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:
Dec. 16, 2014

Filed:

Aug. 14, 2012
Applicants:

Srinivas Chundru, Broomfield, CO (US);

Patrick J. Student, Elkhorn, NE (US);

Tim L. Prince, Omaha, NE (US);

Allen H. Buchheit, Belleville, IL (US);

Inventors:

Srinivas Chundru, Broomfield, CO (US);

Patrick J. Student, Elkhorn, NE (US);

Tim L. Prince, Omaha, NE (US);

Allen H. Buchheit, Belleville, IL (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 7/06 (2006.01); B60L 3/00 (2006.01); B61C 17/12 (2006.01); B61L 3/12 (2006.01); B61L 15/00 (2006.01); B61L 3/00 (2006.01); B61L 3/14 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B61C 17/12 (2013.01); B61L 3/127 (2013.01); B61L 15/0027 (2013.01); B61L 15/0036 (2013.01); B61L 3/006 (2013.01); B61L 3/14 (2013.01);
Abstract

Data representative of a train consist (the train consist comprising a plurality of locomotives and a plurality of cars) and data representative of a route for the train consist can be processed by a processor to automatically determine which locomotives in the train consist should be powered on and which locomotives in the train consist should be shut down for each segment of the route. The processor can make these determinations based on an analysis of the train consist data and the route data with respect to a plurality of considerations that affect train efficiency. Recommendations for locomotive startups and shutdowns in accordance with such automated determinations can then be presented to the train crew for the crew to use during train operations. It is believed that when train crews are in compliance with such recommendations, significant improvements in efficiency, particularly with respect to fuel consumption, can be achieved.


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