General Electric Company

Jeffrey A Twichel

Brian Nedward Meyer

Joseph Daniel Wakeman

Swapna Rameshbabu Gaikwad

Juli-Ann Luther

Ajith Kuttannair Kumar

James D Brooks

Robert James Foy

John William Brand

David Allen Eldredge

Kevin Kapp

Gerald Hess, Jr

Eric Vorndran

Daniel F Wolf

Saravanan Thiyagarajan

William Martin

James Andrew Napolitano

Robert C Palanti

Scott Sexauer

Yi Chen

An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.

Energy management system and method for vehicle systems

A communication management system for a vehicle includes a control module, a communication module, and a management module. The control module is disposed on-board a lead powered unit of the vehicle. The control module is configured to automatically change propulsion energy settings of a remote powered unit of the vehicle. The communication module transmits instructions to the remote powered unit to automatically change the propulsion energy settings of the remote powered unit. The communication module identifies communication gaps that represent interruption in one or more communication connections between the lead powered unit and the remote powered unit. The management module compares the propulsion energy settings of the lead powered unit and of the remote powered unit during the communication gaps and, based on the propulsion energy settings, prevents the control module from switching from automatic control of the propulsion energy settings of the remote powered unit to manual control.

Communication management system and method for a rail vehicle

A method and system for an automatic engine stop and start system in a locomotive that includes deactivating the automatic engine stop system in response to receiving an instruction to prevent the automatic engine stop system from automatically shutting down the locomotive without otherwise disabling the continued operation of the automatic engine stop system. The invention is also an apparatus for controlling a locomotive equipped with an automatic engine stop system. The apparatus includes a receiving interface for receiving a deactivation command from the automatic engine stop system. The apparatus also includes an input device for receiving an instruction to override the received deactivation command. The apparatus further includes a transmitting interface coupled to the input device for transmitting a control command. The transmitted control command is a command other than the received deactivation command such that the control command at least delays the automatic engine stop system from automatically shutting down the locomotive.

Automatic start/stop system and method for locomotive engines

An automatic start/stop system for locomotive engines which takes into account operator needs and concerns by enabling operators to locally prevent automatic shutdowns of their locomotives without disabling their AESS systems. Thus, operators can maintain their lead (and/or other) units running (i.e., for peace of mind, climate control, etc.) without prohibiting other locomotives in consist from automatically shutting down. The system preferably includes an inhibit switch located in each locomotive control cabin which, when actuated by an operator, prevents that locomotive (and only that locomotive) from automatically shutting down within a predefined duration of time. Techniques for reminding and prompting an operator to enable an AESS system include sounding an alarm, displaying and recording fault data, and inhibiting motoring of the locomotive when the AESS system is disabled and the operator calls for braking or motoring capability.

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Girard, PA, United States of America

Jeffrey A Twichel