Patent · US Expired

Condition monitoring system for locomotives

US4752899A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 23, 1985
Grant dateJun 21, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F23/804
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention is a system for monitoring and displaying a measured parameter in each of a series of similar modules. In one embodiment, the invention can be used to monitor a parameter or condition, such as the amount of fuel in a tank, in each of a plurality of coupled locomotives. The parameter is measured by an analog or digital sensor, the output of which is connected to a microprocessor. Each locomotive in the train has such a microprocessor, and each microprocessor is programmed in substantially the same way. The microprocessors in the several locomotives are programmed to communicate with each other, and to determine which one is in the lead locomotive, and what signals are being received from which microprocessor. The value of the measured parameters for any of the locomotives of the train can therefore be displayed by the microprocessor in the lead locomotive. The programming of the microprocessors is such that the system will work regardless of the arrangement of the locomotives.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.