Integrated rail efficiency and safety support system
Embodiments of an integrated rail efficiency and safety support system and method are shown comprising a server operable to receive a plurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets of collected information comprising a consist physical location and weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist and to process a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track; and wherein the predictive rail temperature algorithm factors the information provided to it and provides a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track.
1. A system, comprising:
a server configured for two-way communication with a plurality of moving consists, each consist comprising at least one rail vehicle, wherein the server:
(a) receives over a network, from the plurality of consists, a plurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets of collected information comprising a consist physical location and observed real-time weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist;
(b) wherein the server is operable to process a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track;
(c) wherein the predictive rail temperature algorithm factors the information provided to it, provides a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track and determines an instruction for each consist in the plurality of consists, wherein said instruction is calculated to influence the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track; and
(d) wherein the server sends, over the network, the respective instruction to each respective consist in the plurality of consists.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network is a cellular network.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network is a radio network.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a user of the system is at least one of an operator of one of the plurality of consists and a supervisor.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the supervisor is not located in any one of the plurality of consists.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track are communicated to the supervisor.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sets of collected information are sent to the server over a first network, and the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of ack are sent to the consist over a second network.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track are communicated to an operator of one of the plurality of consists orally via a radio signal.
9. A method, comprising:
(a) receiving over a network, from a plurality of moving consists, each consist comprising at least one rail vehicle, and by a server, a plurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets of collected information comprising a consist physical location and observed real-time weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist;
(b) processing, by the server a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track;
(c) wherein the predictive rail temperature algorithm factors the information provided to it, provides a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track and determines an instruction for each consist in the plurality of consists, wherein said instruction is calculated to influence the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track; and
(d) sending, by the server and over the network, the respective instruction to each respective consist in the plurality of consists.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network is a cellular network.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network is a radio network.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a user of the method is at least one of an operator of one of the plurality of consists and a supervisor.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the supervisor is not located in any one of the plurality of consists.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track are communicated to the supervisor.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sets of collected information are sent to the server over a first network, and the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track are sent to the consist over a second network.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track are communicated to an operator of one of the plurality of consists orally via a radio signal.