Trainline communication controller assembly

• US 20020034058A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Original Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation (Knorr-Bremse GmbH)
• Inventors: Long, Abraham Jr., Newton, Gary S., Lumbis, Anthony W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,582,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/1
• 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 15/048 Controlling pressure brakes of railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 15/14 influencing electric control means

Abstract

A trainline communication controller for placement on a rail car or locomotive of a train in order form a network having a housing with a front plate assembly which includes a plurality of external electrical receptacles. A plurality of circuits, including surface connectors, are positioned in the housing. A printed circuit board including connectors mating directly with the surface connectors of the circuits and wherein the receptacles are mounted on the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A trainline communication controller for placement on a rail car or locomotive of a train in order form a network, the communication controller comprising:

a housing having a front plate assembly which includes a plurality of external electrical receptacles;

plurality of circuits including surface connectors in the housing; and

a printed circuit board assembly including board connectors matting directly with the surface connectors of the circuits and wherein the receptacles are mounted on the printed circuit board.

2. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board assembly includes:

a first printed circuit board adjacent the front plate assembly and to which each receptacle is mounted;

a second print circuit board having the board connectors mounted thereto; and

a connector bridge enabling electric communication between the first and second printed circuit boards.

3. The trainline communication controller of claim 2, wherein the first printed circuit is substantially perpendicular to the second printed circuit board.

4. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, the housing further comprising a back wall, a base and a cover cooperating with the front plate assembly to form a substantially sealed chamber enveloping the printed circuit boards.

5. The trainline communication controller as in claim 4, further including a breather plug configured to open when pressure inside the sealed chamber reaches a predetermined level.

6. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, further comprising a switch on the front plate assembly and electrically connected to a power supply assembly, the switch enabling selective activation of the trainline communication controller.

7. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a six-pin plug.

8. The trainline communication controller of claim 7, further comprising a light emitting diode on the front wall assembly and electrically connected to the front wall assembly printed circuit board.

9. The trainline communication controller of claim 7, wherein a pair of pins from the plug correspond to the positive and negative of the trainline input;

and a pair of pins on the plug correspond to the positive and negative of the trainline output.

10. The trainline communication controller as in claim 8, further including a receptacle on the printed circuit board and a wiring harness connecting the switch and light emitting diode to the receptacle.

11. The trainline communication controller as in claim 2, wherein the housing include a base and at least one spacer positioned between the base and the second printed circuit board to maintain space between the second printed circuit board and the base.

12. The trainline communication controller as in claim 1, wherein the circuits are on boards and a pair of opposed card guide walls having grooves to receive lateral edges of the circuit boards.

13. The trainline communication controller as in claim 12, including an opening in one of the guide walls, and at least a portion of the second printed circuit board extends the opening.

14. The trainline communication controller of claim 2, further comprising at least one spacer positioned between the plate of the front plate assembly and the first circuit board to create a spaced-apart relation therebetween.

15. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, wherein one of the circuits is a power supply assembly which comprises:

a mounting plate;

a power supply module coupled to the mounting plate and having an edge mating with an edge connector; and

,

a filter coupled to the mounting plate, the filter having an edge mating with an edge connector.

16. The trainline communication controller of claim 15, further comprising a standoff positioned between the filter and the mounting plate to form and maintain space between the filter and the mounting plate.

17. The trainline communication controller as in claim 15, wherein the mounting plate is a heat-sink plate comprising aluminum.

18. The trainline communication controller of claim 1, wherein one of the circuits is a single board computer assembly in electric communication with communication network adaptor.

19. The trainline communication controller of claim 18, the single board computer assembly comprising:

a single board computer coupled to a single computer board printed circuit board; and

at least one separator positioned between the single board computer printed circuit board and the single board computer in order to maintain a spaced-apart relation.

20. The trainline communication controller of claim 19, further comprising at least one stiffener bar fastened to one of the single board computer or the single board computer printed circuit board and positioned between the single board computer and the single board computer printed circuit board.

21. The trainline communication controller of claim 19, further comprising circuitry integrally formed on single board computer and the single board computer printed circuit board;

and,

further including a connector assembly creating an electrical bridge from the plate of the single board computer assembly to the circuit board of the single board computer assembly.

22. The trainline communication controller as in claim 19, wherein the connector is on a lateral edge of the single board computer printed circuit board.