Rail Vehicle Control Units Sharing Consumable Resource Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rail vehicle consists face challenges in managing and optimizing the use of non-propulsion consumable resources like sand and pressurized air across multiple vehicles, leading to uneven wear and resource depletion, which affects operational efficiency and requires frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for rail vehicle control that involves communication between control units on different rail vehicles to share information on consumable resource levels, allowing for prioritization and optimized scheduling of resource use based on available amounts and operational parameters, ensuring even distribution of wear and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If each rail vehicle independently manages its own non-propulsion consumable resources, then each vehicle can respond quickly to its own operational needs, but resources become unevenly distributed across the consist leading to premature depletion on some vehicles and excessive wear on systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resource management across multiple rail vehicles by enabling control units on different vehicles to communicate consumable resource levels and coordinate usage. This allows the consist to function as a unified resource pool, preventing individual vehicle depletion while maintaining overall operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where control units continuously monitor and communicate consumable resource levels across the consist. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of resource allocation and usage prioritization, ensuring reliable resource availability while optimizing operational efficiency through informed decision-making.
2Ease of operation
If consumable resources are used freely without coordination, then operational flexibility is maintained, but system wear becomes uneven requiring frequent maintenance and service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing resource management protocols and communication frameworks before operational issues arise. Control units are pre-configured to exchange resource level information and implement prioritization strategies, preventing uneven wear patterns before they develop and reducing maintenance frequency while preserving operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as resource usage prioritization and allocation strategies based on real-time conditions. By adjusting these parameters through coordinated control, the system maintains operational flexibility while distributing wear more evenly across the consist, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.
3Productivity
If resource levels are monitored and shared across all vehicles, then optimal resource allocation can be achieved, but system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by using existing communication infrastructure and control unit architectures across multiple vehicle types. The resource management system leverages universal communication protocols and standardized data formats, enabling optimal resource allocation without significantly increasing system complexity or requiring vehicle-specific modifications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling a consist of at least first (102) and second (104) rail vehicles, the first and second vehicles being configured for receiving control signals via a communication link. The system includes a first control unit (108) electrically coupled to the first rail vehicle, the first control unit being configured to receive signals representing a level of a non-propulsion consumable resource on¬ board the first rail vehicle and a second control unit (110) electrically coupled to the second rail vehicle, the second control unit being configured to receive signals representing a level of a non-propulsion consumable resource on-board the second rail vehicle. The level of the non-propulsion consumable resource on-board the first rail vehicle and the level of the non-propulsion consumable resource on-board the second rail vehicle are shared across the communication link (114).