System for monitoring brake status on a rail car
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rail car brake monitoring apparatus for monitoring the status of a brake system on a rail car, said apparatus comprising:
- transmitting means for generating and directing a transmitted signal towards a component of the brake system;
receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from said component; and
control means, coupled with said transmitting means and said receiving means, and responsive to said transmitted and reflected signals, for generating a position signal representative of a position of said component for use in monitoring the status of the brake systems.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rail car brake monitoring apparatus (10) for monitoring the status of a brake system (12) on a rail car is disclosed. The monitoring apparatus (10) includes a transmitter and receiver unit (52) and a controller (54). The transmitter and receiver unit (52) generates and directs a transmitted signal towards a component of the brake system (12) and receives a reflected signal from the component. The controller (54) analyzes the transmitted and received signals to generate a position signal representative of a position of the component for use in monitoring or controlling the brake system (12).
57 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A rail car brake monitoring apparatus for monitoring the status of a brake system on a rail car, said apparatus comprising:
-
transmitting means for generating and directing a transmitted signal towards a component of the brake system; receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from said component; and control means, coupled with said transmitting means and said receiving means, and responsive to said transmitted and reflected signals, for generating a position signal representative of a position of said component for use in monitoring the status of the brake systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A rail car brake control system in combination with a brake system, and in further combination with a rail car, said system comprising:
-
a brake controller controlling the actuation of the brake system; and a brake monitoring apparatus, coupled with said brake controller and monitoring the operation of the brake system, said brake monitoring apparatus including- sensing means for sensing a position of a component of the brake system, and control means, coupled with and responsive to said sensing means, for generating an actual position signal representative of said position of said component and for delivering said position signal to said brake controller for use in controlling the actuation of the brake system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A rail car brake control system for operating a brake system of a rail car, said system comprising:
-
a brake controller operable for controlling the actuation of the brake system; and a brake monitoring apparatus, coupled with said brake controller, for monitoring the operation of the brake system, said brake monitoring apparatus including- transmitting means for generating and directing a transmitted signal towards a component of the brake system, receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from the component, and control means coupled with said transmitting means and said receiving means, said control means including measuring means for measuring a time interval between the directing of said transmitted signal towards said component and the receipt of said reflected signal, converting means for converting said time interval to a position signal representative of an actual position of said component, and delivering means for delivering said position signal to said brake controller for use in controlling the actuation of the brake system.
-
-
25. A rail car brake monitoring apparatus for monitoring the status of a rail car brake system on a rail car, said apparatus comprising:
-
sensing means for sensing the position at substantially any point through a full range of motion of a component of the brake system; and control means, responsive to said sensing means, for generating a position signal representative of the position of said component for use in monitoring the status of the brake system. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification