Convoy Control System for Dynamic Coupler Force Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in efficiently managing asynchronous brake and throttle settings across multiple locomotives or vehicles due to varying grades and curvatures, leading to undesirable forces on couplers and potential system breakdowns, and inefficient cargo transportation processes.
Innovation Solution
A control system that identifies and combines vehicle systems into larger convoys, determines handling parameters and asynchronous operational settings based on route data and vehicle data, and adjusts brake and throttle settings dynamically to optimize power output and reduce forces on couplers, allowing for real-time changes in vehicle distributions and operational settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the same throttle and brake settings are applied to all locomotives in a rail vehicle system, then the control system is simple and easy to operate, but undesirable forces are exerted on couplers and rail cars experience unwanted movements when traveling over different grades and curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The rail vehicle system is divided into multiple consists, with each consist having independent throttle and brake settings. This segmentation allows different segments to operate with optimized settings for their specific grade and curvature conditions, reducing coupler forces while maintaining operational simplicity through centralized control of the segmented units
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts throttle and brake settings for each consist based on real-time grade and curvature data. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to respond to varying track conditions, optimizing force distribution across couplers while maintaining straightforward operator interface
2Ease of operation
If multiple vehicle systems operate independently, then each system can be controlled separately, but cargo transportation efficiency decreases due to repeated separation and recombination at vehicle yards
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vehicle systems are merged into a single convoy that travels together from origin to destination without separation. This combining eliminates repeated recombination operations at vehicle yards, significantly improving cargo transportation efficiency while maintaining the ability to control each vehicle system independently through the distributed control architecture
3Device complexity
If all rail cars apply brakes simultaneously, then the braking control system is simple, but rail cars on different grades experience inappropriate braking forces leading to unwanted movements and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
Each consist is equipped with independently controllable brakes that can be adjusted according to local grade and curvature conditions. This local quality approach ensures that brakes on different grades apply appropriate forces, improving braking system reliability while maintaining relatively simple control through consist-level independence
Data Source
AI summary
A control system identifies vehicle systems for combining into a larger convoy. Each the vehicle systems is formed from at least one propulsion-generating vehicle and at least one non-propulsion-generating vehicle. The control system directs the identified vehicle systems to couple with each other for travel as the convoy from a first location toward a different, second location. The control system directs a first vehicle system in the convoy to separate from the convoy and/or a second vehicle system to join the convoy by coupling with at least one of the vehicle systems in the convoy in an intermediate location between the first and second locations. The vehicles in each of the vehicle systems in the convoy remain connected during separation of the first vehicle system from the convoy and/or during joining of the second vehicle system to the convoy.