Triggering system for spotter control on train

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766503-B2
Application number	US-201715730164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Oct 11, 2017
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A triggering system for a train having a spotter control system is provided. The triggering system includes a position detection system configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train. The system also includes a controller coupled to the position detection system, the spotter control system, and an engine of the train. The controller is configured to receive the position signal from the position detection system. The controller is configured to detect if the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal. The controller is configured to trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection. The controller is configured to trigger an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A triggering system for a train having a spotter control system, the triggering system comprising:
a position detection system configured to:
generate a position signal indicative of a position of a rail shop relative to the train; and

a controller configured to:
receive the position signal from the position detection system;
detect that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal;
determine that a current state of charge of a battery of the train satisfies a threshold;
trigger, based on the detection, a shutdown of an engine of the train; and
trigger, based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the battery satisfies the threshold, an activation of the spotter control system, the spotter control system providing electric drive from power of the battery.

2. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the position detection system includes at least one of a GPS, an RFID sensor, an optical sensor, or a proximity sensor.

3. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a signal indicative of the current state of charge of the battery.

4. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive, from an electronic control module (ECM) of the train or from a control panel in an operator cab of the train, a signal indicative of a speed of the train, and wherein, when detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop, the controller is configured to:
detect that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal and the speed of the train.

5. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive, from an electronic control module (ECM) of the train or from a control panel in an operator cab of the train, a signal indicative of a direction of heading of the train, and wherein, when detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop, the controller is configured to:
detect that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal and the direction of heading of the train.

6. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein, when detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop, the controller is configured to:
detect, based on the position signal, that the train is approaching the rail shop when a distance between the train and a door or an entrance of the rail shop is less than a predetermined distance.

7. The triggering system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined distance is any one of prestored in the triggering system or input by an operator.

8. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to a display unit, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
provide, via the display unit, a notification of the activation of the spotter control system.

9. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further coupled to an image capturing device associated with the train, and wherein the image capturing device is further configured to:
capture an image feed of the train with respect to the rail shop.

10. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
perform an image analysis on an image or video feed of the train with respect to the rail shop, and wherein, when detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop, the controller is configured to:
detect that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the image analysis.

11. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
deactivate the spotter control system when the train starts to head away from the rail shop.

12. The triggering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is located off-board the train.

13. A method for triggering a spotter control system associated with a train, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller, a position signal from a position detection system associated with the train, the position signal indicative of a position of the train with respect to a rail shop;
detecting, by the controller, that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal;
determining, by the controller, that a current state of charge of a battery of the train satisfies a threshold;
triggering, by the controller and based on the detection, a shutdown of an engine of the train; and
triggering, by the controller, an activation of the spotter control system based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the battery satisfies the threshold, the spotter control system providing electric drive from power of the battery.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of the current state of charge of the battery.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller and from a control panel in an operator cab of the train, a signal indicative of a speed of the train, wherein detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop comprises:
detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal and the speed of the train.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller and from an electronic control module (ECM) of the train, a signal indicative of a direction of heading of the train, wherein detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop comprises:
detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop based on the position signal and the direction of heading of the train.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing, by the controller and through a display unit, a notification of the activation of the spotter control system.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller and from an image capturing device, an image feed of the train with respect to the rail shop; and
performing, by the controller, an image analysis on the image feed, wherein detecting that the train is approaching the rail shop comprises:
detecting, based on the image analysis, that the train is approaching the rail shop.

19. A train comprising:
an engine;
a spotter control system configured to provide electric drive from power of an alternate power source that is different from the engine; and
a triggering system comprising:
a controller configured to:
detect that the train is approaching a rail shop;
determine that a current state of charge of the alternate power source satisfies a threshold;
trigger a shutdown of the engine based on the detection; and
trigger, based on the detection and based on determining that the current state of charge of the alternate power source satisfies the threshold, an activation of the spotter control system.

20. The train of claim 19 , further comprising at least one of a GPS, an RFID sensor, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor to generate a position signal indicative of a position of the train to a door of the rail shop, wherein the detection is based on the position signal.

Assignees

• Progress Rail Locomotive Inc

Inventors

• Jensen Jeffrey Edward

Classifications

• B61L27/33

  Backup systems, e.g. switching when failures occur · CPC title

• B61L27/57

  for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions · CPC title

• B61C17/12 Primary

  Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units (control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05) · CPC title

• G05D27/02

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• B61L3/08

  controlling electrically · CPC title