Single handle locomotive controller

Claim 2

A train propulsion and braking controller comprising: handle means, including a single handle movable between a maximum propulsion position, through diminishing propulsion positions, through a release/idle position, through increasing braking positions, through a full service braking position, to an emergency brake position, for providing a position signal representing a position of said handle; control means for receiving said position signal and generating propulsion, dynamic braking, and fluid braking control signals as a function of said position signal; when said handle position assumes an initial braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal necessary for said initial braking position until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking signals after said maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated if necessary for said initial braking position; and when said handle assumes a next braking position less than a previous braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a smaller value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position and maintains a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position until a zero dynamic braking signal is generated.

Claim 3

A controller according to claim 1, wherein said handle means includes an off position between said full service braking position and said emergency brake position.

Claim 4

A controller according to claim 1, wherein said braking positions include a dynamic braking range of positions increasing from said release/idle position to a full dynamic braking position and a fluid braking range of positions increasing from said full dynamic braking position to said full service braking position.

Claim 5

A controller according to claim 3, wherein when said handle position assumes an initial braking position in said dynamic braking range, said control means generates only dynamic braking signals; and when said handle position assumes an initial braking position in said fluid braking range, said control means generates a combination of dynamic and fluid braking signals.

Claim 6

A controller according to claim 4, wherein when said handle position assumes an initial braking position in said fluid braking range, said control means generates a maximum dynamic braking signal and a fluid braking signal for said initial braking position.

Claim 7

A controller according to claim 3, wherein said handle means includes a detent for said handle at said full dynamic braking position.

Claim 8

A controller according to claim 1, wherein when said handle assumes a next braking position greater than a previous braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a greater value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking signals of a greater value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position after said maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated for said next braking position.

Claim 9

A controller according to claim 1, wherein when said handle assumes a next braking position less than a previous braking position, said control means generates a fluid braking signal of a smaller value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position after said zero dynamic braking signal is generated for said next braking position.

Claim 10

A controller according to claim 1, including a display means for displaying the handle position.

Claim 11

A controller according to claim 9, wherein said display means displays graphically the amount of dynamic braking and the presence of any fluid braking.

Claim 12

A controller according to claim 9, wherein said display means displays numerically the amount of dynamic braking and the amount of any fluid braking.

Claim 13

A train propulsion and braking controller comprising: handle means, including a single handle movable between a maximum propulsion position, through diminishing propulsion positions, through a release/idle position, through increasing braking positions, through a full service braking position, to an emergency brake position, for providing a position signal representing a position of said handle; control means for receiving said position signal and generating propulsion, dynamic braking, and fluid braking control signals as a function of said position signal; when said handle position assumes an initial braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal and generates a fluid braking signals if necessary for said initial braking position; and when said handle assumes a next braking position less than a previous braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a smaller value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position and maintains a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position until a zero dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking release signal of a smaller value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position only when said handle is in said release/idle position.

Claim 14

A train propulsion and braking controller comprising: handle means, including a single handle movable between a maximum propulsion position, through diminishing propulsion positions, through a release/idle position, through increasing braking positions, through a full service braking position, to an emergency brake position, for providing a position signal representing a position of said handle; control means for receiving said position signal and generating propulsion, dynamic braking, and fluid braking control signals as a function of said position signal; when said handle position assumes an initial braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal and generates a fluid braking signals if necessary for said initial braking position; and when said handle assumes a next braking position less than a previous braking position, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a smaller value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position and maintains a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position until a zero dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking release signal of a smaller value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position only when said handle is in said release/idle position.

Claim 15

A train propulsion and braking controller comprising: handle means for providing position signals representing positions from a maximum propulsion position through decreasing propulsion positions to an idle position and positions from release, through increasing braking positions, through a full service braking position, to an emergency brake position; control means for receiving said position signal and generating propulsion, dynamic braking, and fluid braking control signals as a function of said position signal; for an initial braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal necessary for said initial braking position until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking signals after said maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated if necessary for said initial braking position; for subsequent braking position signals less than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a smaller value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position signal while maintaining any fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal until a zero dynamic braking signal is generated; and for subsequent braking position signals greater than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a greater value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position signal while maintaining any fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated.

Claim 16

A train propulsion and braking controller comprising: handle means for providing position signals representing positions from a maximum propulsion position through decreasing propulsion positions to an idle position and positions from release, through increasing braking positions, through a full service braking position, to an emergency brake position; control means for receiving said position signal and generating propulsion, dynamic braking, and fluid braking control signals as a function of said position signal; for an initial braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal necessary for said initial braking position until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated and generates a fluid braking signals after said maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated if necessary for said initial braking position; for subsequent braking position signals less than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a smaller value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position signal while maintaining any fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal until a zero dynamic braking signal is generated; and for subsequent braking position signals greater than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a dynamic braking signal of a greater value than a dynamic braking signal of said previous braking position signal while maintaining any fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal until a maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated.

Claim 17

A controller according to claim 13, wherein when said subsequent braking position signal is greater than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a fluid braking signals of a greater value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal after said maximum value of dynamic braking signal is generated for said subsequent braking position signal.

Claim 18

A controller according to claim 13, wherein when said subsequent braking position signal is less than a previous braking position signal, said control means generates a fluid braking signal of a smaller value than a fluid braking signal of said previous braking position signal after a zero dynamic braking signal is generated for said subsequent braking position signal.