232results about "Track side maintainance" patented technology

A diagnosis and repair recommendation system for a railroad locomotive is disclosed. The system uses generalized repair recommendations and instantiates them to a specific repair process for a unique road number locomotive. In addition to repair steps to be executed by the technician, the method and system remotely provides supporting documentation specifically tailored for each step in the repair process. As the repair is being conducted, feedback information is entered by the technician. The repair recommendations and the supporting documents are available to the technician via a remote unit, thereby allowing the technician to access the repair steps and supporting documentation while the repair is in progress.

A method and system for managing communication of electronic data between a diagnostic service center and a plurality of mobile assets (10) generally remote relative to each other is provided. The electronic data comprises at least respective mobile asset data indicative of respective performance of the plurality of mobile assets. The mobile asset data used for detecting the presence of potential malfunctions which, if left uncorrected, would likely result in respective mission failures of the assets. The method allows for storing in a database (104) a list of respective cases to be processed. The method further allows for assigning to each case a respective download priority. A determining action allows for determining each case to be populated next with new mobile asset data based upon the assigned download priority. Respective executing actions allow for executing a download of the new mobile asset data between the diagnostic service center and a respective one of the mobile assets, and for executing predetermined analysis on the downloaded data for detecting the presence of respective potential malfunctions in the mobile assets. The download of data may be executed automatically whenever critical faults occur in the mobile assets.

A system for collecting and communicating data associated with at least one of a plurality of machines includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to monitor an operational condition of the at least one associated machine and provide signals indicative of the operational condition. The system includes at least one local data system, including a processor, associated with the machine and configured to receive signals from the sensor, detect an event affecting the at least one machine based on the signals received from the sensor, and communicate data relevant to the detected event to a location remote from the at least one machine. A central data system including a processor and configured to receive the data relevant to the detected event and communicate with other machines of the plurality of much such that the other machines communicate data relevant to the detected event to the central data system is included.

A locomotive (10) is operable in two or more distinct configurations, with the change in configuration being response to a configuration input signal (35). A locomotive configuration is represented by the set of end use device control signals (13) that are generated by the locomotive control systems (22) in response to the respective set of operational input values (27). For a given set of operational input values, a first set of end use device control signals is generated when a configuration input has a first value, and a second set of end use device control signals is generated when a configuration input has a second value. The configuration input variable is responsive to an emission profile associated with the locomotive location. A value of a locomotive emission parameter corresponding to the emission profile is monitored and saved in a storage device (e.g., 104).

A system and method for vehicle-centric infrastructure monitoring system includes an inspection system mountable on a vehicle configured to travel over an expanse of rail track having a plurality of track blocks. The inspection system acquires track data for at least some track blocks along the expanse of rail track. The monitoring system also includes a positioning system to determine a location of the vehicle and generate location data indicative of an associated track block location, a communications device to transmit the track / location data to a remote location, and a centralized computing system positioned at the remote location to receive the transmitted track / location data. The centralized computing system is programmed to determine a current probability of a track condition for a track block and combine the current track condition probability with a previously determined cumulative track condition probability to provide an updated track condition probability for the track block.

Computerized method and system computerized method for guiding equipment service personnel while at an equipment work site through a plurality of tasks for troubleshooting the health of a selected system of a selected equipment to determine the nature and extent of service needed for such system. The method allows to provide a database comprising detailed data for health assessment and servicing of a selected equipment and system thereof, and an expert rule-based troubleshooting wizard for eliciting information regarding the selected equipment and system and for providing troubleshooting instructions to determine the nature of the equipment fault and the servicing required for the selected equipment and system. An input / output device at the work site for communicating with the database is provided. The method allows to select the equipment and the system thereof to be serviced and to access the database to interface with the troubleshooting wizard for the selected equipment and system. The method allows to provide in response to a set of prompts to the personnel from the troubleshooting wizard at least one set of observations selected from the group comprising operational performance of the selected equipment, operational performance of the selected system, and fault indications detected in the equipment and system. The method processes the observation information relative to the troubleshooting wizard to determine whether or not said selected equipment and system needs to be serviced, and if so the nature and extent of that service.

A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.

Computerized method and system for training service personnel to service selected equipment. The method allows to provide a database for storing respective training modules for training service personnel to service respective assemblies of selected equipment. The method further identifies the present qualifications of a service personnel available at the service site for servicing the assembly. The method also correlates the present qualifications of the service personnel to predefined qualifications needed to service that assembly to determine whether or not the present qualifications of the service personnel meet the predetermined requirements. In the even the predefined qualifications for servicing the assembly are unmet by the present qualifications of the service provider, the method identifies one or more needed training modules that upon completion by the service personnel would enable the service personnel to meet the predefined qualifications relative to that assembly. An input / output device for communicating with the database is provided. The method allows to communicate the needed training modules from the database to the input / output device for access by the service personnel set to perform the service.

A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.