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 electromechanical assembly for a braking system of a railway vehicle is described, characterized in that it comprises a flywheel arranged to accumulate kinetic energy; wherein the kinetic energy accumulated in the flywheel is sufficient to operate the electromechanical assembly to cause the braking system to perform at least one emergency or service or parking brake action. Also described are a control system for an electromechanical assembly for a braking system of a railway vehicle and a braking system for a railway vehicle.

Abstract: A system for recovery of compressed air released by air suspensions of at least one railway vehicle or train is described, comprising: a first compressor, a compressed air drying device, a first pipe, a first tank, a non-return valve, a limiting valve, a second tank, a second pipe, at least one pneumatic spring, and a first control device. The system for recovery further comprises a third pipe arranged to be connected to the pneumatic discharge port of the at least one leveling valve so as to receive compressed air discharged by the pneumatic spring, and a third tank arranged to be connected to the third pipe and to be supplied with compressed air provided by the third pipe.

Abstract: A monitoring device of the open or closed state of an electric line is disclosed. The device includes a first connection terminal and a second terminal connected to the electric line, a current generator that provides a non-zero reference current when there is a voltage greater than a predetermined minimum voltage Vmin at its ends and provides a zero current when there is a voltage less than the predetermined minimum voltage Vmin at its ends, at least one opto-isolator means including a lighting device and a respective photosensitive semi-conductor element, and a current detection and power supply module that detects current flowing therein, supplies a supply current to the lighting device when the detected current is equal to or greater than the reference current, and supplies a zero supply current to the lighting device when the detected current is less than the reference current.

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 system including a supply valve disposed between a chamber and a pressure source, a discharge valve disposed between the chamber and an external atmosphere, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The first control unit coupled with the supply valve by a first switch and with the discharge valve by a second switch. The first control unit outputting signals to the first and second switches to control the supply and discharge valves. The second control unit coupled with the discharge valve by a third switch and a fourth switch, the second control unit outputting signals to the third and fourth switches to control the supply and discharge valves. The first control unit may include a first microcontroller to control the signals of the first control unit using an artificial intelligence (AI) neural network having artificial neurons arranged in layers and connected with each other by connections.

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 control system is described for a railway convoy, particularly for the transport of goods, comprising wagons, a master locomotive and at least one slave locomotive. The railway convoy comprises a brake pipe which extends along the entire railway convoy. The master locomotive is arranged to control the pressure in the brake pipe and to send traction and/or braking commands to the slave locomotive by means of a communication channel. The at least one slave locomotive comprises a transceiver means arranged to receive the traction and/or braking commands and to re-transmit them to a traction control unit and to a brake control unit of the slave locomotive. The control system includes a safety unit arranged to prevent a relay valve from supplying the pneumatic brake pipe when at least one malfunction condition of the control system for a railway convoy occurs.

Abstract: A control system may include a modulator device that may receive a control signal for changing a traction operation or a braking operation of a vehicle system formed from one or more vehicles. The modulator device may generate an electric modulator signal based on the control signal and may control an actuator using the modulator signal to create an acoustic signal for propagation within a conduit extending along the vehicle system. The system also may include a transducer device that may detect the acoustic signal propagated in the conduit and generate an electric transducer signal based on the acoustic signal. The system may include a demodulator device that may control one or more of a traction device or a braking device to implement the control signal based on the transducer signal that is received.

Abstract: An electromechanical braking actuator for a vehicle, particularly for a railway vehicle, is described, which comprises a safety unit arranged to receive an electrical position signal, the value of which is indicative of the position of braking force application means along a translation axis; to determine an instantaneous position of braking force application means, based on the value of an electrical position signal; and, through first interruption means, to prevent a braking force control signal emitted by the service braking control unit, or a power supply signal, from reaching the electromechanical module, when: a) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are in a position between a maintenance position and a rest position; b) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are moving from the rest position to the maintenance position. A braking system is also described.

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 is described comprising a first compressor for generating compressed air to feed a main tank and a main brake pipe of the railway vehicle through an air drying unit and a second compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas for an air conditioning system. The system comprises a single electric motor for generating a mechanical torque to be selectively supplied to the first compressor, or to the second compressor, or simultaneously to the first and second compressors, as a function of a) a first electrical signal generated by a pressure measurement device and indicative of a pressure present in the main brake pipe, or in the main tank, and b) at least a second electrical signal coming from the air conditioning system and indicative of a temperature or pressure or humidity value, and at least a third electrical signal indicative of a temperature of an environment.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may be provided for controlling adhesion of wheels to a route surface. The control system includes one or more processors configured to determine adhesion values representative of adhesion between the wheels of a vehicle and the route surface based on angular speeds of the wheels. An artificial intelligence neural network may generate a target slip value for the wheels that are coupled with at least two different axles of the vehicle by processing the adhesion values and modifying the target slip value to increase an average value of the adhesion values of the wheels. The one or more processors may control a torque applied to at least one of the axles based on the target slip value.

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.

Abstract: A supervising device for monitoring the operation of an anti-slip device is described; the supervising device is arranged to: acquire estimated instantaneous linear speeds associated with axles controlled by the anti-slip device; compare the estimated instantaneous linear speeds with a linear reference speed; monitor the state of the pressures to the brake cylinders; determine whether the anti-slip device is working correctly, depending on predetermined trends of each of the estimated instantaneous linear speeds associated with the axles in the slipping phase, with respect to the reference linear speed, in association with each of the pressures to the brake cylinders associated with the axles adjust the preloaded time value in at least one of the timing devices when the supervising device determines that the anti-slip device is not working correctly.