New York Air Brake Corporation

John W LaDuc

Dale R Stevens

Jon M Marra

Roger B Lewis

Bryan M McLaughlin

Ronald O Newton

Kevin B Root

Steven R Newton

James R Truglio

Wayne H Barber

John M Reynolds

Gary Newton

Erich Leonard

Joseph Mario Nazareth

Kip Flint

Richard J Matusiak

Evan Hall

Konstantinos Vilaetis

David Socha

Patrick Storms

Samuel D Graham

Bryan David Cain

Brendan Wade Crowley

Patrick S Lacombe

David M Socha

Evan M Hall

A system that allows an electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) railcar to be optionally selected as the ECP End of Train (EOT) device when that car is positioned at the end of a train regardless of its physical orientation. This eliminates the requirement to use and install a traditional End of Train (EOT) device at the end of an ECP train while maintaining the same train integrity monitoring functionality that is typically provided for train brake-in-two detection and closed cut-out cock detection. The system also eliminates the requirement for a dedicated EOT device at the end of the train for ECP 'RUN' Mode operation, and allows any ECP car to function normally as part of the train or act as the EOT device when selected.

Electronically controlled pneumatic railway car with end of train device mode

A locomotive air brake control system that responds to penalty braking requests from external systems by applying a varying amount of train brake level based on monitored and calculated parameters in order to enforce a defined train condition. The system may include a minimum acceptable train braking, a condition to be achieved to prevent further application of train brakes, and a maximum train brake level to be applied in response to the request. Alternatively, the system may apply braking in stepped levels according defined thresholds for a train behavior variable of interest such as speed or deceleration. The system may be configured to incrementally apply and release train brakes during the adaptive penalty, and may also adjust the level of braking according to calculated braking capacity of the train.

Adaptive penalty braking for locomotive air brake system

The present interface system includes a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical terminal in response to the pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via an train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal. A transceiver is connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller. A wireless display unit communicates via the transceiver with the controller and displays information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and provides inputs from the operator to the controller. The system also includes a three position change over valve. An event recorder and a GPS system may be connected to the controller.

Wireless display unit for ECP transition system

A method of determining the configuration of locomotives in wired distributed trains. It includes determining consists of adjacent locomotives in the train. It determines one or more sub-consists of adjacent locomotives, which are controlled separately from a preceding adjacent locomotive within the consist. Locomotives which have an available wired distributed power controller is determined. A common consist indicator is assigned to all adjacent locomotives of a consist if the consist has at least one available wired distributed power controller. A common sub-consist indicator is assigned to all locomotives of a sub-consist if the consist has at least one available wired distributed power controller.

WDP setup determination method

The method includes reducing pressure of a charged brake pipe to a predetermined pressure value. The brake pipe is then charged only from the head end unit. Each intermediate brake pipe monitoring and charging device sequentially reports on the network a pressure which is an increase if the brake pipe is continuous between it and the head end unit. Subsequent to receipt of a report of an increased pressure on the network from an intermediate unit, the head end unit commands that intermediate unit to participate in charging the brake pipe. The head end unit determines the brake pipe continuity from the pressure increases reported by the intermediate units.

Conventional brake pipe continuity test

A method of transitioning between the pneumatic and electric modes of an integrated pneumatic/electro-pneumatic train brake system which includes a brake control having a common operator brake controller. Initially, the control applies the brakes in response to the operator brake controller in the present mode. The control enables the next mode upon request from the operator and applies the brakes in the next mode to match the applied brakes in the present mode. Once the present mode brake is released, the control and system switch to the next mode. Other brake controllers monitor the network and automatically switches modes based on the status of the network.

Entering and exiting ECP mode for an integrated ECP/EAB system

A method of integral operating the brake and propulsion systems includes determining if the brake command signal is a pneumatic or electrical system initiated emergency brake command or an operator initiated emergency brake command. A brake signal and an emergency propulsion signal are transmitted on the network for pneumatic and electrical system and operator initiated brake commands. A brake signal is transmitted on the train brake pipe for operator and pneumatic system initiated brake commands.

Method of braking in an integrated train propulsion and brake system

An integrated pneumatic and electropneumatic train brake system and method of operation. An electropneumatic brake controller in at least one of the locomotives provides an emergency brake signal on a brake pipe and the network to the pneumatic and electropneumatic brakes for an emergency position of the operator interface. The brake controller also provides an emergency signal only on the network to the electropneumatic brakes in the continuous service position of the operator interface.

ECP commanded emergencies via a conventional EAB brake controller

An electropneumatic brake controller of the present invention including a main reservoir, pneumatic brake pipe relay and first and second restrictions connected in series with the main reservoir, the brake pipe relay and brake pipe and first electropneumatic valve connected in parallel to the second restriction. The second restriction is smaller than the first restriction. The first electropneumatic valve is responsive to an electric release signal to cut out the second restriction. When the two restrictions are in series, this is the running mode whereas when the second restriction is cut out, this is the release mode. A control unit controls the electropneumatic valves to produce an overcharge cycle in response to a release brake signal. This cycle includes overcharging the brake pipe, holding the overcharged condition for a fixed period of time and bleeding to a normal release brake pipe pressure.

Electropneumatic brake valve with release and running modes

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Harrisville, NY, United States of America

John W LaDuc