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:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1996
Paul E Jamieson, Greer, SC (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A brake control apparatus that applies and releases the brakes of a rail vehicle generally according to changes in pressure occurring within a straight air pipe incorporates a penalty brake circuit. The brake apparatus includes a controlling device for initiating changes of pressure within the straight air pipe. The brake apparatus also includes a first mechanism for providing a service brake control pressure in accordance with a command for service braking and a second mechanism for providing an emergency brake control pressure in accordance with a command for emergency braking. The brake control apparatus further includes a standard check valve for conveying to a standard load valve the higher of the service and emergency brake control pressures received from the first and second mechanisms. The standard load valve effects operation of the brake apparatus in response to whichever of the brake control pressures is received from the standard check valve. The penalty brake circuit comprises a third mechanism for providing a penalty brake control pressure to the straight air pipe in response to a command for a penalty braking. The penalty brake control pressure is ultimately communicable to the standard load valve. The standard load valve can effect operation of the brakes also in response to the penalty brake control pressure.