Automatic braking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731690-B2
Application number	US-201514700476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A braking system includes a brake pipe, a pressure sensor and a pressure valve, each operatively associated with the brake pipe. The pressure valve is directed to reduce a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the pressure sensor, and a secondary pressure sensor is operatively associated with the brake pipe, wherein a pressure in the brake pipe is reduced in to data from the secondary pressure sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locomotive braking system, comprising:
a plurality of interconnected cars;
a brake pipe extending through each of the plurality of interconnected cars and communicating a pressurized fluid;
a pressure valve operatively associated with the brake pipe;
a pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, the pressure valve being directed to reduce a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the pressure sensor;
a secondary pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, a pressure in the brake pipe being reduced in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor; and
a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, pressure valve and secondary pressure sensor, wherein:
the controller includes a memory and a processor,
the memory includes a primary algorithm and a secondary algorithm, such that the primary algorithm directs the pressure valve to begin a braking process upon receiving a signal from the pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a first threshold, and the secondary algorithm reduces a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a second threshold in the absence of a confirmation signal generated by the controller.

2. The locomotive braking system of claim 1 , wherein the brake pipe pressure reduction is a penalty braking operation.

3. The locomotive braking system of claim 1 , wherein the brake pipe pressure reduction is an emergency braking operation.

4. The locomotive braking system of claim 1 , wherein the brake pipe is pressurized with a compressor.

5. The locomotive braking system of claim 1 , wherein the braking system includes a secondary pressure valve, and wherein the secondary pressure valve is directed to reduce a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor.

6. A locomotive braking system, comprising:
a plurality of interconnected cars;
a brake pipe extending through each of the plurality of interconnected cars and communicating a pressurized fluid;
a pressure valve operatively associated with the brake pipe;
a pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, the pressure valve being directed to reduce a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the pressure sensor;
a secondary pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, a pressure in the brake pipe being reduced in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor; and
a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, pressure valve and secondary pressure sensor, wherein:
the controller includes a memory and a processor, wherein the memory includes a primary algorithm and a secondary algorithm, wherein the primary algorithm directs the pressure valve to begin a braking process upon receiving a signal from the pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a first threshold, wherein the secondary algorithm reduces a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a second threshold after a time period has elapsed from the pressure sensor sensing the pressure in the brake pipe is below the first threshold.

7. The locomotive braking system of claim 6 , wherein the brake pipe pressure reduction is an emergency braking application.

8. A brake pipe, comprising:
a primary pressure valve operatively associated with the brake pipe;
a primary pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, the primary pressure valve being directed to reduce a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the primary pressure sensor;
a secondary pressure sensor operatively associated with the brake pipe, a pressure in the brake pipe being reduced in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor; and
a controller in communication with the primary pressure sensor, primary pressure valve, secondary pressure sensor and secondary pressure valve, the controller including a memory and a processor, the memory including a primary algorithm and a secondary algorithm,
wherein the primary algorithm directs the primary pressure valve to begin a braking process upon receiving a signal from the primary pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a first threshold, and wherein the secondary algorithm reduces a pressure in the brake pipe in response to data from the secondary pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the brake pipe is below a second threshold in the occurrence of at least one of: (i) an absence of a confirmation signal generated by the controller, and (ii) a predetermined time period has elapsed from when the pressure sensor senses the pressure in the brake pipe is below the first threshold.

Assignees

• Electro Motive Diesel Inc

Inventors

• Seaton James David

Classifications

• B60T15/021

  Railway control or brake valves · CPC title

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title

• B61H13/00

  Actuating rail-vehicle brakes · CPC title

• B60T13/365

  for railway vehicles · CPC title

• B60T17/228

  for railway vehicles · CPC title