Integrated train electrical and pneumatic brakes

• US 7,004,550 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Allen, John J., Stevens, Dale R., Root, Kevin B., Marra, Jon M., McLaughlin, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/694,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/15, 303/20, 303/3
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• 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 15/14 influencing electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation

Abstract

An integration train brake system including a single brake controller providing locomotive and train brake commands. An electropneumatic controller is connected to the brake controller, the train brake pipe and the locomotive brake pipe A trainline controller is connected to the electrical network A locomotive computer is connected to a display A processor module connects the brake controller'"'"'s commands to the trainline controller, and connects the trainline controller to the electropneumatic controller and the locomotive computer.

Claims

1. A brake system of a train which includes a train brake pipe extending through locomotives and cars in the train, a locomotive brake pipe extending through adjacent locomotives, pneumatic brakes on the locomotives connected to the locomotive brake pipe, and electropneumatic brakes on the cars connected to the train brake pipe and an electrical network, the system further comprising:

a brake controller providing locomotive and train brake commands;

an electropneumatic controller connected to the brake controller, the train brake pipe and the locomotive brake pipe;

a trainline controller connected to the electrical network;

a locomotive computer connected to a display; and

a processor module portion of the brake controller connecting the brake controller'"'"'s commands to the trainline controller, and connecting the trainline controller to the electropneumatic controller and the locomotive computer.

2. The brake system according to claim 1, including a distributed power system connected to the processor module and the processor communicating on the distributed power system.