Brake Control System Having Independent Power Supply
AssigneeEmd Corporation
InventorsDale Alexander Brown, Harinder Singh Lamba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake control system for a consist having multiple cars is disclosed. The brake control system may include a conduit configured to direct a compressed fluid to the multiple cars, and a plurality of brakes, including at least one brake located at each of the multiple cars. The brake control system may further include a plurality of valves, including at least one valve located at each of the multiple cars and fluidly connected between the conduit and the at least one brake, and a main controller. The main controller may be configured to transmit a signal indicative of desired braking to each of the plurality of valves, causing substantially simultaneous activation of the plurality of brakes.
Claims20
A brake control system for a consist having multiple cars, the brake control system comprising:
- a conduit configured to direct a compressed fluid to the multiple cars;
- a plurality of brakes, including at least one brake located at each of the multiple cars;
- a plurality of valves, including at least one valve located at each of the multiple cars and fluidly connected between the conduit and the at least one brake;
- and
- a main controller configured to transmit a signal indicative of desired braking to each of the plurality of valves, causing substantially simultaneous activation of the plurality of brakes.
A method of braking a consist, comprising:
- compressing a fluid at a first car of the consist;
- conducting the compressed fluid to a first brake at the first car and to a second brake at a second car of the consist;
- wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of desired braking to a first valve associated with the first brake and to a second valve associated with the second brake;
- and
- responsively using the compressed fluid to substantially simultaneously activate the first and second brakes.
A consist, comprising:
- a locomotive;
- an operator interface located within the locomotive and configured to receive input indicative of desired braking of the consist;
- a source of pressurized air located at the locomotive;
- a first plurality of brakes associated with wheels of the locomotive;
- at least one car towed by the locomotive;
- a second plurality of brakes associated with wheels of the at least one car;
- a conduit fluidly communicating the source of pressurized air with the first and second pluralities of brakes;
- at least a first electrically actuated valve moveable to regulate air pressure at the first plurality of brakes;
- at least a second electrically actuated valve movable to regulate air pressure at the second plurality of brakes;
- a car controller in communication with the at least a second electrically actuated valve and configured to cause movement of the at least a second electrically actuated valve;
- and
- a main controller in communication with the operator interface, the at least a first electrically actuated valve, and the car controller, the main controller being configured to:
- generate a signal based on the input indicative of desired braking;
- and
- transmit the signal to the at least the first electrically actuated valve and to the car controller, causing substantially simultaneous activation of the first and second pluralities of brakes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.