Patents by Inventor Robert Francis Bryant
Robert Francis Bryant has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9694835Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, John William Brand, Robert Francis Bryant, Scott William Dulmage, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Samuel William Golden, John Welsh McElroy
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Publication number: 20160009302Abstract: A system and method for separating a vehicle system into separate vehicle segments, separately moving the vehicle segments, and re-connecting the vehicle segments without initiation of a brake penalty application are provided. The system and method communicate a suspend command signal between vehicle segments to suspend operations of vehicles in a cooperative mode. The vehicles in the vehicle system are decoupled into plural separate vehicle segments. The system and method also move one or more of the vehicle segments separately from one or more other vehicle segments. The vehicle segments are reconnected to form the vehicle system, and the system and method communicate a reconnect command signal between the vehicle segments to resume operations in the cooperative mode, without incurring a penalty brake application of the vehicle system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Robert Francis Bryant, Jared Klineman Cooper, Frank Wawrzyniak, Tara Lauren Wawrzyniak
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Patent number: 9227639Abstract: A system and method for separating a vehicle system into separate vehicle segments, separately moving the vehicle segments, and re-connecting the vehicle segments without initiation of a brake penalty application are provided. The system and method communicate a suspend command signal between vehicle segments to suspend operations of vehicles in a cooperative mode. The vehicles in the vehicle system are decoupled into plural separate vehicle segments. The system and method also move one or more of the vehicle segments separately from one or more other vehicle segments. The vehicle segments are reconnected to form the vehicle system, and the system and method communicate a reconnect command signal between the vehicle segments to resume operations in the cooperative mode, without incurring a penalty brake application of the vehicle system.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Francis Bryant, Jared Klineman Cooper, Frank Wawrzyniak, Tara Lauren Wawrzyniak
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Patent number: 9156483Abstract: A method includes, responsive to a determination that a first vehicle system to be received in a vehicle yard is longer than a length of a receiving route of the vehicle yard that is designated for receiving the first vehicle system, processing a first movement plan to generate a revised movement plan. The first movement plan governs movement of the first vehicle system and one or more second vehicle systems in a transportation network that includes the vehicle yard. The revised movement plan is generated based at least in part on a designated time restriction for the first vehicle system to travel to and be received within the vehicle yard on the receiving route. The method also includes controlling at least one of the first vehicle system or at least one of the one or more second vehicle systems based on the revised movement plan.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Robert Francis Bryant, Mitchell Scott Wills, James Knox
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Publication number: 20150076290Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, John William Brand, Robert Francis Bryant, Scott William Dulmage, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Samuel William Golden, John Welsh McElroy
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Publication number: 20130168503Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor, input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, John William Brand, Robert Francis Bryant, Scott William Dulmage, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Samuel William Golden, John Welsh Mcelroy
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Patent number: 7263647Abstract: A communication system for a distributed locomotive power/brake control system for a railroad train having a lead locomotive and one or more remote locomotives. Command and status signals are communicated over the system between the lead and remote locomotives. Each communicated message includes an information segment comprising the command or status information, and an error control segment for detecting errors in the information segment. The error control segment further comprises cyclic redundancy code words and parity bits formed according to the horizontal or vertical parity of the information segment and the cyclic redundancy code words.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Francis Bryant, David Carroll Teeter, Robert James Foy, Joseph Bibb Cain, Adrian Jones, Don Keith Johnson, Frank Sanzone, Dale Henry Delaruelle
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Patent number: 6862502Abstract: Method and communication system for a railroad train having at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data to control operation of the locomotive are provided. The system includes a transceiver on the locomotive. The system further includes at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive. A database may be provided for storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system. A first monitor may be used for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Inventors: David M. Peltz, Eugene A. Smith, Mark Kraeling, Robert James Foy, Glen Paul Peltonen, Steven Andrew Kellner, Robert Francis Bryant, Don Keith Johnson, Dale Henry Delaruelle
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Patent number: 6759951Abstract: A method and system for a lead mobile asset to verify that a remote mobile asset under the control of the lead mobile asset is following a set of command functions broadcast by the lead mobile asset in a command message. The lead and remote mobile assets may be part of a train consist equipped with a distributed power communication system. The method includes determining whether the lead mobile asset has received a status reply message from the remote mobile asset, the reply message transmitted in response to the remote mobile asset's receipt of the command message and including data indicative of at least one operational state of the remote mobile asset. A help command message may be broadcast from the lead mobile asset if the lead mobile asset has not received the status reply message from the remote mobile asset.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Andrew Kellner, Robert Francis Bryant
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Publication number: 20030214417Abstract: Method and communication system for a railroad train having at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data to control operation of the locomotive are provided. The system includes a transceiver on the locomotive. The system further includes at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive. A database may be provided for storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system. A first monitor may be used for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2002Publication date: November 20, 2003Inventors: David M. Peltz, Eugene A. Smith, Mark Kraeling, Robert James Foy, Glen Paul Peltonen, Steven Andrew Kellner, Robert Francis Bryant, Don Keith Johnson, Dale Henry Delaruelle
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Publication number: 20030094546Abstract: A method and system for a lead mobile asset to verify that a remote mobile asset under the control of the lead mobile asset is following a set of command functions broadcast by the lead mobile asset in a command message. The lead and remote mobile assets may be part of a train consist equipped with a distributed power communication system. The method includes determining whether the lead mobile asset has received a status reply message from the remote mobile asset, the reply message transmitted in response to the remote mobile asset's receipt of the command message and including data indicative of at least one operational state of the remote mobile asset. A help command message may be broadcast from the lead mobile asset if the lead mobile asset has not received the status reply message from the remote mobile asset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Steven Andrew Kellner, Robert Francis Bryant
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Publication number: 20030084395Abstract: A communication system for a distributed locomotive power/brake control system for a railroad train having a lead locomotive and one or more remote locomotives. Command and status signals are communicated over the system between the lead and remote locomotives. Each communicated message includes an information segment comprising the command or status information, and an error control segment for detecting errors in the information segment. The error control segment further comprises cyclic redundancy code words and parity bits formed according to the horizontal or vertical parity of the information segment and the cyclic redundancy code words.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Robert Francis Bryant, David Carroll Teeter, Robert James Foy, Joseph Bibb Cain, Adrian Jones, Don Keith Johnson, Frank Sanzone, Dale Henry Delaruelle