Brake system diagnostic using a hand-held radio device
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring and diagnosing a condition of a braking system for a railroad train comprising a plurality of rolling stock vehicles, the braking system including a brake pipe extending the length of the train, with a portion of the braking system being associated with each rolling stock vehicle, such portion comprising at least one brake pipe section, one reservoir for air under pressure, at least one brake cylinder,-powered by air in the reservoir, and a feed valve for controlling the flow of air from the reservoir into the brake cylinder on each rolling stock vehicle, and the feed valve on a plurality of rolling stock vehicles having a radio-based transmitter/receiver, receiving data indicative of the operation of a respective portion of the brake system, for transmitting data indicative of the operation of the respective portion of the braking system associated with each rolling stock vehicle, said method comprising:
- providing a radio-based hand-held transmitter/receiver having a processor for analyzing data;
retrieving brake system data and information from each feed valve transmitter/receiver on the train through radio communications between each feed valve transmitter/receiver and the hand-held radio transmitter/receiver using a hand-held analyzer;
interpreting the retrieved data pertaining to a functional status of the portion of the braking system associated with each rolling stock vehicle; and
performing a maintenance function on the brake system for the train based on the interpretation of the data for the portion of the brake system for each rolling stock vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for diagnosing a braking system using a system including a radio-based hand-held analyzer, at least one radio-based feed valve, and at least one mobile data unit. The braking system includes at least one brake pipe section, a reservoir, and at least one brake cylinder. The brake pipe section connects to the reservoir, the brake cylinder, and the radio-based feed valve. The hand-held radio-based analyzer communicates with the mobile data unit and the radio-based feed valve. The method includes retrieving brake system data and information using the hand-held analyzer, interpreting the retrieved data and information, and performing maintenance functions based on the interpretation of the data and information.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring and diagnosing a condition of a braking system for a railroad train comprising a plurality of rolling stock vehicles, the braking system including a brake pipe extending the length of the train, with a portion of the braking system being associated with each rolling stock vehicle, such portion comprising at least one brake pipe section, one reservoir for air under pressure, at least one brake cylinder,-powered by air in the reservoir, and a feed valve for controlling the flow of air from the reservoir into the brake cylinder on each rolling stock vehicle, and the feed valve on a plurality of rolling stock vehicles having a radio-based transmitter/receiver, receiving data indicative of the operation of a respective portion of the brake system, for transmitting data indicative of the operation of the respective portion of the braking system associated with each rolling stock vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a radio-based hand-held transmitter/receiver having a processor for analyzing data;
retrieving brake system data and information from each feed valve transmitter/receiver on the train through radio communications between each feed valve transmitter/receiver and the hand-held radio transmitter/receiver using a hand-held analyzer;
interpreting the retrieved data pertaining to a functional status of the portion of the braking system associated with each rolling stock vehicle; and
performing a maintenance function on the brake system for the train based on the interpretation of the data for the portion of the brake system for each rolling stock vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for diagnosing a condition of a braking equipment for a railroad train comprising a plurality of rolling stock vehicles, wherein the braking equipment includes a brake pipe extending the length of the train, with a portion of the braking equipment being associated with each rolling stock vehicle, such portion comprising at least one brake pipe section connected to a reservoir of pressurized air, and at least one brake cylinder powered by air in the reservoir, and a radio transmitter/receiver equipped feed valve for controlling the flow of air from said reservoir into said brake cylinder on a plurality of said rolling stock vehicles, said system comprising:
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a radio-based hand-held analyzer;
at least one radio-based transmitter/receiver on each radio equipped feed valve receiving data indicative of the operation of the braking equipment for transmitting data indicative of the operation of the portion of the braking equipment associated with each of the rolling stock vehicles, said transmitter/receiver configured to communicate with said hand-held analyzer; and
at least one data unit configured to communicate with the hand-held analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A hand-held analyzer for testing and diagnosing a condition of a brake system for a railroad train comprising a plurality of rolling stock vehicles, the brake system including a brake pipe extending the length of said train, with a portion of the brake system being associated with each rolling stock vehicle, the portion comprising at least one brake pipe section, one reservoir, at least one brake cylinder powered by air in the reservoir, and a feed valve for controlling the flow of air from the reservoir into the brake cylinder on each rolling stock vehicle, and a radio-based transmitter/receiver on a plurality of feed valves receiving data indicative of the operation of the brake system for transmitting data indicative of the operation of the portion of the brake system associated with each respective rolling stock vehicle, said hand-held analyzer comprising a radio based hand-held transmitter/receiver having a processor for analyzing data, an antenna for communicating with the feed valve transmitter/receiver, a user interface for inputting data and commands to be communicated to the feed valve transmitter/receiver, and a display for viewing data received from the feed valve transmitter/receiver, said hand-held analyzer configured to:
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utilize said user interface to input a command to query the feed valve transmitter/receiver for brake system data indicative of an operational state of said brake system;
transmit the query to the feed valve transmitter/receiver utilizing said antenna;
receive the brake system data from said feed valve transmitter/receiver via radio communications indicative of an operational state of the brake system utilizing said antenna; and
display the brake system data on said display. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification