Patent · US Expired

Slow speed consist control by independently controlling each locomotive

US6937925B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
11References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 2002
Grant dateAug 30, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 6, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60L2200/26
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for controlling locomotive consists at slow speeds by independently controlling each locomotive is provided. The method comprises controlling the throttle settings and main generator excitation of a control locomotive, independently controlling, from the control locomotive, the throttle setting of each of the controlled locomotives, and compensating for a combined consist tractive effort change induced by a change in the throttle setting of each of the controlled locomotives by adjusting the main generator excitation of at least one of the locomotives to maintain a preset consist speed. The method further includes changing the throttle settings concurrently in the control and controlled locomotives, changing the throttle settings of the controlled locomotives only after the control locomotive reaches a maximum generator excitation, and changing the throttle settings according to a rule base. As a result, aspects of the invention enable slow speed control of locomotive consists comprising trail locomotives that may lack main generator excitation remote control, or Slow Speed, capability.

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