US3659903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power and brake control system utilizing fluidic logic elements
Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
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Filing: 1970-09-29
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A fluidic signal control system is provided on each car of a railway train for controlling braking thereof in accordance with variation of fluid pressure in a signal pipe extending through the train. An interlock valve device intermediately positioned in the signal pipe separates the signal pipe into segments terminating at opposite ends of the car. Signal selector circuitry responsive to variation of fluid pressure in each signal pipe segment selects the segment in which the incoming signal is being received as the ''''controlling'''' segment and establishes the other segment as the ''''controlled'''' segment via which the outgoing signal is propagated irrespective of the direction from which the signal is received. The interlock valve device is positioned in accordance with digital pilot signals provided by the signal selector circuit to direct fluid pressure in the ''''controlling'''' signal pipe segment to a proportional amplifier means which reinforces the control signal locally for control of a brake control circuit on each car and for connection by the interlock valve to the ''''controlled'''' signal pipe segment for transmission to the next car. A timing control circuit is included to momentarily disable the portion of the signal selector circuit responsive to fluid pressure variation in the ''''controlled'''' signal pipe segment to assure that the transmitted signal is not falsely sensed as a signal being received.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A Sarbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:54
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T15/00; B60T15/02; B60T15/04; B60T15/16; B60T13/00; B60T13/10; B60T13/24; B60T13/26; B60T13/266; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S303/00; Y10S303/02; Y10S303/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A control system for a railway vehicle comprising: a. a signal conduit via which a control signal is transmitted, b. signal control means separating said signal conduit into first and second segments, and including means responsive to a first conditioning signal to connect a control signal effective at said first segment to said second segment and responsive to a second conditioning signal to connect a control signal effective at said second segment to said first segment, and c. signal selector means responsive to said control signal in said first and second segments of said signal conduit to provide said first and second conditioning signals, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A control system for a railway vehicle comprising: a. a signal conduit via which a control signal is transmitted, b. signal control means separating said signal conduit into first and second segments, and including means responsive to a first conditioning signal to connect a control signal effective at said first segment to said second segment and responsive to a second conditioning signal to connect a control signal effective at said second segment to said first segment, and c. signal selector means responsive to said control signal in said first and second segments of said signal conduit to provide said first and second conditioning signals, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising timing control means operable in response to said control signal being first sensed at either one of said first or second segments for preventing said selector means from responding to a control signal in the other of said first or second segments at least so long as said first sensed control signal is present.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a. timing control means operable in response to said control signal being first sensed at either one of said first or second segments to provide a power supply output for at least as long as said control signal is present, and b. means adapted to be activated from a normally passive condition in response to said power supply output of said timing control means to prevent said signal selector means from responding to a control signal in the other one of said first and second segments subsequent to said control signal being first sensed at either one of said first and second segments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
The system as recited in claim 2, comprising: a. timing control means including means operable in response to said control signal being first sensed at either one of said first or second segments to provide a power supply output for at least as long as said control signal is present, b. signal selector means including: i. means for sensing said control signal in each of said first and second segments and providing one or the other of two output signals respectively, and ii. switch means for selectively providing said first and second conditioning sIgnals in accordance with whichever one of said two output signals is present, and c. means adapted for activation from a normally passive condition in response to said power supply output to prevent the other one of said sensing means from providing a corresponding one of said two output signals to said switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal control means comprises: a. interlock means having an input an and output, and operable in response to said first conditioning signal to connect said first segment to said output and to connect said second segment to said input, and operable in response to said second conditioning signal to connect said second segment to said output and to connect said first segment to said input, and b. relay means having an input connected to said output of said interlock means and having an output connected to said input of said interlock means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as recited in claim 5 further comprising operating means connected to said output of said relay means to vary the degree of control of said vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said operating means comprises brake control means for varying the degree of brake application on said vehicle in accordance with the signal at said output of said relay means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said relay means comprises proportional amplifier means having one control input connected with said output of said interlock means, an opposing control input for connection with a bias signal, and a pair of outputs, one of said outputs connected to said input connection of said interlock means and the other one of said outputs connected to said operating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a. signal control means including means for providing said control signal at an output, b. power supply means, c. a vehicle brake control circuit for connecting said power supply means to effect operation of vehicle brakes in accordance with said control signal at said output, and d. means for effecting operation of said brake control circuit to effect a brake application in response to loss of said power supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said