Patent Application
20210039693
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for controlling movement of locomotives.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Existing remote control locomotive (RCL) technology utilizes one or two operators in a switchyard acting as primary and secondary operators. The primary/secondary role may be switched so that the operator with the best vantage point has movement control as the primary operator, while the secondary operator has tilt monitoring, sounding device control, and emergency override control. In some cases, RCL systems include automatic point protection that permits a one-person field crew.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding (though not necessarily identical) parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Existing remote control locomotive (RCL) technology utilizes one or two operators in a switchyard acting as primary and secondary operators. The primary/secondary role may be switched so that the operator with the best vantage point has movement control as the primary operator, while the secondary operator has tilt monitoring, sounding device control, and emergency override control. In some cases, RCL systems include automatic point protection that permits a one-person field crew.
In some example embodiments described herein, the roles of workers in the yard switching environment are changed to place one worker role in a safer location while improving the safety of the yard-based operator. For example, the traditional primary and secondary roles involved in yard switching may be changed from primary and secondary operators in the yard, to a remote (e.g., kiosk) operator and a field operator.
The remote operator may have remote control of track switches (e.g., via a remote operator controller, etc.), to plan a movement route for a locomotive consist, and to line the planned route accordingly. The remote operator may set a maximum stopping range for each movement, and may monitor a point of the locomotive consist, a location of one or more cars and/or locomotives in the locomotive consist, movement of the locomotive consist along one or more tracks, etc., via streaming video, etc.
A yard supervisory system may monitor (e.g., via a yard supervisory controller, etc.), a location of a head of the locomotive consist, a location of a tail of the locomotive consist, states of track switches along the one or more tracks, etc. In some embodiments, the yard supervisory controller may monitor a location of the field operator (e.g., a location of a field operator control unit, etc.), with respect to the planned route of the locomotive consist, may monitor states of axle counters positioned at specified locations along the one or more tracks (e.g., such as part of a track switch), etc.
The yard supervisory controller may be configured to access intelligent video systems, virtual track maps, dynamic consist makeup lists, other information, etc. The yard supervisory controller may transmit the planned route, a maximum speed of movement, an acceptable direction of movement, etc., to the locomotive controller (e.g., via the remote operator controller).
The yard supervisory controller may transmit an alert to the field operator control unit and/or the remote operator control unit if the yard supervisory controller detects a situation, condition, etc., that is determined to be a risk for the field operator or other equipment. For example, a detected risk condition may include the locomotive consist partially traversing a run-through switch that is misaligned, a field operator control unit operating outside of a specified acceptable movement range, etc.
The field operator control unit may allow the field operator to control locomotive consist movement initiation, to provide direction of movement confirmation, to control a speed limit of the locomotive consist, etc. The field operator control unit may include tilt protection, vigilance protection, may provide movement stop control and initiation of a spotting feature for coupling/uncoupling, etc.
One example role of the field operator is to authorize movement of the locomotive consist (e.g., via the field operator control unit), command a stop of the locomotive consist or wait for the yard supervisory controller to stop movement of the locomotive consist, and verify coupler alignment between the locomotive consist and one or more other rail cars and/or locomotives. The field operator may then use a spotting feature (e.g., via the field operator control unit), to make a joint when coupling, and then to stretch the joint.
When uncoupling cars from the locomotive consist, one example role of the field operator is to ride the lead car of the locomotive consist to the cutoff point, command a stop of the locomotive consist or wait for the yard supervisory controller to stop movement of the locomotive consist, set car handbrakes (e.g., as prescribed by local rules, etc.), authorize a reverse movement and pull a coupling pin.
In some embodiments, the locomotive controller (e.g., remote control locomotive equipment) receives maximum speed and acceptable direction orders from the yard supervisory controller through the remote operator controller, transmits an alert to the field operator control unit, and waits to receive a movement initiation command from the field operator control unit in order to execute the movement.
In some embodiments, one remote operator controller may facilitate route planning and navigation of multiple locomotive consists operated by multiple field operator control units. The remote operator control unit may be operated in a remote location through a network connection. The remote operator controller may not monitor streaming video of a pull movement point if automation systems such as intelligent video processing, pullback protection, etc. are implemented on a remote control locomotive system.
