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 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: A combined dirt collector and cutout cock (CDC & COC) device for a rail car control to prevent unintentional re-pressurization of the control valve and rail car braking system. The device has an inlet configured for interconnection to an air supply, an outlet configured for interconnection to a control valve of a rail car, a valve moveable between a first position where an inlet is connected to an outlet and a second position where the inlet is isolated from the outlet, and a control valve vent positioned downstream of the valve and configured to open in response to the valve being moved into the second position. The valve may include a ball having a first passageway for selectively connecting and disconnecting the inlet from the outlet and a second passageway formed therethrough that is positioned to interconnect the outlet with the vent when the valve is in the second position.

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 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 combined dirt collector and cutout cock (CDC & COC) device for a rail car control to prevent unintentional re-pressurization of the control valve and rail car braking system. The device has an inlet configured for interconnection to an air supply, an outlet configured for interconnection to a control valve of a rail car, a valve moveable between a first position where an inlet is connected to an outlet and a second position where the inlet is isolated from the outlet, and a control valve vent positioned downstream of the valve and configured to open in response to the valve being moved into the second position. The valve may include a ball having a first passageway for selectively connecting and disconnecting the inlet from the outlet and a second passageway formed therethrough that is positioned to interconnect the outlet with the vent when the valve is in the second position.

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 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 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: A combined dirt collector and cutout cock (CDC & COC) device for a rail car control to prevent unintentional re-pressurization of the control valve and rail car braking system. The device has an inlet configured for interconnection to an air supply, an outlet configured for interconnection to a control valve of a rail car, a valve moveable between a first position where an inlet is connected to an outlet and a second position where the inlet is isolated from the outlet, and a control valve vent positioned downstream of the valve and configured to open in response to the valve being moved into the second position. The valve may include a ball having a first passageway for selectively connecting and disconnecting the inlet from the outlet and a second passageway formed therethrough that is positioned to interconnect the outlet with the vent when the valve is in the second position.

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 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 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.