Abstract: A brake cylinder maintaining system that combines a brake cylinder maintaining check valve and a quick service limiting valve into a single unit to have lower hysteresis, and thus more precise BCM regulation pressure and a smaller pressure offset. The check valve and quick service valve are coupled to provide a single system having multiple valve seats for selective communication between quick service pressure and brake cylinder pressure on one hand, and between a brake cylinder maintaining pressure and brake cylinder pressure on the other hand.

Abstract: A bypass for an air dryer having an inlet, a prefiltration stage having a drain valve to purge contaminants, a pair of inlet valves in communication with the prefiltration stage to control the flow of compressed air through the desiccant towers, and an outlet coupled to the pair of desiccant towers. The bypass may be a bypass valve that is normally open to the outlet when the air dryer is unpowered and pilotable to be a closed to allow air to flow to the prefiltration stage when the air dryer is powered. The bypass may be a three-way valve that is normally coupled to the outlet and that may be piloted to connect to the prefiltration stage when the dryer is powered. The bypass may also be a check valve that opens in response to pressure in the inlet to allow compressed air to flow directly to the outlet.

Abstract: A system for monitoring usage of rail car brake equipment and determining whether the actual lifespan of the brake equipment is shorter than an expected lifespan had the brake equipment been used under normal or constant parameters. The system includes a sensor for collecting and outputting data indicating how the brake equipment has been actually used. A controller is programmed to receive the data regarding how the brake system component has been used and to calculate whether the brake system component has an estimated lifespan that is shorter than the expected lifespan. The sensor may comprise an ambient temperature sensor, a flow sensor that determines the air used by the braking system that includes the brake system component, and/or a pressure sensor that can determines how frequently and in what manner the brake system has been used.

Abstract: the present invention involves several approaches for coupling the cover of the angle cock to the main body of the angle cock to avoid the need for tools to effect a repair of the angle cock. The angle cock has a main body with a brake pipe inlet, a brake pipe outline, and a mouth positioned between the brake pipe inlet and the brake pipe outlet. A ball valve positioned in the main body to selectively permit communication between the brake pipe inlet and the brake pipe outlet and has a stem extending out of the mouth. A cover is positioned in covering relation to the mouth to seal the mouth and the stem. The cover and mouth include corresponding structure to ensure a tight seal and to interlock the cover and main body together in a way that can be unlocked without tools.

Abstract: A modular EAB system that reduces the number of individualized modules but provides the desired functionality using a configuration module that is coupled to a plurality of brake system control modules and has a receptacle interface configured to engage a series of modular sections that can be selected from a variety of options to perform dedicated air brake functions. The dedicated air brake functions included comprise brake pipe cutout, equalizing reservoir backup, brake pipe emergency, automatic flow calibration, dead engine regulator, dynamic brake interlock, emergency limiting valve regulation, dynamic brake interlock and emergency limiting valve regulation, 20 pipe back up, and brake cylinder cutout.

Abstract: A system for waking up a dormant car control device of rail car braking system that provides a sufficient wake up voltage in response to pressurization of the brake pipe of the transit car. A supercapacitor is used to output a predetermined voltage when a pressure switch responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure moves to a closed position in response to a charging of the brake system. A first circuit boosts the predetermined voltage of the supercapacitor and energized the contacts of a relay that can selectively provide the boosted voltage to an input of a car control device. A second circuit controls the relay to select when boosted voltage should be provided to the input of a car control device. A third circuit selectively provides power to the first and second circuits based on whether the car control device should receive the boosted voltage.

Abstract: A gladhand coupling that prevents inadvertent separation of the coupling halves without the need for additional structure or manipulation to connect and disconnect the halves. Each half is equipped with a lug having a ramped pad and a flange defining a channel having a corresponding ramped pad. When two halves are positioned together then rotated into the locked position, the ramped pad of the lug is positioned proximately to the ramped pad of the flange to prevent inadvertent lateral compression of the two halves that could cause unintentional uncoupling. The coupling may be disconnected by simple rotation of one coupling half relative to the other and by pulling the coupling apart as done by current rail car decoupling procedures without the need for manual manipulation of extraneous locking mechanisms.

Abstract: A train control system configured to automatically execute and ensure compliance with all requirements for radio blocking. A radio blocking module of the physical train control system of a lead train retrieves and displays the appropriate clearance points for acceptance by the train driver of the lead train. Once accepted, the clearance points are transmitted to a trailing train for display and acceptance by the train driver of the trailing train. An accepted clearance point is passed to the train control system for use as the next destination point for navigation purposes. The train control system can also electronically log all acts to comply with applicable radio blocking requirements.

Abstract: A system that allows an electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) railcar to be optionally selected as the ECP End of Train (EOT) device when that car is positioned at the end of a train regardless of its physical orientation. This eliminates the requirement to use and install a traditional End of Train (EOT) device at the end of an ECP train while maintaining the same train integrity monitoring functionality that is typically provided for train brake-in-two detection and closed cut-out cock detection. The system also eliminates the requirement for a dedicated EOT device at the end of the train for ECP “RUN” Mode operation, and allows any ECP car to function normally as part of the train or act as the EOT device when selected.

