| US 7,590,485 B2 | ||
| System and method for improved train handling and fuel consumption | ||
| Wolfgang Daum, Erie, Pa. (US); Glenn R. Shaffer, Erie, Pa. (US); and Daniel Ballesty, Wattsburg, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 20, 2009, as Appl. No. 12/426,414. | ||
| Application 12/426414 is a division of application No. 11/148815, filed on Jun. 08, 2005, granted, now 7,522,990. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0204317 A1, Aug. 13, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. B61C 17/12 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 701—123 [701/19; 701/20] | 13 Claims |
| 1. A system for improving fuel efficiency of a railroad train located on a railroad track having a locomotive consist comprising
one or more railroad locomotives, said system comprising:
a) a position-determining device;
b) a track profile database comprising terrain and contour data about the railroad track; and
c) a processor comprising an algorithm to calculate a load of said train and a feed forward algorithm to determine an acceleration
rate and/or a deceleration rate of said train based on said calculated load and forth coming terrain and contour of the railroad
track;
d) wherein a change in condition of the track is determined on-board the locomotive consist and the locomotive consist power
setting is adjusted to optimize locomotive consist fuel consumption based on the calculated load of the train as the train
is proximate to the change in track condition.
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