Claims
- 1. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, such pneumatic brake system including a brake pipe carrying compressed air, said electronically controlled vent valve comprising:
a valve for connecting to such brake pipe and for being in fluid communication with such compressed air carried by such brake pipe; said valve having an open position for substantially venting such compressed air from such brake pipe and a closed position for substantially retaining such compressed air within such brake pipe; an electrically operated actuator for moving said valve between said open position and said closed position; and control means for controlling said electrically operated actuator to move said valve between said open position and said closed position.
- 2. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 1, wherein such pneumatic brake system further includes a master controller processing circuit for generating electrical braking command signals and wherein:
said control means includes means for moving said valve between said open position and said closed position in response to such electrical braking command signals generated by such master controller processing circuit.
- 3. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes:
a brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of such compressed air in such brake pipe and for generating brake pipe pressure signals indicative of such pressure of such compressed air in such brake pipe; and a processor for receiving said brake pipe pressure signals and for controlling said electrically operated actuator to move said valve between said open position and said closed position dependent upon said brake pipe pressure signals generated by said brake pipe pressure sensor.
- 4. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 3, wherein:
said processor includes emergency pressure monitoring means for calculating a rate of change of said brake pipe pressure signals generated by said brake pipe pressure sensor and for controlling said electrically operated actuator to move said valve to said open position when said calculated rate of change of said brake pipe pressure signals exceeds a threshold value.
- 5. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 4, wherein such pneumatic braking system includes a master controller processing circuit for processing brake signal commands and wherein:
said control means additionally includes a communication circuit for receiving data from and for transmitting data to such master controller processing circuit of such pneumatic brake system.
- 6. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 5, wherein:
said control means additionally includes direct vent actuation means for controlling said electrically operated actuator to move said valve to said open position in response to a signal received through said communication circuit from such master controller processing circuit of such pneumatic brake system.
- 7. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 5, wherein:
said processor additionally includes reporting means for transmitting to such master controller processing circuit of such pneumatic brake system through said communication circuit at least one of:
a signal representing actuation of said vent by said electrically operated actuator; a signal representing said brake pipe pressure signals; and a signal representing said calculated rate of change of said brake pipe pressure signals.
- 8. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 5, wherein:
said control means additionally includes means for transmitting to such master controller processing circuit of such pneumatic braking system over said communication circuit at least one operational characteristic of said control means.
- 9. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 3, wherein said processor additionally includes emergency subroutine means for performing at least one of the following actions:
a) actuating at least one of an audible signal and a visible signal; b) controlling said electrically operated actuator to move said valve to said open position.
- 10. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 3, wherein:
said processor includes means for testing actuation of said vent by said electrically operated actuator.
- 11. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 3, wherein said processor includes at least one microprocessor circuit.
- 12. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 1, wherein said electrically operated actuator includes a solenoid for moving said valve between said open position and said closed position and a relay driver, said relay driver being operable to drive said solenoid in accordance with signals generated by said control means.
- 13. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 11, wherein said at least one microprocessor circuit includes periodic test means for performing a periodic self test of the operational status of said at least one microprocessor circuit.
- 14. An electronically controlled vent valve for an electronically controlled pneumatic braking system, such electronically controlled pneumatic braking system having a plurality of braking sites at which a braking force can be applied, such electronically controlled pneumatic braking system including a master controller processing circuit for generating and supplying electrical braking command signals and an individual braking control unit located proximate each of such plurality of braking sites for receiving such electrical braking command signals generated and transmitted by such master controller processing circuit, such electronically controlled pneumatic braking system further including a brake pipe supplying compressed air to such plurality of braking sites, said electronically controlled vent valve comprising:
a valve housing for connecting to such brake pipe and for receiving such compressed air from such brake pipe; a valve member disposed within said valve housing; said valve member having an open position for substantially venting such compressed air from said valve housing and a closed position for substantially retaining such compressed air within said valve housing; electrically operated actuation means for moving said valve member between said open and closed positions; and an electronic control circuit for controlling said electrically operated actuation means to thereby cause said valve member to move between said open and closed positions.
- 15. An electronically controlled vent valve for an electronically controlled pneumatic braking system, according to claim 14, wherein said electronic control circuit includes:
brake pipe pressure sensor means for sensing a brake pipe pressure existing in such brake pipe and for generating brake pipe pressure signals indicative of such brake pipe pressure existing in such brake pipe; and means for causing said electrically operated actuation means to move said valve member between said open and closed positions dependent upon said brake pipe pressure signals generated by said brake pipe pressure sensor means.
- 16. An electronically controlled vent valve for an electronically controlled pneumatic braking system, according to claim 15, wherein:
said electronic control circuit includes a microprocessor; said microprocessor being supplied with brake pipe pressure signals from said pressure sensor means; and said microprocessor includes emergency pressure monitoring means for monitoring a rate of change of said brake pipe pressure signals and for causing said electrically operated actuation means to move said valve member to said open position when said rate of change of said brake pipe pressure monitored by said microprocessor is beyond a threshold value.
- 17. An electronically controlled vent valve for an electronically controlled pneumatic braking system, according to claim 16:
wherein said electronically controlled vent valve additionally comprises electrical communication means for communicating electrical braking signals between said microprocessor and such master controller processing circuit of such electronically controlled pneumatic braking system.
- 18. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 17, wherein said electronic control circuit additionally includes direct vent actuation means for causing said electrically operated actuation means to move said valve member to said open position in response to an electrical braking command signal generated by and received from said master controller processing circuit through said electrical communication means.
- 19. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 17, wherein said microprocessor further includes reporting means for transmitting to such master controller processing circuit of such electronically controlled pneumatic brake system through said electrical communication means at least one of:
a signal representing movement of said valve member to said open position by said electrically operated actuation means; a signal representing said brake pipe pressure signals; a signal representing said monitored rate of change of said brake pipe pressure signals; and a signal representing an operational characteristic of said microprocessor.
- 20. An electronically controlled vent valve for a pneumatic brake system, according to claim 16, wherein said emergency pressure monitoring means further includes means for actuating at least one of an audible signal and a visible signal.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is directed to similar subject matter as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/044,352 filed on Mar. 19, 1998 by Angel P. Bezos and entitled “Improved AAR Compliant Electronic Braking System” and in U.S. patent application No. ______ filed on ______ by Robert C. Kull and entitled “Locomotive to ECP Brake Conversion System”. The subject matter disclosed in the above cross-referenced copending U.S. patent applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference with the same effect as if fully set forth herein.