Combined overspeed and safety interlock for vehicle control

Claim 2

A fluid pressure operated safety control apparatus for use on a vehicle to cause a brake application thereon in response to failure of an operator to perform a duty, said safety control apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a safety control pipe normally charged with fluid under pressure, b. means for effecting the supply of fluid under pressure from a source of compressed fluid to said safety control pipe at a certain chosen rate, wherein the improvEment comprises: c. a first NOT valve having a supply port connected to said safety control pipe, a delivery port open to atmosphere and a control port the release of fluid under pressure from which causes operation of said first NOT valve to effect a release of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to atmosphere at a rate in excess of said chosen rate, and the supply of fluid under pressure to which causes operation of said first NOT valve to cut off said safety control pipe from atmosphere to cause an increase of pressure therein in response to the supply of fluid under pressure thereto by said fluid pressure supply means, d. first IDENTITY valve means having control port means the supply of fluid under pressure to which operates said IDENTITY valve means to cause a brake application on the vehicle, e. a second NOT valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said control port means of said IDENTITY valve means and a control port connected to said safety control pipe, the release of fluid under pressure from which by operation of said first NOT valve causes operation of said second NOT valve to effect the supply of fluid under pressure from its supply port to said control port means of said IDENTITY valve means, and f. valve means comprising: i. an OR valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said control port of said first NOT valve and a pair of control ports the supply of fluid under pressure to either or both of which causes operation of said OR valve to effect the supply of fluid under pressure from its supply port to said control port of said first NOT valve, ii. a third NOT valve having a supply port, a delivery port connected to one of said pair of control ports of said OR valve and a control port the release of fluid under pressure from which causes operation of said third NOT valve to establish a communication between its supply port and its delivery port, and the supply of fluid under pressure to which causes operation of said third NOT valve to close communication between said supply and delivery ports and connect said delivery port to atmosphere to release fluid under pressure from said one of said pair of control ports of said OR valve, and iii. a first IDENTITY valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said supply port and said control port of said third NOT valve, a control port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, and a sensing port that when manually closed and opened by an operator in a predetermined timed sequence, is effective to cause said OR valve to operate to render said first NOT valve ineffective to release fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to effect a brake application.

Claim 3

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further characterized by a first one-way flow valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure from said delivery port of said OR valve to said control port of said first NOT valve, and by a fourth NOT valve having a supply port connected to the delivery of said one-way flow valve means and said control port of said first NOT valve, a delivery port having a restriced communication with atmosphere and a control port connected to said delivery port of said OR valve, said fourth NOT valve being operable in response to the absence of fluid under pressure at its control port to effect the release of fluid under pressure from the control port of said first NOT valve to atmosphere at a first restricted rate.

Claim 4

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a. a first volume reservoir connected to said control port of said first NOT valve, b. a first one-way flow valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure from said delivery port of said OR valve to said first volume reservoir and said control port of said first NOT valve, and c. a fourth NOT valve having a supply port connected to said first volume reservoir and said control port of said first NOT valve, a delivery port having a restricted communication with atmosphere and a control port connected to said delivery port of said OR valve, said fourth NOT valve being operable in response to the absence of fluid under pressure at its control port to effect the release of fluid under pressure from said first volume reservoir and the control port of said first NOT valve to atmosphere at a first restricted rate.

Claim 5

A safety control brake apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further characterized by a fluid pressure operated alarm means, and by a fifth NOT valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said alarm means and a control port supplied with fluid under pressure from said delivery port of said OR valve, said fifth NOT valve being operable in response to the absence of fluid under pressure at its control port to effect the supply of fluid under pressure from its supply port to said alarm means to effect the operation thereof.

Claim 6

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a. a second one-way flow valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure from said delivery port of said OR valve to said control port of said fifth NOT valve, b. a second volume reservoir connected to said control port of said fifth NOT valve, and c. a sixth NOT valve having a supply port connected to said second volume reservoir and said control port of said fifth NOT valve, a delivery port having a restricted communication with atmosphere and a control port connected to said delivery port of said OR valve, said sixth NOT valve being operable in response to the absence of fluid under pressure at its control port to effect the release of fluid under pressure from said second volume reservoir and the control port of said fifth NOT valve to atmosphere at a second restricted rate that is greater than said first restricted rate whereby said fifth NOT valve effects the supply of fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure alarm means to sound an alarm prior to operation of said first NOT valve to effect a release of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe thereby enabling the operator to forestall a safety control brake application by sequentially closing and opening said sensing port of said first IDENTITY valve in said predetermined timed sequence.

