Method and system for using location information in conjunction with recorded operating information for a railroad train
View Patent ↗A method for recording operating information of a railroad train ( 10 ) comprising a lead locomotive ( 14 ), a remote locomotive ( 12 A), and a trailing locomotive ( 15 ). The method comprises recording the operating information of at least one of the railroad train ( 10 ) and/or a distributed power communications system onboard the railroad train ( 10 ), determining a location of the lead locomotive ( 14 ), and including the location in a record of the operating information.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a recorder for creating a record of operational parameters of a distributed power (DP) communications system of a rail vehicle consist, the operational parameters representative of a loss in communication between two or more powered units of the rail vehicle consist; and
a location-determining component for determining a location of at least one of the powered units when the loss in communication is identified; and
an element for identifying a correlation between the loss in communication and the location of the at least one of the powered units when the loss in communication is identified at least a plurality of times.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the location-determining component is configured to determine the location responsive to at least one of GPS signals, differential GPS signals, satellite-based positioning system signals, LORAN signals, inertial navigation system signals, wheel tachometer signals, or wayside transponder signals.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recorder is configured to create a record of the operational parameters responsive to detection of the loss in communication of the DP communications system.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recorder is configured to create a record of the operational parameters of the rail vehicle consist continuously during operation of the rail vehicle consist.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operational parameters indicate the loss in communication when one or more of a communications system fault or an operating penalty occurs.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recorder is configured to time stamp the record of the operational parameters.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the element is a portable unit.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recorder comprises at least one of a data logger or an event recorder.