Patent · US Expired

Locomotive hand brake alarm

US6943675B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
12References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2001
Grant dateSep 13, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB61H13/02
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hand brake system (40) for a rail vehicle providing a hand brake position alarm (76) before a train is moved with a hand brake not fully released. A switch (56) detects the position of a hand brake drive chain (18) to provide a brake engaged signal (60). The weight of the drive chain is supported through a load path that bypasses the switch. A master controller reverser handle position detector (74) provides a reverser handle position signal (72) when the reverser handle is moved out of neutral in preparation for providing power to the locomotive drive motors (15). A relay (70) is used to actuate the multiunit wheel slip indicator (54) and the general alarm bell (52) in every locomotive of the train consist when the brake engaged signal is coincident with the master controller reverser handle position signal. This combination of alarms, which normally indicates a locked axle when the train is above a predetermined speed, is interpreted as a hand brake position alarm when the train is at rest.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.