Apparatus for checking integrity of brake pipe of fluid pressure brake system and preconditioning brake system for automated control

Claim 1

FOR USE IN AN AUTOMATED TRAIN OPERATING EQUIPMENT, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) MEANS FOR CONDITIONING THE TRAIN EQUIPMENT FOR OPERATION, (B) A NORMALLY CHARGED BRAKE PIPE EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE TRAIN, REDUCTIONS OF PRESSURE THEREIN EFFECTING BRAKE OPERATIONS, (C) BRAKE VALVE MEANS ON THE HEAD END OF THE TRAIN FOR EFFECTING SUPPLY AND RELEASE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO AND FROM SAID BRAKE PIPE, TO RESPECTIVELY EFFECT CHARGING OF SAID BRAKE PIPE AND INITIATION OF BRAKE APPLICATIONS, (D) AN INTEGRITY SIGNALING DEVICE ON THE REAR OF THE TRAIN OPERATIVE RESPONSIVELY TO ATTAINMENT OF A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE IN SAID BRAKE PIPE RESPONSIVE TO CHARGING OF THE BRAKE PIPE BY SAID BRAKE VALVE MEANS AFTER A FIRST BRAKE PIPE PRESSURE REDUCTION BY SAID BRAKE VALVE MEANS, FOR INITIATING A SECOND BRAKE PIPE PRESSURE REDUCTION IN THE BRAKE PIPE FROM THE REAR END OF THE TRAIN, (E) FLOWMETER MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REGISTERING THE RATE OF CHARGING FLOW OF FLUID TO THE BRAKE PIPE, AND (F) WHICH MEANS OPERATIVE RESPONSIVELY TO REGISTRATION BY SAID FLOWMETER MEANS OF INCREASING RATE OF FLOW OF FLUID TO THE BRAKE PIPE INCIDENTAL TO SAID SECOND BRAKE PIPE PRESSURE REDUCTION TO COMPLETE CIRCUITRY FOR CAUSING SAID CONDITIONING MEANS TO RENDER THE TRAIN EQUIPMENT OPERATIVE TO INITIATE PROPULSION OF THE TRAIN.