Remote control train-line braking system

• US 7,494,194 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Control Chief Corp. (Control Chief Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Control Chief Corp. (Control Chief Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Worden, Ronald A., Higgs, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Bradley T
• Application Number:
  US10/231,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/7, 303/128, 303/20, 303/15
• US Class Current: 303/15
• 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 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle

Abstract

A remote train-line braking control system includes first and second air supplies and a first control valve connected in fluid communication between the first air supply and an air pressure controlled diaphragm that controls a fluid pressure supplied to a train-line braking system. A second control valve is connected in fluid communication between the second air supply and the first control valve. The first and second control valves are operable for individually connecting the diaphragm to the first air supply, the second air supply and atmospheric pressure. The diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of air supplied thereto for controlling a fluid pressure supplied to the train-line braking system. When the diaphragm is exposed to atmospheric pressure, the brakes of the train-line braking system are fully applied.

Claims

1. A remote train-line braking control system comprising:

a first pressure controllable air supply;

a second pressure controllable air supply;

a 26C relay valve having a control diaphragm for controlling a pressure of air supplied to a train line braking system;

connecting means for connecting the control diaphragm in fluid communication with the first air supply, the second air supply and a third air supply one at a time, wherein the connecting means includes a selector valve in fluid communication with the first air supply and an emergency valve in fluid communication with the selector valve and the second air supply, the selector valve is operative to connect the first air supply in fluid communication with the control diaphragm or to connect the emergency valve in fluid communication with the control diaphragm, the emergency valve is operative to connect the second air supply in fluid communication with the selector valve or to connect the third air supply in fluid communication with the selector valve;

means for controlling the operation of the selector valve and the emergency valve to (i) connect the first air supply in fluid communication with the control diaphragm, (ii) connect the second air supply in fluid communication with the control diaphragm and (iii) connect the third air supply to the control diaphragm, wherein;

the control means includes a processor-based controller running under the control of a software program that causes the controller to control the pressure of the second air supply and to control the operation of the emergency valve;

running under the control of the control program, the controller is responsive to at least one signal received from a transmiffer for controlling at least one of the pressure of the second air supply and the operation of the emergency valve; and

the at least one signal is a radio signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the third air supply is atmospheric air.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of each of the selector valve and the emergency valve is controlled by moving it between a first position and a second position.