Claim 7

A safety control apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a. a third volume reservoir, b. a third one-way flow valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to said third volume reservoir, c. a double check valve device having its delivery port connected to said alarm means and one inlet port connected to the delivery port of the fifth NOT valve, and d. a second IDENTITY valve having a supply port and a control port connected to said third volume reservoir, and a delivery port connected to the other inlet port of said double check valve device, said second IDENTITY valve having spring means and a solenoid connected in an overspeed circuit that is deenergized in response to an overspeed condition to render said spring means effective to cause fluid under pressure supplied to said control port to operate said second IDENTITY valve to release fluid under pressure from said third volume reservoir and said safety control port to atmosphere via said alarm means at a rate in excess of said chosen rate to effect operation of said second NOT valve to supply fluid under pressure to said control port means of said IDENTITY valve means to cause a brake application.

Claim 8

A Fluid pressure operated safety control apparatus for use on a vehicle having a brake pipe charged to a normal chosen pressure to effect a brake release, a reduction from which chosen pressure effects a brake application to a degree corresponding to said reduction, an equalizing reservoir and a brake valve device that has a multi-position suppression valve which in one position opens a pair of passageways to atmosphere and in another position closes communication between one of said passageways and atmosphere and effects the supply of fluid under pressure from a source of fluid under pressure to the other, the brake valve device also having a regulating valve for controlling the pressure in the equalizing reservoir and a relay valve operable in response to variations of the pressure in the equalizing reservoir to correspondingly vary the pressure in the brake pipe, said safety control apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a safety control pipe normally charged with fluid under pressure from a source of compressed fluid, b. means for effecting the supply of fluid under pressure from a source of compressed fluid to said safety control pipe at a certain chosen rate, wherein the improvement comprises: c. a first NOT valve having a supply port connected to said safety control pipe, a delivery port open to atmosphere and a control port the release of fluid under pressure from which causes operation of said first NOT valve to effect a release of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to atmosphere at a rate in excess of said chosen rate, and the supply of fluid under pressure to which causes operation of said first NOT valve to cut off said safety control pipe from atmosphere to cause an increase of pressure therein in response to the supply of fluid under pressure thereto by said fluid pressure supply means, d. a volume reservoir, e. first IDENTITY valve means comprising: i. a first IDENTITY valve having a supply port connected to the regulating valve of the brake valve, a control port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid so long as the suppression valve occupies its one position, and a delivery port supplied with fluid under pressure from the supply port while fluid under pressure is supplied to the control port, ii. a NOT 2 valve having a control port, a supply port connected to the delivery port of said first IDENTITY valve and a delivery port connected to the equalizing reservoir and the relay valve of the brake valve device, said supply port being connected to said delivery port in the absence of fluid under pressure at said control port, and iii. a second IDENTITY valve having a control port, a supply port connected to the equalizing reservoir and a delivery port connected to said volume reservoir, and f. a second NOT valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to the control port of said NOT 2 valve and said second IDENTITY valve and a control port connected to said safety control pipe, the release of fluid under pressure from which by operation of said first NOT valve establishes a communication between said supply and delivery ports whereby fluid under pressure is supplied to the control port of said NOT 2 valve and said second IDENTITY valve to effect operation thereof to establish a communication between the equalizing reservoir and the volume reservoir whereby the reduction of pressure effected in the equalizing reservoir by the flow of fluid under pressure therefrom to said volume reservoir until equalization of pressure in these reservoirs occurs causes the relay valve of the brake valve device to effect a corresponding reuction of pressure in the brake pipe to cause a brake application.

