Abstract: A system is for performing broken rail detection on a railway track. The system includes at least one locomotive and a monitoring entity. Each locomotive includes a receiver for receiving a track signal that is circulating in the railway track and a processing unit that is in communication with the receiver. The processing unit is operative for detecting a characteristic of the track signal and generating a signal indicative of a potential broken rail in response to a change in the characteristic of the track signal. The locomotive further includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting the signal indicative of a potential broken rail over a wireless communication link. The monitoring entity includes a receiver for receiving the signal indicative of a potential broken rail and a processing unit for detecting a broken rail at least in part on the basis of the signal indicative of a potential broken rail from the locomotive.

Abstract: An automated manipulation system is provided for manipulating one or more vehicles in a transit system. The automated manipulation system includes a vehicle control mechanism in communication with a vehicle for receiving, processing and transmitting signals for controlling the operation of the vehicle. The system also includes a central control mechanism in wireless communication with the vehicle control mechanism for receiving, processing and transmitting signals for controlling the vehicle control mechanism and thereby initiating a manipulation operation in the vehicle. The manipulation operation is one of: adding a vehicle to the system; removing a vehicle from the system; coupling a first vehicle to a second vehicle; and uncoupling a first vehicle from a second vehicle. A method of automatically manipulating at least one vehicle in a transit system is also provided.

Abstract: A mass transit vehicle traction motor control system includes an automatic control block for receiving and processing a tachometer signal having a first resonance signal superimposed thereon to produce a rate request signal having a corresponding second resonance signal superimposed thereon. A filter is provided for decreasing an amplitude of the second resonance signal whereupon the rate request signal is isolated therefrom. A communication and control block and a propulsion and control block co-act to process the isolated rate request signal to produce a speed control signal that is configured to cause a traction motor of a mass transit vehicle to provide motive force to the mass transit vehicle at a rate related to the value of the speed control signal.

Abstract: A mass transit vehicle traction motor control system includes an automatic control block for receiving and processing a tachometer signal having a first resonance signal superimposed thereon to produce a rate request signal having a corresponding second resonance signal superimposed thereon. A filter is provided for decreasing an amplitude of the second resonance signal whereupon the rate request signal is isolated therefrom. A communication and control block and a propulsion and control block co-act to process the isolated rate request signal to produce a speed control signal that is configured to cause a traction motor of a mass transit vehicle to provide motive force to the mass transit vehicle at a rate related to the value of the speed control signal.

Abstract: An automated manipulation system is provided for manipulating one or more vehicles in a transit system. The automated manipulation system includes a vehicle control mechanism in communication with a vehicle for receiving, processing and transmitting signals for controlling the operation of the vehicle. The system also includes a central control mechanism in wireless communication with the vehicle control mechanism for receiving, processing and transmitting signals for controlling the vehicle control mechanism and thereby initiating a manipulation operation in the vehicle. The manipulation operation is one of: adding a vehicle to the system; removing a vehicle from the system; coupling a first vehicle to a second vehicle; and uncoupling a first vehicle from a second vehicle. A method of automatically manipulating at least one vehicle in a transit system is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light rail vehicle having a predictive diagnostic system for a motor driven automated door (100) to enable condition-based maintenance. The light rail vehicle (110) has an automated door system (112), at least one data acquisition board (114), a data collection program (116), an exponential smoothing algorithm (118), and a neural network (120). The need for maintenance is identified through the collection of various door system (112) parameters, calculating current energy and time consumption from these parameters, and determining the rate of degradation based on current energy and time consumption of the door system (112) as compared with historical energy and time consumption. From the rate of degradation, maintenance can be scheduled as needed.

Abstract: A vehicle initialization system for a control system that includes a vehicle, such as a train that is to be initialized, a vehicle track, a first reader, an onboard computer and a tachometer. The vehicle is adapted to coact with the track. At least two spaced apart position identifiers are positioned along the track. The first reader attaches to the vehicle and is adapted to read information from the position identifiers and relay the information to the onboard computer. The tachometer is also interfaced with the onboard computer, so that as the vehicle passes the position identifiers, the tachometer can be calibrated and the vehicle direction of travel and the vehicle orientation can be determined. The system also includes a vehicle identifier adapted to identify the vehicle characteristics. A second reader is positioned along the track and is adapted to read the vehicle identifier as the vehicle travels along the track. A wayside computer interfaces with the second reader.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and method for a plurality of mass transit vehicles where each vehicle has at least one independently actuated HVAC unit comprises a command center remote from the plurality of mass transit vehicles, for individually controlling the HVAC unit of each of the plurality of mass transit vehicles. The command center control unit includes a memory unit for storing temperature values desired for each vehicle, and corresponding times of a day and days on which the stored temperature values are desired within each respective vehicle. A sensing device is disposed within each of a plurality of mass transit vehicles.

Abstract: A system for controlling the amount of fresh air being introduced into a people mover vehicle. A variable flow exchange is provided based on the number of passengers in the vehicle thus controlling the amount of positive ventilation in relation to the passenger load. The people mover vehicle is electrically powered and, after the people mover vehicle leaves a station, the electric motor current is monitored and the vehicle speed is monitored. The motor current during the time that the vehicle speed is between about two miles per hour and about five miles per hour is proportional to the passenger load and, therefore, the ventilation requirements can be determined, and the appropriate amount of positive ventilation supplied, based upon the electric motor current monitored when the vehicle velocity is within the aforementioned range.