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:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 28, 1997
James A Wood, Spartanburg, SC (US);
Richard J Mazur, Greer, SC (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A pneumatic trainline control unit receives air from a first pneumatic trainline which it uses to charge and maintain pressure in a second pneumatic trainline. It also provides brake control pressure to a universal pneumatic brake unit on a rail vehicle upon receiving an emergency braking request from the second trainline. The pneumatic trainline control unit includes an air piloted transfer valve, an air piloted maintaining valve, a charging magnet valve, an emergency release magnet valve, a low pressure switch, an air piloted vent valve and a pipe network. The pipe network allows the first trainline to supply air to the transfer valve, the charging valve and the maintaining valve. The transfer valve features a transfer pilot port. It connects a command port of the pneumatic trainline control unit to atmosphere unless its transfer pilot port receives the emergency braking request in which case it connects the pipe network to the command port. The low pressure switch closes if the second trainline charges to a preset pressure. Upon closure of the pressure switch and a manually initiated command from the controller, the charging valve allows the pipe network to charge the second trainline to a minimum threshold level. The maintaining valve features a main pilot port. It permits the pipe network to keep the second trainline charged unless pressure at its main pilot port falls below the minimum threshold. When pressure in the second trainline drops faster than a predetermined rate, the vent valve vents the second trainline to atmosphere.