System for remotely overriding locomotive controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016114818-A1
Application number	US-201414526239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A control system is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The control system may have a component located onboard the locomotive, the component having a first state and a second state. The control system may also have an operator input device located onboard the locomotive and used to manually toggle operation of the component between the first and second states, and at least one sensor located onboard the locomotive and configured to generate a signal associated with a condition of the locomotive. The control system may also have an offboard controller located remotely from the locomotive and being configured to selectively override the operator input device and toggle operation of the component between the first and second states based on the signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control system for a machine, comprising:
a component located onboard the machine and having a first state and a second state; an operator input device located onboard the machine and used to manually toggle operation of the component between the first and second states; at least one sensor located onboard the machine and configured to generate a signal associated with a condition of the machine; and an offboard controller located remotely from the machine and being configured to selectively override the operator input device and toggle operation of the component between the first and second states based on the signal.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , further including an onboard controller connected with the component, the operator input device, and the a least one sensor and in wireless communication with the offboard controller.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second states include an activated state and a deactivated state, respectively.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a traction motor.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a circuit breaker.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the component is an engine.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein:
the operator input device is a switch moveable from a run position that allows startup of the engine from onboard the machine, to an isolation position that inhibits startup of the engine from onboard the machine; and the offboard controller is configured to selectively cause startup of the engine regardless of a position of the switch.

8 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a coolant temperature of the engine.

9 . The control system of claim 8 , wherein the offboard controller is configured to automatically cause startup of the engine based on the coolant temperature being less than a threshold temperature.

10 . The control system of claim 8 , wherein:
the operator input device is a first operator input device; the control system further includes:
a display associated with the offboard controller and configured to receive the signal and display a representation of the coolant temperature; and
a second operator input device associated with the offboard controller and the display; and
the offboard controller is further configured to receive a command from the second operator input device indicative of a desire to override the first operator input device and cause startup of the engine.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , further including a warning device located onboard the machine, wherein the offboard controller is configured to selectively activate the warning device before overriding the operator input device and toggling operation of the component.

12 . The control system of claim 1 , further including a lockout switch selectively activated by an operator of the machine to inhibit the offboard controller from remotely toggling operation of the component.

13 . A control system for a locomotive, comprising:
an engine located onboard the locomotive; a switch located onboard the locomotive and manually moveable between a run state allowing startup of the engine from onboard the locomotive, and an isolation state inhibiting startup of the engine from onboard the locomotive; a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal associated with a coolant temperature of the engine; a warning device located onboard the locomotive; offboard controller located remotely from the locomotive and being configured to selectively activate the warning device, override the switch, and allow startup of the engine when the coolant temperature is below a threshold temperature; and a lockout switch located onboard the locomotive and selectively activated by an operator of the locomotive to inhibit the offboard controller from starting the engine.

14 . A method of controlling a machine, comprising:
receiving input from onboard the machine regarding an operator desire to toggle operation of a component between first and second states; sensing a condition of the machine and generating a corresponding signal; and generating a command from offboard the locomotive to selectively override the input and toggle operation of the component between the first and second states based on the signal.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further including directing the command to the component wirelessly.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the component is an engine and generating the command includes generating a command to start the engine.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein sensing a condition of the machine includes sensing a coolant temperature of the engine.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the command to start the engine includes generating the command to start the engine when the coolant temperature is less than a threshold temperature.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further generating a warning onboard the machine before generating the command to start the engine.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further including:
detecting operator activation of a lockout switch onboard the machine; and selectively inhibiting startup of the engine from offboard the machine when the lockout switch is activated.

Assignees

• Electro Motive Diesel Inc

Inventors

• Melas Dennis
• Traylor Isaac Suwa
• Kupiec Gregory Raymond
• Jezior Paul P

Classifications

• B61L27/04

  Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control · CPC title

• B61L3/127 Primary

  for remote control of locomotives (remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12) · CPC title

• B61C17/12

  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

• B61L27/57

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

• B61L23/00

  Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains · CPC title