Eugene J Smith

US Patent:

6862502, Mar 1, 2005

Filed:

Aug 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215207

Inventors:

David M. Peltz - Melbourne FL, US
Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US
Mark Kraeling - Melbourne FL, US
Robert James Foy - Melbourne FL, US
Glen Paul Peltonen - Melbourne FL, US
Steven Andrew Kellner - Melbourne FL, US
Robert Francis Bryant - Palm Bay FL, US
Don Keith Johnson - Palm Bay FL, US
Dale Henry Delaruelle - Melbourne FL, US

International Classification:

G06F019/00
G06F007/00
B60L023/00

US Classification:

701 19, 246187 C

Abstract:

Method and communication system for a railroad train having at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data to control operation of the locomotive are provided. The system includes a transceiver on the locomotive. The system further includes at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive. A database may be provided for storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system. A first monitor may be used for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality. A processor in communication with the monitor and the database may be configured to select a second communication scheme when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication scheme is not satisfactory to ensure that the command data will be reliably communicated with respect to the locomotive.

US Patent:

6866347, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Oct 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/271329

Inventors:

Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US
James Kiss - Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B60T011/32

US Classification:

303 81, 303 7, 303 15, 303 20, 303 67

Abstract:

In a distributed power railroad train, an apparatus for equalizing the equalizing reservoir pressure in the remote power unit and the brake pipe pressure. With these pressures equal, the remote unit cannot charge the brake pipe while the lead unit attempts to vent the brake pipe to command a brake application at the railcars of the train.

US Patent:

6937925, Aug 30, 2005

Filed:

Aug 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/232606

Inventors:

Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US

International Classification:

G06F019/00
B60T013/74

US Classification:

701 20, 701 70, 303 7, 303 16, 303 20, 340424

Abstract:

A method for controlling locomotive consists at slow speeds by independently controlling each locomotive is provided. The method comprises controlling the throttle settings and main generator excitation of a control locomotive, independently controlling, from the control locomotive, the throttle setting of each of the controlled locomotives, and compensating for a combined consist tractive effort change induced by a change in the throttle setting of each of the controlled locomotives by adjusting the main generator excitation of at least one of the locomotives to maintain a preset consist speed. The method further includes changing the throttle settings concurrently in the control and controlled locomotives, changing the throttle settings of the controlled locomotives only after the control locomotive reaches a maximum generator excitation, and changing the throttle settings according to a rule base. As a result, aspects of the invention enable slow speed control of locomotive consists comprising trail locomotives that may lack main generator excitation remote control, or Slow Speed, capability.

US Patent:

7038597, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Oct 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/279338

Inventors:

Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G08G 1/01

US Classification:

340933, 340902, 3405391, 340531, 3408255, 34082569, 34082572, 246167, 246169, 246187

Abstract:

A railroad distributed power communication method and system for wireless transceiver units at spaced locations along a train having remote units that may be out of direct communication with the lead unit for indicating that at least one of a plurality of such remote units is in receipt of a command message from the lead unit. The method and system including transmitting a status reply message from each of the plurality of remote units in response to that unit's receipt of the command message. Each of the status reply messages may include at least status information of the respective remote that corresponds to command instructions of the command message. At least one of the status reply messages of one of the other respective remote units may be received at an intermediate unit. The received status reply messages may be compared to the command message to determine whether the respective remote unit has received the command message and/or is following the set of command instructions. A command received status bit may be set in a second status reply message for each respective remote unit having received the command message and/or that is following the set of command instructions.

US Patent:

7162337, Jan 9, 2007

Filed:

Mar 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/083908

Inventors:

David Michael Peltz - Melbourne FL, US
James Glen Corry - Palm Bay FL, US
Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B60L 9/00
B60M 3/00

US Classification:

701 19, 105 49

Abstract:

A method of controlling a neutral section operation of a train () including a lead locomotive () and at least one remote locomotive () in communication with the lead locomotive. The locomotives are electrically powered from respective electrical connections to a catenary () having at least one neutral section (). The method includes sensing when a lead locomotive is proximate the neutral section of the catenary. The lead locomotive then commands the remote locomotive to perform a neutral section operation when the lead locomotive has traveled a distance equal to a distance () between the lead locomotive and the remote locomotive. The lead locomotive determines when to issue a neutral section command based on a speed of the lead locomotive and an elapsed time from when the lead locomotive senses its location proximate the neutral section.

US Patent:

7628458, Dec 8, 2009

Filed:

Apr 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/400926

Inventors:

Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US
Robert C. Palanti - West Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B60T 13/74
B60T 13/66
B60T 15/00

US Classification:

303 3, 303 7, 303128, 303132, 303 67, 303 77, 303 15

Abstract:

In a transportation system comprising a fluid carrying brake pipe () connecting controlling member of the system and a controlled member (e. g. , ) a method of adaptively disabling an ability of the controlled member to respond to an unexpected brake pipe flow condition includes determining a braking state of the transportation system. The method also includes determining a degree of change in a brake pipe pressure during the braking state. The method further includes disabling an ability of the controlled member to respond to an unexpected brake pipe flow condition for a time period responsive to the braking state and the degree of change in the brake pipe pressure so that an undesired operation of the controlled member is limited.

US Patent:

7762631, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Apr 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/397378

Inventors:

Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B60T 13/00

US Classification:

303 7, 303 15, 303128, 701 19

Abstract:

A method of propagating a brake pipe braking command along a fluid carrying brake pipe () interconnecting members of a transportation system, the transportation system comprising a communication system () for exchanging information between a controlling member of the system and controlled members of the system includes identifying an unexpected brake pipe fluid flow condition at a first controlled member (e. g. ) of the transportation system inconsistent with a communication system braking command issued by a controlling member of the transportation system. The method also includes disabling an ability of the first controlled member to control a brake pipe flow so that a brake pipe braking command issued by the controlling member is propagated along a brake pipe to a second controlled member of the transportation system downstream of the first controlled member with reduced brake pipe fluid flow interference from the first controlled member.

US Patent:

8073582, Dec 6, 2011

Filed:

Apr 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/427042

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Kellner - Melbourne FL, US
Eugene A. Smith - Satellite Beach FL, US
James Glen Corry - West Melbourne FL, US
Robert Palanti - Melbourne FL, US
Robert L. Moffitt - Palm Bay FL, US
Brian Staton - Palm Bay FL, US
Brian Joseph McManus - Melbourne FL, US
Frank Richard Wawrzyniak - Rockledge FL, US
Stephen Shelton - Sebastian FL, US
Carlos Paulino - Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G05D 1/00

US Classification:

701 19

Abstract:

A system is provided for establishing a wireless-based communication link between a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive. A user on the lead locomotive is prompted to input a railroad and number identifier of the remote locomotive. A link command signal is transmitted from the lead locomotive, based on a predetermined number identifier of the lead locomotive, and the inputted railroad and number identifier. A second processor on the remote locomotive respectively compares the predetermined number identifier of the lead locomotive, the inputted railroad and number identifier of the lead locomotive, with an inputted number identifier of the lead locomotive, a predetermined railroad and a predetermined number identifier of the remote locomotive. A link reply signal, is transmitted from the remote locomotive, based on the comparison performed by the second processor, to establish the communication link. Additionally, a method is provided for establishing the wireless-based communication link.