WO2016132353A1

WO2016132353A1 - Self-learning remote control system for charging and using rechargeable batteries in transport vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2016132353A1
Application number: PCT/IL2016/050179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Meir TALBY
Original assignee: Siros Energy Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-17
Filing date: 2016-02-16
Publication date: 2016-08-25

Abstract

A remote control system for control and operation management of generators and rechargeable batteries in vehicles and/or trains, which includes a local command unit that is installed on the train and a remote command unit that is installed in the control and command center. The local command unit may include a voltmeter for measuring voltage of batteries, a disconnection/connection device for connecting and disconnecting generators, an accelerometer and protractor for measuring train acceleration and travel angle, a computer unit, and a communications unit. The remote command unit includes a communications unit, communication means, and a computer unit. The generator connection/disconnection means communicates with the local command unit and, according to commands received from the command unit, it connects or disconnects the operation of the generators. The remote control system wherein it is integrated into a refrigerated train that includes railroad cars with refrigerated containers.

Description

Self-Learning Remote Control System for Charging and Using Rechargeable Batteries in Transport Vehicles

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a self-learning remote control system for charging and using rechargeable batteries in transport vehicles, such as trains, trucks, ships, and so on, and a unique application of said system for the control and management of refrigerated transport containers designed for the transportation of products that require refrigeration during transport.

BACKGROUND ART

A wide variety of products require transportation under controlled climatic conditions, such as fresh food, pharmaceuticals, flowers, and a variety of other products (hereinafter referred to as "perishables"). Perishables are commonly transported today in trucks that are equipped with cooling/heating containers (semi-trailers and trailers); in other words, container with an internal refrigeration system that operates on electricity generated by a fuel-based generator. Trucks with generators and refrigerated containers travel huge distances between states and countries, transporting perishables under refrigeration. As a result, refrigerated transportation is relatively expensive, a fact that limits the distribution of such perishables and increases their price. The invention, subject of the present patent, offers an effective response to the aforementioned situation, as described in the present patent application.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

The intention of the drawings attached to the application is not to limit the scope of the invention and its application. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and they constitute only one of its many possible implementations.

FIG. 1 presents a schematic description of a self-learning remote control (1) that includes a remote command unit (40) and a local command unit (30).

FIG. 2 presents a schematic illustration of a refrigerated transport system (10) that combines a remote control system (1) with a refrigerated train (100).

THE INVENTION

Generators (20) are commonly used to produce electricity from the motion of railroad cars (21) in general, and from the motion of the railroad car wheels (22) in particular. Rechargeable batteries (23) are commonly recharged in this manner and are used mainly to illuminate the train. It is also common knowledge that such generators (20) should be activated mainly when the train is slowing down or traveling downhill, and that use of such generators (20) should be avoided when the train is traveling uphill or when it is required to accelerate, so as not to burden the engine at times when it is required to supply greater output than when travelling at a constant velocity on a level track. In addition, an electricity-generating mechanism exist that connects the generators (20) to the wheels (22) or to the railroad car (21) itself. The way in which the generator (20) and rechargeable batteries (23) are assembled and operate are known and understood by any professional in the area and such details need not be specified in the present patent.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a self-learning remote control system (1) that is designed to control and manage the operation of generators (20) and the charging of rechargeable batteries (23) in vehicles. The system (1) includes an algorithm that manages the connection and disconnection of the generators according to predetermined parameters and information that is input into the system (hereinafter referred to as "the management algorithm"). The system is "self-learning" since one of its versions is based on a "self-learning algorithm" that is designed to decrease or increase loads on the relevant vehicle based on predetermined parameters and/or parameters that are learned while the system is in operation.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated transport system (10) that integrates the self-learning remote control system (1) into a train with one or more railroad cars (21), wherein refrigerated containers (25) that are powered by rechargeable batteries (23) are placed upon such railroad cars (21). Such trains, which may have several railroad cars, will hereinafter be referred to as "refrigerated trains" (100). The refrigerated train (100), subject of the present patent application, can be a designated train that transports refrigerated containers (25) on its cars (21), or a train that is not designated exclusively for refrigerated transport but that includes one or more railroad cars (21) on which refrigerated containers (25) are placed so that the refrigeration of the container can be independent and separate and based on rechargeable batteries (23) that are recharged by the rotation of the wheels of that specific railroad car (21). The refrigerated transportation system (10) is in fact the integration of the self-learning remote control system (1) into a refrigerated train (100).

The self-learning remote control system (1) can include a management algorithm and/or a self-learning algorithm according to which the generators (20) are activated and deactivated. The self-learning remote control system (1) can control and manage each generator (20) separately, so that it may separately control and manage each rechargeable battery (23), each refrigerated container (25), and each railroad car (21) in the refrigerated train (100), when the relevant vehicle is a train. When the vehicle is a truck or any other kind of transport vehicle, the self-learning remote control system (1) can control either one single truck or an entire fleet of trucks. In the present application, we will refer to the implementation of the system (1) in refrigerated trains, although all that is mentioned applies, with appropriate modifications, also to the application of the system on other vehicles.

