Train suspension control systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016244076-A1
Application number	US-201514626669-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A suspension system for a railway vehicle includes a hub assembly configured to travel along a track, a suspension element coupled to the hub assembly and configured to provide a suspension force, a regulator coupled to the suspension element and configured to selectively adjust the suspension element, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine a target configuration for the suspension element using a characteristic of the track at a target position, the target position selected based on a location of the railway vehicle, and engage the regulator based on the target configuration such that the suspension force applied by the suspension element is based on the location of the railway vehicle and the characteristic of the track.

First claim

1 . A suspension system for a railway vehicle, comprising:
a hub assembly configured to travel along a track; a suspension element coupled to the hub assembly and configured to provide a suspension force; a regulator coupled to the suspension element and configured to selectively adjust the suspension element; and a processing circuit configured to:
determine a target configuration for the suspension element using a characteristic of the track at a target position, wherein the target position is selected based on a location of the railway vehicle; and
engage the regulator based on the target configuration such that the suspension force applied by the suspension element is based on the location of the railway vehicle and the characteristic of the track.

2 - 3 . (canceled)

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a discontinuity at a junction between a first rail section and a second rail section.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a rail height variation.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a presence of a tie that is at least one of broken and damaged.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a compliance.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a radius of curvature.

11 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the target configuration for the suspension element using a weight of the railway vehicle.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the target configuration for the suspension element using a feature of a route the track follows.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the feature includes a radius of curvature for the route at the target position.

17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensing system configured to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the sensing system includes a scanner positioned to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the scanner is positioned to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position before arrival of the hub assembly at the target position.

20 - 45 . (canceled)

46 . A railway vehicle, comprising
a chassis; and a suspension system including:
a hub assembly configured to travel along a track;
a suspension element coupling the hub assembly to the chassis and configured to provide a suspension force;
a regulator coupled to the suspension element and configured to selectively adjust the suspension element; and
a processing circuit configured to:
determine a target configuration for the suspension element using a characteristic of the track at a target position, wherein the target position is selected based on a location of the railway vehicle; and
engage the regulator based on the target configuration such that the suspension force applied by the suspension element is determined based on the location of the railway vehicle and the characteristic of the track.

47 - 48 . (canceled)

49 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a discontinuity at a junction between a first rail section and a second rail section.

50 . (canceled)

51 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a rail height variation.

52 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a presence of a tie that is at least one of broken and damaged.

53 . (canceled)

54 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a compliance.

55 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the characteristic of the track includes a radius of curvature.

56 - 58 . (canceled)

59 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the target configuration for the suspension element using a weight of the railway vehicle.

60 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the target configuration for the suspension element using a feature of a route the track follows.

61 . The railway vehicle of claim 60 , wherein the feature includes a radius of curvature for the route at the target position.

62 . The railway vehicle of claim 46 , further comprising a sensing system configured to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position.

63 . The railway vehicle of claim 62 , wherein the sensing system includes a scanner positioned to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position.

64 . The railway vehicle of claim 63 , wherein the scanner is positioned to evaluate the characteristic of the track at the target position before arrival of the hub assembly at the target position.

65 - 90 . (canceled)

91 . A railway vehicle, comprising
a chassis; and a suspension system including:
a hub assembly configured to travel along a track;
a suspension element coupling the hub assembly to the chassis;
an actuator configured to selectively engage at least one of the chassis and the suspension element; and
a processing circuit configured to:
determine a target actuation profile for the chassis using a characteristic of the track at a target position, wherein the target position is selected based on a location of the railway vehicle; and
engage the actuator based on the target actuation profile such that a movement of the chassis is controlled based on the location of the railway vehicle and the characteristic of the track.

92 . The railway vehicle of claim 91 , wherein the actuator is configured to selectively disengage at least one of the chassis and the suspension element.

93 . The railway vehicle of claim 91 , wherein the target position is proximate a position of the hub assembly.

94 . The railway vehicle of claim 91 , wherein the target position is ahead of a position of the hub assembly.

95 . The railway vehicle of claim 91 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the target actuation profile based on a threshold value.

96 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes an oscillation amplitude.

97 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes an oscillation direction.

98 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes an oscillation frequency.

99 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes a rate associated with the movement of the chassis.

100 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes an acceleration associated with the movement of the chassis.

101 . The railway vehicle of claim 95 , wherein the threshold value includes a jerk associated with the movement

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• B61L23/042

  Track changes detection · CPC title

• B61F5/04

  Bolster supports or mountings (side bearings B61F5/14) · CPC title

• B61F99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B61L23/044 Primary

  Broken rails · CPC title

• B61L25/025

  Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates · CPC title