System for Accessing Integral Pressures of Brake Control Valve

A pipe bracket for a distributor valve in a railway vehicle brake control system, wherein the pipe bracket is connected to a brake pipe, a brake cylinder, and a reservoir of the brake control system, and wherein the pipe bracket is configured to have a main portion and a main line portion of the distributor valve mounted thereon, the pipe bracket comprising:

• a plurality of passages defined in the pipe bracket and extending through the pipe bracket, the plurality of passages being configured to place the main portion and the main line portion of the distributor valve in communication with each other and with the brake pipe, the brake cylinder, and the reservoir,
• wherein the plurality of passages comprises a working chamber passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the main line portion, a valve chamber passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the main line portion, a brake pipe passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with the brake pipe, a reservoir passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the reservoir, a brake cylinder passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with the brake cylinder, and at least one additional passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with each other;
• and
• an integral port interface disposed on a side of the pipe bracket, the integral port interface comprising a plurality of access ports arranged therein,
• wherein the plurality of access ports comprises an access port connected to the working chamber passage, an access port connected to the valve chamber passage, an access port connected to the brake pipe passage, an access port connected to the reservoir passage, and an access port connected to the brake cylinder passage.

A pressure access plate configured to provide access to operational pressures in a distributor valve of a railway brake control system, wherein the distributor valve comprises a pipe bracket, a main portion mounted on the pipe bracket, and a main line portion mounted on the pipe bracket, wherein the distributor valve is connected to a brake pipe, a brake cylinder, and a reservoir of the brake control system, and wherein the pressure access plate is configured to be mounted between the pipe bracket and the main portion of the distributor valve, the pressure access plate comprising:

• a face having a plurality of access ports arranged therein;
• and
• a body having a plurality of internally segregated chambers defined therein, each of the internally segregated chambers being in communication with a corresponding access port in the face, each of the chambers comprising at least one opening configured to place the chamber in communication with a corresponding passage of the main portion and at least one opening configured to place the chamber in communication with a corresponding passage of the pipe bracket,
• wherein the plurality of internally segregated chambers comprises a first chamber configured to communicate a working chamber passage in the pipe bracket with a working chamber access port in the face and a first passage in the main portion, a second chamber configured to communicate a valve chamber passage in the pipe bracket with a valve chamber access port in the face and a second passage in the main portion, a third chamber configured to communicate a brake pipe passage in the pipe bracket with a brake pipe access port in the face and a third passage in the main portion, a fourth chamber configured to communicate a reservoir passage in the pipe bracket with a reservoir access port in the face and a fourth passage in the main portion, and a fifth chamber configured to communicate a brake cylinder passage in the pipe bracket with a brake cylinder access port in the face and a fifth passage in the main portion.

A method for accessing operational pressures in a distributor valve of a railway brake control system, wherein the distributor valve is connected to a brake pipe, a brake cylinder, and a reservoir of the brake control system, wherein the distributor valve comprises a pipe bracket, a main portion mounted on the pipe bracket, and a main line portion mounted on the pipe bracket, wherein the pipe bracket comprises a plurality of passages defined therein and extending through the pipe bracket, the plurality of passages being configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with each other and with the brake pipe, the brake cylinder, and the reservoir, and wherein the plurality of passages comprises a working chamber passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the main line portion, a valve chamber passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the main line portion, a brake pipe passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with the brake pipe, a reservoir passage configured to place the main portion in communication with the reservoir, a brake cylinder passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with the brake cylinder, and at least one additional passage configured to place the main portion and the main line portion in communication with each other, the method comprising:

• providing an access interface comprising a plurality of access ports on the pipe bracket, the plurality of access ports comprising an access port connected to the working chamber passage, an access port connected to the valve chamber passage, an access port connected to the brake pipe passage, an access port connected to the reservoir passage, and an access port connected to the brake cylinder passage.