Hump Yards

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

IslandMan

I wonder if it would be possible to continuously monitor the tension/compression in the couplers of the intermediate locomotives and feed this info into the control process?

Something like that was done in the early days of 'robot' locomotives in the 1960's.  I don't remember if it had a proprietary name, but obviously it wasn't a superstar solution, because it didn't last very long.  Also, computer power and control and communications systems back then were primitive compared to today's.  

- PDN. 

[IslandMan]

Paul_D_North_Jr

 

 

IslandMan

I wonder if it would be possible to continuously monitor the tension/compression in the couplers of the intermediate locomotives and feed this info into the control process?

 

 

Something like that was done in the early days of 'robot' locomotives in the 1960's.  I don't remember if it had a proprietary name, but obviously it wasn't a superstar solution, because it didn't last very long.  Also, computer power and control and communications systems back then were primitive compared to today's.  

 

- PDN. 

 

 

Paul,

 

Thanks for the info.

It would not be possible to use the forces on couplers as a complete control mechanism as on a long train, grades under different parts of the train can differ in magnitude and direction.  There are therefore 'legitimate' reasons for couplers in  parts of the train to experience different forces even when all the locomotives are working in sync.  These forces will however be within certain limits in normal operations.  Forces strong enough to pull couplers apart or lift cars off the track are well outside these limits and this is where stress/strain monitoring might be useful.

[jeffhergert]

The LEADER energy management system has a buff/draft indicator.  It's not what's actually happening but what the computer calculates what's happening.  It's also usually somewhat delayed, you feel the slack come in or go out about a second or two before the screen shows it.  Also on some versions, if you're DP and put up the fence, the system doesn't recognize that the DP is being operated seperately.  It calculates buff/draft has if the DP was still in sync with the lead engine.

Our simulators have in indicator for each car in the virtual train.  The problem is it puts so many lines on the screen in that indicator box that it becomes almost useless for quick glances.  To really be able to digest the information would take to much time studying the screen.  The LEADER type indicator is better in this respect.

Jeff

[tree68]

Having sensors on individual cars is probably possible even today, but a leap in terms of economical feasibility.  It would take a pretty significant investment to equip all of the equipment, and one might wonder what the ROI would be.  I'm not here to argue pro or con.

That said, given the computing power available today, I should think that if a locomotive has a color display, the general buff/draft condition through the train could be displayed with something like red for buff and green for draft.  The entire train could be condensed to one screen width.  DPUs could be shown on the line as well.

Watching a train traverse a series of hogbacks would be interesting - red and green would ripple through the train as each car went from draft to buff and back.

[jeffhergert]

Here's a view of the LEADER screen.  The view is what the NS uses. Ours has a few differences in menu button options and info displayed, but the main displays are almost the same.

http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/bizns/archives/Summer2014/article3_augbizns/_jcr_content/mainpar/textimage/image.img.jpg/1426868280710.jpg

The buff/draft force display is lower left.  The green below the 0 Klb line is buff, above is draft.  It appears to be a DP train almost over the top of a hill.  Note the head end is in dynamics, the DP consist in power.

Jeff