Automatic end of train device based protection for a railway vehicle

Abstract

An end of train device suitable of use on a railway vehicle includes a tracking device providing location data of a railway vehicle, a protection module with a processor and configured via computer executable instructions to monitor a motion of a part of the railway vehicle utilizing the location data, and initiate an emergency brake application of the part of the railway vehicle in response to a detected state of motion.

1 . An end of train device suitable of use on a railway vehicle comprising:
 a tracking device providing location data of a railway vehicle,   a protection module comprising at least one processor and configured via computer executable instructions to
 monitor a motion of at least one part of the railway vehicle utilizing the location data, and 
 initiate an emergency brake application of the at least one part of the railway vehicle in response to a detected state of motion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The end of train device of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The end of train device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection module is configured to communicate with a remote tracking system comprising a database of geographic information including end-of-track locations and railway switch locations. 
     
     
         4 . The end of train device of  claim 3 , wherein the protection module is configured to select an end-of-track location or railway switch location from the remote tracking system and establish a geo-fence around a selected end-of-track location or railway switch location. 
     
     
         5 . The end of train device of  claim 4 , wherein the protection module is configured to transmit real-time position data of the at least one part of the railway vehicle in relation to the selected end-of-track location or railway switch to the tracking system. 
     
     
         6 . The end of train device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection module is configured to access a locomotive-based database of the railway vehicle, the locomotive-based database comprising geographic information including end-of-track locations and railway switch locations. 
     
     
         7 . The end of train device of  claim 4 , wherein the state of motion comprises a breach of a minimum safety distance, and wherein the minimum safety distance comprises a distance between the at least one part of the railway vehicle and the end-of-track location or the railway switch location. 
     
     
         8 . The end of train device of  claim 7 , wherein the geo-fence corresponds to the minimum safety distance, and wherein the protection module, utilizing the tracking device, is configured to detect when the at least one part of the railway vehicle crosses the geo-fence and breaches the minimum safety distance. 
     
     
         9 . The end of train device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection module is configured to detect a separation of the at least one part of the railway vehicle from the railway vehicle based on a reversal in direction of motion. 
     
     
         10 . The end of train device of  claim 9 , wherein the predefined state of motion comprises a reversal of direction of motion. 
     
     
         11 . The end of train device of  claim 10 , wherein the protection module, utilizing the tracking device, is configured to determine a direction of motion of the at least one part of the railway vehicle and to continuously check for the reversal in direction of motion. 
     
     
         12 . The end of train device of  claim 11 , wherein the protection module is configured to communicate with a head of train device (HOT), to receive direction of motion information from the HOT, and to compare the information of the HOT with the direction of motion of the at least one part of the railway vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The end of train device of  claim 12 , wherein the protection module is configured to issue a message of train separation to the HOT after initiating the emergency brake application. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic protection system comprising:
 an end of train device comprising
 a tracking device providing location data of a railway vehicle, 
 a protection module comprising at least one processor and configured via computer executable instructions to
 monitor a motion of at least one part of the railway vehicle utilizing the location data, and 
 initiate an emergency brake application of the at least one part of the railway vehicle in response to a detected state of motion; and 
 
   a communication network interfacing with the end of train device and adapted to transmit data,   wherein the protection module is configured to communicate, via the communication network, the detected state of motion of the at least one part of the railway vehicle to another device.   
     
     
         15 . The automatic protection system of  claim 14 , further comprising a remote tracking system comprising a database of geographic information including end-of-track locations and railway switch locations. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic protection system of  claim 15 , wherein the protection module of the end of train device is configured to
 select an end-of-track location or railway switch location from the database, and   transmit real-time position data of the at least one part of the railway vehicle in relation to a selected end-of-track location or railway switch location to the tracking system.   
     
     
         17 . The automatic protection system of  claim 16 , further comprising a computer application for use on a mobile user interface device, wherein the computer application is configured, via computer executable instructions, to
 access the remote tracking system, and   display the motion of at least one part of the railway vehicle in relation to the selected end-of-track location or railway switch location in real time.   
     
     
         18 . The automatic protection system of  claim 16 , wherein the state of motion comprises a breach of a minimum safety distance, wherein the minimum safety distance comprises a distance between the at least one part of the railway vehicle and an end-of-track location or a railway switch, and wherein the protection module, utilizing the tracking device, is configured to detect when the at least one part of the railway vehicle breaches the minimum safety distance. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic protection system of  claim 18 , wherein the state of motion comprises a reversal of direction of motion, and further comprising a head of train device (HOT), wherein the protection module is configured to communicate with the HOT, to receive direction of motion information from the HOT, and to compare the information of the HOT with the direction of motion of the at least one part of the railway vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method of
 accessing a remote tracking system comprising real time position data of at least one part of a railway vehicle and geographic information of end-of-track locations and railway switch locations, and   displaying, on a display of a mobile user interface device, motion of the at least one part of the railway vehicle in relation to the selected end-of-track location or railway switch location in real time.