Computer control of railroad train brake system operation
US6126247A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60T13/665
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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 trans…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.