Remotely controlled locomotive car-kicking control

Abstract

A remote control system and method for the remote control operation of a locomotive in the performance of a car-kicking sequence comprising a control unit, a remote control unit and a processor in communication with the locomotive onboard operating system. An operator interface of the operator control unit includes an input mechanism for inputting a command associated with at least one predetermined car-kicking sequence. The operator control unit generates a signal to the onboard operator's system indicative of the instruction to perform the car-kicking sequence. The processor is able to access a set of stored instructions for performing the car-kicking sequence.

We claim as our invention:  
     
         1 . A remote control system for controlling the movement of a locomotive having an onboard operating system, said remote control system comprising: 
 (a) a portable control unit, having an operator interface for inputting at least one command associated with movement of the locomotive;    (b) said operator interface comprising an input mechanism mounted on the portable control unit and for inputting at least one command associated with a predetermined car-kicking sequence of the locomotive;    (c) said portable control unit generating a signal responsive to said command and indicative of said car-kicking sequence for said locomotive;    (d) a remote control unit, interfaced with an operating system on the locomotive, for receiving said signal;    (e) a processor, in communication with said remote control unit and said locomotive operating system, for accessing a set of stored instructions associated with said car-kicking sequence, responsive to said signal and for controlling the movement of the locomotive in accordance with said car-kicking sequence.    
     
     
         2 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said operator interface includes an operations mode indicator for selecting different modes of operation of the locomotive including a mode in which said portable control unit generates the signal indicative of the car-kicking sequence of the locomotive.  
     
     
         3 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said command corresponds to an instruction for the locomotive to initiate a predetermined locomotive deceleration sequence.  
     
     
         4 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said command corresponds to an instruction for the locomotive to initiate a predetermined locomotive acceleration sequence.  
     
     
         5 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein the input mechanism is actuated to a first position for generating a first signal representative of an instruction for a predetermined locomotive acceleration sequence, and said switch is actuated to a second position for generating a second signal representative of a predetermined locomotive deceleration sequence associated with said predetermined car-kicking sequence.  
     
     
         6 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said switch is a finger-operated trigger switch.  
     
     
         7 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said switch comprises a latch for selectively preventing the movement of the switch from a first position to a second position when the latch is in a locked position.  
     
     
         8 . The remote control system of  claim 8  wherein said switch further comprises a spring return for returning the switch from the second position to the first position and for returning the latch to the locked position.  
     
     
         9 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein the switch is operable by one hand of an operator.  
     
     
         10 . A method for performing a remote control car-kicking operation with a locomotive and railcars by a single operator, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a remotely controllable locomotive for attachment to and detachment from railcars, and said locomotive having an onboard operating system;    (b) providing an operator control unit operable to remotely control the movement of the locomotive responsive to commands input into said operator control unit by said operator;    (c) storing a set of instructions, associated with a predetermined car-kicking sequence, in communication with the locomotive onboard operating system for controlling movement of the locomotive;    (d) providing a processor in communication with said operator control unit, said locomotive onboard operating system and said stored set of instructions;    (e) said operator inputting a command into the operator control unit associated with said predetermined car-kicking sequence;    (f) generating a signal responsive to said command, and representative of said predetermined car-kicking sequence, for receipt by said processor; and,    (g) processing said signal for said locomotive to perform at least one instruction in accordance with said predetermined car-kicking sequence.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the step of remotely accelerating the locomotive to a predetermined target speed responsive to inputting said command associated with the predetermined car-kicking sequence and then said operator pulling a coupling pin from between adjacent railcars after the locomotive has reached said target speed.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising the step of said operator remotely decelerating the speed of the locomotive responsive to inputting said command associated with said predetermined car-kicking sequence after the operator has pulled the coupling pin.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the step remotely accelerating the locomotive to a predetermined target speed responsive to inputting a command controlling the speed of the locomotive, said operator pulling the coupling pin after the locomotive reaches said target speed, and remotely decelerating the locomotive responsive to inputting said command associated with said predetermined car-kicking sequence.