US 6,283,765 B1Granted

Integrated I.D. module and terminal block for ECP brake application (NY-1084)

AssigneeNew York Air Brake Corporation

InventorsAnthony W. Lumbis, Laura J. Nabywaniec

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Abstract

An ID module and terminal block for use in a train that includes at least one locomotive and a plurality of cars, each car being serially connected into a network by a power and communication trainline to an adjacent car. Each car is equipped with a local communication node connected to a car control device and to the network. A common housing, preferably made of a non-conductive material, encloses a circuit module and includes a second communication node and a current sensor. A terminal block is formed on the housing, and a plurality of stud terminals extend through apertures in the terminal block to electrically contact a circuit board, which is part of the circuit module. The novel arrangement of electronics and terminals and a connector cap allows one to perform tests of the power and communication trainline without having to mechanically disconnect the car communication device or the circuit module; rather, the connector caps electrically are configured to allow electrical isolation of the circuit board from the power and communication trainline. Additionally, the system includes a mating plug enabling disconnection of the car control device from the power and communication trainline without disturbing the leads connected to the terminal block.

Claims30

Dependent claims

In a network for a train including at least one locomotive and a plurality of cars, each car being serially connected by a power and communication trainline to an adjacent car and having a local communication node connecting a car control device to the network, each car further including:

a housing;
a circuit module within the housing and including a second communication node and a current sensor;
a terminal block on the housing;
a plurality of stud terminals extending through apertures in the terminal block such that a first end of each stud terminal is outside the housing and a second end of each stud terminal is inside the housing, the second end of the plurality of stud terminals contacting the circuit module;
at least two input leads, comprising an input from the power and communication trainline, being connected to the first end of first and second stud terminals, such that each input lead from the trainline is connected to its own stud terminal;
a number of electrical output leads equal to the number of input leads, comprising an output to the power and communication trainline, being connected to the first end of third and fourth stud terminals, such that each output electrical lead to the trainline extends from the first end of its own stud terminal;
and
a jumper wire in the circuit module passing through the current sensor and interconnecting the second ends of the second and fourth terminals.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.