公开(公告)号：US20240199100A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-20

申请号：US18081443

申请日：2022-12-14

Applicant: PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.

Inventor： John William Brand ,  Evan Paul Sevel

IPC: B61L27/04 ,  B61C17/12 ,  B61L15/00 ,  B61L27/16

CPC classification number: B61L27/04 ,  B61C17/12 ,  B61L15/0027 ,  B61L27/16 ,  B61L2201/00

Abstract: A train control system includes independent virtual in-train forces modeling engines onboard each of a plurality of locomotives in a train and a data acquisition hub configured to acquire signals from sensors, wherein the signals are indicative of real-time force and displacement measurement data from each of draft gears and couplers interconnecting each locomotive with another locomotive or with non-powered rail cars, acquire synchronized messages transmitted from offboard the train or from other locomotives of the train over a range of frequencies used by voice radios on the train for communicating between the locomotives, wherein the synchronized messages include real-time information on starting the train, stopping the train, and the next two speed limits for the train, and acquire heuristic data indicating the locomotive's motion during a predetermined period of time. An energy management system adjusts throttle requests, dynamic braking requests, and pneumatic braking requests for the locomotives based at least in part on a respective one of the virtual in-train forces models.

公开(公告)号：US20240199096A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-20

申请号：US18081261

申请日：2022-12-14

Applicant: PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.

Inventor： John William Brand ,  Evan Paul Sevel

IPC: B61L3/00 ,  B61L15/00 ,  G06N3/091

CPC classification number: B61L3/006 ,  B61L3/008 ,  B61L15/0018 ,  B61L15/0072 ,  B61L15/0081 ,  G06N3/091

Abstract: A train control system includes independent virtual in-train forces modeling engines onboard each of a plurality of locomotives in a train. Each of the plurality of locomotives may also include an analytics engine and a calibration engine configured to assimilate, analyze, and calibrate real time information from the locomotives and from draft gears and couplers interconnecting the locomotives and non-powered rail cars with determinations made by the independent virtual in-train forces modeling engine onboard the respective locomotive, with the plurality of locomotives of the train being configured to operate collectively and coordinate their own acceleration values based on a common goal of minimizing in-train forces without being dependent on command and control signals from a lead locomotive or central command.

公开(公告)号：US20240391510A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-28

申请号：US18663397

申请日：2024-05-14

Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.

Inventor： John William Brand ,  Evan P. Sevel

IPC: B61L27/18

Abstract: A mechanism to determine whether conditions are correct for coupling one train consist to another train consist is disclosed. Controllers on locomotives are configured to determine the forces and/or compression state between locomotives and/or cars of a consist based at least in part on an intra-train force model and measured sensor data. The controllers also determine the relative speed of the consists that are to be joined. Based at least in part on the compressive state of at least one of the consists and the relative speed of the consists, the controller determines whether the conditions are suitable to couple the two consists. In some cases, terrain data, such as upcoming slope of tracks data may also be used in determining whether conditions are suitable for coupling consists. In further cases, the operation of at least one consist may be modified to achieve suitable conditions for coupling the two consists.

公开(公告)号：US12208828B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-28

申请号：US18081261

申请日：2022-12-14

Applicant: PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.

Inventor： John William Brand ,  Evan Paul Sevel

IPC: B61L15/00 ,  G06N3/091

Abstract: A train control system includes independent virtual in-train forces modeling engines onboard each of a plurality of locomotives in a train. Each of the plurality of locomotives may also include an analytics engine and a calibration engine configured to assimilate, analyze, and calibrate real time information from the locomotives and from draft gears and couplers interconnecting the locomotives and non-powered rail cars with determinations made by the independent virtual in-train forces modeling engine onboard the respective locomotive, with the plurality of locomotives of the train being configured to operate collectively and coordinate their own acceleration values based on a common goal of minimizing in-train forces without being dependent on command and control signals from a lead locomotive or central command.

公开(公告)号：US20240397319A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-28

申请号：US18667416

申请日：2024-05-17

Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.

Inventor： John William Brand ,  Evan P. Sevel

IPC: H04W12/106 ,  H04B1/69 ,  H04B1/713 ,  H04W12/037

Abstract: A mechanism to communicate in a secure manner between locomotives of a train consist is disclosed. Controllers on locomotives generate data packets and encode them according to one of a plurality of modulation schemes and transmit the encoded data packets according to one of a plurality of frequencies. The frequencies and/or modulation schemes used to transmit data are changed periodically by the transmitting controller in a sequence. The receiving controller is aware of the current frequency and/or modulation scheme being used and can, therefore, decode the transmitted data. Since the transmission frequency and/or modulation scheme is not known by a malicious actor, the data communications between the controllers is secure. The sequence of frequencies and/or modulation schemes may be communicated between the two controllers during a handshaking procedure to set up communications. Clocks of the communicating controllers may be synchronized to enable the frequency and/or modulation hopping scheme.