Automatic retainer valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10059320-B2
Application number	US-201715414783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Jan 25, 2017
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

An automatic retainer valve includes a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway, a brake pipe and reference volume in fluid communication with a first end of the valve, a brake cylinder in fluid communication with a second end of the valve, and an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between the first and second ends of the valve. Pressurized fluid may be vented from the brake cylinder via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure. The brake cylinder pressure may push the at least one piston towards the first end of the valve until the brake cylinder pressure equalizes with the reference volume pressure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic retainer valve, comprising:
a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway;
a brake pipe and reference volume in fluid communication with a first end of the valve;
a brake cylinder in fluid communication with a second end of the valve; and
an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between the first and second ends of the valve,
wherein pressurized fluid is vented from the brake cylinder via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure,
wherein the brake cylinder pressure pushes the at least one piston towards the first end of the valve until the brake cylinder pressure equalizes with the reference volume pressure, and
wherein the reference volume is filled with pressurized fluid via the brake cylinder.

2. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member positioned in the second end of the valve, wherein the biasing member is biased towards the first end of the valve.

3. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

4. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference volume is isolated from the brake pipe upon the brake cylinder becoming fully-pressurized with pressurized fluid.

5. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference volume is reset upon a full release of brake pipe pressure.

6. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 5 , wherein, after a full release of the brake pipe pressure, the brake pipe pressure is brought to a minimum application pressure.

7. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brake pipe is also in fluid communication with the brake cylinder, and wherein brake pipe pressure is used to maintain a maximum brake cylinder pressure.

8. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brake cylinder is fully vented upon the brake pipe pressure increasing to within a predetermined pressure relative to the reference volume pressure.

9. The automatic retainer valve as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the pre-determined pressure is 3 psi.

10. An automatic retainer valve arrangement, comprising:
an automatic retainer valve comprising:
a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway; and
an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between the first and second ends of the valve;

a reference volume in fluid communication with a first end of the automatic retainer valve;
a brake pipe in fluid communication with the first end of the automatic retainer valve;
a brake cylinder in fluid communication with a second end of the automatic retainer valve;
a retainer cavity in fluid communication with the automatic retainer valve; and
an isolation valve in fluid communication with the retainer cavity and the brake cylinder,
wherein pressurized fluid is vented from the automatic retainer valve via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure, and
wherein the brake cylinder pressure pushes the at least one piston towards the first end of the valve until the brake cylinder pressure equalizes with the reference volume pressure.

11. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a first check valve positioned in fluid communication with the retainer cavity and the brake cylinder.

12. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a biasing member positioned in the second end of the valve, wherein the biasing member is biased towards a first end of the valve.

13. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

14. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the reference volume is isolated from the brake pipe upon the brake cylinder becoming fully-pressurized with pressurized fluid, and wherein the isolation valve is closed off by the pressurized fluid of the brake cylinder.

15. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a pressure differential is established in the isolation valve between pressurized fluid exhausted from the retainer cavity and a biasing member, and wherein the pressurized fluid exhausted from the retainer cavity is retained in the isolation valve until the pressurized fluid exhausted from the retainer cavity exceeds a force greater than the force exerted by the biasing member.

16. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the brake pipe is also in fluid communication with the brake cylinder, and wherein brake pipe pressure is used to maintain a maximum brake cylinder pressure.

17. The automatic retainer valve arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a second check valve positioned in line between the brake cylinder and the retainer cavity.

18. A method of automatically retaining pressurized fluid in a railway vehicle, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an automatic retainer valve arrangement, comprising:
an automatic retainer valve in fluid communication with a brake cylinder;
a retainer cavity in fluid communication with the automatic retainer valve; and
an isolation valve in fluid communication with the retainer cavity;

b) filling the brake cylinder with pressurized fluid;
c) venting pressurized fluid from the automatic retainer via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure in the automatic retainer; and
d) retaining the exhausted pressurized fluid from the automatic retainer valve in the retainer cavity.

19. The method of automatically retaining pressurized fluid as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
e) providing a check valve positioned in line between the retainer cavity and the brake cylinder; and
f) directing the exhausted pressurized fluid from the automatic retainer valve to the brake cylinder via the retainer cavity and check valve.

Assignees

• Westinghouse Air Brake Tech Corp

Inventors

• Potter William John
• Gaughan Edward W

Classifications

• B60T17/04

  Arrangements of piping, valves in the piping, e.g. cut-off valves, couplings or air hoses (traction couplings involving joints for supply lines, electric circuits, or the like B60D1/62; couplings peculiar to railway vehicles for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables B61G5/06; pipes, cut-off valves, couplings, air hoses per se F16C, F16K, F16L) · CPC title

• B60T15/36

  Other control devices or valves characterised by definite functions {(electrically controlled valves in fluid-pressure brake systems B60T15/027, B60T15/028)} · CPC title

• B60T15/048

  Controlling pressure brakes of railway vehicles · CPC title

• B60T11/326

  in pneumatic systems · CPC title

• B60T15/54 Primary

  for controlling exhaust from triple valve or from brake cylinder · CPC title