Abstract: An electro-pneumatic braking control unit for a railway or tramway vehicle including a multi-layer structure with a plurality of superimposed plates, and in particular, an upper plate carrying and/or integrating a plurality of pneumatic, electro-pneumatic or electric components and having a plurality of connecting through holes and associated coupling channels arranged in its lower face, and a lower plate which has through holes for connection with corresponding apertures and/or coupling channels of the upper plate as well as associated coupling channels arranged in its upper face. The multi-layer structure may further include an intermediate plate having a plurality of connection passages in positions predetermined in dependence on the circuit to be formed.

Abstract: A system for controlling brakes on a rail or light rail motive power unit, in which the brakes are provided with a pneumatic braking system including a pneumatic main pipe and a pneumatic brake pipe. The system includes a control unit, manually operated actuating devices, a relay valve interposed between the pneumatic main pipe and the brake pipe, an electro-pneumatic control unit operable under the control of the unit to supply a variable braking control pressure, pneumatic back-up devices operable under the control of the actuating devices to supply a pneumatic back-up pressure which can be used to control the braking, and an enabling valve which can be switched between a normal operating condition and a back-up operating condition in which it can connect a control inlet of the relay valve selectively to the outlet of the electropneumatic unit or to the back-up devices.

Abstract: The system utilizes two bi-directional transmission lines which extend parallel to and spaced form one another along the train; a control unit operating as a main unit installed on the main engine is connected to the transmission lines and to brake control systems or devices for the train; a plurality of slave control units, each of which is installed on a respective carriage or wagon, are connected to both transmission lines, to solenoid valve units associated with pneumatic brake actuators, and to sensor devices associated with the carriage or wagon. The main control unit and the slave control units are arranged to communicate with one another via the transmission lines according to a predetermined serial protocol.

Abstract: The system comprises an electric line which extends along the train, and head apparatus and tail apparatus connected to the ends of the line. The head apparatus comprises a DC voltage supply operable to apply to the line a DC voltage of predetermined value and a detector operable to generate an alarm upon loss of a given signal on the line. The tail apparatus comprises a generator of the said signal coupled to the line and a DC/DC converter the input of which is connected to the line and the output of which is connected to the signal generator to provide to this latter a supply voltage derived from that generated by the first supply device of the head apparatus. The system is such that an interruption of the train capable of causing interruption to the said line is able to cause deactivation of the signal generator of the tail apparatus, which can be detected and signaled by the detector of the head apparatus.

Abstract: The system comprises an electric line which extends along the train, and head apparatus and tail apparatus connected to the ends of the line.

Abstract: The communication and control system is for use in a railway train with at least one engine and a plurality of wagons or carriages. This system comprises first and second bi-directional transmission lines which extend along the train; a main control unit installed on the main engine and connected, in this engine, to both the transmission lines and to brake control devices or systems of the train; and a plurality of slave control units, each of which is installed on a respective wagon or carriage and is connected, in the respective carriage or wagon, to both transmission lines, to solenoid valve units associated with pneumatic brake actuators, as well as two sensor devices associated with the wagon or carriage. The main control unit and the slave control units are arranged to talk to one another through the transmission lines according to a serial protocol.

Abstract: The cylinder of the combined service and spring brake comprises a service brake piston rod capable of being connected to a brake linkage by means of a clearance adjuster. It combines the releasing pistons (26, 50) of the spring brake and service brake cylinder (2) with its piston (11) and its piston rod (12) provided with a clearance adjuster (16), and at least a dividing attachment rotating between the spring piston (26) and the ring-shaped base (37), such as a spindle (55) simultaneously passing through an axial bore (56) provided in the ring-shaped base (37) and a conjugated blind bore (57) provided in the spring piston (26). The invention is applicable to combined spring cylinders using the service brake clearance adjuster.

Abstract: The system comprises at least one main pneumatic duct, actuators for the service brake and the supplementary brake, at least one auxiliary reservoir connected to the main duct and at least one compact electropheumatic control assembly. This assembly has an inlet connector connected to the main duct, an inlet/outlet connector connected to the reservoir and further connected, within the assembly, the inlet connector to allow supply to the reservoir of air under pressure from the main duct, and a plurality of further inlet/outlet connectors connected to the service and supplementary brake actuators. At least at one pneumatic control circuit for controlling the service and supplementary brake is connected between the reservoir and the further inlet/outlet connectors and comprise a plurality of solenoid control valves and pressure sensors/transducers.