Coordinated braking systems and methods for rail cars
A system and method include a train including a plurality of rail cars configured to travel along a track having rails. Each of the plurality of rail cars includes brakes. A braking control unit is in communication with the brakes of the plurality of rail cars. The braking control unit is configured to control the brakes of a subset of the plurality of rail cars in accordance with braking data.
1. A system comprising:
a train including rail cars configured to travel along a track having rails, wherein each of the rail cars comprises brakes, wherein the rail cars include loaded rails cars and unloaded rails cars, and wherein a ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars changes; and
a braking control unit in communication with the brakes of the rail cars,
wherein the braking control unit is configured to adaptively control the brakes of a subset of the rail cars in accordance with braking data based on one or both of a change in a number of rail cars in the train, or a change in the ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking data is based on the number of the rail cars of the train.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking data is based on a grade of the track.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking data is based on one or both of a weight of each of the rail cars or contents of each of the rail cars.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the rail cars comprises at least two braking rail cars separated by uncontrolled rail cars, wherein the brakes of the at least two braking rail cars are controlled by the braking control unit, and wherein the brakes of the uncontrolled rail cars are not controlled by the braking control unit.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking control unit is further configured to automatically determine the number of rail cars of the train.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication device removably coupled to one or more of the rail cars, wherein the communication device allows for communication with the braking control unit.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a portable air supply removably coupled to the one or more of the plurality of rail cars.
9. A method comprising:
communicatively coupling a braking control unit with brakes of a rail cars of a train that is configured to travel along a track having rails, wherein the rail cars include loaded rails cars and unloaded rails cars, and wherein a ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars changes; and
adaptively controlling, by the braking control unit, the brakes of a subset of the rail cars in accordance with braking data based on one or both of a change in a number of rail cars in the train, or a change in the ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the braking data is based on the number of the rail cars of the train, a grade of the track, a weight of each of the rail cars, and contents of each of the rail cars.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
coupling one or more air compressor cars to one of the rail cars at an end of the train, wherein the one or more compressor cars comprise one or more air tanks and one or more air pumps that are configured to provide compressed air to the brakes;
engaging, by an indexer along the track, one or more of the rail cars; and
dumping, by a dumper along the track, contents from one or more of the rail the train.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the braking control unit is remote from the train.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subset of the rail cars comprises at least two braking rail cars separated by uncontrolled rail cars, wherein the brakes of the at least two braking rail cars are controlled by the braking control unit, and wherein the brakes of the uncontrolled rail cars are not controlled by the braking control unit.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising automatically determining, by the braking control unit, the number of rail cars of the train.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
removably coupling a communication device to one or more of the rail cars, wherein the communication device allows for communication with the braking control unit; and
removably coupling a portable air supply to the one or more of the rail cars.
16. A system comprising:
a train including rail cars configured to travel along a track having rails, wherein each of the rail cars comprises brakes, wherein the rail cars include loaded rails cars and unloaded rails cars, and wherein a ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars changes;
one or more air compressor cars coupled to one of the rail cars at an end of the train, wherein the one or more compressor cars comprise one or more air tanks and one or more air pumps that are configured to provide compressed air to the brakes;
an indexer along the track, wherein the indexer is configured to engage one or more of the rail cars;
a dumper along the track, wherein the dumper is configured to dump contents from one or more of the rail cars; and
a braking control unit in communication with the brakes of the rail cars,
wherein the braking control unit is configured to adaptively control the brakes of a subset of the rail cars in accordance with braking data based on one or both of a change in a number of rail cars in the train, or a change in the ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars,
wherein the braking control unit is further configured to automatically determine the number of rail cars of the train,
wherein the subset of the rail cars comprises at least two braking rail cars separated by uncontrolled rail cars, wherein the brakes of the at least two braking rail cars are controlled by the braking control unit, and wherein the brakes of the uncontrolled rail cars are not controlled by the braking control unit, and
wherein the braking data is based on the number of the rail cars of the train, a grade of the track, a weight of each of the rail cars, and contents of each of the rail cars.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking control unit is configured to adaptively control the brakes of the subset of the rail cars in accordance with the braking data based on the change in the number of rail cars in the train.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking control unit is configured to adaptively control the brakes of the subset of the rail cars in accordance with the braking data based on the change in the ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking control unit is configured to adaptively control the brakes of the subset of the rail cars in accordance with braking data based on the change in the number of rail cars in the train, and the change in the ratio of loaded rail cars to unloaded rail cars.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the subset changes as the ratio changes.
21. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more air compressor cars coupled to one of the rail cars at an end of the train, wherein the one or more compressor cars comprise one or more air tanks and one or more air pumps that are configured to provide compressed air to the brakes.
22. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an indexer along the track, wherein the indexer is configured to engage one or more of the rail cars; and
a dumper along the track, wherein the dumper is configured to dump contents from one or more of the rail cars.
23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking control unit is remote from the train.
24. The system of claim 5 , wherein the uncontrolled rail cars comprises at least nine uncontrolled rail cars.