Abstract: A control valve device for a highly available pneumatic brake system for a rail vehicle, having a compressed-air inlet which is or can be connected to an outlet of a discharge valve device; a compressed-air outlet which is or can be connected to a relay valve device; and a safety input which is or can be connected to a compressed-air source; wherein the control valve device fluidically connects the safety inlet to the compressed-air outlet in a first switching position and fluidically connects the compressed-air inlet to the compressed-air outlet in a second switching position; wherein the control valve device can modify the inlet pressure in the second switching position in accordance with a control device, in order to provide the outlet pressure.

Abstract: In a method for adjusting the clamping force exerted by a parking brake, which force is applied by an electric-motor braking apparatus and a hydraulic braking apparatus, the electric braking motor impinging upon a brake piston of a hydraulic wheel brake unit of the hydraulic braking apparatus, for the case in which the pre-pressure existing in the hydraulic braking apparatus exceeds a threshold pressure value, an inlet valve in the braking circuit of the hydraulic braking apparatus is closed, and the target braking force is established by actuation of the electric-motor braking apparatus.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes: a master cylinder; a wheel cylinder; a hydraulic pressure source; a control valve arranged to increase or reduce the pressure of the wheel cylinder; an outside gate valve arranged to connect or disconnect between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder; a brake operation sensing section configured to sense a driver's brake operation; and a control unit configured to control the hydraulic pressure source, the control valve, and the outside gate valve, to perform an automatic-brake pressure-increasing control to control the outside gate valve in a valve closing direction, to drive the hydraulic pressure source, and thereby to increase the pressure of the wheel cylinder in accordance with a vehicle condition, and to increase a driving quantity of the hydraulic pressure source when the brake operation is sensed during the automatic-brake pressure-increasing control.

Abstract: In a fluid pressure booster, when an input shaft and a valve plunger advance, an atmosphere valve opens to introduce air into a variable pressure chamber. At this time, the input shaft has not moved by a predetermined stroke, and thus a projection of the valve plunger is positioned within an inner peripheral surface of a control valve body, thus forming an orifice, which causes air to be sucked at a restricted flow rate. As a result, generation of noise is suppressed. When the input shaft moves the predetermined stroke, the projection of the valve plunger is positioned away from the inner peripheral surface of the control valve body and the orifice is no longer formed. Accordingly, the flow rate of the air is not restricted by the orifice, and thus a relatively large amount of air is sucked into and introduced into the pressure variation chamber.

Abstract: An electronic control system for the compressor of a vehicle air braking system, the control system having one or more inputs indicative of a vehicle operating state, and an output for determining whether a compressor is on-load or off-load, the system further including target means to calculate in real time a target pressure for a reservoir downstream of said compressor, said output being responsive to said target means. The target pressure may be varied in real time to suit vehicle running conditions and permits a small but significant reduction in vehicle fuel consumption by driving the compressor when the vehicle is likely to be coasting or slowing down.

Abstract: A method for filing a retarder with an operating fluid through a valve connected to a fluid reservoir having air pressure Pv and conveying an operating fluid with an actuating pressure Py in the retarder. The method comprises: after starting the retarder during a first time interval T1, an overshoot actuating pressure Py(U) lying above nominal pressure PyNENN for the nominal braking torque to be regulated is adjusted. In a second time interval T2, overshoot actuating pressure Py(U) is reduced to a nominal pressure PyNENN.

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.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring the functioning of a compressor, which charges a gas-filled accumulator chamber with a working pressure, the actual pressure prevailing in the accumulator chamber is measured and compared to a setpoint pressure. In response to a deviation in the actual pressure from the setpoint pressure, an error signal is produced. The comparison of the actual pressure and the setpoint pressure is carried out during the charging operation when the accumulator chamber is charged.

Abstract: A pressure medium actuated braking system comprises at least first and second braking circuits, and a multi-circuit braking power imparting device, such as a motorcar brake valve. The first braking circuit assigned to, e.g., the rear axle, has a first pressure medium storage container, at least one braking cylinder, and a first control valve system which connects the braking cylinder to the first pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink (atmosphere) depending on a first control signal produced by the motorcar brake valve. The second braking circuit, assigned to, e.g., the front axle, has a second pressure medium storage container, first and second braking cylinders, and a second control valve system which connects the first and second braking cylinders to the second pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink depending on a second control signal generated by the motorcar brake valve.

Abstract: Air is supplied to an air brake supply tank on a wheeled vehicle by supplying air from an air compressor to a primary tank at an elevated pressure, fluidly coupling the primary tank to a supply tank, and reducing the pressure of the air supplied to the supply tank to a level suitable for use by the vehicle's air brakes.

Abstract: A railway car vent valve device having a nullifier valve that is selectively operable to disable the vent valve device during a single car test procedure in which the service stability of the car control valve is checked. The nullifier valve is automatically reset when the car brake pipe pressure drops below a predetermined value, such as occurs when the single car test apparatus is disconnected from the car brake pipe following completion of the single car test procedure.

Abstract: A railway car vent valve device having a bleed valve that is selectively operable to disable the vent valve device during a single car test procedure in which the service stability of the car control valve is checked. The bleed valve is automatically reset when the car brake pipe pressure drops below a predetermined value, such as occurs when the single car test apparatus is disconnected from the car brake pipe following completion of the single car test procedure.

