Train Simulator and Playback Station

Abstract

A portable train simulator, including a microprocessor, a display and an input device for the microprocessor. A first program drives the display to depict indicia of a control stand and to respond to control inputs from the input device. A second program drives the display to depict a track to be traversed from a data file in response to the control inputs. A virtual control stand is one of the elements that allows the true portability of a train simulator. The system can display and switch between the present operating parameters of the train and/or a history of the operating parameters of the train, as selected by the input device. Thus, the system can switch from playback mode to simulation mode to provide a take-over of recorded conditions to allow an operator to explore alternate methods for managing the train.

1 . A portable train simulator comprising: 
 a microprocessor;    a display;    an input device for the microprocessor;    a first program to drive the display to depict indicia of a control stand and respond to control inputs from the input device; and    a second program to drive the display to depict a track to be traversed from a data file in response to the control inputs.    
   
   
       2 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the input device includes one or more of a keyboard, a mouse and a touch screen.  
   
   
       3 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program produces depictions of throttle indicia of position and direction, dynamic brake indicia of position, independent brake indicia of position and automatic brake indicia of position.  
   
   
       4 . The simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first program produces depictions, for a remote unit, of throttle indicia of position and dynamic brake indicia of position.  
   
   
       5 . The simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first program produces depictions of status of one or more of independent brake bail-off, and emergency brake control by automatic brake.  
   
   
       6 . The simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first program produces depictions of auxiliary functions including one or more of horn, bell, sand, call bell, remote sand, and lead sand.  
   
   
       7 . The simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first program produces depictions of warnings including one or more of power cut-out switch is open, sand, wheel slip, remote wheel slip, alerter alarm, and overspeed alarm  
   
   
       8 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program produces depictions of one or more of train speed, air flow rate, feed valve pressure, brake pipe pressure, brake cylinder pressure, equalization reservoir pressure, percentage of power reduction and dynamic amperes.  
   
   
       9 . The simulator according to  claim 8 , wherein the first program allows adjustment of the feed valve pressure via the input device.  
   
   
       10 . The simulator according to  claim 8 , wherein the first program allows adjustment of the percentage of power reduction via the input device.  
   
   
       11 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the simulator is a portable computer including the microprocessor, the input device and the display; and the first and second programs and the data file are in one of the portable computer or a second microprocessor.  
   
   
       12 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable computer and the second microprocessor are connected by a network.  
   
   
       13 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , including a third program to drive the display to depict operating parameters of the train.  
   
   
       14 . The simulator according to  claim 13 , wherein the third program produces depictions of the present operating parameters of the train or a history of the operating parameters of the train as selected via the input device.  
   
   
       15 . The simulator according to  claim 14 , wherein the third program produces depictions of the history of the operating parameters correlated to the depiction of the track.  
   
   
       16 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the data file includes the track with correlated values of the control stand for a run of a train on the track; and 
 including a fourth program for playing back the data file by providing the control stand values as control inputs to the first program and the second program.    
   
   
       17 . The simulator according to  claim 16 , including a fifth program responsive to a selection input from the input device to initially transfer the control stand values from the data file to the first program as control inputs and subsequently the first program is responsive to control inputs from the input device.  
   
   
       18 . The simulator according to  claim 16 , wherein the data file further includes operational parameters of the train correlated to the track and the fourth program drives the display to depict the operating parameters correlated to the track display.  
   
   
       19 . The simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the data file includes the track with correlated operating parameters for a run of a train on the track; and 
 including a fourth program for playing back the data file by driving the display to depict the operating parameters correlated to the track.    
   
   
       20 . The simulator according to  claim 19 , including a third program driving the display to depict the present operating parameters of the train or a history of the operating parameters of the train as selected via the input device.  
   
   
       21 . The simulator according to  claim 20 , wherein the operating parameters to be displayed are selected via the input device.  
   
   
       22 . The simulator according to  claim 20 , including depicting the present operating parameters of the train with the history of the operating parameters of the train at a point on the track selected via the input device.  
   
   
       23 . A playback station comprising: 
 a microprocessor;    a display;    an input device for the microprocessor;    a data file of a track with correlated operating parameters for a run of a train on the track; and    a first program for playing back the data file by driving the display to selectively depict the operating parameters correlated to the track either as the present operating parameters of the train or a history of the operating parameters of the train.    
   
   
       24 . The simulator according to  claim 23 , wherein the operating parameters to be displayed are selected via the input device.  
   
   
       25 . The simulator according to  claim 23 , wherein the first program drives the display to depict the present operating parameters of the train with the history of the operating parameters of the train at a point on the track selected via the input device.  
   
   
       26 . The simulator according to  claim 23 , wherein the first program drives the display to switch between the depiction of the present operating parameters of the train and the history of the operating parameters of the train at a point on the track selected via and in response to the input device.  
   
   
       27 . The simulator according to  claim 23 , including a second program to operate the playback station as a simulator using the track of the data file, and initially using the operating parameters from the data file as inputs and subsequently using inputs from the input device to derive the operating parameters.  
   
   
       28 . A simulator comprising: 
 a microprocessor;    a display;    an input device for the microprocessor;    a data file of a track with correlated operating parameters for a run of a train on the track;    a first program for playing back the data file by driving the display to depict the operating parameters correlated to the track; and    a second program simulating a run using the track of the data file by initially using the operating parameters from the data file as inputs and subsequently using inputs from the input device to derive the operating parameters.