US 4,536,039 AGranted

Vehicle braking apparatus and method

AssigneeWABCO Westinghouse Compagnia Freni S.p.A.

InventorDario Barberis

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Abstract

A braking apparatus and method are taught that allows the vehicle having the apparatus to resume operation when the magnitude of an electrical signal to an electro-fluidic portion of the apparatus is less than a minimum predetermined value. The system uses electro-fluidic braking equipment to supply pressurized fluid in response to an electrical signal and fluid pressure controlled braking equipment to supply pressurized fluid in response to pressure differentials. An automatic selector value (ASV) normally receives pressurized fluid from the electro-fluidic equipment. When a minimum predetermined value electrical signal is not present, however, the ASV receives pressurized fluid from the fluid pressure controlled braking equipment. The system incorporates a release device to isolate the electro-fluidic braking equipment from the ASV when the electrical signal is less than the minimum predetermined value. Thereafter, the equipment may resume operation.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An improved vehicle braking apparatus that allows the vehicle brakes to resume operation when the magnitude of an electrical signal to an electro-fluidic portion of said braking apparatus is less than a predetermined minimum value, said braking apparatus comprising:

(a) a fluid pressure controlled braking means for supplying a first pressurized fluid in response to a pressure differential between a brake pipe and said fluid pressure controlled braking means;
(b) an automatic selector valve means for supplying pressurized fluid to said brakes of said vehicle, said automatic selector valve means having at least one fluid entry port connected to said fluid pressure controlled braking means to selectively receive said first pressurized fluid;
(c) an electro-fluidic braking means for supplying a second pressurized fluid in response to an electrical signal;
(d) a release means having at least one fluid entry port connected to said electro-fluidic braking means to receive said second pressurized fluid, said release means communicating said second pressurized fluid to said automatic selector valve means, said release means for isolating said electro-fluidic braking means from said automatic selector valve means and venting at least a portion of said second pressurized fluid when said electrical signal to said electro-fluidic braking means is less than said predetermined minimum value and when a pressure reduction in said brake pipe of said fluid pressure controlled braking means occurs thereby allowing release of said brakes of said vehicle and the resumption of operation under control of said fluid pressure controlled braking means.

1 more element

A method of operating the brakes of a vehicle equipped with fluid pressure controlled braking equipment and electro-fluidic braking equipment, each of which alternately supplies pressurized fluid through an automatic selector valve means to operate said brakes of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) supplying a first pressurized fluid through said automatic selector valve means to said brakes on said vehicle in response to pressure differential between a brake pipe and said fluid pressure controlled braking equipment;
(b) supplying a second pressurized fluid through said automatic selector valve means to said brakes on said vehicle in response to an electrical signal to said electro-fluidic braking equipment;
(c) applying and releasing said brakes on said vehicle with said second pressurized fluid in response to said electrical signal having predetermined values;
(d) applying said brakes with said second pressurized fluid when said electrical signal in step (c) is less than a predetermined minimum value;
(e) isolating said electro-fluidic braking equipment from said automatic selector valve means and venting at least a portion of said second pressurized fluid in response to a reduction of pressure in said brake pipe while said signal is less than said predetermined minimum value;
and
(f) applying and releasing said brakes on said vehicle thereafter under the control of said fluid pressure controlled braking equipment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.