Railroad Locomotive Control System Having Switch Position Indication And Method Of Use

Abstract

A locomotive control system and method of use operable to provide operational control of a locomotive ensuing the detection that the locomotive will enter a railroad switch having the point blades incorrectly positioned. The locomotive control system further includes a point alignment detection sensor being operably coupled to a railroad switch and the point blades thereof. A plurality of track transceivers are mounted adjacent to the railroad switch and extend outward from the railroad switch along the railroad track. At least one engine transceiver is provided and is operably coupled to a locomotive. A controller is included and functions to provide logic and control of the locomotive control system. The method provides monitoring of the point blades of a railroad switch and detection of the movement of an approaching locomotive having entered the detection zone and is operable to prevent movement through the railroad switch if damage will occur thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railroad locomotive control system having a railroad switch detection system wherein the railroad locomotive control system is operable to identify the position of a railroad switch and a pending movement of a locomotive therethrough and provide an alert if damage to the railroad switch my occur comprising:
 a point alignment detection sensor assembly, said point alignment detection sensor assembly being operable coupled to point blades of a conventional railroad switch, said point alignment detection sensor having at least one transceiver, said at least one transceiver operable to transmit a point blade position signal providing positional information of the point blades;   a plurality of track transceivers, said plurality of track transceivers being operably coupled to said at least one transceiver of said point alignment detection sensor assembly, said plurality of track transceivers operable to receive the point blade position signal;   at least one engine transceiver, said at least one engine transceiver being mounted to a railroad locomotive, said at least one engine transceiver operably coupled with said plurality of track transceivers so as to receive the point blade position signal;   a controller, said controller being mounted in a first location or a second location, said controller having a central processing unit, said central processing unit operable receive, store, manipulate and transmit data, said controller further including a visual indicator operable to provide a first alert signal, said controller having an audio indicator, said audio indicator operable to provide a second alert signal, said controller further including an operational control module, said operational control module operably coupled to an engine control unit of a railroad locomotive; and   wherein said controller is operable to prevent a railroad locomotive from executing a trailing movement through a railroad switch wherein the point blades are positioned incorrectly.   
     
     
         2 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first location of said controller is an engine control station onboard a railroad locomotive. 
     
     
         3 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second location of said controller is a remote control unit for a railroad locomotive. 
     
     
         4 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first alert signal is a light. 
     
     
         5 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second alert signal is an audio alarm. 
     
     
         6 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 5 , and further including a detection zone, said detection zone being established by the plurality of track transceivers mounted adjacent to a railroad switch, said detection zone operable to monitor proximity and speed information of a railroad locomotive as the railroad locomotive approaches a railroad switch. 
     
     
         7 . The railroad locomotive control system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the operational control module will execute a control override of the railroad locomotive upon calculation by the controller that a railroad locomotive approaching a railroad switch having point blades positioned incorrectly has approximately greater than thirty percent chance of entering the railroad switch. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch utilizing a railroad locomotive control system wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned comprising the steps of:
 providing a point alignment detection sensor assembly, said point alignment detection sensor assembly having at least one transceiver, said point alignment detection sensor assembly being operably coupled to a railroad switch;   providing a plurality of track transceivers, said plurality of track transceivers being secured to support members of a railroad track proximate the railroad switch to which the point alignment detection sensor assembly is coupled, said plurality of track transceivers being operably coupled to said point alignment detection sensor assembly;   providing at least one engine transceiver, said at least one engine transceiver being mounted to a railroad locomotive, said at least one engine transceiver operably coupled with said plurality of track transceivers;   providing a controller, said controller operable to be mounted in either a first location or a second location, said controller having a central processing unit, said central processing unit operable receive, store, manipulate and transmit data, said controller further operable to provide a first alert signal and a second alert signal, said controller further including an operational control module, said operational control module operably coupled to an engine control unit of a railroad locomotive;   installing the railroad locomotive control system;   activating the railroad locomotive control system;   detecting the position of the point blades of the railroad switch to which the point alignment detection sensor assembly is coupled;   transmitting a point blade position signal, said point blade position signal being transmitted by said point alignment detection sensor assembly;   receiving the point blade position signal, said plurality of track transceivers receiving the point blade position signal;   transmitting the point blade position signal to said engine transceiver;   receiving the point blade position signal, said point blade position signal being received by said at least one engine transceiver;   detecting a locomotive, wherein the locomotive is detected proximate a railroad switch and will execute a movement therethrough;   determining the point blade position relative to the movement of the locomotive;   identifying if the point blades are correctly positioned in the railroad switch through with which the locomotive will execute a movement therethrough;   providing a first alert, said first alert provided if the point blades of the switch being approached by the locomotive are incorrectly positioned;   monitoring the position of the locomotive relative to the railroad switch being approached;   determining if the locomotive will enter the railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned;   executing operational override control of the locomotive subsequent determination that the locomotive will enter the railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned.   
     