The self-learning remote control system (1) includes a local monitoring and control unit (30) that is installed on the refrigerated train (100), and a remote control unit (40) that is installed in the command and control center (50). The command and control center (50) may be located on the refrigerated train itself or in a remote location, in which case it is equipped with a wireless communication system. Each refrigerated railroad car (21) can and should be equipped with a local monitoring and control unit (30) to control the relevant refrigerated railroad car. The system (1) may also be equipped with a thermometer (31) for measuring the temperature within the refrigerated container, a voltmeter (32) for measuring the voltage of the rechargeable batteries, and a connection/disconnection device (33) for connecting and disconnecting the generators. The system (1) also contains a control unit/computer (36) and a communications unit (35) that includes a transmitter and receiver designed to transmit data, which is collected from the aforementioned components, to the remote control unit (40) located in the command and control center (50) and to receive commands from the remote control unit (40) by means of the algorithms. The remote control unit (40) includes, among other things, a communications unit (41) with a transmitter and receiver, communication means (43) such as cellular, satellite or other internet communications, a computer unit (44), and the algorithms. The algorithms may be saved within the computer unit (36) of the local monitoring and command unit (30) or in the computer unit (44) of the remote command unit (40), or in both. The system (1) may also include an accelerometer with a protractor (34) designed to measure whether the train is accelerating, decelerating, traveling at constant velocity, stopping, as well as the angle of travel. Alternatively, the system (1) may determine the train's travel angle from data about the track route, and this data may be collected and saved while the system (1) is in operation. In addition, the local monitoring and command unit (30) may include a GPS unit (37) that will determine the location of the relevant refrigerated container (25) on the railroad network. Another alternative is for the system (1) to determine the location of the relevant refrigerated containers (25) based on GPS systems that are already installed on the train.

The thermometer (31), voltmeter (32), accelerometer and protractor (34) communicate either wirelessly or via cable with the local command unit (30) and provide it with relevant information. The connection/disconnection device (33) also communicates either wirelessly or via cable with the local command unit (30), and according to commands received from the unit (30), it connects or disconnects the generators (20) to and from the mechanism that connects it to the train's wheels. The information and commands are saved and processed by the computer unit (36) that is part of the local command unit (30).

The remote control unit (40), which is located in the command and control center (50), receives data that is transmitted to it from the local monitoring and control unit (30), and based on the aforementioned algorithms and other algorithms, it transmits commands to connect or disconnect the generators (20) located in each refrigerated railroad car (21) according to circumstances, as explained above. The activation and control exerted by the remote control unit (40) which is located on the refrigerated train (100) can be automatic, manual, or semi-automatic. Communications between the remote control unit (40) and the local (train-based) command units (30) can be via cellular satellite internet communications, or using any other wireless communication method. If the remote command unit (40) is installed on the refrigerated train itself, communications may also be wired.

The invention may be implemented in several ways: First, the following components can constitute a kind of independent unit that is completely separate from the railroad car (21) and the refrigerated container (25) and can be connected to them via connectors, according to need. These components include rechargeable batteries (23), local monitoring and command unit (30), thermometer (31), voltmeter (32), generator connection/disconnection means (33), communications unit (35), accelerometer and protractor (34), computer unit (36), and GPS unit (37). A second option is one in which the energy unit is an integral part of the refrigerated container (25), and a third option is one in which the energy unit is an integral part of the railroad car (21).

The self-learning remote control system (1) is designed to activate the generators (20) (hereinafter "generator activation") and shut them down (hereinafter "generator deactivation"), either separately or as an entire unit, and it includes a self-learning algorithm that is based on pre-programming the activation or deactivation of the generators (20) as a function of the travel parameters of the refrigerated train (100) such as constant velocity, acceleration, deceleration, uphill travel, downhill travel, and so on. Thus, for instance, when the refrigerated train is accelerating or traveling uphill, charging will stop automatically, since the output of the train engine is required for the actual travel of the train; when the train is braking or traveling downhill, the charging function will reconnect and reactivate automatically. In addition, the self-learning remote control system (1) can include an algorithm according to which whenever the battery (23) located in a certain railway car (21) reaches some preset minimum threshold that indicates an imminent power failure, the batteries (23) in said railway car (21) will begin to charge, to various degrees, even if the train is traveling uphill or accelerating.

