Railroad train braking system with a continuously venting coupler
OwnerGerald P. Winfreyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved railroad train braking system causes automatic braking of cars which have been isolated from the braking control of the engineer. A safety apparatus (18), having structure permitting discharge of pressurized air from the system at a predetermined rate, is coupled at the rearmost end of a train brake pipe (26). Pressurized air from the braking system of cars located rearwardly of a closed aircock is permitted to discharge from the system through the safety apparatus. Air distribution control valves (40) in the affected cars (14, 16) sense the reduction in pressure, and active the brakes (42).
Claims15
In a railroad train having a plurality of railroad cars and having an air brake system for braking the train during operation thereof including an air conveyance conduit extending along the length of the train and presenting respective forward and rearward ends and including an air supply source coupled with the conduit adjacent the forward end thereof, the source having an allowable make-up air capability, each car having an air brake mechanism coupled with the conduit and responsive to an air pressure reduction therein for braking the associated car, a method of operating the air brake system comprising the steps of:
- providing a safety apparatus having means configured for coupling with the conduit and means for continuously venting pressurized air therefrom at a controlled vent rate;
- coupling said safety apparatus with the conduit adjacent the rearward end thereof;
- continuously venting pressurized air during operation of the train from the conduit through said safety apparatus at a controlled vent rate less than the allowable make-up air capability of the air supply source;
- in the event of a blockage in the conduit, reducing the air pressure in the conduit rearward of the blockage by continuing to vent pressurized air therefrom by way of said safety apparatus;
- and
- actuating the braking mechanism of each of those cars coupled with the conduit rearward of said blockage in response to said reducing of the air pressure therein.
In a railroad train having a plurality of railroad cars, an air brake apparatus for braking the train comprising:
- an air conveyance conduit extending along the length of the train and presenting respective forward and rearward ends;
- an air supply source coupled with the conduit adjacent the forward end thereof, said source having a make-up air capability;
- a plurality of air brake mechanisms respectively connected with cars, each mechanism including means for coupling with the conduit and for actuating in response to an air pressure reduction therein for braking the associated car;
- a safety apparatus having means for coupling with said conduit adjacent the rearward end thereof and means for continuously venting pressurized air therefrom during operation of the train at a controlled vent rate less than the allowable make-up air capability of said air supply source and, in the event of a blockage in the conduit, for reducing the air pressure in said conduit rearward of the blockage by continuing to vent pressurized air therefrom by way of said safety apparatus for actuating said braking mechanism of each of those cars coupled with said conduit rearward of said blockage in response to said reducing of the air pressure therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.