Valve assembly for rail vehicles and pneumatic system including same

A pressurized gas system of an associated rail vehicle having an associated plurality of wheels and a pressurized gas braking system operatively associated with the associated plurality of wheels, said pressurized gas system comprising:

• a pressurized gas supply line extending along the associated rail vehicle and including a first supply line connection and a second supply line connection;
• a pressurized gas brake line in fluid communication with the associated pressurized gas braking system and including a first brake line connection;
• and,
• a valve assembly including:
• a valve housing that includes a housing wall that at least partially defines a housing chamber having a chamber length, said valve housing also including at least first, second, third, fourth and fifth communication ports in fluid communication with said housing chamber and arranged such that said second and third communication ports are disposed in spaced relation to one another in a lengthwise direction with said first communication port disposed between said second and third communication ports in said lengthwise direction;
• and,
• a valve body having a longitudinal length and including an intermediate body portion as well as first and second outer body portions that project lengthwise in opposing directions from along said intermediate body portion, said valve body supported on said valve housing within said housing chamber for sliding movement in said lengthwise direction relative to said housing wall such that said valve body can be displaced between first, second and third positions and such that:
• in a first condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in said first position and said first communication port is fluidically isolated from said fourth and fifth communication ports;
• and,
• in a second condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in one of said second and third positions and said first communication port is in fluid communication with at least one of said fourth and fifth communication ports;
• said first brake line connection being fluidically connected to said first communication port, said first supply line connection being fluidically connected to said second communication port, and said second supply line connection being fluidically connected to said third communication port;
• under circumstances in which said first and second supply line connections experience pressurized gas values that are approximately equal in magnitude, said valve assembly being disposed in said first condition;
• and,
• under circumstances in which said first and second supply line connections experience pressurized gas values that exceed a predetermined differential pressure threshold, said valve assembly being disposed in said second condition.

A rail vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a plurality of rail bogies supporting said vehicle body and including a plurality of wheels;
• and,
• a pressurized gas system extending along said vehicle body and including:
• a pressurized gas braking system operatively associated with at least one of said plurality of wheels of at least one of said plurality of rail bogies and including a pressurized gas brake line including a first brake line connection;
• a pressurized gas supply system including a pressurized gas supply line including a first supply line connection and a second supply line connection;
• and,
• a valve assembly including:
• a valve housing including a housing wall that at least partially defines a housing chamber having a chamber length, said valve housing also including at least first, second, third, fourth and fifth communication ports in fluid communication with said housing chamber and arranged such that said second and third communication ports are disposed in spaced relation to one another in a lengthwise direction and said first communication port is disposed between said second and third communication ports in said lengthwise direction;
• and,
• a valve body having a longitudinal length and including an intermediate body portion and first and second outer body portions that project lengthwise in opposing directions from along said intermediate body portion, said valve body supported on said valve housing within said housing chamber for sliding movement in said lengthwise direction relative to said housing wall such that said valve body can be displaced between first, second and third positions and such that:
• in a first condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in said first position and said first communication port is fluidically isolated from said fourth and fifth communication ports;
• and,
• in a second condition of said valve assembly, said valve body is in one of said second and third positions and said first communication port is in fluid communication with at least one of said fourth and fifth communication ports;
• said first brake line connection being fluidically connected to said first communication port, said first supply line connection being fluidically connected to said second communication port, and said second supply line connection being fluidically connected to said third communication port;
• under circumstances in which said first and second supply line connections experience pressurized gas values that are approximately equal in magnitude, said valve assembly being disposed in said first condition;
• and,
• under circumstances in which said first and second supply line connections experience pressurized gas values that exceed a predetermined differential pressure threshold, said valve assembly being disposed in said second condition.