Electropneumatic braking device of a rail vehicle comprising a continuous regulating range

• US 8,038,226 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Herden, Marc-Oliver, Simon, Timm, Knörnschild, Thomas, Heller, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): BURCH, MELODY M
• Application Number:
  US11/569,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/9.62, 303/9.66, 303/9.69, 303/15, 303/20, 303/127, 303/DIG.1, 303/DIG.10, 303/191, 188/72.6, 701/70
• US Class Current: 303/3
• 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 15/36 Other control devices or valves characterised by definite functions electrically controlled valves in fluid-pressure brake systems B60T15/027, B60T15/028

Abstract

The invention relates to an electropneumatic braking system of a rail vehicle, containing a direct-action electropneumatic braking device and an indirect-action compressed-air braking device. The system comprises at least the following components or modules: a) a pressure regulator which produces a pre-control pressure (C_{v direct}) of the direct brake according to an electric braking pressure request signal of the direct brake, b) a pressure control valve which limits the pre-control pressure (C_{v direct}) of the direct brake to a pre-determinable maximum pre-control pressure (C_{vdirect max}) of the direct brake, c) a control valve which generates a pre-control pressure (C_{v indirect}) of the indirect brake according to a main air guiding pressure (PHL) of the indirect brake, d) a selection device which, from the maximum pre-control pressure of the direct brake (C_{v direct max}) and the pre-control pressure (C_{v indirect}) of the indirect brake, transmits a force corresponding to the respectively larger pre-control pressure (C_{v direct mas} or C_{v indirect}) to a transmission in which the multiplication can be modified by a regulating device according to the respective load state of the rail vehicle. The transmission actuates a relay valve that controls a braking pressure (C) corresponding to the actuation by the transmission.

Claims

1. An electropneumatic brake system of a rail vehicle, containing a direct action electropneumatic braking device and an indirect action compressed-air braking device, and further comprising:

a) a pressure regulator which produces a pilot control pressure (C_{v direct}) of the direct brake as a function of an electric brake pressure request signal of the direct brake,

b) a pressure limiting valve which limits the pilot control pressure (C_{v direct}) of the direct brake to a predefinable, maximum pilot control pressure (C_{v direct max}) of the direct brake,

c) a control valve which generates a pilot control pressure (C_{v indirect}) of the indirect brake as a function of a main air line pressure (p_HL) of the indirect brake, and

d) a selection device which transmits, from the maximum pilot control pressure of the direct brake (C_{v direct max}) and the pilot control pressure (C_{V indirect}) of the indirect brake, a force corresponding to the respective larger pilot control pressure (C_{v direct max} or C_{v indirect}) to a transmission, which changes the transmission ratio as a function of the respective load state of the rail vehicle by an actuating device and, which activates a relay valve, which controls a brake pressure (C) in accordance with the activation by the transmission,

wherein the selection device is formed by a piston arrangement and/or diaphragm arrangement, having a first active surface which is connected axially fixed to a first piston rod, and a second active surface which transmits force only in one direction to the first piston rod, a first pressure chamber which is subjected to the pilot control pressure (C_{v indirect}) of the indirect brake being formed between the first active surface and the second active surface, and a second pressure chamber which is subjected to the maximum pilot control pressure C_{v direct max}) of the direct brake being formed between the second active surface and a wall of a housing.

2. The brake system of claim 1, wherein at least the selection device, the transmission and the relay valve are placed together in a common housing.

3. The brake system of claim 1, wherein at least the selection device, the transmission, the relay valve, the pressure regulator, the actuating device and the pressure limiting valve are placed together in a block.

4. The brake system of claim 3, wherein the pressure regulator and the pressure limiting valve are accommodated in a first housing, the relay valve, the selection device and the transmission are accommodated in a second housing and the actuator device is accommodated in a third housing, wherein first, second and third housings are placed together in the block.

5. The brake system of claim 1, wherein the first active surface and the second active surface are formed by piston diaphragms.

6. The brake system of claim 1, wherein the transmission contains:

a lever linkage, with the first piston rod, a second piston rod which activates the relay valve, and a toggle lever, wherein the first piston rod is coupled to an end of the toggle lever, and the second piston rod is coupled to an other end of the toggle lever, and wherein a position of a support arranged between coupling points of the toggle lever is set as a function of a load state of the rail vehicle by the actuating device.

7. The brake system of claim 6, wherein the support of the toggle lever is adjusted by an actuating device piston loaded by a loading pressure.

8. The brake system of claim 7, wherein the relay valve is a double seat valve having an inlet valve which connects a compressed air supply to at least one brake cylinder, and having an outlet valve which connects the at least one brake cylinder to a venting means.

9. The brake system of claim 8, wherein the second piston rod activates a valve closing body of the outlet valve and is connected axially fixed to a piston or a piston diaphragm which is loaded via the brake pressure (C) in a direction which opens the outlet valve.

10. The brake system of claim 9, wherein the valve closing body is formed at the end of the second piston rod which faces away from the toggle lever.

11. The brake system of claim 10, wherein the second active surface transmits force to the first piston rod only in a direction which opens the inlet valve.