power supply means comprises: a. a storage reservoir, b. a supply pipe for communicating said reservoir with a source of fluid pressure, c. said means for effecting operation of said brake control circuit comprising means for providing a brake application control signal to said brake control circuit when the pressure in said reservoir exceeds the pressure in said supply pipe by a predetermined amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means providing a brake application control signal comprises a differential pressure sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system as recited in claim 8 further comprising: a. a storage reservoir, b. a supply pipe communicating said reservoir with a source of fluid pressure, c. differential sensor means having a sensor output connected to said brake control means and operable in response to a predetermined excess of fluid pressure in said reservoir relative to said supply pipe to provide a brake control signal at said sensor output, said brake control signal being at least equal to the maximum control signal effective in said segments, and d. means connecting said sensor output to said opposing control output to said proportional amplifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal selector means comprises: a. first signal recognition means having a first inhibit input and adapted to provide a first signal in response to a control signal in said first segment, b. second signal recognition means having a second inhibit input and adapted to provide a second signal in response to a control signal in said second segment, c. first memory means responsive to said first signal to provide said first conditioning signal and responsive to said seconD signal to provide said second conditioning signal, and d. flip-flop means conditioned in response to said first conditioning signal to provide a third signal at said second inhibit input to prevent said second recognition means from providing said second signal and conditioned in response to said second conditioning signal to provide a fourth signal at said first inhibit input to prevent said first recognition means from providing said first signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as recited in claim 13 further comprising timing control means operable in response to a control signal in either one or the other of said segments to activate said flip-flop means for at least as long as the first sensed one of said control signals is present.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
The system as recited in claim 14 comprising: a. said first signal recognition means including, i. first signal sensing means responsive to said control signal in said first segment to provide one or the other of a pair of digital outputs dependent upon the sense of said control signal, and ii. first control means including said first inhibit input enabled in response to either one of said digital outputs of said first signal sensing means to provide said first signal, and disabled in response to said fourth signal at said first inhibit input. b. said second signal recognition means including, i. second signal sensing means responsive to said control signal in said second segment to provide one or the other of a pair of digital outputs depending upon the sense of said control signal, and ii. second control means including said second inhibit input enabled in response to either one of said outputs of said second signal sensing means to provide said second signal, and disabled in response to said third output signal at said second inhibit input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
208 words
The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said first and second signal sensing means each comprise: a. a pair of pure fluid digital switching elements, each having opposing first and second inputs subject to said control signal and an output providing one of said pair of digital outputs, said output being pressurized in a first condition in which a preponderance of fluid pressure is effective at the first input and depressurized in a second condition in which a preponderance of fluid pressure is effective at the second input, and b. signal delay means arranged between the respective one of said segments and said first input of one of said pair of switching elements and said second input of the other of said pair of switching elements to modify the rate of signal pressure change thereat whereby said first condition of one of said pair of switching elements and said second condition of the other of said pair of switching elements is effective consequent to increase of fluid pressure in the respective segment and said second condition of the one of said switching elements and the said one condition of the other of said switching elements is effective consequent to decrease of fluid pressure in the respective segment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system as recited in claim 16 wherein each of said first and second control means comprises; a. a pure fluid OR/NOR element having a pair of inputs for connection with the outputs of said pair of pure fluid digital switching elements, an OR output and a NOR output, and b. a pure fluid NOR element having one input for connection with said NOR output of said OR/NOR element and another input for connection with said OR output of the other one of said first and second control means and a NOR output pressurized when the inputs of said NOR element are each depressurized to provide the corresponding one of said first and second signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said OR/NOR element of said first control means includes said first inherent input subject to said fourth signal to pressurize said NOR output irrespective of the pressure state of said pair of inputs of said OR/NOR element of said firSt control means to disable said NOR element of said first control means, and wherein said OR/NOR element of said second control means includes said second inherent input subject to said third signal to pressurize said NOR output irrespective of the pressure state of said pair of inputs of said OR/NOR element of said second control means to disable said NOR element of said second control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
161 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said timing control means comprises: a. first logic means having a control input, an opposing input and a NOR output providing said power supply output, b. flip-flop means having opposing inputs, a first output connected to said control input of said first logic means and a second output provided in consequence of said control signal, c. second logic means having a control input connected to said second output of said flip-flop means and an OR output providing a signal for connection with one of said opposing inputs of said flip-flop means to provide a signal at said first output of said flip-flop and with said opposing input of said first logic means, and d. signal delay means subject to said second output of said flip-flop means to maintain a signal at the control input of said second logic means at least a predetermined duration following termination of said second output of said flip-flop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |