Electropneumatic brake control valve

• US 20010015575A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Bryan M., Truglio, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,325,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/665 the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems B60T13/662 takes precedence

Abstract

An electropneumatic brake control valve unit capable of operating at the interface of the emergency brake portion or the service brake portion of a standard brake control valve as a retrofit unit or operating as a stand alone electropneumatic unit. The unit includes electric valves responsive to electrical signals and sensed brake pipe pressures to operate pneumatic valves to control the brake cylinder. The pneumatic valves are also operable independent of the electric control valves so as to allow braking with the electrical controls off or disabled. The unit can operate in combination with a complete brake control valve or with either or none of its emergency and service portions.

Claims

1. An electropneumatic retrofit unit for a pneumatic brake control valve having a pipe bracket and an emergency brake portion and a service brake portion connected to said pipe bracket at first and second faces, said pipe bracket having passages connecting a brake pipe port, a brake cylinder port and an emergency reservoir port to said faces, the retrofit unit comprising:

a plate for mounting at and sealing said first face; and

a unit for mounting at said second face and including

an electrical control valve, connected to said passage for said emergency reservoir port, a venting port and an output port when said unit is mounted, for selectively connecting said output port to said venting port for releasing a brake or to said emergency passage for applying said brake, and

a pneumatic emergency valve, responsive to pressure in said passage for said brake pipe, for selectively connecting said passage of said brake cylinder port with said passage of said emergency reservoir port in response to an emergency signal in said brake pipe port passage and connecting said brake cylinder port passage with said output of said electrical control valve in absence of said emergency signal in said brake pipe port passage, when said unit is mounted.

2. A retrofit unit according to

claim 1

, including a regulating valve connecting said emergency reservoir port passage to said pneumatic emergency valve.

3. A retrofit unit according to

claim 1

, including a charging choke and check valve connecting said brake pipe port passage to said emergency reservoir port passage for charging an emergency reservoir from said brake pipe through said unit.

4. A retrofit unit according to

claim 1

, including electronics on said unit for operating said electrically controlled valve, and transducers connected to said electronics for sensing pressure in said outlet of said electrical control valve and in said brake cylinder port passage.

5. A retrofit unit according to

claim 4

, including transducers connected to said electronics for sensing pressure in said brake pipe port passage.

6. A retrofit unit according to

claim 1

, wherein said second face is the face to which said emergency portion would be connected.