Safety systems for railroad trains and cars, methods for operating of the same

Abstract

A safety system and related methods for a train are disclosed. A control system receives data from sensor(s) located at an engine or car of the train and determines if any stored safety parameters are exceeded. If so, the controller activates a safety device of the engine or car to slow or stop the train, transmits an electronic notification indicating activation of the safety device to a first remote device and the second remote device, and prevents deactivation of the safety device unless and until an authenticated override authorization is received from both the first and second remote devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety system for a train, the system comprising:
 one or more sensors, each located at an engine or car of the train;   a safety device located at the car or engine of the train, which when activated, slow the car or engine of the train;   a first remote device;   a second remote device; and   a control system in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and the safety device, said control system comprising one or more electronic storage devices comprising safety parameters and software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors of the control system to:
 receive data from the one or more sensors; 
 determine if the data exceeds any of the safety parameters; 
 if a determination is made that the data exceeds any of the safety parameters:
 activate the safety device, and transmit an electronic notification indicating activation of the safety device to the first remote device and the second remote device; and 
 prevent deactivation of the safety device unless and until an authenticated override authorization is received from both of: the first remote device and the second remote device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the one or more sensors comprise:
 a first sensor located proximate to an axle of the car or engine; and 
 a second sensor located proximate to a bearing for the axle. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the one or more sensors comprise at least one of a temperature sensor and a frequency sensor; and 
 the safety parameters comprise at least one of a component temperature threshold and a frequency threshold or range. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 the safety device comprise an automated braking subsystem for a brake system of the car or engine. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the safety parameters comprise a speed limit and a minimum safe stopping distance. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 the safety device comprise a subroutine stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed, configures the one or more processors to reduce an operational power level of a propulsion system of the engine for the train. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 the safety device comprises a subroutine stored at the one or more electronic storage devices, which executed, configures the one or more processors to electronically prevent certain user input at operator interfaces for the engine of the train from full or normal processing. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to:
 determine a location of the car or engine; and 
 determine a local speed limit based on the location of the car or engine; 
 
 the minimum safe stopping distance. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to:
 receive location information for one or more other trains; 
 receive local weather data; 
 receive current speed data for the train; 
 determine the minimum safe stopping distance based on at least the current speed data and the local weather data; and 
 determine if the car or engine is within the minimum safe stopping distance of any of the one or more other trains. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to: update the minimum safe stopping distance in substantially real time. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 one or more cameras located at the car or engine and oriented to view a track when the train is travelling along the track, wherein the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to:
 receive images from the one or more cameras; and 
 analyze the images to determine a local track condition grade for a local portion of the track imaged by the one or more cameras, wherein the minimum safe stopping distance is determined, at least in part, based on the local track condition grade. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to: analyze the images to determine the local track condition grade by at least comparing the detected track orientation to an expected track orientation. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the one or more cameras comprises a forward-looking camera mounted to a forwardmost engine of the train. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to: following receipt of the authenticated override authorizations, command deactivation of the one or more safety devices. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein:
 the one or more electronic storage devices comprise authentication information entries and additional software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to receive user input comprising authentication information and determine if the received authentication information matches any of the authentication information entries. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a network communication device facilitating wireless network internet-based communication between the control system, the first remote device, and the second remote device, wherein each of the first remote device, the second remote device, and the control system comprises a dedicated appliance, and wherein the control system is in electronic communication with the first remote device and the second remote device within a closed network by way of the dedicated appliances. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a near field communication device facilitating wireless, near-field communication between the control system and the first sensor, the second sensor, and each of the one or more safety devices. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first remote device is associated with a railroad operations authority; and 
 the second remote device is associated with a governmental authority. 
 
     
     
         19 . A safety system for a train, the system comprising:
 sensor located at an engine or car of the train, said sensors comprise a speed detection device and a location detection device;   a safety device located at the car or engine of the train, which when activated, slows the car or engine of the train;   a first remote device;   a second remote device; and   a control system in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more safety devices, said control system comprising one or more electronic storage devices comprising a minimum safe stopping distance analysis module and software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors of the control system to:
 receive data from the sensors; 
 receive location data for one or more other trains on, or scheduled to be on, a same track as the train; 
 determine a minimum safe stopping distance for the train based, at least in part, on the data from the sensors; 
 determine if the train is within the minimum safe stopping distance of any of the one or more other trains based, at least in part, on the location data of the one or more other trains and location data in the data from the sensors; 
 if a determination is made that the train is within the minimum safe stopping distance of any of the one or more other trains:
 activate the one or more safety devices, and transmit an electronic notification indicating activation of the one or more safety devices to the first remote device and the second remote device; and 
 prevent deactivation of the one or more safety devices unless and until an authenticated override authorization is received from both of: the first remote device and the second remote device. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . A safety system for a train, the system comprising:
 sensors located at an engine or car of the train, including a speed detection device, a location detection device, and a weather detection device;   a safety device located at the car or engine of the train, which when activated, slows the car or engine of the train;   a first remote device;   a second remote device; and   a control system in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more safety devices, said control system comprising one or more electronic storage devices comprising a minimum safe stopping distance analysis module and software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors of the control system to:
 receive data from the sensors; 
 receive location data and speed data for one or more other trains on, or scheduled to be on, a same track as the train; 
 determine a minimum safe stopping distance for the train based, at least in part, on the data from the sensors and the speed data for the one or more other trains; 
 determine if the train is within the minimum safe stopping distance of any of the one or more other trains based, at least in part, on the location data of the one or more other trains and the data from the sensors; 
 if a determination is made that the train is within the minimum safe stopping distance of any of the one or more other trains:
 activate the one or more safety devices, and transmit an electronic notification indicating activation of the one or more safety devices to the first remote device and the second remote device; and 
 prevent deactivation of the one or more safety devices unless and until an authenticated override authorization is received from both of: the first remote device and the second remote device.