System for control of compressors and air dryers in tunnels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207544-A1
Application number	US-201514598318-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An improved air supply control system for a locomotive that includes a global positioning system (GPS) and a track database having the locations of rail road tunnels. Locomotives equipped with one or more air compressors and/or an air dryer are operated by the air supply control system to, firstly, minimize unnecessary air compressor operation in a tunnel and, secondly, to operate only the compressor and air dryer of the lead locomotive in a consist if the air supply system must be operated while the locomotives are in a tunnel.

First claim

1 . A system for controlling an air supply system of a train, comprising:
a locomotive control system programmed to determine the location of a locomotive consist having a first locomotive and at least one trailing locomotive, wherein each locomotive in the consist has an air compressor and a main reservoir system; an air supply controller interconnected to the air compressor of each locomotive in the consist, wherein the controller is programmed command each compressor to operate until a predetermined pressure in the air supply system is achieved if the locomotive consist is approaching a tunnel.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an air dryer interconnected to the air supply controller, wherein the controller is further programmed to command each air dryer to perform a regeneration cycle if the locomotive consist is approaching a tunnel

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to allow the compressor of the first locomotive to operate and to inhibit the compressors of all trailing locomotives from operating while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to sequentially operate the compressor of each trailing locomotive if the air supply system has a pressure below a predetermined threshold while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to reset the compressors in the consist for normal operation after the locomotive consist has exited a tunnel.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to reset the first compressor to operate when the air supply system has a pressure below a predetermined threshold that is above a pressure that will cause the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to allow the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate if air supply system has a pressure that is below the pressure that will cause the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the air supply controller is further programmed to reset the compressors in the consist for normal operation after the locomotive consist has exited a tunnel.

9 . A method of controlling the air supply system of a train, comprising the steps of:
determining the location of a locomotive consist having a first locomotive and at least one trailing locomotive, wherein each locomotive in the consist has an air compressor and a main reservoir system with an air dryer; and commanding each compressor to operate until a predetermined pressure in the air supply system is achieved if the locomotive consist is approaching a tunnel.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of commanding each air dryer to perform a regeneration cycle if the locomotive consist is approaching a tunnel.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of allowing the compressor of the first locomotive to operate and inhibiting the compressors of all trailing locomotives from operating while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of sequentially operating the compressor of each trailing locomotive if the air supply system has a pressure below a predetermined threshold while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of resetting the first compressor to operate when the air supply system has a pressure below a predetermined threshold that is above a pressure that will cause the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of allowing the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate if air supply system has a pressure that is below the pressure that will cause the compressor of each trailing locomotive to operate while the locomotive consist is in a tunnel.

Assignees

• New York Air Brake Llc

Inventors

• Wright Eric C

Classifications

• B61C5/02 Primary

  Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes · CPC title

• F01P1/00

  Air cooling · CPC title

• F01P7/02

  the coolant being cooling-air · CPC title

• B61H13/00 Primary

  Actuating rail-vehicle brakes · CPC title

• B60T17/228

  for railway vehicles · CPC title