Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.

Operating one or more locomotives of a train consist when communications to the one or more locomotives are lost depriving the locomotives of receiving real-time operating commands in an autonomous or semi-autonomous operating environment is provided. An energy management system generates real-time operating commands including throttle and brake settings for the train consist locomotives for operating the locomotives when communications to the locomotives are operating. Preplanned operating commands are generated for the train consist locomotives to set throttle and brake settings for the locomotives when communications to a lead train consist locomotive or between the lead train consist locomotive and remote or trailing train consist locomotives are lost. After communications are restored, the energy management system automatically switches from the preplanned operating commands back to real-time operating commands.

An underframe for a machine may have a first beam extending in a longitudinal direction and a second beam disposed generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first beam in a transverse direction. At least one of the first beam and the second beam may have a lower plate, an upper plate, and a web extending between the lower plate and the upper plate. The underframe may have a cross beam attached to the first and second beams. Further, the underframe may have a bracket transversely aligned with the cross beam. The bracket may include a first leg extending from the lower plate to the upper plate and attached to the web. The bracket may also include a second leg extending from the first leg, the second leg attached to the upper plate. The bracket and the cross beam may be disposed on opposite sides of the web.

A method for confirming a target locomotive in a train performed by a controller onboard a lead locomotive of the train includes: receiving an activation command for a remote operation of the lead and the target locomotives; establishing communication between the lead and the target locomotives based on receiving the activation command; causing a brake system of the train to apply a preselected force to a brake of the train; receiving, from the target locomotive, target brake pipe pressure data indicative of a brake pipe pressure of the target locomotive; causing a monitored system of the train to monitor trailing brake pipe pressure data indicative of a brake pipe pressure of the trailing locomotive; and based on determining that the target brake pipe pressure data matches the trailing brake pipe pressure data: confirming that the target locomotive matches the trailing locomotive, and automatically allowing the remote operation of the train.

A mechanism to communicate in a secure manner between locomotives of a train consist is disclosed. Controllers on locomotives generate data packets and encode them according to one of a plurality of modulation schemes and transmit the encoded data packets according to one of a plurality of frequencies. The frequencies and/or modulation schemes used to transmit data are changed periodically by the transmitting controller in a sequence. The receiving controller is aware of the current frequency and/or modulation scheme being used and can, therefore, decode the transmitted data. Since the transmission frequency and/or modulation scheme is not known by a malicious actor, the data communications between the controllers is secure. The sequence of frequencies and/or modulation schemes may be communicated between the two controllers during a handshaking procedure to set up communications. Clocks of the communicating controllers may be synchronized to enable the frequency and/or modulation hopping scheme.

A crack detection system for a cylinder head associated with an internal combustion engine of a locomotive is disclosed. The crack detection system comprises: a closed-loop coolant system for cooling the cylinder head; a sensor assembly including a pressure sensor, and a speed sensor; and a controller in communication with the sensor assembly. The controller is configured to monitor a coolant pressure feedback and an engine duty cycle of the internal combustion engine. The controller is further configured to communicate an alert signal indicative of an existence of a crack in the cylinder head when: coolant pressure signals are greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold; a pressure decay is calculated greater than a third threshold.

A system and method for locomotive assignments and scheduling is described herein. The system provides for receiving railroad information related to a railroad system including locomotives within the railroad system, determining railroad data from the railroad information by processing the railroad information, the railroad data associated with schedules, conditions, demand of locomotives, and availability of locomotives, determining a set of rules for assigning locomotives to trains, locations, and maintenance, the set of rules determined by a machine learning model trained using historical railroad data tagged with locomotive assignment information, determining assignments for locomotives within the railroad system using the set of rules in response to the railroad data, and outputting the assignments and executing the assignments of the locomotives.

A health monitoring system for a prime mover of a locomotive is disclosed. The health monitoring system comprises: the prime mover having a cylinder head with a first bank and a second bank; an EGR cooler; a turbocharger; a first temperature sensor provided on a first exhaust and a second temperature sensor provided on a second exhaust; a barometric pressure sensor; a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the barometric pressure sensor, the controller configured to: monitor a temperature relationship between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in real time at varying altitudes and atmospheres; detect instances of temperature differentials during operation; and identify an operational issue when instances of temperature differentials exceeds a temperature differential limit.

System and methods for determining a propagation of delays. In some embodiments, a computer system includes: a processor; a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to execute operations. The operations may include receiving first information related to a first stop by a first train on a first track and receiving second information related to a second stop by a second train on the first track. The operations may further include determining an association between the duration of the second stop of the second train and the reason for the first stop of the first train and displaying an indication of the association on a graphical user interface. Lastly, the operations may include determining an updated association between the first stop and second stop based on a user input into the graphical user interface.

A mounting system, adapted to removably couple the equipment with a mounting structure, includes a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting structure, a first flexible member disposed axially adjacent to the mounting bracket, and a pin disposed axially adjacent to the first flexible member. The first flexible member is disposed between the mounting bracket and the pin. The pin includes a base and a body extending from the base. The body includes a uniform section and a tapering section. The mounting system includes a second flexible member disposed axially adjacent to the mounting bracket and a cover disposed axially adjacent to the second flexible member. The second flexible member is disposed between the cover and the pin. The mounting system further includes at least two mechanical fasteners that removably couple the mounting bracket with each of the first flexible member, the pin, the second flexible member, and the cover.

System and methods for determining a propagation of delays. In some embodiments, a computer system includes: a processor; a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to execute operations. The operations may include receiving first information related to a first stop by a first train on a first track and receiving second information related to a second stop by a second train on the first track. The operations may further include determining an association between the duration of the second stop of the second train and the reason for the first stop of the first train and displaying an indication of the association on a graphical user interface. Lastly, the operations may include determining an updated association between the first stop and second stop based on a user input into the graphical user interface.