CA2276981A1 - Rail vehicle operator job memory aid - Google Patents

Abstract

With the job memory aid of the present invention, a rail vehicle operator will have a job memory aid which displays information affecting the movement of the rail vehicle being operated. It includes a control panel and display unit (CP/DU), mounted near the operator, and a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other similar device. The device stores the valid combination of light signal aspects reflecting wayside signal information or other instructions governing the movement of rail vehicles. Push buttons, or other means, and associated circuitry are activated by the operator to record acknowledgment of information received from wayside signals or Rail Traffic Controller and/or other instructions governing the movement of the rail vehicle. The visual display acts as a job memory aid to the operator. Preferably, the present invention is used in combination with external input devices that communicate with the device of the present invention to check correspondence of rail vehicle operator inputs with actual operating authority.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Rail Vehicle Operator Job Memory Aid FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application pertains to job memory aids, and train control systems, more specifically, aids for the operators) of all rail vehicles including trains or locomotives.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A particular application of this device is "cab signal" in the control cab of a locomotive. The cab signals of which we have knowledge, display wayside signal information that is conveyed to the locomotive control cab by "coded" electric pulse signal, directly from the track circuits. There are other cab control systems that make use of radio signals for automated train control. The application of these devices is limited to areas of signalized territory where the wayside signal system has the ability to pass on the information to the cab of the locomotive. These devices are best described in Patents 1045237 and 2156026.
Most areas and locomotives or other rail vehicles do not have a "cab control signal system". The control of train movements in these axeas relies upon the locomotive engineer or rail vehicle operator, recognizing the wayside signal, and then taking appropriate action to proceed through the next portion of track (block) in accordance with the meaning of the last signal passed. Extended periods of time, or distractions, have led to incidents of locomotive engineers failing to properly identify the signal and or remember the signal displayed; and serious accidents have resulted on many of these occasions. Additionally, there is an increased preference to operate trains with one operator and no other crew member in the cab of the locomotive. Accordingly, the need exists to provide a job memory aid to assist the single operator in retaining memory of the last signal passed, or instruction received, and then controlling the locomotive in accordance with that signal or instruction. This device will obviate many safety concerns associated with single crew member train control.
Additionally, there are many additional rail vehicles, other than trains or locomotives, that are operated on track. Accordingly the need exists to provide a job memory aid to assist the operator in retaining memory of the last signal passed, or instruction received, and then controlling the rail vehicle in accordance with that signal or instruction.
This device will obviate many safety concerns associated with single operator rail vehicle control. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a job memory aid for rail vehicle operators (including trains and locomotives) that will function in all circumstances, and in all types of signal automated and non-automated territories.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm to the operator of a rail vehicle should the job memory aid device display information that is not consistent with the manner of rail vehicle operation.
The information as to the authorized manner of rail vehicle operation can either be pre-stored in the rail vehicle's processor and/or transmitted from wayside locations. Existing vehicle control systems will be utilized to provide inputs to the present invention as to vehicle speed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an automated alert to the Rail Traffic Control Center or other appropriate location whenever a wayside signal has a burned out bulb, and it is recorded in the job memory aid. This automated alarm can be through a built in modem or other communications device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a time stamped listing of all rail vehicle operator requests. This data can be "dumped" by remote modem download or direct connection to the display unit.
SUNINIARY OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the major components of the device and how it relates to the environment of rail vehicle and other devices.
Figures 2 and 3 relate to one specific example/use of this device in the control cab of a rail locomotive. Figure 2 shows a combination control panel/display unit. Figure 3 is the ladder logic associated with the display of one signal array request.
With the system of the present invention, rail vehicles will have a control panel that can be activated by pushing buttons, or by voice recognition, or by other systems, causing lights to be illuminated in a display panel. The display illustrates the control signal and/or last instruction received as acknowledged by the operator.
In the first embodiment of the invention, a memory device produces a "time stamped record" of the indications activated by the rail vehicle operator, corresponding with the visual wayside signal indications observed (searchlight, colour light or other wayside systems) or other authorizations and or restrictions given. This record shows the display aspects and the time that they were input. These records can also tie to existing event recorders on locomotives or other rail vehicles to produce one complete record of all of the activities of the rail vehicle operator.
One example of this device is for use in rail locomotives and trains and is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The device has four major display selections that can be activated by the operator. They are the following: (refer to figure 2) ~ The home signal (H), located on the left side of the control panel, is selected whenever a 2 or 3-aspect high signal display is required at an "absolute" control location.

