Westinghouse Air Brake Company

Eaton Corporation

Vincent Ferri

Robert D Dimsa

Paul J Kettle, Jr

Craig A Miller

Ralph Santoro, Jr

Todd Matthew Lathrop

Robert J Jenets

Gary L Bailey

Daniel J Wolf

Jason Kohei Okerman

Gregory S Balukin

James Nicholas Skoczlas

Garry B Theadore

Michael E Romansky

Charles L Crawford

Adonna Angelika Anderson

Joseph C Gray

Self-test circuitry for testing a circuit interrupter includes an active element coupled to an operating mechanism, a first sub-circuit for temporarily disabling the active element, a second sub-circuit structured to generate a simulated ground fault condition, and a processing unit coupled to the ground fault detection circuitry. The first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit, the processing unit being structured and configured to control the first sub-circuit to temporarily disable the active element and to control the second sub-circuit to generate the simulated ground fault condition when the active element is disabled. Also, self-test circuitry that includes a sub-circuit structured to generate a simulated ground fault condition and a processing unit structured and configured to control the sub-circuit to generate the simulated ground fault condition only during a predetermined portion of a half cycle of energy passing through the circuit interrupter.

System and method for self-testing a ground fault circuit interrupter

A power system is for a facility. The power system includes a load panel powered from a split phase electrical distribution configuration having a first line, a second line and a neutral. A two-pole circuit interrupter in the load panel receives power from the first line, the second line and the neutral, and protects an unbalanced load. The two-pole circuit interrupter is structured to trip open or open responsive to an input. A circuit in the load panel is structured to determine that the neutral is broken or missing and responsively output to the input to cause the two-pole circuit interrupter to trip open or open.

Power system including a load panel protecting a facility from a broken or missing neutral of a split phase electrical distribution configuration

A circuit for indicating a broken or missing neutral in a split phase electrical distribution configuration having an unbalanced load includes: a voltage divider configured to divide the voltage difference between a first line and a second line and to output the divided voltage difference as a virtual neutral; a rectifier including an input of the virtual neutral, the neutral, and an output, the rectifier configured to rectify a voltage difference between the virtual neutral and the neutral; a determination circuit including an input of the rectified voltage difference, a reference voltage and an output, the determination circuit configured to determine if the neutral is missing or broken based on the rectified voltage difference and the reference voltage; and an indicator circuit configured to indicate when the neutral is missing or broken based on the output of the determination circuit.

Missing or broken neutral monitoring circuit for split phase electrical distribution configurations

A surge protection apparatus includes a first surge protection device () having a number of first transient suppressing elements, a second surge protection device having a number of second transient suppressing elements, and a circuit coupled to the surge protection devices. The circuit has a number of display elements, wherein the circuit is structured to receive input signals from the first and second surge protection devices and (i) responsive to any one of the first transient suppressing elements failing, causes the number of display elements to provide a first indication indicating that at least one of the first transient suppressing elements has failed, and (ii) responsive to any one of the second transient suppressing elements failing, cause the number of display elements to provide a second indication indicating that at least one of the second transient suppressing elements has failed.

Surge protection apparatus having multiple surge protection devices and display

A circuit for diagnosing component problems in the circuit and for immediately recognizing an emergency brake application command in a locomotive. The circuit includes a coil of an emergency magnet valve connected to a trainline providing positive DC voltage to the coil and circuit, and a diode connecting the coil to a switch of a brake handle and to a light emitting device. The brake handle switch and light emitting device are connected to the negative side of the trainline, with the light emitting device providing an immediate indication of an emergency brake application command effected by the closing of the brake handle switch.

Emergency brake readback hardware and fault diagnostics routine

In a locomotive braking system, an independent brake control circuit uses second control signal(s) to adjust pressure in a first reservoir. A microprocessor derives the second control signal(s) based on at least a first control signal indicative of brake handle position and first feedback indicative of first reservoir pressure. One pneumatic relay adjusts pressure in a 20 pipe based on first reservoir pressure. An automatic brake control circuit uses third control signal(s) to adjust pressure in a second reservoir. The microprocessor derives the third control signal(s) based on at least second feedback indicative of second reservoir pressure and third feedback indicative of pressure in a 20 pipe. Another pneumatic relay controls pressure in a brake cylinder based on whichever of at least the 20 pipe and the second reservoir delivers a highest pressure. A new system for backup control of the 20 pipe includes the microprocessor and a timer. By monitoring the third feedback, the microprocessor determines when 20 pipe pressure falls outside a predetermined range. When the microprocessor begins to monitor the third feedback, the timer activates for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time expires, the microprocessor uses (A) the third feedback in derivation of the third control signal(s) if 20 pipe pressure falls within range and (B) the first control signal as a substitute for a difference between the first control signal and the third feedback in derivation of the third control signal(s) if 20 pipe pressure falls outside range or fails to be read.

Backup control system and method for 20 pipe braking system

Method and apparatus for providing a filtered signal which indicates of a flow of fluid to a fluid pressure communication conduit, the flow being dependent upon the pressure of fluid in a chamber. The pressure in the chamber is controlled by one or more pressure adjusting valves. The invention provides for receiving into a data processing module one or more valve signals indicating open states of the pressure adjusting valve or valves, and also a flowrate signal from a flowrate sensor, which represents the real instantaneous flowrate, and it is this signal which needs to be filtered to remove transients. The invention provides for choosing between a first processing mode and a second processing mode for the flowrate signal. The first processing mode is used when the second processing mode is not in effect, and when neither of the valve signals indicates an open valve. The second processing mode is activated a valve signal indicates an open valve. The second processing mode, when activated, proceeds according to a predetermined procedure and then returns to the first processing mode after no valve signal indicates an open valve. The signal is processed by either the first processing mode or the second processing mode, depending on whether valve signals have been received, and provides the filtered signal as an output to equipment external to the data processing module.

