Asynchronous Locomotive Brake Control for Coupler Force Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in coordinating the operations of multiple locomotives, leading to undesirable forces on couplers and movements due to varying grades and curvatures, which can damage the system and degrade handling, as they often apply the same throttle or brake settings across all locomotives without individual control.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine handling parameters along a route and set asynchronous brake settings for vehicles based on these parameters, allowing for different operational settings for propulsion-generating vehicles to manage power outputs and reduce forces on couplers, including calculating and applying different throttle and brake settings to maintain optimal system handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the same throttle or brake settings are applied to all locomotives, then the control system is simple and easy to operate, but undesirable forces on couplers and movements of rail cars occur due to varying grades and curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The train is divided into multiple consists with individual control groups. Each consist can have its own throttle and brake settings, allowing segment-specific control to handle varying grades and curvatures while maintaining operational simplicity through centralized management of these segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different throttle and brake settings are applied to different segments (consists) of the train based on local track conditions such as grades and curvatures. This allows each segment to operate with optimal settings for its specific location, reducing harmful forces on couplers while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Device complexity
If synchronous brake control is used for all vehicles, then the brake control system is simple, but brakes may be inappropriately applied to some vehicles while needed for others due to different grades and curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control system is segmented to allow different brake settings for different consists or groups of vehicles. This enables asynchronous brake control where each segment can apply brakes according to its specific grade and curvature conditions, improving reliability without excessive system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake control system transitions from static synchronous control to dynamic asynchronous control, where brake settings can vary by segment and change over time based on real-time conditions. This allows the system to adapt to varying grades and curvatures while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized coordination.
3Reliability
If different throttle settings are used for locomotives on different grades, then handling is improved, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The train control system is divided into consists with individual throttle control capabilities. This segmentation allows different throttle settings for locomotives on different grades while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized control protocols and centralized management of the segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A planning system and method determine handling parameters of one or more of a route or a vehicle system at different locations along a length of the vehicle system having plural vehicles traveling together along the route. The system and method also determine asynchronous brake settings for two or more of the vehicles in the vehicle system based on the handling parameters that are determined. Brakes of the two or more vehicles are controlled according to the asynchronous brake settings.