Brake interface module
AssigneeWabtec Holding Corp.
InventorsJames Fenske, John Raid, Peter Tilly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake interface module for an electronic air brake (EAB) or a magnet valve that incorporates positive train control digital commands with additional fail-safe, discrete train control spare inputs into a single, fail safe output via redundant power supplies. The brake interface module comprises a positive train control circuitry including a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller operatively coupled to each other. The brake interface module also includes spare discrete inputs that utilize fail-safe principles and are continuously monitored by the second microcontroller to achieve fail-safe performance. Each power supply contains redundant, independent means of shutting down to facilitate self test.
Claims20
A brake interface module for an electronic air brake (EAB) and a magnet valve comprising:
- a) a positive train control circuitry comprising:
- i) a first microcontroller with at least one input and at least one output;
- and
- ii) a second microcontroller with at least one input and at least one output, the second microcontroller operatively coupled to the first microcontroller;
- b) an AND gate with a first input, a second input and an output, the first input operatively coupled to an output of the first microcontroller and the second input operatively coupled to an output of the second microcontroller;
- c) a first power supply operatively coupled to an output of the AND gate;
- and
- d) a second power supply operatively coupled to an output of the AND gate,
- wherein the positive train control circuitry allows for switching between the first power supply and the second power supply to insure a correct voltage for proper operation of both the EAB and magnet valve.
A method of interfacing an electronic air brake and a magnet valve comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a brake interface module comprising:
- i) a positive train control circuitry comprising:
- 1) a first microcontroller with at least one input and at least one output;
- and
- 2) a second microcontroller with at least one input and at least one output, the second microcontroller operatively coupled to the first microcontroller;
- ii) an AND gate with a first input, a second input and an output, the first input operatively coupled to an output of the first microcontroller and the second input operatively coupled to an output of the second microcontroller;
- iii) a first power supply operatively coupled to the output of the AND gate;
- and
- iv) a second power supply operatively coupled to the output of the AND gate;
- b) operatively coupling the brake interface module to at least one external processor;
- c) operatively coupling the brake interface to the electronic air brake and magnet valve,
- wherein the positive train control circuitry allows for switching between the first power supply and the second power supply to insure a correct voltage for proper operation of both the electronic air brake and magnet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.