The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2000
John Martin Belcea, West Melbourne, FL (US);
GE Harris Railway Electronics, LLC, Melbourne, FL (US);
Abstract
A method for increasing efficiency of operation of trains includes operating a plurality of trains as a moving sequence and regulating distances between the trains to eliminate distances in excess of safe minimum distances between the trains. Distance between a preceding train and a following train is regulated by varying speed of the following train to minimize an excess distance between the two trains. A safe minimum distance includes a safe braking distance for the following train. In a further embodiment the safe braking distance is determined based on train weight distribution. Distributed weight is determined using measurements of train position, speed, acceleration and tractive effort to estimate forces affecting the train. The forces are related to one another to obtain a matrix equation expressing the forces in terms of car weight and train weight. The equation is solved to determine car weight and train weight.