Abstract: A replacement cartridge for repairing rather than replacing an angle cock. The cartridge has a ball key with a ball and a shaft. A unitary ball seat that has first and second internal bearing surfaces for engaging the ball is used to support the ball key when installed in the angle cock body that is being repaired. A cover is positioned over the ball seat and defines a bore through which the shaft of the ball key extends. A handle is coupled to the shaft of the ball key so that a user may rotate the ball between the internal bearing surfaces between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A train control system that can be integrated into a locomotive having a distributed power mode. The train control system includes a router interposed in a communication link between the locomotive computer and the distributed power module that is responsible for telling the locomotive computer whether distributed power mode is active or inactive. The train control system controls the router to obtain any locomotive operational data sent from the locomotive computer to the distributed power module for use by the train control system. The router may additionally intercept and block communications from the distributed power module to the locomotive computer and replace the communications with messages that cause the locomotive computer to provide locomotive operational data that is would not otherwise output in a particular distributed power state.

Abstract: A redundant brake control system for a locomotive consist that employs corresponding air brake control units in each locomotive that are interconnected by an inter-unit cable extending between the locomotives. Power to the air brake control units may be selectively connected and disconnected to select which air brake control unit is controlling the brakes of the train. The electronic brake valves associated with the air brake control units remain powered so that braking command may be send from either electronic brake valve and responded to by whichever of the air brake control valves have been provided with power. The control of power may be performed by the locomotive control system so that an operator can easily switch control between the air brake control units from the cab of any locomotive in the consist.

Abstract: An air dryer having a heater element associated with its valves to prevent freezing at cold temperatures. The air dryer includes a temperature sensor and an electronic controller that reads the temperature sensor and inhibits actuation of the valves whenever the temperature of valves is below freezing or a predetermined temperature that indicates a risk for freezing until the valves have been sufficiently warmed by the heater to avoid freezing during operation.

Abstract: A railway vehicle parking brake that can provide the appropriate tension to the braking system using a motor, a brake chain drum interconnected to the motor to take up or release a brake chain, a load arm deflects in response to tension in the brake chain, and a switch that is closed by the load arm when it deflects. A movable sheave interconnects the brake chain and the load arm and is positioned between the brake chain drum and a fixed sheave over which the brake chain is looped. A control method considers the position of the first switch to determine whether to the motor off when applying the brakes and the amount of current being drawn by the motor to determine whether to the motor off because of a system failure.

Abstract: A railway vehicle parking brake that can provide the appropriate tension to the braking system using a motor, a brake chain drum interconnected to the motor to take up or release a brake chain, a load arm deflects in response to tension in the brake chain, and a switch that is closed by the load arm when it deflects. A movable sheave interconnects the brake chain and the load arm and is positioned between the brake chain drum and a fixed sheave over which the brake chain is looped. A control method considers the position of the first switch to determine whether to the motor off when applying the brakes and the amount of current being drawn by the motor to determine whether to the motor off because of a system failure.

Abstract: An automatic parking brake for a truck mounted brake cylinder. The automatic parking brake includes rod that is interconnected to a piston of the brake cylinder and can prevent the piston from returning to the brakes releases position. The rod is controlled by locking nut that will rotate if the rod moves axially through the locking nut and a locking sleeve that is moveable between a locked position, where the locking sleeve engages the locking nut and prevents from the nut from rotating, and a released position, where the locking sleeve is disengages from the locking nut and the locking nut is free to rotate. A spring provides a force biasing the locking nut into the locked position, and brake pipe pressure biases the locking sleeve into the released position.

Abstract: An intelligent locomotive brake control system which selects and optimizes use of dynamic, independent, and automatic brakes on the locomotive to assure intended brake power, to minimize in-train forces, minimize brake component wear, and to automate standard train brake protocol. The system may be programmed to alter an automatic brake application commanded by a train driver to omit or reduce the amount of the automatic brake application in favor of a dynamic brake application, and independent brake application, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatically piloted retainer valve for bottling brake cylinder pressure that can be set and released in response to changes in the brake pipe pressure. Pneumatically piloted retainer valve provides a brake cylinder pressure retaining function that bottles applied brake cylinder pressure in the brake cylinder when brake pipe pressure is less than a predetermined cut-in pressure. Pneumatically piloted retainer valve includes a retainer valve movable between a reset position, where brake cylinder pressure is in communication with exhaust and a bottle position, wherein brake cylinder pressure is isolated from exhaust. A retainer pilot control valve provides for piloting of the retainer valve in response to a predetermined reduction or threshold increase in brake pipe pressure.

Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) overlay control valve can selective switch between a conventional pneumatic mode and an ECP mode. In ECP mode, the overlay control valve shunts the brake cylinder pressure of the pneumatic control valve which allows a relay valve to build or exhaust pressure in the brake cylinder in response to an electronically controlled apply/release circuit. In conventional pneumatic mode, the overlay control valve disconnects the relay valve and allows a conventional pneumatic control valve to control the pressurization and exhausting of the brake cylinder.

Abstract: A control valve for an automatic parking brake having an inlet for coupling to a source a brake pipe pressure, an outlet for coupling to a control inlet of the automatic parking brake and a pilot for coupling to the source of brake pipe pressure. The control valve is moveable between a first position where the inlet is in communication with the outlet and a second position where the inlet and the outlet are isolated from each other in response to a predetermined amount of brake pipe pressure at the pilot. The control valve includes a spring biasing the control valve into the first position.