur due to said change in physical notch position for said lead locomotive, said next notch combination having associated therewith, an expected horsepower output; determining a target horsepower output which is between said expected horsepower output and said current horsepower output according to said direction of said incremental change; referencing a set of one or more transitional horsepower outputs at alternative notch combinations and determining a desired one of said alternative notch combinations having a corresponding transitional horsepower output which is within a predetermined range of said target horsepower; and adjusting throttle notch positions in each said at least two locomotives according to said desired one of said alternative notch combinations.