Abstract: In the control of adhesion between a vehicle and a track, an adaptive control is provided for reapplying the tractive effort between the vehicle and the track in accordance with the known tractive effort level at which a loss of adhesion was sensed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transit vehicle brake control apparatus and method which determines a safe brake velocity for the vehicle in relation to a speed control relationship including roadway system design deceleration, the deceleration of the vehicle in relation to inertial space and the deceleration of the vehicle in relation to the roadway, when the actual speed is greater than the input command speed for the vehicle from the roadway. The actual speed of the vehicle is compared with the determined safe brake velocity for the control of the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion motor control apparatus includes a motor current regulating chopper apparatus and a free wheeling diode in the motor circuit. It is desired that the chopper apparatus not be commutated OFF when the free wheeling diode is conducting motor current to prevent damage to the free wheeling diode. A current detector is provided to prevent commutation of the chopper apparatus in response to sensing a current flow through the free wheeling diode.

Abstract: A solid-state direct current motor control apparatus including a programmed microprocessor operative with a plurality of series motors to determine the selection of a power mode of operation, a brake mode of operation and a coast mode of operation, with a desired energization of particular motor fields before the brake mode of operation.

Abstract: The propulsion control apparatus for a vehicle including a plurality of motor driven wheel units detects a slip or slide operation of at least one wheel unit in accordance with a predetermined difference between sensed motor currents, and reduces the tractive effort of those wheel units until the sensed motor currents no longer have that difference.

Abstract: A vehicle signal shunt detection apparatus responds to a first signal to establish the presence of a vehicle including a shunt circuit and then responds to a second signal to establish that the shunt circuit is operating to provide a desired predetermined vehicle signal.

Abstract: A programmed microprocessor controller chopper apparatus for an electric motor is responsive to an operating condition of the chopper such as at least one of the commutation capacitor charge voltage and the level of motor current for determining the desired commutation circuit operation for that chopper apparatus in relation to the provision of an OFF control pulse in relation to an ON control pulse every cycle of the microprocessor program operation.

Abstract: A motor control is provided for a DC series motor operative with a chopper apparatus and including a thyristor switch to determine the field shunt operation of the motor. A voltage reversal that occurs across the field windings when the chopper is OFF and not conducting is utilized to commutate and enable modulation of the field shunt thyristor switch as desired in relation to the chopper ON and OFF operation.

Abstract: A field shunt operation for a chopper controlled series DC propulsion motor in the power mode is provided in response to a desired torque request, when a predicted value of the resulting shunt field motor current is determined to be no greater than the known commutation current limit of the chopper.

Abstract: A vehicle train tracking apparatus and method are provided for responding to detected occupancies and unoccupancies of each of a plurality of signal blocks of a roadway track system to establish a position or location record of the movement of each vehicle train operating with the roadway track system.

Abstract: The movement route of a vehicle operative with a roadway track having a plurality of stations and control signal gates is selected from a storage table of predetermined available routes in accordance with the known track plan and in relation to each station. When the vehicle arrives at each of the stations, the desired available route is established to the next station in relation to occupied track signal blocks, the known direction of train movement and switch gates cleared to permit vehicle travel to that next station. The available route to the next station is cleared in time so the vehicle will not have to slow down or stop in front of a switch gate. In addition the spacing of vehicle trains is regulated in relation to the plurality of stations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a workpiece pellet length control apparatus for providing a desired formed pellet length from a multicavity press apparatus. Apparatus is provided to measure the length of each formed workpiece pellet for the purpose of controlling the formed pellet lengths and to reject pellets that are outside of acceptable length tolerance limits.

Abstract: A solid-state motor control apparatus operative with a plurality of series motors to determine the selection of a power mode of operation and a brake mode of operation, and including a plurality of current sensors to establish the current flow in the motor armatures and in the motor fields.

Abstract: The electric braking of a passenger vehicle is described, wherein the current generated by the propulsion motor in the brake mode of operation is distributed between the power supply line and a dynamic brake resistor circuit in response to the filter capacitor voltage, and with the operation of the dynamic brake resistor circuit being controlled relative to the chopper thyristor with a predetermined frequency of operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a motor control chopper apparatus and method having a random frequency of operation with a long term average deviation of substantially zero to reduce the average magnitude of the chopper apparatus generated noise signals.

Abstract: A signal receiving apparatus and method are provided to decode an input signal to determine the presence of at least one desired frequency component in that input signal. A number of signal samples are taken in relation to the known frequency of that signal component, and data compaction and analysis operations are performed to identify that desired frequency component. A multiple comparison made with a predetermined threshold magnitude is provided to identify the frequency component in that input signal.

Abstract: There is provided a transit vehicle control apparatus and method, including a plurality of vehicle carried signal receivers operative with a transposed signal transmitting cable positioned along the vehicle track for providing an initial and higher speed position determination and then a lower speed and more accurate position determination in relation to stopping the vehicle at a desired location.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle train control apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a vehicle train by a second control equipment provided in a different control vehicle of the train in the event of the failure of the train control equipment of a first control vehicle initially selected to control the train.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for controlling the regenerative braking of a transit vehicle by sensing the operation of the power source third rail for that transit vehicle for the purpose of preventing regeneration of power by a moving vehicle into that power source rail when it has been determined that the power source third rail is not receptive during the regenerative braking effort of that vehicle.

Abstract: A transient voltage suppression apparatus is disclosed for application in conjunction with a power supply line to protect the chopper thyristor in the transit vehicle propulsion motor control apparatus, wherein an electrolytic capacitor is provided to absorb the inductive stored energy of that power supply line in the zener mode of operation of that capacitor upon the occurrence of a system fault condition involving that power supply line.