Control system and control method for a vehicle coupler, coupler and vehicle
AssigneeFaiveley Transport Italia S.P.A.
InventorsAngelo GRASSO, Fabrizio PEIRETTI, Matteo FREA
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Abstract
A control system for a coupler of a first vehicle is described. The coupler comprises a valve means arranged to be coupled to an opening of a pneumatic pipe of the first vehicle. The valve means is arranged to assume an open condition or a closed condition. The transition between the open condition and the closed condition occurs as a function of the transition of the coupler of the first vehicle between a coupled state and a decoupled state.
Claims12
A control system for a coupler of a first vehicle,
- wherein said coupler comprises a valve means arranged to be coupled to an opening of a pneumatic pipe of the first vehicle;
- the valve means being arranged to assume an open condition, in which it allows the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe or a closed condition, in which it prevents the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe
- wherein the transition between the open condition and the closed condition of the valve means occurs as a function of the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between a coupled state with a coupler of a second vehicle and a decoupled state from the coupler of the second vehicle;
- the control system comprising:
- a first electronic processing means arranged for:
- determining whether the first vehicle is in a service condition;
- generating an unlocking signal when said first vehicle is in the service condition;
- an unlocking means arranged for:
- receiving said unlocking signal from said first electronic processing means;
- and
- when it receives said unlocking signal making the transition of the valve means between the open condition and the closed condition independent of the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between the coupled state and the decoupled state.
The control system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an electrical power supply means arranged to supply electrical power to said unlocking means;
- wherein said unlocking means is arranged to utilize the electrical power received to make the transition between the open condition and the closed condition of the valve means independent from the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between the coupled state and the decoupled state;
- said electrical power supply means being connected to said unlocking means by means of an electrical interruption means arranged to assume a closed state, in which it allows the supply of said electrical power to the unlocking means and an open state, in which it prevents the supply of said electrical power to the unlocking means
- the control system comprising a second processing means arranged for:
- determining whether the first vehicle is in a service condition;
- taking said electrical interruption means to the closed state, when the first vehicle is in the service condition;
- taking the electrical interruption means to the open state, when the first vehicle is not in the service condition.
A coupler comprising a valve means arranged to be coupled to an opening of a pneumatic pipe of a first vehicle;
- the valve means being arranged to assume an open condition, in which it allows the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe or a closed condition, in which it prevents the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe
- wherein the transition between the open condition and the closed condition of the valve means occurs as a function of the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between a coupled state with a coupler of a second vehicle and a decoupled state from the coupler of the second vehicle;
- wherein the coupler comprises a control system.
A control method for a coupler of a first vehicle, implemented by means of an electronic processing means
- wherein said coupler comprises a valve means arranged to be coupled to an opening of a pneumatic pipe of the first vehicle;
- the valve means being arranged to assume an open condition, in which it allows the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe or a closed condition, in which it prevents the passage of fluid into the opening of said pneumatic pipe
- wherein the transition between the open condition and the closed condition of the valve means occurs as a function of the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between a coupled state with a coupler of a second vehicle and a decoupled state from the coupler of the second vehicle;
- the control method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the first vehicle is in a service condition;
- if the first vehicle is in the service condition, making the transition between the open condition and the closed condition by the valve means independent from the transition of said coupler of the first vehicle between the coupled state and the decoupled state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.