General Electric Company

Jason A Dean

Ajith Kuttannair Kumar

Patricia Sue Lacy

Christopher Mcnally

Bret Dwayne Worden

Sethu K Madhavan

Todd William Goodermuth

Nicholas E Roddy

Richard Gerald Bliley

Jeffrey James Kisak

David Joseph Schroeck

David Joseph DeSanzo

Veni Mudiam

Matthew Joseph

Stephen Matthew Pelkowski

Enrique David Torres

Mark Alan Linebach

Darren Collins Gladney

James Robert Mischler

Theodore Clark Brown

Myron L Smith

Kyle Craig Stott

William Roy Schneider

Edward Joseph Hall

Kristopher L Redinger

A system includes an energy management system configured to be communicatively coupled with a communication system of a vehicle that travels on a trip along a route. The energy management system is configured to be removably coupled with the communication system such that the energy management system is mechanically disengageable from the communication system. The energy management system is further configured to receive data parameters from the communication system and to generate at least one of a trip plan or a control message for the vehicle based on the data parameters. The trip plan and/or the control message dictates tractive and braking efforts of the vehicle during the trip. The energy management system is configured to communicate the trip plan and/or the control message to the communication system for the communication system to implement for controlling movement of the vehicle during the trip.

Data communication system and method for communicating data in a vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for improving a balance between engine fuel economy and exhaust emissions in an off-highway vehicle. One example method includes adjusting an engine injection timing based on an ambient NOx level estimated by a NOx sensor in the engine intake. Another example method includes adjusting a trip plan with a time in notch duty cycle based on a deviation from the time in notch duty cycle from a reference duty cycle.

Method and system for engine emission control

A system is presented for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system which operates based on a profile. The monitoring system includes a controller to initiate a query to the operator during an operation of the powered system. The query is used to prompt the operator for information related to the operation of the powered system along the profile. The controller compares a response to the query with a correct answer of the query to determine the alertness of the operator.

System for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system

A system is provided for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system. The system includes a controller configured to initiate an alert countdown upon determining a lack of input received from the operator during an operation of the powered system. The controller is configured to communicate an alert to the operator during the alert countdown. Additionally, the controller is configured to measure a response time of the operator to the alert. A method is also provided for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system.

System and method for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system

A compressed air system and method of operating the system wherein the slip between the compressor motor and its powering alternator is used as an indication of whether the compressor is running in a loaded or unloaded mode. A slip parameter such as % Slip is determined and compared to an allowable value in real time. If the compressor is determined to be erroneously in a loaded mode, a corrective action may be taken to reduce the probability that the motor is later started with the compressor still in the loaded mode.

Compressed air system utilizing a motor slip parameter

A compressed air system, wherein a decision to de-energize a compressor motor is made with consideration of the likely need for the operation of the compressor at a future point in time. A rate of pressure decay in an air reservoir may be extrapolated over a predetermined time period to predict the need for operation of the compressor within the time period. If operation of the compressor is predicted to be needed within the time period, the compressor is allowed to continue to run in an unloaded mode beyond a normal cool down period.

Compressed air system and method of control

Method and system for processing fault log data from a machine comprising a plurality of respective pieces of equipment are provided. Operational parameter data indicative of operational and/or environmental conditions for the respective pieces of equipment is further processed. The method allows collecting fault log data comprising a plurality of faults from any malfunctioning piece of equipment. The method further allows collecting operational parameter data relatable to each respective time of occurrence of the plurality of faults from the malfunctioning equipment. Respective identifying actions allow identifying a plurality of distinct faults in the fault log data and a plurality of data buckets indicative of respective levels of quantization of each operational parameter. At least one distinct fault cluster is generated from the plurality of distinct faults. Each generated fault cluster is related a respective quantization level of at least one operational parameter to provide at least one fault cluster that may be configurable in at least one of the following cluster configurations: a stand-alone fault cluster configuration and a cluster configuration enhanced with quantized operational parameter data. A plurality of weighted repair and distinct fault cluster combinations enhanceable with quantized operational parameter data is generated. At least one repair for the at least one fault cluster enhanceable with quantized operational parameter data is generated using the plurality of weighted repair and distinct fault cluster combinations enhanceable with quantized operational parameter data.

Method and system for analyzing fault and quantized operational data for automated diagnostics of locomotives

A system () and method () for diagnosing a malfunctioning machine. A fault event is selected () together with sequential operating parameter data () from a selectively focused time interval about the fault event for evaluation of a machine (). The selectively focused time interval may include data occurring just before, just after, or spanning the fault event. Characterizing information such as slope, rate of change, and absolute sign of the data may be derived () from the operating parameter data over the selectively focused time interval and used in the diagnosis. The fault event and operating parameter data may be compared to existing cases in a case database (). A set of rules () or candidate anomalies () may be executed over the operating parameter data to further improve the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Method and system for diagnosing machine malfunctions

A method and system for identifying or determining degradation in performance of an engine cooling subsystem having an electric motor for powering a fan in a locomotive is provided. The method allows for monitoring a signal indicative of an electrical imbalance in one or more phases in the fan motor of the cooling subsystem, and for adjusting the value of the monitored signal for deviations from an estimated nominal phase signal value due to predetermined external variables so as to generate an adjusted phase signal value. The method further allows for comparing the value of the adjusted phase signal value against the nominal phase signal value to determine the performance of the cooling subsystem.

Method and system for identifying performance degradation of a cooling subsystem in a locomotive

A method and system for predicting failures in a power resistive grid in a vehicle, e.g., a locomotive, are provided. The method allows for monitoring one or more signals indicative of an estimated grid resistance value. The method farther allows for adjusting the value of the estimated grid resistance relative to a nominal grid resistance value. A comparing step allows for comparing the adjusted value of the grid resistance against the nominal grid resistance value to determine the performance of the respective resistive grid.

Method and system for predicting failures in a power resistive grid of a vehicle

A method and system for predicting malfunctions in a power inverter having one or more legs connected between first and second voltage buses is provided. Each leg has respective first and second controllable switches coupled in series to one another. The method allows for applying predetermined respective voltages at the first and second buses. The method further allows for selectively actuating the first and second switches between respective conductive or non-conductive states. A monitoring step allows for monitoring predetermined electrical parameters generated in the inverter in response to the applied voltages as the first and second switches are respectively actuated, and an adjusting step allows for adjusting the respective values of the monitored electrical parameters for deviations from respective estimated nominal values due to predetermined external variables to generate adjusted electrical parameters that in turn may be used to determine the performance of the power inverter, including detection of incipient failures.

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Erie, PA, United States of America

Jason A Dean