Integrated train electrical and pneumatic brakes

• US 7,029,076 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• 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:
  US10/694,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 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 railway locomotive brake control apparatus on a train having at least one ECP equipped car, an ECP equipped lead locomotive and at least one trailing locomotive, each locomotive having a brake valve which controls a brake cylinder valve and a independent application and release valve and each locomotive being pneumatically interconnected via an independent application and release pipe therebetween, said locomotive brake control apparatus comprising:

a brake controller on said lead locomotive for electrically communicating signals indicative of at least brake commands to said at least one ECP equipped car;

said brake controller controlling said brake cylinder valve on said lead locomotive to implement braking effort on said lead locomotive relative to braking effort on said at least one ECP equipped car resulting from said signals; and

said brake controller controlling said independent application and release valve on said lead locomotive to control said brake cylinder valve on said at least one trailing locomotive via said independent application and release pipe to implement braking effort on said at least one trailing locomotive relative to said braking effort on said at least one ECP equipped car.

2. A railway locomotive brake control method for a train having at least one ECP equipped car, an ECP equipped lead locomotive and at least one trailing locomotive, each locomotive having a brake valve which controls a brake cylinder valve and a independent application and release valve and each locomotive being pneumatically interconnected via an independent application and release pipe therebetween, said locomotive brake control method comprising:

electrically communicating signals indicative of at least brake commands from said lead locomotive to said at least one ECP equipped car;

controlling said brake cylinder valve on said lead locomotive to implement braking effort on said lead locomotive relative to braking effort on said at least one ECP equipped car resulting from said electrically communicated signals; and

controlling said brake valve said independent application and release valve on said lead locomotive to control said brake cylinder valve on said at least one trailing locomotive via said independent application and release pipe to implement braking effort on said at least one trailing locomotive relative to said braking effort on said at least one ECP equipped car.