The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1984
Hartmut Schmid, North Vancouver, CA;
DSL Dynamic Sciences Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
An emergency brake control valve and a system incorporating the same that enables the locomotive engineer to remotely initiate emergency braking at the rear or any intermediate car of the train. The system includes a master unit that is constructed so as to be mounted in the locomotive of the train and a remote control unit that is constructed so as to be mounted on one of the cars. Preferably, the remote control unit is mounted on the last car so that emergency braking may be initiated at the rear of the train. Actuation by the engineer of an emergency brake switch (20) produces an output signal that is transmitted by a radio transmitter (22) and received by a radio receiver (24) in the remote control unit. In response to the received signal, an actuator (26) is energized to operate a solenoid valve (28) from a normally closed position to an open position to connect a control port (48) of an emergency brake control valve (30) to atmosphere. This produces a pressure differential that causes a movable valve member (70) in the emergency brake control valve to shift to an open position in which the vehicle brake pipe (21) is exhausted to atmosphere through an exhaust port (27, 44). To terminate emergency braking, the solenoid valve is closed. This, in turn, shifts the movable valve member to its closed position so that normal braking activities can be resumed. The invention is adapted for complementary use with a system that monitors and remotely displays a plurality of train status conditions. To enable supply of the brake pipe air pressure to pressure sensors (56, 58) in a train status-monitoring system, the movable valve member (70) has a passageway (81) that provides fluid communication between its primary and secondary sides. When the valve member is in its closed position, the brake pipe air pressure is supplied through this passageway and then through the control port (48) to the pressure sensors for the brake pressure monitor. For use in either a stand-alone system or in conjunction with a remote monitoring system, the emergency brake control valve (30) has a glad-hand connector (34) so that the valve may be coupled directly to the existing glad-hand connection (36) for the brake pipe of the railway vehicle.