The self-learning algorithm continuously analyzes the data from a specific refrigerated container on a specific train. For instance, on a train that has 30 cars, three of which are equipped with refrigerated containers, the algorithm is continuously updated regarding the number of refrigerated containers at a given time and, according to the status of the batteries in a specific refrigerated container, issues a command to activate the charging of the batteries in the said railroad car. The decision regarding the charging scope of a certain refrigerated container made at any given moment is also made in relation to the other cars in the train. This option is important in cases in which a refrigerated container is disconnected from one train together with the railroad car it is on, and connected to another train while is loaded. The algorithm learns automatically, based on the geographic location of the refrigerated container and travel data, which train the refrigerated container is on at any given moment. For example, in the case of a refrigerated car whose batteries are nearing the required minimum threshold and is connected to a train with a large number of refrigerated cars, but is designated to be transferred shortly to another train that has only a small number of refrigerated cars, the generators will be activated only in case of downhill travel or deceleration, in order to decrease the load on the engine of the first train. However, when the said railroad car (which includes a refrigerator container and energy unit) is connected to the second train that has only a small number of refrigerated cars, the generators, or at least some of them, will be activated even if the train is traveling at constant velocity on a plain in order to recharge the batteries so that they reach the required minimum level of charging.

The self-learning remote control system (1) can include basic information regarding the travel route of the vehicle, roads, railroad tracks and so on. Thus, the self-learning algorithm of the system (1) can know in advance, based on the velocity and direction of the refrigerated container (25), when uphill or downhill travel is expected. In addition, the system can learn the travel route in light of past experience and past behavior of refrigerated containers (or more precisely, the vehicle on which the refrigerated container is placed). Such information includes expected uphill travel, downhill travel, deceleration, acceleration, stops, the durations of all of the above, and so on. The algorithm can also learn from past experience about the behavior of the refrigeration system in any specific refrigerated container, the behavior of the batteries in any such container, the energy consumption of each container, the functioning of the batteries, and other such parameters that may assist the system in anticipating the energy consumption of a certain refrigerated container during a certain expected or planned journey

The present invention also refers to an algorithm for the control and operation management system of generators and rechargeable batteries in vehicles, which is designed to manage energy consumers. The term energy consumer refers to any system, device, or apparatus that consumes energy, such as refrigerated containers, heated containers, engines, electricity-consuming machines and appliances, lighting systems, air-conditioning, and so on. The operation management of generators and rechargeable batteries is done according to the travel route, the vehicle's travel parameters, functioning of the rechargeable batteries, and functioning of the energy consumers.

The present invention also refers to an algorithm for the control and operation management system of generators and rechargeable batteries in vehicles, which is designed manages energy consumers and includes a self-learning algorithm, that learns one or more of the following parameters from past experience: travel route, the vehicle's travel parameters, functioning of the rechargeable batteries, and functioning of the energy consumers. Figure 1 presents a schematic description of a self-learning remote control (1) that includes a remote command unit (40) and a local command unit (30).

Figure 2 presents a schematic illustration of a refrigerated transport system (10) that combines a remote control system (1) with a refrigerated train (100); wherein the remote control system includes a command and control center (50) with a remote command unit (40) and local (train-based) command units (30), and wherein the refrigerated train (100) includes a pair of refrigerated railroad cars (21), refrigerated containers (25), rechargeable batteries (23), and generators (20).

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A self-learning remote control system (1) that contains a management algorithm, and is designed to control and manage the operation of generators (20) and rechargeable batteries (23) in vehicles.

2. The system mentioned in Claim 1, which also includes a local command unit (30) that is installed on said vehicle, and a remote command unit (40) that is installed in the command and control center (50).

3. The system mentioned in Claim 2 wherein said vehicle is a train; wherein the local command unit (30) includes a connection/disconnection device (33) designed to connect and disconnect said generators (20), a control unit/computer (36), and a communications unit (35).

4. The system mentioned Claim 1 wherein the system is integrated into a refrigerated train (100); wherein the refrigerated train (100) has at least one railroad car (21) with a refrigerated container (25).

5. The remote control system mentioned in Claim 1 whereby it includes a self-learning algorithm; wherein the self-learning algorithm learns one or more of the following parameters from past experience: travel route, travel parameters, functioning of energy units, functioning of said rechargeable batteries, functioning of refrigerated containers.

6. The remote control system mentioned in Claim 2 wherein it includes a self-learning algorithm.

7. The remote control system mentioned in Claim 3 wherein it includes a self-learning algorithm.

8. The remote control system mentioned in Claim 4 wherein it includes a self-learning algorithm.

9. An algorithm for the control and operation management of generators, rechargeable batteries in vehicles that manages one or more energy consumers according to the travel route, travel parameters, functioning of rechargeable batteries, and functioning of energy consumers.

10. An algorithm for the control and operation management of generators and rechargeable batteries in vehicles that manages one or more energy consumers, and includes a self-learning algorithm; wherein the self-learning algorithm learns one or more of the following parameters from past experience: travel route, travel parameters, functioning of rechargeable batteries, and functioning of energy consumers.