System, method, and computer readable media for adaptively determining a brake application level for signaling a remote locomotive of a train during a communication loss

摘要

In a railroad train having a brake system including a fluid carrying brake pipe (14) having an exhaust (52) and connecting a lead locomotive (12) and at least one remote locomotive, the train further comprising a communication system (24) for communicating between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive, a method for adaptively determining a brake application for signaling a remote locomotive of a train during a communication loss includes determining a brake system operating condition of the train (72). The method also includes determining an operability condition of the communication system (74) and identifying an operator commanded brake application level at the lead locomotive during a communication system inoperability condition (76). The method further includes determining a signaling brake application level sufficient for signaling the remote locomotive via the brake pipe responsive to the monitored brake system operating condition (78).

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining an operating condition of a brake system of a distributed power train; identifying an operator commanded brake application level at a lead locomotive of the train in response to a loss in communication between the lead locomotive and a remote locomotive of the train, wherein the loss in communication prevents braking commands from being communicated from the lead locomotive to the remote locomotive using a communication system of the train; and automatically determining, at the lead locomotive, a signaling brake application level that is sufficient for signaling the remote locomotive via a brake pipe of the train to apply brakes of the remote locomotive when the operator commanded brake application level is insufficient for propagation of a signal over the brake pipe from the lead locomotive to the remote locomotive.