Remotely operated railcar hatches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858016-B2
Application number	US-201715802208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2017
Priority date	Nov 2, 2017
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A railcar hatch control system and method for operating railcar hatches of a multi-railcar train is disclosed. A multi-railcar train may have a locomotive and a plurality of railcars having railcar hatches that can be opened and closed. The system and method may include displaying railcar identification information for the railcars on an operator display device, and receiving selections of railcars from an operator that will have a railcar hatch operation performed thereon, such as opening or closing the hatches. The railcar hatch operation is input, and the system and method control the railcar hatch operation being performed only on the selected railcars, and not on the railcars that have not been selected by the operator. The system and method may have operator interfaces devices at an operator station of the train, or at a remote location or on a remote device that communicates wirelessly with the train.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating railcar hatches of a multi-railcar train having a locomotive and a plurality of railcars coupled in a line behind the locomotive, comprising:
displaying railcar identification information for each of the plurality of railcars on an operator display device;
selecting the railcar identification information for one of the plurality of railcars that is a hatch railcar having a railcar hatch;
selecting a railcar hatch operation to be performed on the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars, wherein the railcar hatch operation is one of opening the railcar hatch and closing the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars; and
executing, by a hatch actuator, the railcar hatch operation on the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars in response to selecting the railcar hatch operation, wherein the railcar hatch operation is executed without executing the railcar hatch operation on the plurality of railcars that were not selected.

2. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 1 , wherein displaying the railcar identification information comprises displaying a railcar graphic of each of the plurality of railcars on the operator display device.

3. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 1 , comprising displaying selected railcar identification information in response to selecting the railcar identification information.

4. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 1 , wherein the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars comprises a top hatch that is movable by a top hatch actuator between a top hatch open position and a top hatch closed position, wherein the railcar hatch operation comprises a close top hatch operation when the top hatch is in the top hatch closed position and an open top hatch operation when the top hatch is in the top hatch open position, and wherein the hatch actuator comprises the top hatch actuator and executing the railcar hatch operation comprises:
causing the top hatch actuator to move the top hatch from the top hatch open position to the top hatch closed position in response to selecting the close top hatch operation; and
causing the top hatch actuator to move the top hatch from the top hatch closed position to the top hatch open position in response to selecting the open top hatch operation.

5. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 4 , wherein the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars comprises a bottom hatch that is movable by a bottom hatch actuator between a bottom hatch open position and a bottom hatch closed position, wherein the railcar hatch operation comprises a close bottom hatch operation when the bottom hatch is in the bottom hatch closed position and an open bottom hatch operation when the bottom hatch is in the bottom hatch open position, and wherein the hatch actuator further comprises the bottom hatch actuator and executing the railcar hatch operation comprises:
causing the bottom hatch actuator to move the bottom hatch from the bottom hatch open position to the bottom hatch closed position in response to selecting the close bottom hatch operation; and
causing the bottom hatch actuator to move the bottom hatch from the bottom hatch closed position to the bottom hatch open position in response to selecting the open bottom hatch operation.

6. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 1 , comprising:
selecting the railcar identification information for a second one of the plurality of railcars;
selecting the railcar hatch operation to be performed on the railcar hatch of the second one of the plurality of railcars, wherein the railcar hatch operation is one of opening the railcar hatch and closing the railcar hatch of the second one of the plurality of railcars; and
executing the railcar hatch operation on the railcar hatch of the second one of the plurality of railcars in response to selecting the railcar hatch operation, wherein the railcar hatch operation is executed without executing the railcar hatch operation on the plurality of railcars that were not selected when the second one of the plurality of railcars was selected.

7. The method for operating railcar hatches of claim 1 , wherein the railcar hatch of the one of the plurality of railcars is movable by a railcar hatch actuator between a railcar hatch open position and a railcar hatch closed position, wherein the railcar hatch operation comprises a close railcar hatch operation when the railcar hatch is in the railcar hatch closed position and an open railcar hatch operation when the railcar hatch is in the railcar hatch open position, wherein the method comprises displaying an open railcar hatch operation graphic and a close railcar hatch operation graphic, wherein selecting the railcar hatch operation comprises selecting one of the open railcar hatch operation graphic and the close railcar hatch operation graphic, and wherein the hatch actuator comprises the railcar hatch actuator and executing the railcar hatch operation comprises:
causing the railcar hatch actuator to move the railcar hatch from the railcar hatch open position to the railcar hatch closed position in response to selecting the close railcar hatch operation graphic; and
causing the railcar hatch actuator to move the railcar hatch from the railcar hatch closed position to the railcar hatch open position in response to selecting the open railcar hatch operation graphic.

8. A railcar hatch control system for a multi-railcar train having a locomotive and a plurality of railcars coupled in a line behind the locomotive, wherein more than one of the plurality of railcars are hatch railcars each having a railcar hatch that is movable by a railcar hatch actuator between a railcar hatch open position and a railcar hatch closed position, the railcar hatch control system comprising:
an operator display device;
an operator input device;
a controller operatively connected to the operator display device, the operator input device and the railcar hatch actuator of each of the hatch railcars, the controller being programmed to:
cause the operator display device to display railcar identification information for each of the plurality of railcars,
receive a railcar selection input signal from the operator input device representing selecting the railcar identification information for one of the hatch railcars,
receive a railcar hatch operation input signal from the operator input device representing selecting a railcar hatch operation to be performed on the railcar hatch of the one of the hatch railcars, wherein the railcar hatch operation is one of opening the railcar hatch and closing the railcar hatch of the one of the hatch railcars, and
transmit a railcar hatch actuator control signal to the railcar hatch actuator of the one of the hatch railcars to cause the railcar hatch actuator to execute the railcar hatch operation of the railcar hatch operation input signal on the railcar hatch of the one of the hatch railcars in response to receiving the railcar hatch operation input signal, wherein the railcar hatch operation is executed without executing the railcar hatch operation on railcar hatches of the hatch railcars that are not the one of the hatch railcars.

9. The railcar hatch control system of claim 8 , wherein the operator display device, the operator input device and the controller are disposed at a location that is remote from the locomotive of the multi-railcar train, and wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the railcar hatch actuator control signal via a wireless communication link.

10. The railcar hatch control system of claim 8 , wherein the railcar identification information displayed at th

Assignees

• Progress Rail Locomotive Inc

Inventors

• Shubs Jr Alexander
• Seaton James David
• Roenspies David Matthew

Classifications

• E05Y2400/446

  Vehicle state sensors, e.g. parked or inclination · CPC title

• B61L15/0018 Primary

  Communication with or on the vehicle or train · CPC title

• E05Y2400/81

  Feedback to user, e.g. tactile · CPC title

• B61L15/009

  On-board display devices · CPC title

• B61L15/0081

  On-board diagnosis or maintenance · CPC title