Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing data generated in a vehicle group. One example embodiment comprises selectively off-boarding a data set generated at a first vehicle in the vehicle group for storage purposes, the first data set off-boarded to one or more of a second vehicle in the vehicle group and a remote storage device.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller that communicates between a first vehicle and a second vehicle and/or a monitoring device in a vehicle system. The controller determines a communication loss and, responsive to determining the communication loss, switches to communicating via a different communication path. The controller also determines an operational restriction on movement of the vehicle system based on the communication loss that is determined, obtains a transitional plan that designates operational settings of the vehicle system at one or more different locations along a route being traveled by the vehicle system, different distances along the route being traveled by the vehicle system, and/or different times. The controller automatically changes the movement of the vehicle system according to the operational settings designated by the transitional plan to reduce the movement of the vehicle system to or below the operational restriction.

Abstract: System includes a controller configured to obtain one or more of a route parameter or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of one or more of a route or a vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the one or more of the route or the vehicle system separated from each other by one or more of location or time. The controller is configured to examine the one or more of the route parameter or the vehicle parameter to determine whether the one or more of the route or the vehicle system is damaged. The system also includes examination equipment configured to continually monitor the one or more of the route or the vehicle system responsive to determining that the one or more of the route or the vehicle is damaged.

Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing data generated in a vehicle group. One example embodiment comprises selectively off-boarding a data set generated at a first vehicle in the vehicle group for storage purposes, the first data set off-boarded to one or more of a second vehicle in the vehicle group and a remote storage device.

Abstract: A locomotive communication system includes a wireless communication device and a controller that controls operation of the wireless communication device. The controller directs the wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode. The wireless communication device communicates a remote data signal with an off-board location while the wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode and the wireless communication device communicates a local data signal between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system while the wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode.

Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

Abstract: A quick discharge faucet valve includes a shaft, a seal assembly, a coupling member, and a rotary handle. The shaft is inserted through an opening of a pipe, and a valve opening is positioned near a discharge opening of the faucet. The seal assembly is fastened to the shaft to abut against a joint connecting the faucet to the pipe, which is releasably positioned at the joint via a spring member. The coupling member is disposed at an outer end of the shaft to couple the faucet with the rotary handle. A first interlocking member of the rotary handle interlocks with a second interlocking member of the coupling member. The rotary handle is rotated to unlock the interlocking members and pulled to release the seal assembly from the joint to allow the fluid to flow around the shaft and discharge at the discharge opening of the faucet.

Abstract: A system and method for examining a route and/or vehicle system obtain a route parameter and/or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system are separated from each other by location and/or time. The route parameter and/or the vehicle parameter are examined to determine whether the route and/or the vehicle system is damaged and, responsive to determining that the route and/or the vehicle is damaged, the route and/or the vehicle system are continually monitored, such as by examination equipment onboard the vehicle system.

Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first wireless communication device disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other. The communication system also includes a controller configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and operatively connected with the first wireless communication device in order to control operations of the device. The controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and an onboard communication mode. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode, the device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A quick discharge faucet valve includes a shaft, a seal assembly, a coupling member, and a rotary handle. The shaft is inserted through an opening of a pipe, and a valve opening is positioned near a discharge opening of the faucet. The seal assembly is fastened to the shaft to abut against a joint connecting the faucet to the pipe, which is releasably positioned at the joint via a spring member. The coupling member is disposed at an outer end of the shaft to couple the faucet with the rotary handle. A first interlocking member of the rotary handle interlocks with a second interlocking member of the coupling member. The rotary handle is rotated to unlock the interlocking members and pulled to release the seal assembly from the joint to allow the fluid to flow around the shaft and discharge at the discharge opening of the faucet.

Abstract: A system may include a coded test signal transmission system configured to transmit a unique coded test signal along a route, and a coded test signal receiving system configured to receive the unique coded test signal along the route. The unique coded test signal received by the coded test signal receiving system is used to determine one or more characteristics of the route.

Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics.

Abstract: A system includes at least one application device, a control unit, and at least one processor. The at least one application device is conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks. The at least one processor is configured to monitor the one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks, and to identify a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponds to a man-made aspect of the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, apply a filter to the one or more electrical characteristics, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining creep measurements and tractive/braking measurements from at least one vehicle system at different locations along a route segment while the at least one vehicle system moves through the route segment. The method also includes calculating tribology characteristics of the route segment at the different locations. The tribology characteristics are based on the creep measurements and the tractive/braking measurements from the at least one vehicle system. The tribology characteristics are indicative of a friction coefficient of the route segment at the different locations. The method also includes determining an effectiveness of a friction modifier applied to the route segment based on the tribology characteristics.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics.