Abstract: A method is described for calibrating an acquisition chain of a braking device or system of at least one vehicle, in particular at least one railway vehicle, which method includes the steps of: a) measuring a predetermined reference value of a physical quantity by means of a calibration means having a degree of accuracy greater than a predetermined threshold; b) measuring the predetermined reference value of the physical quantity by means of the acquisition chain; c) determining a measurement error therebetween; and d) modifying the at least one coefficient of said transfer function of control means of the acquisition chain, on the basis of the comparison of the value measured by the calibration means with the value measured by the acquisition chain, so that the measurement error of the acquisition chain is minimized or rendered null.

Abstract: A method for verifying the operation of braking means of at least one vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, is described, comprising the steps of: a) imposing a braking force on at least one wheel of the at least one axle of the at least one vehicle; b) towing the at least one vehicle according to a non-zero and constant forward speed; c) measuring on a rail at least one friction force which is a function of a braking force; d) comparing the at least one measured friction force with a predetermined minimum force value; e) determining that the braking means associated with the at least one wheel whose friction force is lower than the predetermined minimum force value are malfunctioning. Also described are a system for measuring a friction force and a system for verifying the operation of braking means of at least one vehicle.

Abstract: An activation system is described which controls the activation of at least one control means installed in a vehicle including a braking system including a main brake pipe containing a fluid. The control means assumes a resting state in which it consumes a first value of electrical energy and an active state in which it consumes a second value of electrical energy, greater than the first value of electrical energy. The activation system measures the pressure value of the fluid within the main brake pipe and generate an activation signal when the pressure value of the fluid within said main brake pipe is equal to or less than a first predetermined threshold value. The control means receives the activation signal and switches from the resting state to the active state when the control means is in the resting state and receives the activation signal.

Abstract: Described is a system for determining the forward speed of at least one vehicle, comprising control means, each associated with at least one axle, and a communication means for transmitting signals or values between the control means. At measurement instants successive in time, each control means generates a corresponding sliding signal of the respective at least one axle. At a sharing instant, each control means transmits the respective sliding signal, and in the no-sliding condition, the value of a quantity related to the rotation of the respective axle or its own estimated forward speed of the vehicle to the other control means. When all the sliding signals indicate a sliding condition, one of said control means controls first braking means associated with one of the axles, so as to reduce a braking force applied to said axle.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a capacitance value of at least a first super-capacitor of an electro-mechanical braking system which also comprises a second super-capacitor. The method comprises: a) measuring a first voltage value at terminals of the second super-capacitor; b) if the first voltage value is greater than a minimum voltage value, charging or discharging the first super-capacitor, in order to make the terminals of the first super-capacitor assume a second voltage value; c) determining a first voltage variation at the terminals of the first super-capacitor; d) determining a first voltage variation rate; e) measuring a first current value flowing in one of the terminals of the first super-capacitor; f) calculating the capacitance value of the first super-capacitor by means of the ratio between the first measured current value and the first voltage variation rate. An electro-mechanical braking system and a vehicle are also described.

Abstract: A compressed air distribution system for a vehicle (e.g., rail vehicle) includes first and second reservoirs and first and second compressors. The first and second reservoirs are configured to contain respective compressed air to be supplied to first and second braking systems of the vehicle. The first braking system is configured to apply a first braking force to a first wheel set of the vehicle with the compressed air received from the first reservoir, and the second braking system is configured to apply a second braking force to a second wheel set with the compressed air received from the second reservoir. Each wheel set includes a respective axle and a respective one or more wheels coupled to the axle. The first and second compressors are configured to generate compressed air to be stored in the first and second reservoirs, respectively.

Abstract: A system for estimating a load index of a railway vehicle is described, comprising: an image acquisition means arranged to acquire a real-time image of a predetermined area inside a wagon of such a railway vehicle; and a control means arranged to determine the load index of the railway vehicle as a function of this image acquired by the image acquisition means.

Abstract: A method for assessing contamination of a route includes imposing a first sliding value lower than a first threshold between one or more first wheels of a vehicle and the route, the one or more first wheels being the head the vehicle, imposing a second sliding value greater than a second threshold between one or more second wheels of the vehicle and the route, the one or more second wheels following the one or more first wheels and the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, and determining the trend of an adhesion curve between the one or more first wheels and the one or more second wheels and the route, based on a first adhesion value between the one or more first wheels and the route, and a second adhesion value between the one or more second wheels and the route.

Abstract: Methods are described for verifying the operation of at least one braking means of at least one vehicle. A method comprises determining that at least one braking means of the vehicle is malfunctioning when at least one estimated braking force value is different from a predetermined verification braking force value Fa. A further method comprises determining that at least one braking means of a plurality of braking means is malfunctioning when an estimated total braking force value is different from an expected verification total braking force value. Yet a further method comprises determining that at least one braking means is malfunctioning when at least one measured friction force value Fb differs from an expected friction force value. Yet a further method comprises determining that at least one braking means of a plurality of braking means is malfunctioning when a total friction force value Fbtot differs from an expected total friction force value.

Abstract: An anti-skid system for an electromechanical braking system of at least one vehicle including at least one wheel is described, comprising an anti-skid module arranged to execute a predetermined anti-skid function and a supervisor module arranged to monitor the anti-skid module, wherein the supervisor module includes a braking force application request adjustment module, wherein the supervisor module and the anti-skid module are modules that are distinct from each other, and the braking force application request adjustment module is arranged to adjust a braking force application request signal independently of the execution of the anti-skid function by the anti-skid module.