Abstract: A vent valve device having a pair of diaphragm-type piston members forming a pilot chamber therebetween. The one piston controls a vent valve via which brake pipe pressure is vented locally, while the other piston controls a pilot valve a control venting of the pilot chamber. A breather choke between the pilot chamber on one side of the other piston and a control chamber on the opposite side establishes a predetermined pressure differential thereacross only when brake pipe pressure supplied to the pilot chamber is reduced at an emergency rate to thereby actuate the other piston to a position opening the pilot valve. In addition, this other piston operates a cut-off valve to isolate the pilot chamber from brake pipe pressure so that the pilot valve quickly exhausts pilot chamber pressure.

Abstract: A relay valve is operatively disposed between a pressurized air source and a work chamber of a brake booster. The relay valve has a pilot chamber so that the relay valve can feed the work chamber with a pressurized air, the pressure of which corresponding to that of a pressure applied to the pilot chamber. Electromagnetic valves are arranged to selectively connect the pilot chamber with the pressurized air source and the atmosphere. The valves are so controlled by an electronic control unit that the pilot chamber is supplied with pressurized air the pressure of which being determined in accordance with a brake pedal force applied from a brake pedal to an input means of the booster.

Abstract: An anti-jackknifing valve is designed for use with tractor trailers and is operably inserted in the hydraulic fluid brake line of such vehicles. The valve prevents jackknifing of a trailer during brake applications by initially actuating the brakes on the trailer. The valve arrangement directs hydraulic brake fluid to the trailer brakes first, and a continuing movement of the valve piston then permits hydraulic brake fluid to be delivered to the tractor brakes to thus substantially eliminate the risk of jackknifing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a maximum pressure control device for the brake cylinder pressure that is to be supplied to a brake cylinder and this device can consist of two separate pressure control devices or be constructed as a unified, reversible pressure control device. The selection of one of the active pressure control devices or changeover of the switchable maximum pressure control device results from a main brake line pressure acting against a spring loaded control piston which, depending on the main brake line pressure, can switch off the pressure control function of the maximum pressure control device for the low (service) or high (emergency) brake cylinder pressure. The control piston when functioning as an actuated cut off device can be mechanically coupled with a pressure control device by means of a stop coupling or pneumatic coupling. As a result, the control piston is not able to exert any negative effect on the control precision of the maximum pressure control device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rail vehicle brake system comprising an air brake cylinder (10, 11) with a piston (12) which is spring-biased for brake application on one side thereof, and a control system for selectively supplying pressurized air to said cylinder.On both sides of the piston (12) the air brake cylinder spaces (10, 11) are connected to a common control system (28, 31) for the supply of pressurized air thereto. The control system--by controlling the supply and discharge to and from the respective spaces--accomplishes a pressure differential between the spaces for service braking.

Abstract: In a vehicle equipped with a propulsion control system combined with an anti-blocking system, a pressure reservoir provided as a brake pressure supply-source which can be charged by means of the return pump of the anti-blocking system, whereby the charging operation is valve-controlled so that the feed from the return pump is directed into the pressure reservoir during pressure-reduction phases of the propulsion control system, the pressure reservoir can also be charged, outside the control phases of the propulsion control system, either by operating the driver's brake pedal or by automatic activation of a charging circuit accompanied by the operation of the return pump.

Abstract: A fluid brake control system is disclosed for governing application and release of brakes of an interchange vehicle having a brake control pipe, an auxiliary fluid reservoir, a fluid brake cylinder, and a brake control device sensing changes in fluid pressure in the brake pipe for at times governing application of fluid to the brake cylinder from the auxiliary reservoir and at other times for releasing fluid from the brake cylinder. Additional first and second volume chambers are provided that are proportionally smaller in volume than the auxiliary reservoir and brake cylinder displacement volumes respectively. Valve governed passageways are provided for normally charging the first volume chamber from the brake pipe and for preventing fluid flow from the auxiliary reservoir to the first volume chamber.

Abstract: A railway vehicle fluid pressure operable emergency vent valve responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure at a rate in excess of a certain rate, or at an emergency rate, for unrestrictedly venting the brake pipe to atmosphere and thus propagating an emergency brake application, but also sensitive and operable responsively to a reduction of brake pipe pressure, irrespective of rate or at a normally undetectable rate, to a value insufficient for effective brake control, for initiating an emergency brake application.

Abstract: Apparatus for varying the time between the initiation and subsequent release of an emergency brake application on a locomotive and train of cars hauled thereby comprises either fluid pressure operated valve means operable, by fluid under pressure supplied for causing knockout of the locomotive power supply, to establish communication between two reservoirs, separably charged from the train brake pipe, whereby substantially all of the fluid under pressure must be released from both reservoirs to atmosphere via a first restricted communication prior to the release of an emergency application thereby increasing the time between initiating the emergency application and the subsequent release, or fluid pressure operated valve means operably responsively to power knockout to establish another restricted communication between a single reservoir and atmosphere whereby substantially all of the fluid under pressure must be released from the single reservoir to atmosphere via the two restricted communications simultaneo