System and Method for Testing Railroad Brake Control Valves

• US 20130186193A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wabtec Corporation (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabco Freight Car Products
• Inventors: Sich, Gary M.
• Application Number:
  US13/750,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186193A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/121
• 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 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/28 for testing brakes

Abstract

A system for testing a railroad brake control valve includes an operating portion configured to receive operating information from a railroad brake control valve, a processing portion connected to the operating portion, an adaptor configured to engage a receiver of a pipe bracket, and, an information reader configured to obtain valve identification information from an information source. The processing portion receives the operating information from the operating portion. The adapter is connected to the operating portion.

Claims

1. A system for testing a railroad brake control valve, the system comprising:

an operating portion configured to receive operating information from a railroad brake control valve;

a processing portion connected to the operating portion, the processing portion receiving the operating information from the operating portion;

an adaptor configured to engage a receiver of a pipe bracket, the adapter is connected to the operating portion; and

an information reader configured to obtain valve identification information from an information source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a source of compressed air that is connected to the operating portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing portion comprises a microprocessor and a power supply.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing portion is configured to be connected to at least one of a display, a data file, a server, and a central database.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processing portion is configured to be connected to a remote database via an internet connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information reader is integrated into the adapter.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing portion comprises a microprocessor, the information reader is connected to the microprocessor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing portion is configured to be connected to at least one of a display, a data file, a server, and a central database.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the information reader comprises at least one of a bar code reader and an RFID tag reader.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the information reader comprises at least one of a bar code reader and an RFID tag reader.

11. A method for testing a railroad brake control valve, the method comprising:

connecting an adaptor from a test device to a receiver of a pipe bracket of a railroad brake control valve;

obtaining identification information for the railroad brake control valve from an information source using an information reader;

conducting a test of the railroad brake control valve using a microprocessor; and

notifying a designated person of a status of the railroad brake control valve, the status determined by the test conducted of the railroad brake control valve.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the status comprises a pass/fail condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the designated person is notified via an electronic message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the information source comprises at least one of a bar code tag and an RFID tag.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification information is obtained automatically upon connecting the adaptor to the receiver of the pipe bracket.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

removing a defective portion of the railroad brake control valve based on the status of the railroad brake control valve;

obtaining identification information for the defective portion of the railroad brake control valve; and

notifying the designated person that the defective portion has been identified for repair.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a warranty status of the defective portion using a microprocessor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising notifying the designated person of the warranty status of the defective portion.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising notifying the designated person of shipping information for the defective part.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sending an invoice to the designated person based on the warranty status of the defective portion.