Abstract: A method for determining a capacitance value of a super-capacitor of an electro-mechanical braking system is described. The method may include measuring a first voltage value at terminals of the super-capacitor; if the first voltage value is greater than a predetermined minimum voltage, performing a charge or discharge action of the super-capacitor for a measurement time period, in order to make the terminals of the super-capacitor assume a second voltage value greater than or equal to said minimum voltage; determining a voltage variation at the terminals of the super-capacitor during the measurement time period; determining a voltage variation rate; measuring a current value flowing in one of the terminals of the super-capacitor, at a measurement instant; and calculating the capacitance value of the super-capacitor. A braking system and a vehicle are also described.

Abstract: Methods are described for verifying the operation of at least one braking means of at least one vehicle (V), particularly at least one railway vehicle. A method comprises determining that the at least one braking means (200) is malfunctioning when an actual acceleration value is different from an expected acceleration value. A further method comprises determining that at least one braking means (200) is malfunctioning when an actual acceleration reduction value is different from an expected acceleration reduction value. Yet a further method comprises determining that at least one braking means (200) is malfunctioning when an actual braking force value is different from a verification braking force value (Fa). Corresponding systems for verifying the operation of at least one braking means of at least one vehicle are also described.

Abstract: A verification system (100) for a vehicle's braking system is described. The system includes a brake pipe (104) for fluid conveyance, a brake cylinder (106) to hold fluid, and adjustment means (108) to modify fluid pressure in the brake cylinder (106) based on the brake pipe (104) pressure and a set relation pattern. Braking means (110) apply force depending on the fluid pressure in the brake cylinder (106). The verification system features a rotary electric generator (112) linked to an axle (A) and first electronic processing means (114) to assess fluid pressure in both the brake pipe (104) and brake cylinder (106). It identifies damage or malfunction if the pressure relationship deviates from the predetermined pattern. Rotary electric generators (112, 202) supply power to electronic processing means (114, 200) when there is no electrical power received by the electronic processing means (114, 200) from offboard the vehicle.

Abstract: A system is described for verifying the braking release condition of at least one vehicle, particularly railway vehicles. It includes braking control modules, a control means, and two distinct communication means. The control means activates a signaling means when it receives successful braking release messages from all braking control modules through at least one of the communication means. Additionally, the system ensures that all modules transmit applied braking force messages indicating a released condition via at least one communication means. This setup enhances reliability by ensuring the signaling means is only activated when all conditions are met, providing a robust verification process for the braking system. The design is particularly suited for railway vehicles, where safety and precision in braking operations are critical.

Abstract: A monitoring system for at least one plurality of homogeneous devices is described, wherein a first portion of the homogeneous devices is arranged to be installed in a first convoy and a second portion of the homogeneous devices is arranged to be installed in a second convoy. A functional state of each device is represented by a respective value of at least one operational quantity common to the plurality of homogenous devices. The monitoring system comprises first communication means arranged to allow the transmission of a first plurality of values and a second plurality of values, at least one first diagnostic means arranged to detect an operational fault or a maintenance request from the at least one device that is installed in the first convoy, and at least one second diagnostic means included in the second convoy arranged to detect an operational fault or a maintenance request from the at least one device that is installed in the second convoy.

Abstract: A system for determining an adhesion value between wheel and rail for a railway vehicle is described, comprising an optical information acquisition means arranged to acquire optical information from the rail, a database arranged to store the acquired optical information in at least a learning phase and to associate said information with a relevant real wheel-rail adhesion value measured at the moment of acquisition of the optical information, a control unit arranged to determine the current wheel-rail adhesion value on the basis of a comparison between current acquired optical information and the optical information previously stored in the database. The control unit determines that the current wheel-rail adhesion value associated with the current acquired optical information corresponds to the adhesion value associated with the optical information stored in the database having the highest degree of similarity with the current acquired optical information.

Abstract: The invention relates to electronic braking indication systems for at least one vehicle, which systems comprise at least one electromechanical actuator (202) arranged to apply a braking force (F). In one aspect the invention relates to an electronic braking indication system comprising at least one force sensor means (204) arranged to measure the applied braking force (F), at least one electronic visual signaling device (206), comprising at least one first and one second electronic light source (208, 210), and at least one control means (212) arranged to receive the measured value of the braking force (F) and: a) switch on the first electronic light source (208) when the value of the braking force (F) is lower than a first threshold (THRESHOLD 1); b) switch on the second electronic light source (210) when the value of the braking force (F) is greater than the first threshold (THRESHOLD 1).

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the integrity of a convoy of vehicles are described. The convoy can include a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle connected to the first vehicle. In one example, the system can include a communication line and a power supply line each arranged to be installed in the first vehicle and in the at least one second vehicle. The system can further include a control circuit arranged to verify whether the communication line is interrupted and verify whether the power supply line is interrupted. From the verifications, the control circuit may determine that both the communication line and the power supply line are interrupted and further determine that the second vehicle has disconnected from the first vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the integrity of a convoy of vehicles are described. The convoy can include a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle connected to the first vehicle. In one example, the system can include a communication line and a power supply line each arranged to be installed in the first vehicle and in the at least one second vehicle. The system can further include a control circuit arranged to verify whether the communication line is interrupted and verify whether the power supply line is interrupted. From the verifications, the control circuit may determine that both the communication line and the power supply line are interrupted and further determine that the second vehicle has disconnected from the first vehicle.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (200) for a braking system of a vehicle (V), particularly a railway vehicle, is described, characterized in that it includes a first control means (202) arranged to receive from a speed sensor means (204, 204?), associated with a wheel (w) of the vehicle, a speed signal having a value indicative of an angular speed of the wheel (w) of the vehicle. A braking system and a vehicle are also described.