Portable single car test device

• US 6,327,894 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• 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: Vaughn, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): CYGAN, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US09/828,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 731/29, 731/21, 73/39, 303/66, 303/81, 303/86, 701/19, 701/29, 701/31, 701/35, 701/70, 701/78, 702/123, 702/183, 702/185, 702/184
• US Class Current: 73/39
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/28 for testing brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements

Abstract

A single car tester including a housing having a hanger to mount the housing to a car coupler or ladder of the car. Various configurations of valves and sensors are described to perform a single car test. The controller includes a program for uniquely performing the required tests.

Claims

1. A single car test device for a rail car brake system having a brake pipe with a connector, a brake cylinder and a control valve connected to the brake pipe and brake cylinder, the test device comprising:

a source port to be connected to a source of pressurized air and a brake pipe port to be connected to the brake pipe connector;

valves selectively interconnecting the ports to each other and atmosphere to perform tests;

a sensor determining pressure at least at the brake pipe port; and

a controller connected to the valves and sensor and including a program performing a brake system leakage test and a plurality of component tests performed subsequent to the brake system leakage test, and after repair or replacement of a failed component, the program restarts with the brake system leakage test.

2. A test device according to claim 1, wherein the system leakage test including connecting the source port to the brake pipe port and taking a series of leakage measurements at a fixed interval.

3. A test device according to claim 2, wherein the leakage test takes only two measurements if the two measurements are substantially equal.

4. A test device according to claim 1, wherein the program includes a control valve service stability test following the system leakage test including:

connecting the brake pipe port to exhaust to produce a fixed reduction of the brake pipe port pressure; and

measuring brake pipe pressure after the reduction.

5. A test device according to claim 4, wherein the service stability test includes:

determining if the brake pipe pressure is reducing after the reduction;

if reducing, connecting the source port to the brake pipe port to produce a fixed increase of the brake pipe pressure, less than the reduction; and

determining if the brake pipe pressure is still reducing.

6. A test device according to claim 4, wherein the program includes a brake cylinder leakage test following the service stability test including:

connecting the brake pipe port to exhaust to produce a further reduction of the brake pipe port pressure; and

measuring brake cylinder pressure before and after the further reduction.

7. A single car test device for a rail car brake system having a brake pipe with a connector, a brake cylinder and a control valve connected to the brake pipe and brake cylinder, the test device comprising:

a source port to be connected to a source of pressurized air and a brake pipe port to be connected to the brake pipe connector;

valves selectively interconnecting the ports to each other and atmosphere to perform tests;

a sensor determining pressure at least at the brake pipe port;

a display;

operator input device;

a controller connected to the display, input device, valves and sensor and including a program performing a plurality of component tests which form a single car test as a function of inputs from the operator in response to displayed information; and

the program requesting, during initialization, whether the operator wants to continue the last car test, if the input is no, the program performs the plurality of component tests, and if the answer is yes, the program determines at what point the last car test stopped and restarts the component tests as a function of the stopped point.

8. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program restarts at one or more of the following test:

brake pipe leakage test;

system leakage test;

emergency test; and

accelerated application valve test.

9. A test device according to claim 8, wherein the program restarts at one or more of the following starting procedures:

preliminary procedures and inspection; and

connecting test device to the car.

10. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program request identification of the components in the brake system, including one or more of the following:

the type of control valve;

is an empty/load device present;

is the brake cylinder body or truck mounted;

is a brake cylinder pressure tap present;

is a slack adjuster present;

is an A-1 reduction valve, a separate vent valve or a separate emergency portion present; and

the length of the car.

11. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program request confirmation that a plurality of preliminary procedures and inspections have been completed.

12. A test device according to claim 11, wherein the program prompts the operator through the display for each of the preliminary procedures and inspections.

13. A test device according to claim 11, wherein the preliminary procedures include chocking the wheels, releasing the hand brake, closing the dirt collector and cutoff cock, and draining the reservoirs.

14. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program includes, for failed component test, a prompt with suggested corrective action.

15. A test device according to claim 14, wherein the program, upon receipt of a stop command, resets the brake system and upon receipt of a start command, begins the component test again.

16. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program includes a brake pipe leakage test including:

operator confirmation that angle cocks on the brake pipe are open;

connecting the source port to the brake pipe port; and

operator confirmation that air is blowing out of the open brake pipe connector.

17. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program includes a separate venting device test including performing a continuous quick service test if an A-1 reduction relay or separate emergency portion is in the brake system and performing service stability and emergency sensitivity test if a separate vent valve or emergency portion is in the brake system.

18. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the program includes a system leakage test and the plurality of component tests are performed subsequent to the system leakage test;

and after repair or replacement of a failed component, restart with the system leakage test.

19. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is a combined flow and pressure sensor and the program operates the valves to connect the sensor between the supply and brake pipe ports.

20. A test device according to claim 19, including a brake cylinder port and the program operate the valves to connect the sensor to the brake cylinder port.

21. A test device according to claim 20, including a brake cylinder port and the program operate the valves to selectively connect the sensor to the brake cylinder port or the brake pipe port.