With reference to the Figures,
The system 100 also includes a yard supervisory controller 108 configured to monitor a location of the locomotive consist 102 along the one or more tracks 104 (e.g., rail tracks, etc.), and a remote operator controller 112 in communication with the yard supervisory controller 108 and the locomotive controller 106. The remote operator controller 112 is configured to transmit speed and direction orders from the yard supervisory controller 108 to the locomotive controller 106, to control movement of the locomotive consist 102.
As illustrated in
As mentioned above, the locomotive controller 106 (e.g., a remote control locomotive (RCL) controller, etc.) may be configured to control movement of the locomotive consist 102 along the track(s) 104 (e.g., via a tractive effort mechanism, via a pneumatic braking system, etc.). As shown in
The locomotive controller 106 may include one or more wireless interfaces 226 (e.g., data ports), such as a short-range wireless communication interface, a Wi-Fi wireless communication interface, a cellular communication interface, other radio frequency (RF) interfaces, etc.
The locomotive controller 106 may include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna 228 (e.g., a GPS antenna, etc.), one or more accelerometers (e.g., an accelerometer array, a single accelerometer, etc.), etc. The locomotive controller 106 can report a location, one or more parameters, etc. to the field operator control unit 110, the yard supervisory controller 108 (e.g., via the remote operator controller 112), etc.
The locomotive controller 106 may include an optional display 230 and an input 232. The optional display 230 can be any suitable display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diodes (LED), indicator lights, etc.). The input 232 can include any suitable input element(s) (e.g., a keypad, touchscreen, switches, etc.), for receiving inputs (e.g., commands, etc.) from an operator.
The track(s) 104 may include at least one track switch 116, and the remote operator controller 112 may be configured to control the track switch 116 to plan and line a route for movement of the locomotive consist 102 along the track(s) 104. For example, the remote operator controller 112 may be configured to set a maximum stopping range for each movement of the locomotive consist 102 (e.g., via an input from a remote operator 120, etc.).
As shown in
Referring back to
The track(s) 104 may include at least one axle counter 118 positioned at a location on the track(s) 104. The yard supervisory controller 108 may be configured to monitor a location of the field operator control unit 110 with respect to a planned route of movement of the locomotive consist 102, a state of the at least one axle counter 118, etc.
The yard supervisory controller 108 may be configured to access at least one of an intelligent video system, a virtual map of the track(s) 104, a dynamic makeup list of the locomotive consist 102, etc. For example, as shown in
The yard supervisory controller 108 may be configured to transmit (e.g., via the wireless interface, etc.) at least one of a planned route for the locomotive consist 102, a maximum speed of movement for the locomotive consist 102, a direction of movement for the locomotive consist 102, etc.
The yard supervisory controller 108 may be configured to transmit an alert to the field operator control unit 110 and/or the remote operator controller 112 in response to detecting a risk condition with respect to the field operator control unit 110, equipment associated with the locomotive consist 102, etc.
For example, the risk condition may include the locomotive consist 102 at least partially traversing a misaligned run-through switch, the field operator control unit 110 operating beyond a specified range for movement of the locomotive consist 102, etc.
The field operator control unit 110 may include a wireless interface 526 which may communicate with the locomotive controller 106 via an RF channel, etc. The field operator control unit 110 may include an optional global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna 528 for determining a location of the field operator control unit 110. For example, the GNSS antenna 528 may be a global positioning system (GPS) antenna.
The field operator control unit 110 may include a tilt sensor 534 (e.g., an accelerometer array, a single accelerometer, etc.) for determining a tilt condition (e.g., a fall event of a field operator 114, etc.). The field operator control unit 110 may include an enclosure (e.g., a housing) including a user interface 532, a display 530, etc.
Referring back to
In some embodiments, the field operator control unit 110 may be configured to determine that the locomotive consist 102 has reached a cutoff point location, issue a stop movement command or wait until the yard supervisory controller 108 issues a stop movement command, set one or more brakes of the locomotive consist 102, authorize a reverse movement to uncouple one or more cars of the locomotive consist 102, etc.
