Brake control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237696-A1
Application number	US-202016779012-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A brake control system includes an interface controller configured to communicate with different control paths of sources for control of a brake system of a vehicle system. Each of the control paths is configured to communicate a control signal from a different source of the sources to control operation of the brake system. The interface controller is configured to arbitrate between the control signals concurrently received from the different sources via the control paths to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system at different times and prevent control by other sources of the different sources from concurrently controlling the operation of the brake system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
an interface controller configured to communicate with different control paths of sources for control of a brake system of a vehicle system, each of the control paths configured to communicate a control signal from a different source of the sources to control operation of the brake system, the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals concurrently received from the different sources via the control paths to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system at different times and prevent control by other sources of the different sources from concurrently controlling the operation of the brake system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sources is a manually-actuated device configured to be actuated by an operator of the vehicle system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sources is a trip management system configured to determine or modify a trip plan of the vehicle system that designates one or more automated applications of the brake system.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sources is an off-board system that remotely controls movement of the vehicle system.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sources include (a) a manually-actuated device configured to be actuated by an operator of the vehicle system to engage the brake system and (b) a trip management system configured to determine or modify a trip plan of the vehicle system that designates one or more automated applications of the brake system at one or more of different locations, different distances, or different times during at least an upcoming segment of a trip of the vehicle system,
wherein the interface controller is configured to arbitrate between which of the manually-actuated device and the trip management system controls the brake system during slowing or stopping of the vehicle system.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on which of the control signals directs more braking effort to be generated by the brake system.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on which of the control signals is received by the interface controller before one or more other signals of the control signals.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on a position of a manually-actuated switch.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on expected changes in vehicle handling parameters of the vehicle system associated with the control signals.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on priorities associated with the control signals.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based a location of a vehicle in the vehicle system in which the brake system is located.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller configured to arbitrate between the control signals to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system based on an operator selection.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is configured to, responsive to deterioration of communication of the control signal from at least one of the sources, direct the brake system to automatically implement a penalty application of the brake system.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is configured to, responsive to deterioration of communication of the control signal from at least one of the sources, direct the brake system to be controlled by a designated manual source of the sources for control of the brake system.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is configured to, responsive to deterioration of communication of the control signal from at least one of the sources, direct a user interface to generate one or more audible or visual advisory signals.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is configured to, responsive to deterioration of communication of the control signal from at least one of the sources, control the brake system based on one or more off-board signals received from an off-board protection system.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is configured to communicate feedback signals to the sources that sent the control signals, the feedback signals indicating one or more of (a) which of the sources controlled engagement of the brake system or (b) a braking effort applied by the brake system under direction of the source arbitrated to have control of the brake system.

18 . A method comprising:
concurrently receiving control signals from different sources for control of operation of a brake system onboard a vehicle system; arbitrating between or among the control signals to determine which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system at different times; and preventing control of the brake system by other sources of the different sources from concurrently controlling the operation of the brake system.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sources include (a) a manually-actuated device configured to be actuated by an operator of the vehicle system to engage the brake system and (b) a trip management system configured to determine or modify a trip plan of the vehicle system that designates one or more automated applications of the brake system at one or more of different locations, different distances, or different times during at least an upcoming segment of a trip of the vehicle system,
wherein the control signals are arbitrated between which of the manually-actuated device and the trip management system controls the brake system during slowing or stopping of the vehicle system.

20 . A system comprising:
an interface controller configured to concurrently receive brake control signals from different sources for concurrent control of an airbrake system of a vehicle system, the interface controller configured to select one of the brake control signals, the interface controller configured to communicate the brake control signal that is selected to the airbrake system for controlling operation of the airbrake system.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the sources include one or more of a manually-actuated device configured to be actuated by an operator of the vehicle system, a trip management system configured to determine or modify a trip plan of the vehicle system that designates one or more automated applications of the airbrake system, an off-board system that remotely controls movement of the vehicle system, or a vehicle controller of another vehicle in the vehicle system.

Assignees

• Transp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Kumar Ajith Kuttannair
• Meyer Brian
• Wiesner Chris
• Ensley Matthew Paul
• Lacy Patricia Sue

Classifications

• B60T8/17

  Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking {(detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885)} · CPC title

• B60T7/02

  for personal initiation · CPC title

• B60T7/12

  for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)} · CPC title

• B60T7/00 Primary

  Brake-action initiating means · CPC title

• B60T17/228 Primary

  for railway vehicles · CPC title