Valve assembly for rail vehicles and pneumatic system including same

A valve assembly dimensioned for interconnection between an associated pressurized gas supply system and an associated pressurized gas braking system of an associated rail vehicle, said valve assembly comprising:

• a valve housing including a housing wall that at least partially defines a housing chamber having a chamber length, said valve housing also including at least first, second, third, fourth and fifth communication ports in fluid communication with said housing chamber and arranged such that said second and third communication ports are disposed in spaced relation to one another in a lengthwise direction and said first communication port is disposed between said second and third communication ports in said lengthwise direction;
• and,
• a valve body having a longitudinal length and including an intermediate body portion and first and second outer body portions that project lengthwise in opposing directions from along said intermediate body portion, said valve body supported on said valve housing within said housing chamber for sliding movement in said lengthwise direction relative to said housing wall such that said valve body can be displaced between first, second and third positions and such that:
• in a first condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in said first position and said first communication port is fluidically isolated from said fourth and fifth communication ports;
• and,
• in a second condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in one of said second and third positions and said first communication port is in fluid communication with at least one of said fourth and fifth communication ports.