Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Railway vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2001-11-06
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Railway vehicle
C701S020000, C701S070000, C303S001000, C246S18700R, C104S305000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314345
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Rail operators require both mainline locomotives for train haulage and shunt locomotives for shunting functions. Remote control locomotives which can be controlled away from the vehicle are advantageous for railyard shunting and are usually specially fitted out for remote operation. Manually controlled and remote control locomotives are often dedicated to their respective functions and cannot be interchanged without refitting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,258, discloses a portable remote control system which includes a receiver unit which plugs into a locomotive's train line socket to control train line circuits. Some mainline locomotives are equipped with a “train line” (usually an electrical control signal interface) and brake control line (usually pneumatic airline interface) which enable one locomotive to be linked with another locomotive for multiple operation. The portable remote control system also includes pneumatic equipment for connection into the locomotive's pneumatic braking systems. The system bleeds air from the train air brake line to control the independent locomotive brakes. The bleed of air is limited so the small loss of air from the train air brake line does not apply the train brakes (which are normally operated by a reduction in air pressure). A transmitter unit remote from the locomotive allows an operator to send commands or control signals to the receiver unit which are then implemented by control of the train line circuits and braking systems. The system is dedicated to one specific type of train line socket and train line circuit arrangement as received commands are implemented directly by energising a corresponding relay. The system also acts as a slave to the transmitter commands, implementing the commands irrespective of whether they represent “safe” or otherwise allowable commands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved or at least alternative locomotive remote control system.
In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a connection unit adapted to be connected to the train line and brake line connectors of a locomotive as part of a remote control system for the locomotive, the connection unit comprising:
receiver means for receiving remote control instructions;
interface means for connection to the train line and brake line connectors;
and microprocessor means arranged to determine the locomotive's configuration, interpret the received remote control instructions, modify said instructions dependent on the locomotive's configuration, and operate the interface means such that the locomotive is controlled according to the locomotive configuration and the remote control instructions.
For the purposes of this specification, the locomotive's configuration refers to the type of locomotive and its operating systems which will vary from locomotive type to locomotive type. The locomotive's configuration may be identified directly by the microprocessor means through the interface means, or alternatively configuration information details may be manually entered into the microprocessor means through a further dedicated manual interface means.
Preferably the microprocessor means is arranged to monitor the locomotive's operating systems such that operation of the interface means further depends on the state of the operating systems. For example, upon receiving a brake release instruction, the microprocessor means may query whether the locomotive braking system has adequate air pressure before releasing the brakes.
Preferably the connection unit is portable and is directly connectable to the train line and brake line connectors. Preferably the connections are the same as those required for multiple operation for the locomotive. Preferably the connections are such that any locomotive designed to operate in multiple does not require any further modifications to interface with the connection unit.
Preferably the microprocessor means may be configured such that the interface means operation is further dependent on the locomotive's functional situation. For example, in certain shunting operations, the locomotive may be restricted to certain maximum speeds. The microprocessor means may also be configured to implement ramped or stepped throttle control, or to cancel the throttle before applying the braking system, for example.
Preferably the microprocessor means further includes fault logging and/or event recording facilities.
Preferably the microprocessor means is a programmable logic controller (PLC).
Preferably the connection unit further incorporates additional features for controlling locomotive systems not normally controlled through the train line or brake line connectors, for example locomotive lighting controls or horn.
Preferably the connection unit further incorporates additional features for controlling systems external to the locomotive, for example coal discharge sites, points operation, indicator lights, or doors.
In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a remote control system for a locomotive comprising:
a remote controller means to transmit remote control instructions;
a connection unit adapted to be connected to the train line and brake line connectors of the locomotive, the connection unit comprising:
a receiver means for receiving the remote control instructions;
interface means for connection to the train line and brake line connectors;
and microprocessor means arranged to determine the locomotive's configuration, interpret the remote control instructions, modify said instructions dependent on the locomotive's configuration, and operate the interface means such that the locomotive is controlled according to the locomotive configuration and the remote control instructions.
The invention provides a portable remote control system for locomotives which is easily connectable and adaptable to different locomotive configurations, and in addition only implements received commands if they are safe or meet other implementation criteria.
The invention provides full locomotive control by remote control within safe and otherwise allowable operating parameters for the particular locomotive and its functional requirements. For example there are no operator imposed restrictions on the system's capacity to apply or release brakes.
In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a method of remotely controlling a locomotive comprising:
transmitting locomotive remote control instructions from a location remote from the locomotive;
receiving the locomotive remote control instructions at the locomotive;
identifying the locomotive configuration;
interpreting and modifying the received locomotive remote control instructions dependent on the locomotive configuration; and
operating the locomotive according to the modified locomotive remote control instructions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3707309 (1972-12-01), Engle
patent: 4687258 (1987-08-01), Astley
patent: 5172316 (1992-12-01), Root et al.
patent: 5249125 (1993-09-01), Root et al.
patent: 5803554 (1998-09-01), Maruta et al.
patent: 5823638 (1998-10-01), Sich et al.
patent: 5954780 (1999-09-01), Jang
patent: 6059075 (2000-05-01), Saxton et al.
patent: 6114974 (2000-09-01), Halvorson
patent: 6135396 (2000-10-01), Whitfield et al.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Hernandez Olga
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Tranz Rail Limited
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