Three Stage Distributor Valve

A method of braking a railway vehicle using a distributor valve system, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a distributor valve system on a railway vehicle, the distributor valve system comprising:
• a brake pipe;
• a relay valve;
• an auxiliary reservoir in line between the brake pipe and the relay valve to establish fluid communication between the brake pipe and the relay valve;
• and
• a brake cylinder in fluid communication with the relay valve,
• wherein, the relay valve has a plurality of positions corresponding to different amounts of air pressure applied to the brake cylinder, and
• the railway vehicle is in fluid communication with the distributor valve system via the brake pipe;
• b. directing pressurized air from the brake pipe into the auxiliary reservoir;
• c. directing pressurized air from the auxiliary reservoir to the relay valve;
• and
• d. selecting a position for the relay valve, wherein the relay valve is configured to include a plurality of different positions corresponding to different amounts of pressurized air that are provided to the brake cylinder.