The locomotive controller 106 may be configured to receive a maximum speed order and an acceptable direction order from the yard supervisory controller 108 via the remote operator controller 112, transmit an alert to the field operator control unit 110, execute a movement of the locomotive consist 102 in response to receiving a movement initiation command from the field operator control unit 110, etc.
Although
The remote operator controller 112 may be located in a location remote from the locomotive consist 102 that does not allow for visual observation of the locomotive consist 102, and the remote operator controller 112 may be configured to communicate with the locomotive controller 106 and/or the field operator control unit 110 via a wireless network connection (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) wireless connection, an Internet connection, etc.).
In some embodiments, the locomotive controller 106 may include an intelligent video processing automation system, a pullback protection automation system, etc., and the remote operator controller 112 may not be configured to monitor a pull movement point of the locomotive consist 102.
As described herein, the example locomotive controllers, field operator control units, remote operator controllers, yard supervisory controllers, etc., may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, integrated circuit, digital signal processor, etc., which may include memory. The controllers may be configured to perform (e.g., operable to perform, etc.) any of the example processes described herein using any suitable hardware and/or software implementation. For example, the controllers may execute computer-executable instructions stored in a memory, may include one or more logic gates, control circuitry, etc.
According to another example embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a locomotive consist is disclosed. The locomotive consist includes a locomotive controller located on the consist to control movement of the locomotive consist along one or more tracks.
The method includes controlling, by a field operator control unit in communication with the locomotive controller, movement of the locomotive consist via the locomotive controller, and monitoring, by a yard supervisory controller, a location of the locomotive consist along the one or more tracks.
The method also includes transmitting, by a remote operator controller in communication with the yard supervisory controller and the locomotive controller, speed and direction orders from the yard supervisory controller to the locomotive controller to control movement of the locomotive consist.
The track(s) may include at least one track switch, and the method may include controlling, by the remote operator controller, the at least one track switch to plan and line a route for movement of the locomotive consist along the track(s).
In some embodiments, the method includes setting, by the remote operator controller, a maximum stopping range for each movement of the locomotive consist, receiving, by the remote operator controller, a streaming video feed to monitor movement of the consist along the one or more tracks, and displaying, by the remote operator controller, the received video feed on a display of the remote operator controller.
The locomotive consist may include a head and a tail, and the one or more tracks include at least one axle counter positioned at a location on the track(s). The method may include monitoring, by the yard supervisory controller a location of the head of the locomotive consist, a location of the tail of the locomotive consist, a state of the at least one track switch, a location of the field operator control unit with respect to a planned route of movement of the locomotive consist, a state of the at least one axle counter, etc.
In some embodiments, the method may include accessing, by the yard supervisory controller, an intelligent video system, a virtual map of the one or more tracks, a dynamic makeup list of the locomotive consist, etc., and transmitting, by the yard supervisory controller, a planned route for the locomotive consist, a maximum speed of movement for the consist, a direction of movement for the locomotive consist, etc.
The method may include transmitting, by the yard supervisory controller, an alert to the field operator control unit and/or the remote operator controller in response to detecting a risk condition with respect to the field operator control unit and/or equipment of the locomotive consist. For example, the risk condition may include the locomotive consist at least partially traversing a misaligned run-through switch, the field operator control unit operating beyond a specified range for movement of the locomotive consist, etc.
The method may include performing, by the field operator control unit, controlling movement initiation of the locomotive consist, confirming a direction of movement of the locomotive consist, controlling a speed limit of movement of the locomotive consist, detecting a tilt condition of the field operator control unit, detecting a vigilance condition of the field operator control unit, stopping movement of the locomotive consist, initiating a spotting feature for coupling and/or uncoupling of the locomotive consist, etc.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. In addition, advantages and improvements that may be achieved with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for purposes of illustration only and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, as exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may provide all or none of the above mentioned advantages and improvements and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, and 3-9.
The term “about” when applied to values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. For example, the terms “generally”, “about”, and “substantially” may be used herein to mean within manufacturing tolerances.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, when permissive phrases, such as “may comprise”, “may include”, and the like, are used herein, at least one embodiment comprises or includes the feature(s). As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements, intended or stated uses, or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
