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:
May. 11, 2010
Filed:
Feb. 26, 2005
Robert F. Bryant, Palm Bay, FL (US);
Robert F. Bryant, Palm Bay, FL (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for swapping functionality of a lead unit and an end-of-train remote unit on a distributed power railroad train. The communications system comprises a swap function that executes through a plurality of process steps to swap the functionality of the lead unit and the end-of-train remote unit. The train operating conditions must first be determined to ensure that the swap function can be executed. The communications system is placed in an idle mode and brakes and safety locks applied to ensure against train movement. Each remote locomotive in the train is commanded to a transition stage and reconfigured to receive commands and messages from the new lead unit. Once the train operator has relocated from the old lead unit to the new lead unit, the old lead unit transitions to remote status and the new lead unit commands an end to the transition period. The train brakes are released and the communications system placed in a normal operational mode, at which time motive power can be supplied for train movement.