Self powered end of train unit

• US 5,267,473 A
• Filed: 10/18/1991
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulse Electronics Incorporated (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Emilio A., Bezos, Angel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US07/780,738
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 73/129, 105/35, 105/36, 213/1 R, 310/77, 322/4
• US Class Current: 73/129
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/02 Head or tail indicators, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

Power supply for an EOT unit in which an electrical generator driven by air from the train air brake pipe provides the primary power to the EOT unit. The power supply of this invention may be incorporated as part of the EOT unit or it may be supplied as a power kit modification for existing EOT units in order to replace electric storage batteries in these units.

Claims

1. An end-of-train unit for a railroad train, said railroad train having an air brake pipe, said end-of-train unit comprising in combination:

electrically operated end-of-train components;

an air-driven electric power generator having an air input and an electric power output;

means to couple said air input of said air-driven electric power generator to said air brake pipe;

means to couple said electric power output of said air-driven electric power generator to said electrically operated end-of-train components to supply all power coupled to said electrically operated end-of-train components;

a back-up electric storage battery; and

means to couple said back-up electric storage battery to said electrically operated end-of-train components in the event that the power output of said air-driven electric powered generator falls below a predetermined level.

2. An end-of-train unit for a railroad train as in claim 1, wherein said means to couple said back-up electric storage battery includes means to prevent coupling of said back-up electric storage battery to said electrically operated end-of-train components when said end-of-train unit is not installed at the end of a train.

3. An end-of-train unit for a railroad train as in claim 2, further including means for coupling said back-up electric storage battery to said electrically operated end-of-train components for a short duration to test said end-of-train components when said end-of-train unit is not installed at the end of a train.