METHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THE BRAKING EFFICIENCY OF A RAILWAY FREIGHT TRAIN CONSIST
First Claim
1. A method of substantially achieving a minimum stopping distance of a freight train consist without incurring any significant detrimental wheel slide, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preprogramming preselected information into a computer disposed on a freight locomotive;
(b) determining a speed of such freight train consist;
(c) communicating a signal that is indicative of said speed determined in step (b) to such computer disposed on such freight locomotive;
(d) determining in such computer a pressure that can be applied to brake cylinders which will maintain substantially maximum adhesion between wheels being braked and rail surfaces in contact with such wheels;
(e) communicating a signal representative of such pressure determined in step (d) to a pressure control valve in fluid communication with such brake cylinders; and
(f) maintaining a maximum pressure on such brake cylinders that will stop such train consist in a shortest possible distance while simultaneously substantially preventing wheel slide.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of substantially achieving a minimum stopping distance of a freight train consist without incurring any significant detrimental wheel slide comprising the steps of preprogramming preselected information into a computer disposed on a freight locomotive and determining a speed of such freight train consist. Then communicating a signal that is indicative of said speed determined to such computer disposed on such freight locomotive. Determining in such computer a pressure that can be applied to brake cylinders which will maintain substantially maximum adhesion between wheels being braked and rail surfaces in contact with such wheels and communicating a signal representative of such pressure determined to a pressure control valve in fluid communication with such brake cylinders and, thereafter, maintaining a maximum pressure on such brake cylinders that will stop such train consist in a shortest possible distance while simultaneously substantially preventing wheel slide.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of substantially achieving a minimum stopping distance of a freight train consist without incurring any significant detrimental wheel slide, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) preprogramming preselected information into a computer disposed on a freight locomotive;
(b) determining a speed of such freight train consist;
(c) communicating a signal that is indicative of said speed determined in step (b) to such computer disposed on such freight locomotive;
(d) determining in such computer a pressure that can be applied to brake cylinders which will maintain substantially maximum adhesion between wheels being braked and rail surfaces in contact with such wheels;
(e) communicating a signal representative of such pressure determined in step (d) to a pressure control valve in fluid communication with such brake cylinders; and
(f) maintaining a maximum pressure on such brake cylinders that will stop such train consist in a shortest possible distance while simultaneously substantially preventing wheel slide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for substantially achieving a minimum stopping distance of a freight train consist without incurring any significant detrimental wheel slide, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a program having preselected information disposed in a computer disposed on a freight locomotive;
(b) a speed sensing means disposed on at least one of such locomotive and a freight car for determining a speed of such freight train consist;
(c) a means connected to said speed sensing means for communicating a signal that is indicative of said speed to such computer disposed on such freight locomotive, so that such program can determine a pressure that can be applied to brake cylinders which will maintain substantially maximum adhesion between wheels being braked and rail surfaces in contact with such wheels; and
(d) a means connected to such computer for communicating a signal representative of such pressure determined by said program to a pressure control valve disposed in fluid communication with such brake cylinders and maintaining a maximum pressure on such brake cylinders that will stop such train consist in a shortest possible distance while simultaneously substantially preventing wheel slide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification