Adaptive energy transfer system and method
View Patent ↗Systems and methods of the invention relate to transferring energy from a vehicle to a device via a track circuit. Embodiments of the present invention include a power source of a vehicle that can be utilized to transfer energy through a track circuit to a device coupled thereto. The track circuit can include a section of track having a first pair of insulated joints located on a first rail and a second pair of insulated joints on a second rail, each pair separated by a distance. Moreover, a signal can be communicated to the vehicle based on receipt of the transferred energy.
1. A method, comprising:
generating a portion of power with a vehicle;
transferring the portion of power to a track circuit with a part of the vehicle to power a device coupled to the track circuit;
identifying a first insulated member associated with the track circuit and a second insulated member associated with the track circuit; and
at least one of the following:
responding to the first insulated member identification by initiating the transferring of the portion of power; or
responding to the second insulated member identification by initiating a start of the step of transferring of the portion of power.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a geographic location of the device and initiating a start of the step of transferring of the portion of power based on the geographic location.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the portion of power based on a power input for the device in which the power input corresponds to a type of the device.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an amount of the portion of power transferred based on a geographic location of at least one of the vehicle or the device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a signal at the vehicle from the device, wherein the signal is generated by the device responsive to receiving the portion of power.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising identifying the device based on a geographic location of the vehicle.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a frequency of a transmission of the portion of power, wherein the portion of power is transmitted with a pulsed delivery.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the portion of power to the device for a duration of time based on a power input of the device and an amount of the portion of power.
9. A method, comprising:
generating a portion of power with a vehicle;
transferring the portion of power to a track circuit with a part of the vehicle to power a device coupled to the track circuit;
transmitting a request communication from the vehicle to the device;
receiving a response communication at the vehicle from the device; and
triggering the transmission of the portion of power based on the response communication.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle traveling on a rail track, the track circuit comprises at least part of the rail track, the device is a wayside device located off-board the rail vehicle, and the portion of power is transferred as electricity.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the portion of power at the device coupled to the track circuit; and
powering the device with the portion of power received by the device from the vehicle.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the track circuit;
wherein the step of transferring the portion of power to the track circuit is initiated responsive to the identifying the track circuit.
13. A method, comprising:
receiving a portion of power at a device coupled to a track circuit;
powering the device with the portion of power, wherein the portion of power is received over the track circuit from a vehicle;
receiving a request communication at the device from the vehicle; and
transmitting a response communication from the device to the vehicle to trigger transmission of the portion of power from the vehicle to the device.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle traveling on a rail track, the track circuit comprises at least part of the rail track, the device is a wayside device located off-board the rail vehicle, and the portion of power is transferred as electricity.