Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140136031 | Determining Locomotive Position in a Locomotive Consist - A method for determining order of locomotives in a locomotive consist is provided. Specifically, in a system wherein locomotives in a locomotive consist each include network interfaces having unique identifying criteria, such as IP addresses, the location of each locomotive relative to the lead locomotive may be accurately and automatically determined. | 05-15-2014 |
20140231595 | ONBOARD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR A LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST - An onboard communication system for a locomotive consist is disclosed. The communication system may have first and second locomotive communication subsystems. The first communication subsystem may be located on a first locomotive. Each communication subsystem may have a messaging unit communicatively connected to a radio. The first messaging unit may be communicatively connected to the second messaging unit. The second messaging unit may be configured to receive a data communication from the second radio and send the data communication to the first messaging unit. The first messaging unit may be configured to receive the data communication from the second messaging unit, receive a copy of the data communication from the first radio, determine that the data communications are duplicate copies of one another, and send one of the data communications to a locomotive control system based on the determination. | 08-21-2014 |
20140353434 | LOCOMOTIVE/TENDER CAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - The disclosure is directed to a communication system for a consist having a locomotive and a tender car. The communication system may have a locomotive access point configured to be located onboard the locomotive, a locomotive controller connected to the locomotive access point, a tender car access point configured to be located onboard the tender car, and a tender car controller connected to the tender car access point. The communication system may also have at least one network component configured to be located onboard the locomotive or the tender car and connected with a corresponding one of the locomotive and tender car access points, and a communication coupling extending between the locomotive and tender car access points. The locomotive and tender car controllers may be configured to selectively affect operation of the locomotive and tender car, respectively, based on operational information obtained via the at least one network component. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358336 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH TRAIN CONSIST - The disclosure is directed to a communication method for use with a train consist having a locomotive and a tender car. The communication method may include transmitting between the locomotive and the tender car operational data captured by network components located onboard at least one of the locomotive and the tender car. The method may further include selectively adjusting an operation of at least one of the locomotive and the tender car based on the data. | 12-04-2014 |
20150053110 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LOCOMOTIVE POSITION IN A CONSIST - A system for determining locomotive position in a consist including a first locomotive, a second locomotive, and one or more additional locomotives has a processor configured to determine first measurements taken starting from the first locomotive and capable of quantifying distances between the first locomotive and the second locomotive and the first locomotive and the one or more additional locomotives. The processor is also configured to determine second measurements taken starting from the second locomotive and capable of quantifying distances between the second locomotive and the first locomotive and the second locomotive and the one or more additional locomotives. The processor is further configured to combine the first measurements and the second measurements into a combined data set and, determine a locomotive consist order based on the combined data set. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053828 | DETERMINING POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CARS IN A CONSIST - A method is disclosed for determining the positional relationship between a locomotive in a consist and a tender car in the consist. The method may include transmitting a signal from a locomotive controller to the tender car. The signal may be processed at the tender car in a manner uniquely indicative of one end of the tender car. A locomotive controller associated with the locomotive may receive an indication of an effect of the signal processing, and use the indication to establish the positional relationship between the locomotive and the one end of the tender car. The locomotive controller associated with the locomotive may transmit a signal indicative of fuel requirements and including the positional information to a controller associated with the tender car. The tender car controller may transfer fuel from the one end of the tender car to the locomotive. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055717 | RECEIVE ATTENUATION SYSTEM FOR TRAINLINE COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - A receive attenuation system for a trainline communication system utilizing an intra-consist electrical cable has an analog front end amplifier, a trainline communication processor, an adjustable attenuator, and a gain controller. The trainline communication processor is configured to generate a receive gain control signal configured to control receive gain of the analog front end amplifier. The adjustable attenuator is capable of being coupled to the intra-consist electrical cable and configured to variably attenuate signals received from the intra-consist electrical cable before transmitting the signals to the analog front end amplifier. The gain controller is coupled to the adjustable attenuator and configured to detect the receive gain control signal generated by the trainline communication processor, determine a supplemental attenuation control value based on the detected receive gain control signal, and control the adjustable attenuator according to the supplemental attenuation control signal. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057846 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING COMMUNICATION PATHS IN A TRAINLINE COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A system for determining communication paths in a trainline communication network utilized by a consist has a processor configured to determine direct data transmission metrics for one locomotive of the consist. The processor receives direct data transmission metrics for the remaining locomotives of the consist and determines indirect data transmission estimates for the one locomotive based on the received direct data transmission metrics. The processor determines communication paths for the one locomotive by comparing the direct data transmission metrics for the one locomotive to the indirect data transmission estimates for the one locomotive. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057847 | TRAINLINE COMMUNICATION NETWORK ACCESS POINT INCLUDING FILTER - A trainline communication network access point has an intra-consist electrical cable connection point coupled to a transmission path and an intra-consist electrical cable, a processor, and a filter arrangement. The processor generates a data signal capable of transmitting network data over the intra-consist electrical cable. The processor determines from a plurality of possible transmit frequencies masked frequencies and non-masked frequencies and communicate the data signal on the transmission path on at least one of the non-masked frequencies and prevents communication of the data signal on the transmission path at the masked frequencies. The filter arrangement is disposed on the transmission path between the processor and the intra-consist electrical cable connection point and filters at least one of the masked frequencies from the transmission path. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057848 | TRAINLINE NETWORK ACCESS POINT FOR PARALLEL COMMUNICATION - A trainline network access point connected to an intra-consist electrical cable of a consist has a network data signal path, a first communication module, a second communication module, and a network switch. The network switch is connected to the first communication module and the second communication module and configured to selectively connect the network data signal path to the first communication module and the second communication module. The first communication module has a first processor configured to receive first network data via the network data signal path, modulate the first network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and transmit the first modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable. The second communication module includes a second processor configured to receive second network data via the network data signal path, modulate the second network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and transmit the second modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable. | 02-26-2015 |