Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems – Multiple fluid-receiving devices – Multiple motors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-08-14
Graham, Matthew C. (Department: 3613)
Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems
Multiple fluid-receiving devices
Multiple motors
C303S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273521
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to railroad control systems and more particularly relates to braking systems for railcars, and even more particularly relates to electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) railcar brake systems.
In the past, railcar brake systems have utilized a pneumatic brake system in which pneumatic brake control signals are sent along an air pipe extending the length of the train. While this system has been used extensively for many years, it has several drawbacks, including those arising out of delayed brake application at the rear of the train owing to the slow propagation of the pneumatic control signals through the air pipe. With the advent of electronically controlled pneumatic braking systems, very fast electrical signals can be used to activate all of the brakes on all of the cars simultaneously. This has the beneficial capability of reducing train stopping distances. However, the ECP brake systems continue to exhibit some of the problems from the early completely pneumatically controlled systems. For example, differences in braking performance from railcar to railcar can cause changes in the slack between railcars and thereby create a potential for damage to the train, its cargo and the track especially when there are rapid changes in the slack between each railcar.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved electronic-controlled pneumatic brake systems for railcars which tend to reduce the potential for damage to a train, its cargo and the track when railcars impart potentially destructive forces on adjacent railcars.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic-controlled pneumatic braking system for railcars which reduces unwanted inter-car forces.
It is a feature of the present invention to include a distance measuring device for measuring distance between railcars.
It is an advantage of the present invention to utilize inter-car distance and velocity information in the process of controlling the application of railcar brakes.
It is another feature of the present invention to control bunching of train slack during braking with a controlled rate of change.
It is yet another feature of the present invention to include controlled stretching of train slack during braking with a controlled rate of change.
It is still another feature of the present invention to include smart electronic brake systems that learn from prior brake applications.
It is still yet another feature of the present invention to include a system and apparatus for displaying to a locomotive engineer absolute and trend information relating to train slack.
It is another advantage of the present invention to decrease railcar and track damage which would otherwise arise from imprecise application of railcar brakes.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to decrease freight damage by reducing the shock forces induced upon railcars when uncontrolled changes in train slack occur.
It is another advantage of the present invention to positively affect brake shoe wear.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to decrease train noise which would otherwise result when railcars bang into each other during braking processes.
The present invention is a method and apparatus for controlling electronic air brakes which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, achieve the above-mentioned objects, include the herein described features and achieve the already articulated advantages. The invention is carried out in a controlled slack change system in the sense that uncontrolled slack changes are dramatically reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention includes an electronically controlled pneumatic brake system of the type having a brake air line extending the length of a train and some means of electronic communication between the locomotive and the radars in the train, together with a distance measuring device disposed on at least one of the cars for determining distances between railcars in which the distance is used by an electronic control means to regulate the application of brakes on the railcar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4057904 (1977-11-01), Vrabel et al.
patent: 5361070 (1994-11-01), McEwan
patent: 5457394 (1995-10-01), McEwan
patent: 5510800 (1996-04-01), McEwan
patent: 5512834 (1996-04-01), McEwan
patent: 5603556 (1997-02-01), Klink
patent: 5630216 (1997-05-01), McEwan
patent: 5738417 (1998-04-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5820226 (1998-10-01), Hart
patent: 5995737 (1999-11-01), Bonissone et al.
Halvorson David H.
Sutherland Dennis W.
Graham Matthew C.
McGuireWoods LLP
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
LandOfFree
Electronic air brake control system for railcars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic air brake control system for railcars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic air brake control system for railcars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2445478