Computerized single car test device system

• US 7,040,150 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Hawthorne, Michael J., Matusiak, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, Eric S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/934,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 731/21, 738/665, 73/37, 737/14, 73/39, 701/70, 702/114, 702/20, 246/169.R
• US Class Current: 73/121
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/28 for testing brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/08 Railway vehicles

Abstract

A test system for computerized single car test devices. The test system includes at least one car tester having a first connector for connecting a first port to a brake pipe of the car, valves for selectively interconnecting ports of the tester, at least one pressure sensor sensing pressure at one or more of the ports, a communication circuit and a local controller connected to the valves and sensor and programmed to perform a test of the brake system and connected to the communication circuit to transmit test results. A plurality of car testers may be in communion with and controlled by the central controller at the same time.

Claims

1. A test system for a brake system of at least one single railroad car, the system comprising:

at least one portable car tester including a first connecting for connection a first port to a brake pipe of the car, a second connector for connecting a second port to a brake cylinder of the car, valves for selectively interconnecting ports of the tester, at least one pressure sensor sensing pressure at one or more of the ports, a communication circuit and a local controller connected to the valves and sensor and programmed to perform a test of the brake system of the car and connected to the communication circuit to transmit test results; and

a central controller remote from and in communication with the car tester for instructing the local controller to perform a single car test and for receiving the test results.

2. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the local controller communicates car specific information of the car, that the tester is to test, to the central controller before the central controller instructs the local controller to initiate the test.

4. The test system according to claim 1, wherein observations inputted by an operator at the local controller are communicated to the central controller.

5. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the car tester and the central controller are connected wirelessly.

6. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the car tester and the central controller are connected by wire.

7. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the local controller includes tester calibration data and transmits the calibration data to the central controller during a test cycle.

8. The test system according to claim 7, wherein the calibration data includes one or more of date of last calibration, results of the calibration, device used for the calibration, standard used for the calibration, person performing the calibration, and term of the calibration.

9. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the central controller is in communication via a network with a master database for railroads and receives car information from and transmits test information to the master database.

10. The test system according to claim 9, wherein the test information transmitted to the master database includes test date, test run and test results.

11. The test system according to claim 1, including a plurality of car testers in communion with and controlled by the central controller.

12. The test system according to claim 9, wherein the master database is a Universal Machine Language Equipment Register usable by owners, maintenance personal and operators.

3. A test system for a brake system of at least one single railroad car, the system comprising:

at least one car tester including a first connector for connecting a first port to a brake pipe of the car, valves for selectively interconnecting ports of the tester, at least one pressure sensor sensing pressure at one or more of the ports, a communication circuit and a local controller connected to the valves and sensor and programmed to perform a test of the brake system and connected to the communication circuit to transmit test results;

a central controller remote from and in communication with the car tester for instructing the local controller to perform the test and for receiving the test results; and

wherein the local controller independently performs a pretest of the tester and communicates confirmation of pre-test procedures to the central controller before the central controller instructs the local controller to initiate the test.