Aeg Transportation Systems, Inc.

Aeg Westinghouse Transportation Systems

Richard D Roberts

Michael R Novakovich

Henry J Wesling

A method for placing a multi-car train with a communication network in an energy saving layup mode, the communication network having a master node interconnected to at least one other node via a train bus, the train having a head car for carrying the master node and at least one other car for carrying the at least one other node with an intelligent subsystem unit coupled to the train bus by the other node. The method includes transmitting a shutdown signal to the master node; sending in response to the shutdown signal a shutdown message from the master node to the at least one other node after a predetermined amount of time; and shutting down power to the intelligent subsystem unit in response to receiving the shutdown message at the at least one other node.

Method and apparatus for placing a trainline monitor system in a layup

A method for controlling power consumed by a plurality of subsystems on a multi-car train having a plurality of power supplies connected in parallel for supplying power to the subsystems. The train has a train wide communication network which includes a vehicle bus in each car of the train communicating with the power supplies and subsystems on the car, a train bus extending through the entire train, and communication nodes in each car interconnecting the train bus with each one of the vehicle buses. One of the communication nodes in one of the cars constitutes a master node and the other communication nodes in the other cars constitutes slave nodes, each slave node communicating status information about power supplies and subsystems on its vehicle bus to the master node and communicating control information to the power supplies and subsystems on its vehicle bus. The method includes using the communications network to periodically determine the number of functional power supplies connected in parallel, determining from the number of functional power supplies available for supplying power at any given time a variable corresponding to the total power available for power consuming subsystems on the train and selectively reducing subsystems on the train by way of the communications network in accordance with the variable determined by the determining step.

Method and apparatus for load shedding using a trainline monitor system

A system for testing a plurality of subsystems in a multi-car train over a train-wide communications network includes at least one master station and a plurality of slave stations interconnected by the train-wide communications network, each station collecting status and diagnostic information from associated slave subsystems and providing the information upon request. A portable test unit is provided for testing the subsystems by requesting status and diagnostics information about at least one of the plurality of slave subsystems over the communications network. A diagnostic interface is provided in the at least one master station for interfacing the portable test unit to the master station to facilitate transmission of data between the portable test unit and the train-wide communications network.

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Elizabeth, PA, United States of America

Richard D Roberts