Abstract: A penalty brake control system for a railway locomotive in which a first pressure switch controls the venting of the control chamber of a penalty brake application valve. Reset of the penalty brake application valve, following actuation in response to an unsafe operating condition, is achieved by actuating this first pressure switch to effect closure of the control chamber vent path. A second pressure switch actuates this first pressure switch only when two pressure signals are present thereat, the first pressure signal arising when the penalty brake application value is actuated and the second pressure signal arising when the locomotive brake valve handle is moved out of release position, provided the unsafe operating condition has been corrected.

Abstract: In an electropneumatic brake control system including a brake valve in which a holding position permits brake pipe recharge without effecting a concurrent release of brakes, there is provided an arrangement for preventing a release control valve of a penalty application valve from being actuated to a position in which charging of equalizing reservoir pressure is interrupted when the brake valve handle is in Holding position, as well as Release position during electropneumatic brake control, while preventing such actuation of the penalty release control valve only in Release position in the event the electropneumatic brake control is inoperative.

Abstract: An operators's brake valve device for a railway locomotive that is adapted to provide brake pipe recharging in a holding position of the brake valve handle in which the release of brake cylinder pressure is cut off by a release magnet valve device that, in conjunction with an appliction magnet valve device, provides electro-pneumatic control of the train brakes. These magnet valves are controlled electrically via pneumatically piloted electrical switches that receive discrete pressure signals according to the different positions of the brake valve handle.

Abstract: A cross blending brake system for a multi-car train having power cars that provide regenerative braking through the electro-dynamic action of the car's traction motors, as well as friction braking through an electric/friction brake blending valve, and non-power cars that provide friction braking only through an electric/friction brake blending valve. Since the regenerative brake effort on the power cars is limited only by the available wheel to rail adhesion on these cars, the regenerative action of the electro-dynamic brake provides brake effort in excess of the power car brake requirement, thus reducing the friction brake requirement of the non-power cars, which is limited by the lower threshold energy absorption ability of the wheels. The cross blending control utilizes the excess power car regenerative braking to avoid overheated wheels, while at the same time realizing a net energy savings and reduced brake shoe wear, particularly at maximum levels of regeneration.

Abstract: In a brake control valve device for railway vehicles in which a bias spring acts on the piston stack assembly of the valve device, an additional air reservoir and a differential check valve are arranged to assure proper full service brake pressure, when the control valve device is operated in a direct release mode, thereby overcoming the effect of the bias spring in producing a force balance to cause the piston stack assembly to assume a lap condition before full service brake pressure is achieved. The arrangement has no adverse effect when the control valve device is operated in a graduated release mode.

Abstract: A brake pipe charging cut-off arrangement for a locomotive air brake in which a rate sensing valve responds to an emergency rate of reduction of brake pipe pressure to vent the control chamber of an actuating valve. This causes the actuating valve to be positioned to connect pressure to the brake pipe cut-off valve of the locomotive brake valve device to interrupt charging of the brake pipe. Following a predetermined time delay of such duration as to assure a complete halt of the train by the resulting emergency brake application, the rate sensing valve automatically resets to terminate venting of the actuating valve control chamber. The actuating valve is then conditioned to be reset on the lead unit by movement of the brake valve handle to emergency position. On a trail unit, a unique arrangement of double check valves sense the proper operating condition of a trail unit brake valve device to automatically reset the actuating valve.

Abstract: A clamp-down device whereby an inaccessible portion, such as the rear end of an equipment rack, for example, may be secured to a base or anchor member from the front end of the rack which is readily accessible. The clamping arrangement includes a clamping bar having a wedge-shaped end which fits into a complementarily wedge-shaped slot in a pin secured to the base and extending through the rear end of the equipment rack. A jack-screw is operatively connected between the equipment rack and the clamping bar adjacent the front or accessible end of the rack, so that by turning the jack-screw, the wedge-shaped end of the clamping bar is forced tightly into the wedge-shaped slot in the pin to thereby draw the rear portion of the rack tightly against the base.

Abstract: A pneumatic/electro-pneumatic brake control system including an interface unit at each control station at the opposite ends of a train operating in push/pull service. This interface unit includes a plurality of pressure switches for sensing the operating condition of the brake valve at the respective control station in order to effect an electro-pneumatic brake application on the train via an application relay in bypass of the master controller, when the brake valve is cut out, thereby permitting the operator to leave the train with the brakes safely applied while changing control stations. The arrangement is such as to permit this brake application to be released at the time the operator boards the train at the opposite control station by cutting in the brake valve thereat and moving the brake valve handle to release position to energize the release train-line wire via the master controller at the new control station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a railway locomotive brake control apparatus operably either manually by an engineer or automatically in response to a change in a train control signal indication to a more restrictive indication to effect a brake application on the locomotive and a train of cars hauled thereby unless the automatic train control brake application is suppressed by the engineer manually effecting a full service brake application. When the engineer thus manually effects a full service brake application upon the occurrence of the more restrictive signal indication, the fluid under pressure released from the train brake pipe to cause this brake application is used to temporarily suppress the automatic train control brake application so long as fluid under pressure is being released from the train brake pipe to atmosphere via a restriction.