Method and systems for end of train force reporting

Abstract

An EOT unit detects an excessive end of train force using an accelerometer and reports the excessive force. The report may be made to a device located off the train, to an event recorder in the EOT unit, and/or to another device located on the train such as a head of train unit and/or an event recorder located outside the EOT unit. The accelerometer may be a singe, dual, or tri-axial accelerometer. The message may be sent in response to the detection of the excessive acceleration or may be part of a periodically transmitted message from the EOT unit to a HOT unit. A HOT unit is configured to receive a message indicating an excessive EOT acceleration and display an indication of the excessive acceleration to the operator and/or record the message in an event recorder and/or report the excessive acceleration to a device located off the train.

1 . An end of train unit suitable for use on a train, the end of train unit comprising:
 a processor connected to a housing;   a first coupling connected to the housing, the first coupling being configured to engage a train coupling;   an end of train marker light connected to the housing and configured to be controlled by the processor;   a pressure transducer connected to the processor and in fluid communication with a second coupling connectable to an air brake pipe of a train;   an accelerometer connected to the processor; and   a first transmitter connected to the processor;   wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of
 receiving an acceleration from the accelerometer; 
 performing a comparison of the acceleration to a threshold; 
 determining that the acceleration exceeds the threshold; and 
 transmitting a message via the first transmitter in response to the acceleration exceeding the threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes an identifier of the end of train unit and wherein the first transmitter is a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the message wirelessly to a head of train device. 
     
     
         3 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes an identifier of the end of train unit and an address of a device located off of the train, and the first transmitter is a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the message wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an event recorder connected to the processor;   wherein the first transmitter transmits the message to the event recorder.   
     
     
         5 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a time corresponding to the acceleration. 
     
     
         6 . The end of train unit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a positioning system connected to the processor;   wherein the message includes a position corresponding to the acceleration.   
     
     
         7 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is at least 0.25 g. 
     
     
         8 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a magnitude of the acceleration. 
     
     
         9 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes an indication that an acceleration in excess of the threshold has been detected. 
     
     
         10 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration is an instantaneous acceleration. 
     
     
         11 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration is a filtered acceleration. 
     
     
         12 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison is an absolute value comparison. 
     
     
         13 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer is a triaxial accelerometer. 
     
     
         14 . The end of train unit of  claim 13 , wherein the message indicates an orientation of the acceleration. 
     
     
         15 . The end of train unit of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a magnitude for acceleration in each axis of the triaxial accelerometer. 
     
     
         16 . An end of train unit comprising:
 a processor connected to a housing;   a first coupling connected to the housing, the first coupling being configured to engage a train coupling;   an end of train marker light connected to the housing and configured to be controlled by the processor;   a pressure transducer connected to the processor and in fluid communication with a second coupling connectable to an air brake pipe of a train;   an accelerometer connected to the processor; and   a first transmitter connected to the processor;   wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of
 receiving an acceleration from the accelerometer; 
 performing a comparison of the acceleration to a threshold; 
 determining that the acceleration exceeds the threshold; and 
 transmitting a message including a magnitude of the acceleration via the first transmitter. 
   
     
     
         17 . A head of train device comprising:
 a processor;   a wireless receiver connected to the processor; and   a display connected to the processor;   wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of
 receiving a message from an end of train unit, the message indicating that an excessive end of train acceleration has been detected; and 
 reporting the excessive end of train force. 
   
     
     
         18 . The head of train device of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to display an indication that the excessive end of train force acceleration has been detected on the display. 
     
     
         19 . The head of train device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an interface to an event recorder, the interface being connected to the processor;   wherein the processor is further configured to record the message on the event recorder.   
     
     
         20 . The head of train device of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform the step of:
 taking a corrective action if an acknowledgment of the display of the excessive end of train acceleration is not received from an operator.   
     
     
         21 . The head of train device of  claim 20 , wherein the corrective action comprises activating the train's brakes. 
     
     
         22 . The head of train device of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform the step of:
 comparing the acceleration to a higher threshold; and   taking corrective action if the acceleration exceeds the higher threshold.   
     
     
         23 . The end of train device of  claim 22 , wherein the corrective action comprises activating the train's brakes.