Flow signal filter

Method and apparatus for limiting brake cylinder pressure in emergency braking of a locomotive consist connected to a train of railway cars. The apparatus includes a manifold device connected to a reservoir of pressurized fluid for operating pneumatic brakes of the locomotive consist. A first magnet valve is connected to the manifold device for supplying fluid pressure from such device to a brake actuating pipe when an operating coil of the first magnet valve is energized. A second magnet valve having an operating coil is connected to the manifold device for supplying fluid pressure from the reservoir to an adjustable pressure regulator connecting an independent application and release pipe to the manifold device. A relay is connected to receive an emergency brake signal and conduct emergency power to the operating coils of the first and second valves whereby fluid pressure is supplied to the brake actuating pipe and to the adjustable pressure regulator from the manifold device. The adjustable pressure regulator provides the independent and release pipe with a fluid pressure preset to a predetermined value by the adjustable pressure regulator.

Method for limiting brake cylinder pressure on locomotives equipped with

In a microprocessor-controlled electro-pneumatic brake control system for a railway train, pressure in the brake cylinder is maintained despite the loss of pressure in the '20 pipe' brake line, or failure of a key relay valve that controls pressure to that brake line. Feedback signals derived from the '20 pipe' brake line when found to be inappropriate after a predetermined amount of time are substituted for by brake command signals generated by the brake controller.

Backup control technique for 20 pipe braking system

An apparatus for determining and encoding the position of a control handle on a control stand of a locomotive or other railway transit vehicle utilizing a rotational, absolute encoder rigidly mounted adjacent to the axle to which the control handle is attached for pivotal motion, wherein a drive transfer means interconnecting the control handle and/or axle with encoder has a driving ratio that will permit full partial rotation of the control handle, which is typically less than 90 degrees, to rotate the encoder axle through a significantly greater rotational angle not exceeding 360 degrees, for the purpose of making fuller use of the sensitivity and resolution range of the encoder.

Apparatus for determining the absolute position of throttle dynamic

The invention provides a real time process control system for control of machinery. The system has a master control module and a slave control module which receives control signals from the master control module. Both control modules send control signals to a control effector and cause changes in at least one effect causing quality of the control effector. The slave control module establishes a target value for the effect causing quality of the control effector based on the signal it receives from the master microprocessor. A sensor connected to the control effector and to the slave control module provides signals in the slave control module which indicate an actual value for the effect causing quality of the control effector. A feedback loop controls the control signal from the slave microprocessor to the control effector to adjust the value of its effect causing quality in accordance with the target value. In the event that the signal from the master control module to the slave control module is interrupted a discrepancy between actual and target values of the effect causing quality indicates interruption of the signal. The invention provides an increased deadband for the feedback loop to permit a discrepancy large enough to be detectable and useable as an indication of interruption of the signal from the master control module to the slave control module.

Software algorithm providing dynamic configuration of dead band control

A locomotive throttle controller having a central processor unit which generates an analog signal for control of dynamic braking and includes an analog output driver which supplies the dynamic brake reference voltage. Such analog output driver includes a device for receiving an analog signal from the central processor unit and for converting such analog signal into an analog voltage signal. The analog output driver provides an arrangement for using such analog voltage signal to provide a regulated voltage output to a trainline which controls the dynamic braking. Incorporated into the output driver is a protection arrangement to protect it from reverse voltages on such trainline and an arrangement for protecting such output driver from excess current demand of the trainline.

Apparatus for and a method of generating an analog signal for control of

Method and apparatus to enable a computer to determine which of two types of transducer systems in a fluid pressure communication conduit the computer is connected to. One system includes two pressure transducers attached to pressure taps in the conduit, the outputs of these being subtracted in the computer to obtain a pressure difference. The other system includes a differential pressure transducer to measure pressure difference between the two pressure taps. The computer makes a determination as to which of the two systems it is connected to by identifying a time when the airflow in the conduit is zero, and at that time comparing the output of the transducer which may be either one of two types with a voltage level corresponding to zero pressure for a pressure transducer, and a voltage level corresponding to zero flow for a differential pressure transducer.

Automatic detection of air flow transducer type under software control

An electrically controlled railway locomotive throttle controller including a power source connected to a central processing unit disposed on such locomotive. An encoder device is disposed on such locomotive for providing at least one electrical signal to such central processing unit. This at least one electrical signal being at least one of a signal indicative of a throttle position, a signal indicative of dynamic braking and a signal indicative of a reverser. A digital control device is disposed on such locomotive and is connected to receive a signal from such central processing unit to provide a digital control signal that controls the voltage being applied to a trainline. An analog control device is also disposed on such locomotive and is connected to receive a signal from such central processing unit to provide an analog control signal that controls a dynamic brake reference voltage being applied to such trainline.

Electronically controlled locomotive throttle controller including

Fluid flow in a conduit is measured by placing a flow block in the conduit which introduces variations in the flowpath which cause local pressure variations. The pressure variations are converted to electrical signals by transducers, and the electrical signals are processed to obtain flow rate values. To provide a correction for transducer drift, the transducer signals are examined during a time when there is known to be zero flow in the conduit. The difference between the transducer signals during a time when there is zero flow is used as a measure of transducer drift. A value for the drift is stored in computer memory and used subsequently, when fluid flow is resumed. This invention is specifically intended for use in railroad airbrake systems, where it is used in a locomotive to provide an accurate and reliable measurement of air supplied to the brake pipe of the air brake system.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Vincent Ferri