IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,649,504
Granted Patent B2
US 12,649,504 · App. 18/120,275 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Vehicle system and method

Inventors: Janmejay Tripathy (Cedar Rapids, IA); Andrew Ryan Staats (Cedar Rapids, IA); Timothy Allen Schultz (Marion, IA); Milan Karunaratne (Orange, CA); Evan Sevel (Pittsburgh, PA); Adam Hausmann (Melbourne, FL); Larry Chalmers (Jacksonville, FL); Alan Fisher (Philadelphia, PA); Amit Kenjale (West Melbourne, FL); Benjamin Henniges (Mount Airy, MD); Daniel Spencer (Melbourne, FL); Danial Rice (Point of Rocks, MD)
Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
B61L15/0027B61L25/04B61L27/04B61L27/20B61L27/57B61L2201/00B61L2205/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,649,504
App. No.
18/120,275
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one example, a wayside device monitoring system is provided. The system may include a wayside device and a controller. The wayside device may detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment. The controller can receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and can control movement the vehicle directly or indirectly based at least in part on the received information.

Claims (49)

1 . A system, comprising:

a wayside device configured to detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment; and

a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and

based at least in part on the information that is received, control the movement of the vehicle to be a natural roll to stop without braking or further propulsion.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the vehicle based at least in part on the information that is received and based at least in part on one or more of:

a location of the vehicle;

a speed of the vehicle;

a type of cargo on the vehicle;

an amount of the cargo on the vehicle;

an amount of the cargo on plural ones of the vehicle in the vehicle system; or

an infrastructure present in a route segment on which the vehicle is moving.

3 . A system, comprising:

a wayside device configured to detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment; and

a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and

based at least in part on the information that is received, control the movement of the vehicle at least in part by a cut out of a propulsive axle in response to the one or more operating parameters being associated with the propulsive axle.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a communication device that is configured to communicate the information that is received to a remote back office system that is configured to remotely restrict the movement of the vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a signal and communicating the signal to an operator of the vehicle.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with a back office system, and to receive a bulletin or command to restrict the movement or speed of the vehicle from the back office system.

7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an identity of the vehicle and associate the information that is received with the vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the wayside device comprises a sensor package, and the sensor package comprises at least one of a thermal sensor, an acoustic sensor, a laser scanner, a video camera, or an impact sensor.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor package is configured to measure a temperature of a vehicle component as the vehicle passes by the wayside device.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the vehicle has one or more of an axle, a bearing, or a motor that has a temperature that is above a determined temperature threshold value, and the temperature is included in the one or more operating parameters.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the vehicle is emitting a bearing growl, and a presence of the bearing growl that is detected is included in the one or more operating parameters.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether there is an impact signature that matches a determined signature profile, and a presence of the impact signature is included in the one or more operating parameters.

13 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the vehicle to be a slow and light braking effort to stop.

14 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to assign the vehicle or determine a vehicle identification code, and the controller is configured to assign plural readings of the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle from plural ones of the wayside device over one or more of time or distance, and the controller is configured to determine a trendline of the one or more operating parameters for the vehicle over the one or more of time or distance.

15 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the wayside device is disposed proximate to an intersection of two or more routes.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the wayside device includes a physical barrier to selectively control access to the intersection.

17 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising at least one sensor onboard the vehicle and that is configured to measure at least a second operating parameter, and to provide the second parameter that is measured to the controller.

18 . A system, comprising:

a wayside device configured to detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment; and

a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and

based at least in part on the information that is received, control the movement of the vehicle based at least in part on a location, and the controller is configured to slow or stop the vehicle in a higher population area differently than in a lower population area.

19 . A system, comprising:

a wayside device configured to detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment; and

a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and

based at least in part on the information that is received, control the movement of the vehicle based at least in part on a cargo type and the controller is configured to determine to slow or stop the vehicle with a hazardous cargo differently than with less hazardous cargo.

20 . A system, comprising:

a wayside device configured to detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment; and

a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected,

determine which of friction brakes, dynamic braking, or both to respond to a determination of an anomalous operation of a railcar component,

determine whether to apply braking of the vehicle system at different times, at different rates, and with different vehicles of the vehicle system; and

control movement the vehicle directly based at least in part on the information that is received from the wayside device.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the vehicle based at least in part on a nature of the anomalous operation that is detected, a degree of severity of the anomalous operation, a grade or terrain, environmental factors, a speed of the vehicle system, an amount or type of cargo in the vehicle system, a type of the vehicle locomotive, a type of plural ones of the vehicles in a distributed power set up, a placement of the vehicle with the anomalous operation in the vehicle system, and a placement of the vehicle in consist in the vehicle system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2023
From: TRIPATHY, JANMEJAY; STAATS, ANDREW RYAN; SCHULTZ, TIMOTHY ALLEN; KARUNARATNE, MILAN; SEVEL, EVAN; HAUSMANN, ADAM; CHALMERS, LARRY; FISHER, ALAN; KENJALE, AMIT; HENNIGES, BENJAMIN; SPENCER, DANIEL; RICE, DANIAL
To: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063503/0860 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 17237686 · Apr 22, 2021
Continuation In Part 17181667 · Feb 22, 2021
Continuation In Part 16399019 · Apr 30, 2019
Related Publication 20230211817A1 · Jul 6, 2023
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