Rail Vehicle Speed Control System for Transitory Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rail vehicle systems face challenges in managing temporary speed restrictions along routes due to the length and complexity of trips, often requiring manual intervention when speed orders expire, which can disrupt automatic control and increase operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines and adjusts operational settings based on transitory speed limits issued for specific segments and time periods, automatically modifying or generating new trip plans when temporary work orders expire, allowing for increased automatic control and optimized speed management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the rail vehicle system travels through multiple segments with slow orders over long distances, then the system must frequently check and respond to expired speed orders, but this increases manual intervention and reduces automatic control time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting slow order expiration before the vehicle actually enters the restricted segment. The onboard computer monitors the vehicle's location and compares it against the geographic boundaries of slow orders, allowing the system to prepare for speed changes in advance rather than reacting when the vehicle is already in the restricted zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring the vehicle's real-time location, comparing it with slow order boundaries, and automatically adjusting speed based on whether the vehicle is approaching, entering, or has exited restricted segments. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for manual intervention by constantly sensing and responding to changing speed order conditions.
2Reliability
If the operator manually controls the vehicle through segments with expired slow orders, then speed limit compliance is maintained, but operational efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard computer performs self-service by automatically detecting slow order expirations and adjusting the vehicle's speed without requiring operator intervention. The system monitors its own operational status, compares location with slow order boundaries, and autonomously modifies propulsion commands to maintain compliance with current speed restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual control system with an automated electronic control system. The onboard computer substitutes for the human operator's manual speed adjustment actions, using electronic sensors, processors, and communication systems to automatically maintain speed limit compliance throughout the journey.
3Productivity
If the system automatically adjusts speed based on slow order expiration, then operational efficiency increases, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard computer performs multiple functions: it tracks vehicle location, monitors slow order boundaries, determines expiration status, calculates appropriate speed adjustments, and controls propulsion systems. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the system achieves automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard computer acts as an intermediary between the vehicle's propulsion system and the external slow order data. It receives location information, processes it against slow order boundaries, and translates the results into appropriate speed control commands, simplifying the interaction between different system components while enabling automatic adaptation to changing speed restrictions.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system dictates operational settings of a rail vehicle system based a transitory second speed limit that is no faster than a current first speed limit and which is issued for a determined segment of the track for a determined time period. The control system obtains a current time, determines whether the transitory second speed limit has started, is in effect, or has expired based on the current time relative to the determined time period, and, in response to such determination, performs one or more of (a) generate a prompt to indicate that the determined time period has expired, (b) operate the rail vehicle system at the first speed limit, and/or (c) modify the operational settings of the rail vehicle system to exceed the second speed limit in the determined segment but not exceed the first speed limit for the determined segment.