System, method, and computer readable medium for improving the handling of a powered system traveling along a route

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580090-B2
Application number	US-27459608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2008
Priority date	Dec 1, 2006
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A control system is provided for improving the handling of a powered system traveling along a route. The powered system includes a first and second powered vehicle respectively positioned in two consists, which are separated by at least one non-powered vehicle. The control system includes a controller configured to determine at least one slack location along the powered system. The slack location represents a force separation in the powered system between two respective regions, which include a compression region subject to a compression force and a tension region subject to a tension force. The controller is coupled to a respective engine of a powered vehicle, and the controller adjusts an output of the engine to control a rate of change of the at least one slack location along the powered system. Additionally, a method is provided for improving the handling of a powered system traveling along a route.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system comprising:
a controller configured to determine first and second slack locations in a powered system having first and second powered vehicles capable of self-propulsion, the first and second powered vehicles disposed in respective first and second consists that are separated by at least one other vehicle that is incapable of self-propulsion in the powered system, each of the first and second slack locations representing a force separation in the powered system between a compression region and a tension region, the compression region including one or more couplers in the powered system that are subject to a compression force and the tension region including one or more couplers in the powered system that are subject to a tension force;
wherein the controller is configured to be coupled to a first engine of at least one of the first or second powered vehicles, the controller being configured to adjust a first output of the first engine to control a rate of change of at least one of the first or second slack locations in the powered system and to cause the first and second slack locations to move in a common direction in the powered system relative to the first and second powered vehicles and the at least one other vehicle.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller also is configured to adjust the first output of the first engine to cause the first and second slack locations to remain stationary in the powered system relative to the first and second powered vehicles and the at least one other vehicle.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first powered vehicle includes the first engine and the second powered vehicle includes a second engine having a second output, the controller configured to be coupled to the second engine, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first and second outputs of the respective first and second engines such that the first and second outputs of the engines have a common polarity.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first powered vehicle includes the first engine and the second powered vehicle includes a second engine having a second output, and wherein the controller is configured to be coupled to the second engine to adjust the first and second outputs of the respective first and second engines such that a total magnitude of the first and second outputs is reduced.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller also is configured to adjust the first output of the first engine such that at least one of the first or second slack locations in the powered system remains fixed in the powered system.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second powered vehicle includes a second engine having a second output, the powered system includes a third powered vehicle having a third engine with a third output and a fourth powered vehicle having a fourth engine with a fourth output, the third powered vehicle in the first consist with the first powered vehicle, the fourth powered vehicle in the second consist with the second powered vehicle, the first consist located ahead of the second consist along a direction of travel of the powered system; and
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first and third outputs of the respective first and third engines of the respective first and third powered vehicles to be collectively at least twice a magnitude of the second and fourth outputs of the respective second and fourth engines of the respective second and fourth powered vehicles.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to forecast whether at least one of the first or second slack locations will form in the powered system at a future time based on at least one of a parameter of a route being traveled by the powered system, a characteristic of the powered system, or an operating parameter of the powered system.

8. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the controller includes a memory that is configured to store at least one of the parameter of the route or the characteristic of the powered system; and
further comprising a sensor configured to be coupled to the controller to measure the operating parameter of the powered system.

9. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the first consist is disposed ahead of the second consist along a direction of travel of the powered system; and
wherein, upon the controller having determined the first and second slack locations, the controller is configured to control a direction of movement of the first and second slack locations within the powered system based on the direction of travel of the powered system along a route and the first and second outputs from the respective first and second powered vehicles.

10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the common direction in which the first and second slack locations move relative to a direction of travel of the powered system based on a controlled adjustment of the output from the first and second powered vehicles within the powered system.

11. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce the first output of the first engine such that the common direction in which the first and second slack locations move within the powered system coincides with a direction of travel of the powered system.

12. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increase the first output of the first engine such that the common direction in which the first and second slack locations move within the powered system is opposite to a direction of travel of the powered system.

13. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first output of the first engine in such that a time rate of change of movement of the first and second slack locations within the powered system is reduced.

14. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first powered vehicle includes the first engine and the second powered vehicle includes a second engine having a second output, and wherein the controller is configured to also be coupled to the second engine and the first consist is positioned ahead of the second consist along a direction of travel of the powered system; and
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first and second outputs of the respective first and second engines to control the rate of change of the at least one of the first or second slack locations and to cause the first and second slack locations to move within the powered system in the common direction by at least one of:
increasing the first output of the first engine and increasing the second output of the second engine;
increasing the first output of the first engine and decreasing the second output of the second engine;
decreasing the first output of the first engine and increasing the second output of the second engine; or
decreasing the first output of the first engine and decreasing the second output of the second engine.

15. A method comprising:
determining a first slack location in a powered system having first and second powered vehicles capable of self-propulsion, the first and second powered systems disposed in respective first and second consists that are separated by at least one other vehicle that is incapable of self-propulsion in the powered system, the first slack location representing a first force separation in the powered system a compression region and a tension region, the compression region including one or more couplers that are subject to a compression force and the tension region in

Assignees

• Kumar Ajith Kuttannair
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kumar Ajith Kuttannair

Classifications

• B61C15/00

  Maintaining or augmenting the starting or braking power by auxiliary devices and measures; Preventing wheel slippage; Controlling distribution of tractive effort between driving wheels (propelling locomotives or motor railcars by special means B61C11/00; driving wheels with non-slipping devices B60B; brakes B61H; wetting or lubricating rails B61K) · CPC title

• B61L3/006 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B61L15/0058 Primary

  On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation · CPC title