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.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 10, 2012

Filed:

Jul. 24, 2008
Applicants:

Mark Edward Kane, Orange Park, FL (US);

John D. Mix, Jacksonville Beach, FL (US);

Mark M. Madden, Jacksonville, FL (US);

Inventors:

Mark Edward Kane, Orange Park, FL (US);

John D. Mix, Jacksonville Beach, FL (US);

Mark M. Madden, Jacksonville, FL (US);

Assignee:

Invensys Rail Corporation, Louisville, KY (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B61C 17/00 (2006.01); B61C 5/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A fuel efficiency improvement device for use on each of a plurality of locomotives in a consist includes a processor configured to transmit an initialization message including an identifier and power and fuel consumption rate information for the locomotive on which it is installed to all other locomotives in the consist. One of the devices is chosen to act as a lead device. The lead device is responsible for determining alternative throttle notch settings for each of the locomotives based on the power and fuel consumption rate information in the initialization message. The lead device may be chosen on the basis of identifiers in the initialization messages such as serial numbers. The alternative throttle settings may be determined using greedy value and maximum power calculations.


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