     
         9 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 8 , and further comprising the step of establishing a detection zone, said detection zone established utilizing the plurality of track transceivers, said detection zone being adjacent the railroad switch, said detection zone operable to detect a locomotive entering thereinto. 
     
     
         10 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said first alert is a light. 
     
     
         11 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 8 , and further including the step of providing a second alert, said second alert being an audio alarm. 
     
     
         12 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 8 , and further comprising the step of monitoring the position of the point blades in the railroad switch. 
     
     
         13 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 9 , and further comprising the step of detecting a locomotive within the detection zone. 
     
     
         14 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said first location of said controller is an engine control room of a locomotive and wherein said second location of said controller is a remote control unit. 
     
     
         15 . A method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned for the pending movement therethrough by the railroad locomotive comprising the steps of:
 providing a point alignment detection sensor assembly, said point alignment detection sensor assembly having at least one transceiver, said point alignment detection sensor assembly being operably coupled to a railroad switch;   providing a plurality of track transceivers, said plurality of track transceivers being secured to support members of a railroad track proximate the railroad switch to which the point alignment detection sensor assembly is coupled, said plurality of track transceivers being operably coupled to said point alignment detection sensor assembly;   providing at least one engine transceiver, said at least one engine transceiver being mounted to a railroad locomotive, said at least one engine transceiver operably coupled with said plurality of track transceivers;   providing a controller, said controller operable to be mounted in either a first location or a second location, said controller having a central processing unit, said central processing unit operable receive, store, manipulate and transmit data, said controller further operable to provide a first alert signal and a second alert signal, said controller further including an operational control module, said operational control module operably coupled to an engine control unit of a railroad locomotive;   installing the railroad locomotive control system;   activating the railroad locomotive control system;   establishing a detection zone, said detection zone being establish via the plurality of track transceivers adjacently mounted to a railroad switch;   detecting the position of the point blades of the railroad switch to which the point alignment detection sensor assembly is coupled;   monitoring the position of the point blades;   transmitting a point blade position signal, said point blade position signal being transmitted by said point alignment detection sensor assembly;   receiving the point blade position signal, said plurality of track transceivers receiving the point blade position signal;   transmitting the point blade position signal to said engine transceiver;   receiving the point blade position signal, said point blade position signal being received by said at least one engine transceiver;   detecting a locomotive, wherein the locomotive is detected as traversing through the detection zone;   determining the point blade position relative to the movement of the locomotive;   identifying if the point blades are correctly positioned in the railroad switch through with which the locomotive will execute a movement therethrough;   providing a first alert, said first alert provided if the point blades of the switch being approached by the locomotive are incorrectly positioned;   monitoring the position of the locomotive relative to the railroad switch being approached;   providing a second alert, said second alert provided when no operational change of the locomotive has been detected subsequent providing the first alert;   determining if the locomotive will enter the railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned;   executing operational override control of the locomotive subsequent determination that the locomotive will enter the railroad switch having point blades incorrectly positioned.   
     
     
         16 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first location of said controller is an engine control room of a locomotive and wherein said second location of said controller is a remote control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first alert is a light 
     
     
         18 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said second alert is an audio alarm. 
     
     
         19 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said detection zone further includes a first operational mode and a second operational mode, in said first operational mode the track transceivers are in an active monitoring state and wherein in said second operational mode the track transceivers within the detection zone are in a passive state until entry of a locomotive into the detection zone. 
     
     
         20 . The method for preventing a railroad locomotive from entering a railroad switch wherein the railroad switch has point blades incorrectly positioned as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the detection zone is approximately four hundred feet to two thousand yards.