~ The dwarf signal (D), located on the inside left portion of the panel is selected for the aspects of a low, or ground signals (also known as dwarf) conveying one or 2 colour aspects from an "absolute" control location.
~ The intermediate signal (I), located on the right side of the control panel, is selected whenever a 1 or 2 aspect display for an intermediate location or approach signal is required.
~ The Foreman or Other Restriction signal (O), located at the top center area of the control panel, is selected whenever a restriction or control is given by something other than field signal indication. For example: A
Track Maintenance Foreman giving an instruction to stop at a specific location would be one occasion where the "O" feature would be selected.
Once an H, D or I signal selector is activated, colours are then selected:
One Red or Yellow or Green for each aspect. These colour selectors are located in rows in line with the aspect desired. If a colour is required to be displayed as flashing, then the corresponding flasher button (F) is depressed and released after selecting the colour button (G,Y, or R) for that particular display panel light.
The device automatically displays flashing red indicators on the inactive H, I or D displays, whenever the O feature toggle switch is used. For example: If the last selection was for an I signal then the selection of the O
feature would cause the display of flashing red on all light aspects of the H

and D display portions of the panel. Foreman or other restrictions are cleared from the display panel by toggling the O feature to the off position.
Whenever an H, or I, or D, are selected the indications formerly displayed, H, or I, or D, are canceled. If there are flashing reds on the inactive portions of the panel (previously activated by selecting O), it is not canceled by selection of an H or I or D. The flashing reds will automatically move to the inactive portion of the panel, if necessary, to facilitate the display of the new H, or I, or D, selection.
Whenever selections of colour aspects are made, there is a ten second period of inactivity required after selection to time stamp and record the selection in the PLC memory. If the selection is improper or illegal, then the system display aspects are all set to red indications This period can be adjusted to suit needs. As well, the device can be specifically tailored to recognize improper display of signals, and relay error messages to the operator.
One example of a feature that is built into this device is the bulb out feature (B) selected whenever wayside signal lights are observed to be incapable of displaying a colour light signal aspect. The B feature selected by the operator will result in the display going to all red after the 10 second delay.
The device records the actual display light selection of the operator, detailing the bulb that was observed to be "burned out?": Similarly, the device can connect by modem to a central location to notify the Rail s Traffic Controller (RTC) or other appropriate personnel of the "burned out"
bulb location.
Our device may be modified to interact with wayside transponders that would be strategically located at the view approach to wayside signals.
The PLC would recognize the need for another signal aspect to be input and initiate stop within a preset period of time should the operator fail to call for the device to display a signal selection on the display panel. GPS
could also be used instead of wayside transponders to "trigger" a request for the a new signal to be displayed.
Our device can also be modified with other devices, such as a serial R/F
interface to check correspondence of the device display unit (DU) with wayside signal devices. Should the DU signal selection not correspond with that signal displayed, then the device can be used to initiate a signal to the control of the locomotive to initiate warning or even a stop.
Unlike existing cab control systems and automatic train control systems this system is an operator activated system. The high cost of cab control signals and automatic train control systems make this an attractive alternative. It could be seen as a first step in a seamless transition to full cab signaling, achieving the majority of safety benefits in the first stage i.e.
Rail Vehicle Operator Job Memory Aid.
This device also can be used for application in "dark" (non-signaled) territory. The operator would be required to use the CP/DU to set the display in accordance with the clearance instructions held for the next control location. For example, an operator of a train restricted by clearance or other instruction, "to stop of the next switch" would then be setting the display to yellow over red over red on the High (H) signal mast. This same feature would also be selected by the crew member as a reminder to stop for a switch set in the reverse position.
Through communications with a central computer (i.e. Rail Traffic Control Center), the device could be set to register alarms whenever 2 trains were identified as having potential conflicting movements.
The device produces a record of the indications activated by the locomotive engineer, corresponding with the visual wayside signal indications observed or other instructions received. This record shows the display aspects and the time that they were input. These records and can also tie to existing "event recorders" on locomotives to produce one complete record of all of the activities of a locomotive engineer.
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Claims (3)

1. A rail vehicle operator job memory aid for providing information to the operator to assist in controlling the rail vehicle, comprising, ~ an internal input device at said vehicle for the operator to use to call for display of instructions received;
~ a processor means at said vehicle to evaluate requests of the operator, process them and pass them to display and memory means;
~ a memory means to maintain a time and/or location record of the operator requests;
~ a memory means to maintain the information necessary to decode the operator requests;
~ a display device to display the most recent operator requests;
~ a communications device to relay "burned out bulb" alarms to remote locations;
~ an output device to communicate with rail vehicle control systems and internal alarm systems;
~ an audible alarm system to alert the operator of problems with the device;
~ and associated circuitry.

2. In addition to the claims in item 1. a rail vehicle operator job memory aid that exchanges information with field locations to validate the requests of the operator, to assist in controlling the rail vehicle, comprising, ~ tracking means on said rail vehicle to determine said .rail vehicles position with respect to control points on the line of Railway it is operating on;
~ transmitter means responsive to said tracking means for transmitting tracking data at a unique radio frequency carrier, said tracking data being indicative of the location of said control location; and ~ electronic memory means at said rail vehicles for storing information unique to the territory that the rail vehicle is operating on.

3. The device as defined in items 1 and 2 which can be modified to provide output to rail vehicle control systems.