General Electric Company

Harris Corporation

Ge Harris Railway Electronics, Inc.

Eugene A Smith, Jr

Robert C Palanti

David Michael Peltz

Dale Henry Delaruelle

Milton C Deno

Don Keith Johnson

Milt Deno

Carl Hines

Andrew T Powshok

Steven P Heneka

James M Kiss, Jr

A communications method for a vehicle consist comprising a lead vehicle having a first and second antenna associated with a respective first and second transceiver and a remote vehicle having a third and fourth antenna associated with a respective third and fourth transceiver. The method further comprises transmitting an outbound message from the first transceiver via the first antenna or from the second transceiver via the second antenna, the outbound message comprising a plurality of message bytes, receiving the outbound message at the third and fourth antennas and associated third and fourth transceivers, determining correct bytes and error bytes in the outbound message as received at the third transceiver, determining correct bytes and error bytes in the outbound message as received at the fourth transceiver, and assembling a reconstructed message using correct bytes from the message received at the third transceiver and the fourth transceiver.

Method and apparatus related to on-board message repeating for vehicle consist communications system

A communications method for a vehicle consist () comprising a lead vehicle () having a first (A) and second (B) antenna associated with a respective first (A) and second (B) transceiver and a remote vehicle (A/B/C) having a third (A) and fourth (B) antenna associated with a respective third (A) and fourth (B) transceiver. The method further comprises transmitting an outbound message from the first transceiver (A) via the first antenna (A) or from the second transceiver (B) via the second antenna (B), the outbound message comprising a plurality of message bytes, receiving the outbound message at the third (A) and fourth (B) antennas and associated third (A) and fourth (B) transceivers, determining correct bytes and error bytes in the outbound message as received at the third transceiver (A), determining correct bytes and error bytes in the outbound message as received at the fourth transceiver (B), and assembling a reconstructed message using correct bytes from the message received at the third transceiver (A) and the fourth transceiver (B).

A communications method for a vehicle consist () comprising a lead () and a remote (A/B/C) powered vehicle, the lead () vehicle comprising first (A) and second (B) antennas each associated with a radio, and the remote vehicle (A/B/C) comprising third (A) and fourth (B) antennas each associated with a radio. The method comprises transmitting an outbound message from the lead () vehicle, receiving the outbound message at the third antenna (A) and supplying a signal to the associated radio for producing a first received signal, and receiving the outbound message at the fourth antenna (B) and supplying a signal to the associated radio for producing a second received signal, determining a first and second signal quality metric for the respective first and second received signals, selecting the first or second received signal for processing by the remote vehicle (A/B/C) in response to the first and second signal quality metrics.

A distributed power train () communications system for sending and receiving signals between a lead locomotive () and remote locomotives (A/B/C) in the train (). A lead () initiated message is received by at least the remote locomotive (A/B) nearest to the lead unit (). The receiving remote unit (A/B) retransmits the message for receiving by the next remote unit (C) in the train. Thus the message leapfrogs down the train from the lead unit () to the remote units (A/B/C). When the last remote unit (the nth remote unit) (C) receives the message, the last remote (C) transmits a status or other response message to the lead unit's message. The status message is received at the (n-)th remote unit (A/B), which appends its status message and transmits the combined status messages toward the lead unit (). Each successive remote unit receives the status messages of the other remote units and appends its status message, until the concatenated status message reaches the lead unit ().

On-board message repeater for railroad train communications system

In a distributed power railroad train, an apparatus for equalizing the equalizing reservoir pressure in the remote power unit and the brake pipe pressure in response to airflow into the brake pipe from the remote locomotive. With these pressures equal, the remote unit cannot charge the brake pipe while the lead unit vents the brake pipe to command a brake application at the train railcars.

Adaptive brake valve cutout scheme during distributed power communication loss

A method to facilitate reducing delays in braking applications in a train using a system. The system includes at least one computer for executing brake control functions of the train and a brake pipe that extends along a length of the train for supplying air for brake operations. The train includes a lead locomotive, at least one remote locomotive, and at least one railcar. The method includes sensing a change in airflow in the brake pipe, determining whether the change in air flow is desired, sensing brake pipe pressure, and filtering undesired fluctuations in brake pipe pressure during brake applications based on the determination of whether a change in airflow is desired.

