US6434452B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track database integrity monitor for enhanced railroad safety distributed power
Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2001-10-31
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Granted: 2002-08-13
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Expires: 2021-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A distributed power system for remotely controlling a locomotive, the system comprising a position-determining device for determining a position of the locomotive, a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track, a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with the pre-stored track database, a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for the locomotive and to use the track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in the pre-stored track database, and a memory device connected to the processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:44
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L15/00; B61L15/0081; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/021; B61L25/023; B61L25/025; B61L27/00; B61L27/50; B61L27/53; B61L2205/00; B61L2205/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A distributed power system for remotely controlling a locomotive, said system comprising: a position-determining device for determining a position of said locomotive; a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track; a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with said pre-stored track database; a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for said locomotive and to use said track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in said pre-stored track database; and a memory device connected to said processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A distributed power system for remotely controlling a locomotive, said system comprising: a position-determining device for determining a position of said locomotive; a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track; a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with said pre-stored track database; a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for said locomotive and to use said track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in said pre-stored track database; and a memory device connected to said processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a remote monitoring facility and a communication device to communicate between said locomotive and said monitoring facility.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a second database comprising situational data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said track database integrity monitor detects an error in said pre-stored track database by synthesizing estimated track terrain contours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said position-determining device is used to compare said synthesized terrain contours with said pre-stored track database.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a three-dimensional train profile for comparison with said pre-stored track database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a two-dimensional train profile for comparison with said pre-stored track database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a one-dimensional train profile for comparison with said pre-stored track database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said one-dimensional train profile is a horizontal channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said one-dimensional train profile is a vertical channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said one-dimensional train profile is a time channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a disparity algorithm for integrity monitoring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said disparity algorithm is a Mean Absolute Difference algorithm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said disparity algorithm is a Mean-Square Difference algorithm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said memory device stores said pre-stored track database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a second track database created by using said track database integrity monitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said second track database is stored in said memory device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller connected to said processor for controlling said locomotive.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for remotely controlling a locomotive, said method comprising: determining a position of said locomotive with a position-determining device; providing a pre-stored track database comprising track terrain and contour information; providing coupler sensor data; processing said position of said train, said coupler sensor data and comparing said position with said pre-stored track database to determine a distributed power to apply to said locomotive; applying a track database integrity monitor to determine whether said pre-stored track database and said position correlate; if said track database integrity monitor corresponds with said pre-stored track database, calculating and applying a distributed power to said locomotive; and creating a second track database based on applying said track database integrity monitor.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for remotely controlling a locomotive, said method comprising: determining a position of said locomotive with a position-determining device; providing a pre-stored track database comprising track terrain and contour information; providing coupler sensor data; processing said position of said train, said coupler sensor data and comparing said position with said pre-stored track database to determine a distributed power to apply to said locomotive; applying a track database integrity monitor to determine whether said pre-stored track database and said position correlate; if said track database integrity monitor corresponds with said pre-stored track database, calculating and applying a distributed power to said locomotive; and creating a second track database based on applying said track database integrity monitor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising if said track database integrity monitor does not correspond with said pre-stored track database and said position, (warming a) warning locomotive personnel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising if said track database integrity monitor does not correspond with said pre-stored track database and said position, operating said locomotive in a safe mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising: providing a car connected to said locomotive; providing a coupler connecting said car to said locomotive; determining a force at said coupler using said processor; and optimizing said force based on a calculated distributed power.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said processing step further comprises providing environmental data and factoring in said environmental data when determining said distributed power.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said processing step further comprises providing situational data and factoring in said situational data when determining said distributed power.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said track database integrity monitor comprises applying a disparity algorithm for integrity monitoring.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said track database integrity monitor comprises a dimensional locomotive profile.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said track database integrity monitor comprises a plurality of dimensional train profiles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising saving said second track database in a memory device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
153 words
A distributed power control system for controlling a train having a master locomotive and a slave locomotive where a car separates said master locomotive and said slave locomotive, said system comprising: a position-determining device for determining a position of said train; a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track; a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with said pre-stored track database based on a position of said train; a coupler separating each said locomotive from said car; a coupler sensor to determine force applied to each said coupler; a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for said locomotive based on data received from said coupler sensor and to use said track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in said pre-stored track database; a memory device connected to said processor; and wherein said processor controls said train based on a calculated distributed power.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
153 words
A distributed power control system for controlling a train having a master locomotive and a slave locomotive where a car separates said master locomotive and said slave locomotive, said system comprising: a position-determining device for determining a position of said train; a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track; a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with said pre-stored track database based on a position of said train; a coupler separating each said locomotive from said car; a coupler sensor to determine force applied to each said coupler; a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for said locomotive based on data received from said coupler sensor and to use said track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in said pre-stored track database; a memory device connected to said processor; and wherein said processor controls said train based on a calculated distributed power.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said track database integrity monitor compares positioning data based on railroad track recently covered by with said pre-stored digitized track database to determine whether an error exists in a position of said train.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said track database integrity monitor compares positioning data based on railroad track said train is about to cover with said pre-stored digitized track database to determine whether an error exists in a position of said train.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 31 wherein a forward-looking device is used to identify said railroad track said train is about to cover.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a disparity algorithm.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said track database integrity monitor detects an error in said pre-stored track database by synthesizing estimated track terrain contours.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said track database integrity monitor uses a dimensional train profile for comparison with said pre-stored track database.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising a warning device to notify train personnel that said track database integrity monitor found an error.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for distributing power in a (training) train with a master locomotive and a slave locomotive, said method comprising: providing a position-determining device; determining a position of said locomotive with a position-determining device; providing a pre-stored track database comprising track terrain and contour information; providing coupler sensor data; processing said position of said train, said coupler sensor data and comparing said position with said pre-stored track database to determine a distributed power to apply to said master locomotive and said slave locomotive; applying a track database integrity monitor to determine whether said pre-stored track database and said position correlate; if said track database integrity monitor corresponds with said pre-stored track database, calculating and applying a distributed power to said master locomotive and said slave locomotive; creating a second track database based on applying said track database integrity monitor; providing couplers in said train; determining a force at each said couplers using said processor; optimizing said force based on a calculated distributed power; and saving said second track database in a memory device.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for distributing power in a (training) train with a master locomotive and a slave locomotive, said method comprising: providing a position-determining device; determining a position of said locomotive with a position-determining device; providing a pre-stored track database comprising track terrain and contour information; providing coupler sensor data; processing said position of said train, said coupler sensor data and comparing said position with said pre-stored track database to determine a distributed power to apply to said master locomotive and said slave locomotive; applying a track database integrity monitor to determine whether said pre-stored track database and said position correlate; if said track database integrity monitor corresponds with said pre-stored track database, calculating and applying a distributed power to said master locomotive and said slave locomotive; creating a second track database based on applying said track database integrity monitor; providing couplers in said train; determining a force at each said couplers using said processor; optimizing said force based on a calculated distributed power; and saving said second track database in a memory device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising if said track database integrity monitor does not correspond with said pre-stored track database and said position, warming a train personnel.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising if said track database integrity monitor does not correspond with said pre-stored track database and said position, operating said train in a safe mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |