Patent US5507457A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5507457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Train integrity detection system
Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
•
Filing: 1995-02-13
•
Granted: 1996-04-16
•
Expires: 2015-02-13
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in an End-of-Train (EOT) monitor system allows the continuity of the brake pipe of a train to be verified. Obstructions in the brake-pipe, such as, for example, closed angle cocks, kinks, blockages, or breaks, adversely affect brake safety. A pressure sensor is installed in the Locomotive Cab Unit (LCU) to sense brake application. If the brake pipe is intact, a brake application initiated from the locomotive should correspondingly result in a drop in pressure at the EOT unit. The time require for the drop to propagate through the train is a function of train length. If a pressure drop is not sensed at the EOT unit within a predetermined period of time, it is assumed to be due to either a corrupted brake pipe or a communications failure between the LCU and EOT unit. A Microprocessor in the LCU initiates a communications check by interrogating the EOT unit from the LCU. If no reply is received, an alarm sounds warning the engineer of a communications failure. If, on the other hand, the LCU receives a reply from the EOT to the interrogation, a brake pipe continuity alarm is sounded warning the engineer of a brake fault condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Kull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:28
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L15/00; B61L15/0018; B61L15/0027; B60; B60L; B60L3/00; B61L15/0054; B61L15/009; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A train integrity detection system for sensing faults in a brake pipe traversing the length of a train, comprising: a locomotive cab unit positioned at the head-end of a train, said locomotive cab unit comprising a first transceiver and a first brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing a brake application, said locomotive cab unit including a timer which is started when said first brake pipe pressure sensor senses a brake application, said timer defining a predetermined time duration; an end-of-train unit for monitoring brake pipe pressure at a rear-end of the train, said end-of-train unit comprising a second transceiver in radio communication with said first transceiver and a second brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing a reduction in pressure due to a brake application, said end-of-train unit transmitting a radio signal to said locomotive cab unit when a reduction in brake pipe pressure is sensed by said second brake pipe pressure sensor to communicate a brake pipe pressure change; reset means at said locomotive cab unit for resetting said timer upon receipt of said radio signal transmitted by said end-of-train unit; and alarm means at said locomotive cab unit for notifying an engineer that said timer has timed out without being reset during said predetermined time duration thereby indicating that a failure in the train integrity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A train integrity detection system for sensing faults in a brake pipe traversing the length of a train, comprising: a locomotive cab unit positioned at the head-end of a train, said locomotive cab unit comprising a first transceiver and a first brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing a brake application, said locomotive cab unit including a timer which is started when said first brake pipe pressure sensor senses a brake application, said timer defining a predetermined time duration; an end-of-train unit for monitoring brake pipe pressure at a rear-end of the train, said end-of-train unit comprising a second transceiver in radio communication with said first transceiver and a second brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing a reduction in pressure due to a brake application, said end-of-train unit transmitting a radio signal to said locomotive cab unit when a reduction in brake pipe pressure is sensed by said second brake pipe pressure sensor to communicate a brake pipe pressure change; reset means at said locomotive cab unit for resetting said timer upon receipt of said radio signal transmitted by said end-of-train unit; and alarm means at said locomotive cab unit for notifying an engineer that said timer has timed out without being reset during said predetermined time duration thereby indicating that a failure in the train integrity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The train integrity detection system recited in claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises: means for causing said locomotive cab unit to interrogate said end-of-train unit if said end-of-train unit fails to transmit said radio signal communicating a brake pipe pressure change in response to a brake application within said predetermined time duration defined by said timer; a communications fault alarm connected to said locomotive cab unit which is activated if said end-of-train unit fails to reply when interrogated; and a brake pipe integrity alarm connected to said locomotive cab unit which is activated if said end-of-train unit replies when interrogated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The train integrity detection system recited in claim 2 further comprising: means for inputting to the locomotive cab unit a length of the train to calculate a pressure propagation time; and means for establishing the predetermined time duration defined by said timer as a function of said pressure propagation time.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
128 words
A method sensing faults in a brake pipe traversing a length of a train comprising the steps of: sensing at a head of the train an application of brakes as a reduction of pressure of the brake pipe; starting a timer upon sensing an application of brakes, said timer defining a predetermined time duration; monitoring brake pipe pressure at an end of the train; transmitting a radio signal from the end of the train to the head of the train when a change in monitored brake pipe pressure is detected; resetting said timer upon receipt of said radio signal; and actuating an alarm to notify an engineer the timer has timed out without being reset during said predetermined time duration thereby indicating a failure in the train integrity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
128 words
A method sensing faults in a brake pipe traversing a length of a train comprising the steps of: sensing at a head of the train an application of brakes as a reduction of pressure of the brake pipe; starting a timer upon sensing an application of brakes, said timer defining a predetermined time duration; monitoring brake pipe pressure at an end of the train; transmitting a radio signal from the end of the train to the head of the train when a change in monitored brake pipe pressure is detected; resetting said timer upon receipt of said radio signal; and actuating an alarm to notify an engineer the timer has timed out without being reset during said predetermined time duration thereby indicating a failure in the train integrity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method recited in claim 4 wherein the step of actuating an alarm comprises the steps of: interrogating the end of the train if the timer is not reset within the predetermined time duration defined by said timer; activating a communications fault alarm if the end of the train fails to reply when interrogated; and activating a brake pipe integrity alarm if said end of the train replies when interrogated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: inputting to the locomotive cab unit a length of the train to calculate a pressure propagation time; and establishing the predetermined time duration defined by said timer as a function of said pressure propagation time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4041470A
Cited
US4682144A
Cited
US5039038A
Cited
US4718622A
Cited
US4885689A
Cited
US5053964A
Cited
US5016840A
Cited
US5265832A
Cited
US5317751A
Cited
US5374015A
Cited
US5377938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-16 | 1999-10-16 | 2000-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-16 | 2003-10-16 | 2004-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-16 | 2007-10-16 | 2008-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |