Railroad brake pipe overcharge and separation detection system
US6375275B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60T13/665
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A brake pipe overcharge detection scheme determines when an overcharge situation occurs followed by an interruption of the brake pipe slow pressure reduction process of the brake system assimilation. When the slow pressure reduction process is interrupted, the rail cars may be left in an overcharged state (i.e., the car braking system is charged to a pressure greater than the normal brake pipe pressure). When the brake pipe pressure is set to its normal brake-release value, the pressure of the car braking systems will be greater than the brake pipe pressure. The car braking system will interpret this positive pressure differential as a request to set the car brakes, and will therefore partially apply the car brakes. As a result, additional drag forces will be encountered by the locomotive as it moves the train, which may result in train separations, and overheating of the car brake shoes and wheels may result in cracked wheels and derailments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.