Computer control of railroad train brake system operation

Abstract

Radio-based control of railroad train brakes is effected in which brake systems are computer controlled. An End of Train (EOT) system is used in which microprocessor circuits of a Locomotive Control Unit (LCU) and an EOT unit are programmed to perform these and other functions. The computer system has several states. On power on, the system enters the Setup state during which the system stores about one minutes worth of both brake pipe and equalizing reservoir pressure data. This data is later used to determine the rate of change of these pressures to determine stability. Once setup is complete, the system enters the Stability state during which operating pressures are determined. When the equalizing reservoir pressure, the brake pipe pressure and the brake pipe pressure at the end of the train are stable, the EOT unit is commanded to update operating pressures stored in its microprocessor control circuit. Once the several pressures have been found to be stable, the system goes to the Release state. The system makes transitions between the Release state and the Stability state until a predetermined decrease in brake pipe pressure is detected. At this point, the system makes a transition to the Application state. In this state, determinations are made as to whether to transmit brake commands to the EOT unit from the LCU or to return to one of the Stability or Release states. In any of these states, the system can immediately enter the Emergency state to the Setup state, if setup has not been completed, or to the Release state if setup has been completed.