Integrated train electrical and pneumatic brakes

Apparatus for controlling an electro-pneumatic braking system on a railroad train having electronic brake control equipment that includes an operator display facility and brake handles located in a cab of a locomotive of the train, the apparatus comprising:

• a brake control associated with a pneumatic brake operating unit,
• means connecting the pneumatic brake operating unit with a brake pipe of the locomotive and train of railway cars coupled to the locomotive,
• an electro pneumatic interface module independently connecting an electrical brake control system with each of a locomotive control computer and the brake control,
• said electro-pneumatic interface module and electronic brake control equipment being effective to operate the brakes of the locomotive and train of cars in a manner that uses advantageous electro-pneumatic braking features while providing the operator/engineer with a familiar display screen at the operator display facility and brake status reports supplied to the locomotive control computer and to the operator display facility.

A method of controlling an electro-pneumatic braking system on a railroad train having electronic brake control equipment including an operator display facility and brake handles located in a cab of a locomotive of the train and electro-pneumatic brakes on cars of the train, the method comprising:

• independently connecting the electro-pneumatic brakes on the cars with each of a locomotive control computer and a brake control associated with a pneumatic brake operating unit using an electro-pneumatic interface module,
• the brake operating unit being connected in fluid communication with a brake pipe of the locomotive and the cars,
• connecting the brake control with the locomotive control computer, and
• using the common brake handles and operator display to control the electro-pneumatic interface module and brake control to operate the brakes of the locomotive and the cars.

Apparatus for controlling an electro-pneumatic braking system on a railroad train having electronic brake control equipment that includes an operator display facility and brake handles located in a cab of a locomotive of the train and electro-pneumatic brakes on cars of the train, the apparatus comprising:

• a brake control associated with a pneumatic brake operating unit,
• the pneumatic brake operating unit being connected with a brake pipe of the locomotive and the cars,
• the brake control being connected with a locomotive control computer,
• an electro-pneumatic interface module independently connecting the electro-pneumatic brakes on the cars with each of the locomotive control computer and the brake control, and
• the electro-pneumatic interface module and the brake control operating the brakes of the locomotive and the cars using the common brake handles and operator display.