Grade speed control and method for railway freight vehicle
US6353780B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/16
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A grade speed control system and method for a railway freight vehicle can include a microprocessor receiving input from, for example, the dynamic and independent brakes on the locomotive, and the brakes on each rail car. The microprocessor can store values for desired train speed and actual train speed as well as constants and equations for converting raw data to derive brake cylinder pressure adjustments for implementing train speed control functions. The grade speed control system can also include communicate with brake cylinder control devices on articulated rail cars to increase or decrease the brake cylinder pressures to control the train speed. If actual speed differs from target speed by more than a predetermined amount, a target acceleration can be calculated and brake cylinder pressures adjustments can be derived to achieve the target acceleration to bring the actual speed of the train to the target speed in a reasonably brief time period. This sequence can be reiterated as the train progresses down the grade, automatically adjusting train braking effort as required to maintain the target speed within a tight range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.