General Electric Company

Jan Alan Nagle

Gerald Hess, Jr

Shuo Chen

Ajith Kuttannair Kumar

Gregory Alan Marsh

David Petersen

Myron L Smith

Randall Slomski

A system for controlling, a response to an operator, a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The system comprises an operator control, a first controller, a second controller, and a communication link. Alternatively, the system and method includes control modules which may be retrofitted to an existing consist control. The power operating modes of the locomotives within a consist are selected to optimize the operation of the consist. The operation of the consist may be optimized for any number of factors including optimizing for braking capacity, as a function of the location, base on a performance parameter which is a function of a performance profile or the location of a crew member.

Control system for optimizing the operation of two or more locomotives of a consist

The system and method for controlling a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The method comprises receiving a control command and determining a power operating mode of the first locomotive and a power operating mode of the second locomotive as a function of the control command and an optimization parameter. The power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive in at least one mode of operation of the method. The method further comprises controlling the first locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of the first locomotive and controlling the second locomotive responsive to the power operating mode of second locomotive.

System and method for managing two or more locomotives of a consist

A hand brake system () for a rail vehicle providing a hand brake position alarm () before a train is moved with a hand brake not fully released. A switch () detects the position of a hand brake drive chain () to provide a brake engaged signal (). The weight of the drive chain is supported through a load path that bypasses the switch. A master controller reverser handle position detector () provides a reverser handle position signal () when the reverser handle is moved out of neutral in preparation for providing power to the locomotive drive motors (). A relay () is used to actuate the multiunit wheel slip indicator () and the general alarm bell () in every locomotive of the train consist when the brake engaged signal is coincident with the master controller reverser handle position signal. This combination of alarms, which normally indicates a locked axle when the train is above a predetermined speed, is interpreted as a hand brake position alarm when the train is at rest.

Locomotive hand brake alarm

A system and method for controlling, a response to an operator, a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes. The system and method comprises an operator control, a first controller, a second controller, and a communication link. Alternatively, the system and method includes control modules which may be retrofitted to an existing consist control. The power operating modes of the locomotives within a consist are selected to optimize the operation of the consist. The operation of the consist may be optimized for any number of factors including optimizing for braking capacity, as a function of the location, base on a performance parameter which is a function of a performance profile or the location of a crew member.

Control and method for optimizing the operation of two or more locomotives of a consist

A temperature regulating system for a turbo charged engine and the compressed charging air from the turbo charger is disclosed. The heat regulating system employs coolant fluid which flows through the engine to transfer heat from the engine. Depending on the operating conditions of the engine the heated coolant from the engine is distributed among one or more of a plurality of flow paths. In one of the flow paths the coolant flows through a primary radiator where the coolant is cooled. A fan forces air into contact with the radiator to transfer heat from the radiator. A portion of the coolant exiting the radiator flows through a subcooler where the coolant is further cooled. The coolant from the subcooler may be directed to the charged air cooler for cooling the compressed air before flowing back to the engine. In a second flow path, coolant which has not flowed through the radiator, flows through the charged air cooler to heat the compressed air. A controller responds to input from at least one sensing device and actuates a valving arrangement to distribute the coolant from the engine among the flow paths.

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North East, PA, United States of America

Jan Alan Nagle