On-board brake system diagnostic and reporting system

• US 20060290199A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• 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., Beck, Marshall G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/04 Monitoring the functioning of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance

Abstract

A brake valve diagnostic and reporting system for a pneumatic only brake valve on a rail car which includes a brake pipe transducer for measuring brake pipe pressure; and a brake cylinder transducer for measuring brake cylinder pressure. A processor receives measurements from the transducers, compares the measurements against stored brake performance profiles, determines brake status from the comparison and prepares an event report for preselected brake statuses. A wireless transmitter connected to the processor transmits the report. An energy storage device powers the processor and transmitter.

Claims

1. In a rail car having a pneumatic only brake valve connected to and responsive to pressure in a brake pipe to apply and release a brake, having a brake cylinder on the car and having a brake system diagnostic and reporting system, the brake system diagnostic and reporting system comprises:

a brake pipe transducer for measuring brake pipe pressure;

a brake cylinder transducer for measuring brake cylinder pressure;

a processor for receiving measurements from the transducers, comparing the measurements against stored brake performance profiles, determining brake status from the comparison and preparing an event report for preselected brake statuses;

a wireless transmitter connected to the processor for transmitting the report; and

an energy storage device for powering the processor and transmitter.

2. The system according to claim 1, including a geographic location system for determining the location of the rail car connected to the processor;

and wherein the processor provides time and location with the event report.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location system is a global positioning system which provides location and speed and the processor provides speed with the event report.

4. The system according to claim 1, including an accelerometer connected to the processor and the processor provides measurements from the accelerometer with the event report.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines at least two of the following brake statuses:

good;

degradation requiring notice at maintenance;

degradation requiring notice at destination; and

failure.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor stores a moving window of measurements from the transducers and provides at least a portion of the window before the event with the event report.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the processor provides a portion of the window before and after the event with the event report.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines one or more of the following faults:

brake valve failure;

slow to apply;

slow to release; and

failure to release.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the brake pipe transducer is connected to one of the following:

the brake pipe and a brake pipe test port on the brake valve; and

wherein the brake cylinder transducer is connected to one of the following;

the brake cylinder, a brake cylinder output port of the brake valve, and a brake cylinder test port on the brake valve.

10. The system according to claim 1, including an empty/load device connecting the brake valve to the brake cylinder;

and wherein the brake cylinder transducer is connected to one of the following;

the brake cylinder, a brake cylinder output port of the brake valve, a brake cylinder output port of the empty/load device and a brake cylinder test port on the brake valve.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor causes an event report to be transmitted automatically.

12. A method of diagnostic and reporting of brake system on a rail car which has a pneumatic only brake valve connected to and responsive to pressure in a brake pipe to apply and release a brake and having a brake cylinder on the car and having a brake system diagnostic and reporting system, the method comprising the following step per formed on board the train:

measuring brake pipe pressure and brake cylinder pressure;

comparing the measurements against stored brake performance profiles, determining brake status from the comparison and preparing an event report for preselected brake statuses; and

wirelessly transmitting the report.