Feed valve and reference pressure enhancement

A brake pipe overcharge detection scheme determines when an overcharge situation occurs followed by an interruption of the brake pipe slow pressure reduction process of the brake system assimilation. When the slow pressure reduction process is interrupted, the rail cars may be left in an overcharged state (i.e., the car braking system is charged to a pressure greater than the normal brake pipe pressure). When the brake pipe pressure is set to its normal brake-release value, the pressure of the car braking systems will be greater than the brake pipe pressure. The car braking system will interpret this positive pressure differential as a request to set the car brakes, and will therefore partially apply the car brakes. As a result, additional drag forces will be encountered by the locomotive as it moves the train, which may result in train separations, and overheating of the car brake shoes and wheels may result in cracked wheels and derailments.

Railroad brake pipe overcharge and separation detection system

A train control system is for a train comprising at least first and second train segments including a brake pipe being separated between adjacent train segments. The train control system preferably comprises a first control subsystem for installation in a locomotive of the first train segment and a second control subsystem for installation in a locomotive of the second train segment. The first and second control subsystems communicate with one another for controlling train braking. The system also preferably includes a third control subsystem for installation in a railcar adjacent an end of the first train segment. This third control subsystem preferably includes at least one pressure transducer for sensing brake pipe pressure adjacent the end of the first train segment, and at least one control valve for controlling brake pipe pressure adjacent the end of the first train segment. The third control subsystem also preferably includes a processor for communicating a signal related to brake pipe pressure adjacent the end of the first train segment to the second control subsystem, and for controlling brake pipe pressure adjacent the end of the first train segment responsive to a command from the second control subsystem. The second control subsystem and the third control subsystem preferably cooperate so that the brake pipe pressure adjacent the end of the first train segment and a brake pipe pressure adjacent a front of the second train segment are substantially matching thereby emulating operation with a continuous brake pipe.

Segmented brake pipe train control system and related methods

Method and apparatus for compensating for transient effects in pneumatically operated air brake system for a railway vehicle. A look up table or experimentally determined second order correction values is stored in a memory. Based on the magnitude of a previous application of the brakes, a correction value is selected from the look up table having a magnitude to compensate for transient errors in the system. The correction value is then diminished by fixed decrements at fixed intervals. Upon a subsequent application of the brakes, the diminished correction value is used to adjust the pressure communicated to braking mechanisms located on the train cars.

Adaptive air braking system with correction for second order transient

An adaptive brake control system monitors a plurality of brake pipe/air line parameters, such as fluid path volume and air flow rate, and controllably modifies action taken by the engineman or performs emergency control of the brakes, in order to continuously enable the brake system to adapt itself to dynamic operating conditions and anomalies in the integrity of the fluid path. In accordance with a pressure reduction modification mechanism, the application of a pressure reduction to the equalizing reservoir is precisely controlled by taking into account the actual state of the brake pipe, so as to ensure that the requested brake application is effected as intended. The control mechanism also monitors the integrity of the fluid flow path of the brake pipe/train air line, so that the engineman may be alerted and a prescribed train safety measure may be effected in the event of a potentially hazardous anomaly in the link. It also provides the engineman with a precise indication that the brake of the train have been fully released or applied.

Adaptive air brake control system

An adaptive brake control system monitors a plurality of brake pipe/air line parameters, such as fluid path volume and air flow rate, and controllably modifies action taken by the engineman or performs emergency control of the brakes, in order to continuously enable the braking system to adapt itself to dynamic operating conditions and anomalies in the integrity of the fluid path. In accordance with a pressure reduction modification mechanism, the application of a pressure reduction to the equalizing reservoir is precisely controlled by taking into account the actual state of the brakepipe, so as to ensure that the requested brake application is effected as intended. The control mechanism also monitors the integrity of the fluid flow path of the brake pipe/train air line, so that the engineman may be alerted and a prescribed train safety measure may be effected in the event of a potentially hazardous anomaly in the link. It also provides the engineman with a precise indication that the brakes of the train have been fully released or applied.

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Satellite Beach, FL, United States of America

Eugene A Smith, Jr