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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 08, 1997
Angel P Bezos, Rockwood, MD (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A dual connection system is used with an electrical apparatus having power and return lines each of which requiring interconnection between parts of the apparatus. The system includes a connector at each end of each part through which the parts interconnect serially. Each connector has a pair of bidirectional circuits each of which interconnecting a main node and a backup node for each such line on a part such that one main node affixes to the power line and the other main node affixes to the return line. When a pair of By connectors are mated, the main nodes affixed to the power line communicate as a primary path and the backup nodes corresponding thereto communicate as a redundant path. Likewise, the main nodes affixed to the return line communicate as a primary path and the backup nodes corresponding thereto communicate as a redundant path. Each redundant path provides backup to its corresponding primary path thereby providing the apparatus with more reliable electrical connections. The system includes a control device in each part that during a test mode tests the integrity of the primary and redundant paths located between the part on which the device is situated and a previous part. The system further includes a central computer that controls each control device so each pair of mated connectors is tested sequentially during the test mode and that receives from each control device results of the testing and that reports the results to an operator of the apparatus.