A brake assembly for a rail car includes at least one brake element for pressing against a rotor of a rail car wheel in case of a braking action; an actuator for driving the brake element, a linkage for transferring a braking force from the actuator to the brake element, at least one sensor device for measuring at least one parameter of the brake assembly, and the brake assembly further includes a trigger unit configured to enter its active state when a braking action occurs, wherein trigger unit activates the sensor device in the active state.

A brake assembly for a rail car includes at least one brake element for pressing against a rotor of a rail car wheel in case of a braking action; an actuator for driving the brake element, a linkage for transferring a braking force from the actuator to the brake element, at least one sensor device for measuring at least one parameter of the brake assembly, and the brake assembly further includes a trigger unit configured to enter its active state when a braking action occurs, wherein trigger unit activates the sensor device in the active state.

An airbrake retention system and method for controlling air flow within an airbrake system, including the steps of: receiving, with a computer system comprising one or more processors, train control data associated with stopping on a grade; determining, with a computing system comprising one or more processors, an air retention controller within a railcar brake system to control air pressure release based on the train control data; communicating, with a computing system comprising one or more processors, an air control signal, the air control signal comprising information associated with a retainer valve of the braking assembly; and controlling, with a computing system comprising one or more processors, the retainer valve to adjust from a first state to a second state based on the air control signal to control air flow between the reservoir and the air braking assembly.

A truck mounted braking system is provided with a mechanical pivot adjustment on the bake lever connected to the brake cylinder push rod to permit the braking force applied to the wheels to vary depending on the lading condition of the car, without involving additional pneumatic elements such as a pneumatic empty load device. The brake cylinder may be provided with a channel which permits the push rod to achieve different positions based on different positions of the brake cylinder push rod.

A truck mounted braking system is provided with a mechanical pivot adjustment on the bake lever connected to the brake cylinder push rod to permit the braking force applied to the wheels to vary depending on the lading condition of the car, without involving additional pneumatic elements such as a pneumatic empty load device. The brake cylinder may be provided with a channel which permits the push rod to achieve different positions based on different positions of the brake cylinder push rod.

A vehicle control method includes, by a controller, while an engine is auto-stopped and an electric parking brake is engaged, auto-starting the engine without releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of an accelerator pedal less than a predefined amount, and auto-starting the engine and releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of the accelerator pedal greater than the predefined amount. The method also includes comprising auto-stopping the engine and engaging the electric parking brake responsive to vehicle speed being less than a predefined threshold speed.

A vehicle control method includes, by a controller, while an engine is auto-stopped and an electric parking brake is engaged, auto-starting the engine without releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of an accelerator pedal less than a predefined amount, and auto-starting the engine and releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of the accelerator pedal greater than the predefined amount. The method also includes comprising auto-stopping the engine and engaging the electric parking brake responsive to vehicle speed being less than a predefined threshold speed.

A retaining valve includes an inlet and a valve member downstream from the inlet, wherein the valve member has first, second, and third positions. A first passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the first position. A second passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the second position. A third passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the third position. A slide moves with respect to the valve member in response to pressure at the inlet. A spring engaged with the slide biases the slide toward the inlet. A seal located at an axial midpoint of the slide prevents flow through the third passage when pressure at the inlet is less than a predetermined pressure.

A retaining valve includes an inlet and a valve member downstream from the inlet, wherein the valve member has first, second, and third positions. A first passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the first position. A second passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the second position. A third passage through the valve member allows fluid flow through the retaining valve when the valve member is in the third position. A slide moves with respect to the valve member in response to pressure at the inlet. A spring engaged with the slide biases the slide toward the inlet. A seal located at an axial midpoint of the slide prevents flow through the third passage when pressure at the inlet is less than a predetermined pressure.

A vehicle control apparatus executes braking assist control to decelerate a vehicle by automatic operation of a braking device. When the vehicle control apparatus obtains a deceleration request from a driver during execution of the braking assist control, while a driver request deceleration requested to the braking device by the driver is constant or in an increasing trend, the vehicle control apparatus executes first arithmetic processing to suppress a system request deceleration requested to the braking device by the braking assist control from being decreased by the braking assist control.