Claim 9

A Fluid pressure operated safety control apparatus for use on a vehicle having a brake pipe charged to a normal chosen pressure to effect a brake release, a reduction from which chosen pressure effects a brake application to a degree corresponding to said reduction, an equalizing reservoir and a brake valve device that has a multi-position suppression valve which in one position opens a pair of passageways to atmosphere and in another position closes communication between one of said passageways and atmosphere and effects the supply of fluid under pressure from a source of fluid under pressure to the other, the brake valve device also having a regulating valve for controlling the pressure in the equalizing reservoir and a relay valve operable in response to variations of the pressure in the equalizing reservoir to correspondingly vary the pressure in the brake pipe, said safety control apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a safety control pipe normally charged with fluid under pressure from a source of compressed fluid, b. means for effecting the supply of fluid under pressure from a source of compressed fluid to said safety control pipe at a certain chosen rate, wherein the improvement comprises: c. a first NOT valve having a supply port connected to said safety control pipe, a delivery port open to atmosphere and a control port the release of fluid under pressure from which causes operation of said first NOT valve to effect a release of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to atmosphere at a rate in excess of said chosen rate, and the supply of fluid under pressure to which causes operation of said first NOT valve to cut off said safety control pipe from atmosphere to cause an increase of pressure therein in response to the supply of fluid under pressure thereto by said fluid pressure supply means, d. a volume reservoir, e. first IDENTITY valve means comprising: i. a first IDENTITY valve having a supply port connected to the regulating valve of the brake valve, a control port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid so long as the suppression valve occupies its one position, and a delivery port supplied with fluid under pressure from the supply port while fluid under pressure is supplied to the control port, ii. a NOT 2 valve having a control port, a supply port connected to the delivery port of said first IDENTITY valve and a delivery port connected to the equalizing reservoir and the relay valve of the brake valve device, said supply port being connected to said delivery port in the absence of fluid under pressure at said control port, and iii. a second IDENTITY valve having a control port, a supply port connected to the equalizing reservoir and a delivery port connected to said volume reservoir, and f. a second NOT valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to the control port of said NOT 2 valve and said second IDENTITY valve and a control port connected to said safety control pipe, the release of fluid under pressure from which by operation of said first NOT valve establishes a communication between said supply and delivery ports whereby fluid under pressure is supplied to the control port of said NOT 2 valve and said second IDENTITY valve to effect operation thereof to establish a communication between the equalizing reservoir and the volume reservoir whereby the reduction of pressure effected in the equalizing reservoir by the flow of fluid under pressure therefrom to said volume reservoir until equalization of pressure in these reservoirs occurs causes the relay valve of the brake valve device to effect a corresponding reuction of pressure in the brake pipe to cause a brake application.

Claim 10

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 7, further characterized in that the cubic capacity of said volume reservoir is such that The reduction of pressure in the equalizing reservoir is sufficient to cause the relay valve to reduce brake pipe pressure the amount required to effect a full service brake application on the vehicle.

Claim 11

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 7, further characterized by a third IDENTITY valve having a supply port connected to said safety control pipe, a delivery port connected to said one passageway of said pair of passageways and a control port connected to the delivery port of said second NOT valve whereby operation of said second NOT valve causes operation of said third IDENTITY valve to close communication between said safety control pipe and said one passageway to prevent escape of fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe via the suppression valve while in its said one position.

Claim 12

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 7, further characterized by a one-way flow valve means having an inlet port connected to the equalizing reservoir and an outlet port connected to the regulating valve of the brake valve device whereby a reduction of pressure in the equalizing reservoir to cause a corresponding reduction of pressure in the brake pipe may be effected by manual operation of the brake valve device.

Claim 13

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 7, further characterized by a second IDENTITY valve means comprising: a. an OR valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said control port of said first NOT valve and a pair of control ports the supply of fluid under pressure to either or both of which causes operation of said OR valve to effect the supply of fluid under pressure from its supply port to said control port of said first NOT valve, b. a third NOT valve having a supply port, a delivery port connected to one of said pair of control ports of said OR valve and a control port the release of fluid under pressure from which causes operation of said third NOT valve to establish a communication between its supply port and its delivery port, and the supply of fluid under pressure to which causes operation of said third NOT valve to close communication between said supply and delivery ports and connect said delivery port to atmosphere to release fluid under pressure from said one of said pair of control ports of said OR valve, and c. a fourth IDENTITY valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to said supply port and said control port of said third NOT valve, a control port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, and a sensing port that when manually closed and opened by an operator in a predetermined timed sequence, is effective to cause said OR valve to operate to render said first NOT valve ineffective to release fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to effect a brake application.

Claim 14

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 11, further characterized by a fifth IDENTITY valve having a supply port to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from the source of compressed fluid, a delivery port connected to the other of said pair of control ports of said OR valve and a control port connected to said other passageway whereby, while said suppression valve is in its said other position and pressure of fluid at said control port exceeds a chosen value, said fifth IDENTITY valve constantly supplies fluid under pressure to the other of said pair of control ports to cause said OR valve to constantly supply fluid under pressure to said control port of said first NOT valve to prevent operation of said first NOT valve to release fluid under pressure from said safety control pipe to atmosphere to cause a brake application so long as said suppression valve is in its said other position.

Claim 15

A safety control apparatus, as recited in claim 12, further comprising: a. brake applying means to which fluid under pressure is supplied to cause a brake application, and b. a double check valve device having one inlet port connected to said brake applying means, a second inlet port connected to said other passageway and a delivery port connected to the control port of said fifth IDENTITY valve whereby upon the pressure of fluid in said brake applying means exceeding said chosen value, said fifth IDENTITY valve constantly supplies fluid under pressure to the other of said pair of control ports of said OR valve.