US 12,344,291 B2
System and method for monitoring failure of trains inside tunnels
Harsh Piparsaniya, Pune (IN)
Assigned to Siemens Mobility, Inc., NewYork, NY (US)
Filed by Siemens Mobility, Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/460,426.
Prior Publication US 2023/0066917 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B61L 15/00 (2006.01); B61L 23/00 (2006.01); B61L 25/02 (2006.01); B61L 27/20 (2022.01); B61L 27/57 (2022.01); G08B 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC B61L 15/0054 (2013.01) [B61L 23/00 (2013.01); B61L 25/021 (2013.01); B61L 25/025 (2013.01); B61L 27/20 (2022.01); B61L 27/57 (2022.01); G08B 25/008 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for monitoring failure of a train within a tunnel, the system comprising:
a telemetry system situated onboard the train, wherein the telemetry system comprises a Head-of-Train device communicatively coupled to an End-of-Train device,
a remotely located central server connected to the telemetry system via a network, wherein the remotely located central server comprises a storage unit including a database, the database storing unique identifiers of the Head-of-Train device and the End-of-Train device,
a receiving device configured to send and receive data from the remotely located central server and associated with at least one of an operator control station and an adjacent train, wherein the database of the remotely located central server further stores an identifier of the receiving device,
wherein the Head-of-Train device is configured to:
calculate an estimated crossing time for crossing the tunnel based on a distance to the tunnel, a length of the tunnel, a length of the train and a current speed of the train; and
transmit the estimated crossing time to the End-of-Train device;
wherein the End-of-Train device is configured to:
receive the estimated crossing time from the Head-of-Train device; and
transmit the estimated crossing time and a latest location of the train to the remotely located central server;
wherein the remotely located central server is configured to:
receive the estimated crossing time and the latest location of the train from the telemetry system;
initiate a timer application upon receipt of the estimated crossing time including adding a buffer time to the estimated crossing time,
reinstate communication with the telemetry system after expiration of the estimated crossing time including buffer time,
detect a failure event associated with the train in response to an unsuccessful attempt to establish communication with the telemetry system after the estimated crossing time including buffer time; and
broadcast an emergency alert message indicating the failure event to the receiving device based on the latest location of the train.