The present invention includes a braking system for a railway car generally including a brake cylinder having a cylinder rod. The cylinder rod is in mechanical communication with a lever transfer assembly and is configured to articulate said lever transfer assembly. The lever transfer assembly may be rotatably connected to a first brake assembly and connected to a rear brake assembly through respective connection rods. Actuating the lever transfer assembly with the cylinder rod generates a divergent braking force between the first and second brake assemblies for slowing and/or stopping the railway car.

Various systems and methods for braking a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a brake assembly is provided that includes a lever attachment interface pivotally coupled with two degrees of freedom to a joint between a first lever and a second lever and a brake cylinder coupled to the first lever and designed to engage and disengage a brake lining in a brake component. The brake cylinder includes a slack adjuster configured to adjust a throw of the second lever.

A system and method for detecting the operational status of a brake system on a railcar. The system receives from a sensor an indication of the magnitude of a braking force applied by the braking system in response to an instruction to increase or decrease the braking force. It compares the response to possible responses of the braking system in view of the instruction provided. Based on the comparison, the system generates at least one of a message and/or an alert indicating the status of the brake system. Additional sensors, including a pressure sensor on a brake pipe of the railcar, can be added for additional functionality.

An electromechanical braking actuator for a vehicle, particularly for a railway vehicle, is described, which comprises a safety unit arranged to receive an electrical position signal, the value of which is indicative of the position of braking force application means along a translation axis; to determine an instantaneous position of braking force application means, based on the value of an electrical position signal; and, through first interruption means, to prevent a braking force control signal emitted by the service braking control unit, or a power supply signal, from reaching the electromechanical module, when: a) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are in a position between a maintenance position and a rest position; b) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are moving from the rest position to the maintenance position. A braking system is also described.

An electromechanical braking actuator for a vehicle, particularly for a railway vehicle, is described, which comprises a safety unit arranged to receive an electrical position signal, the value of which is indicative of the position of braking force application means along a translation axis; to determine an instantaneous position of braking force application means, based on the value of an electrical position signal; and, through first interruption means, to prevent a braking force control signal emitted by the service braking control unit, or a power supply signal, from reaching the electromechanical module, when: a) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are in a position between a maintenance position and a rest position; b) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are moving from the rest position to the maintenance position. A braking system is also described.

A method for detecting a state of a brake, a brake and a brake system having such a brake, wherein an action element of a brake actuator is moved in a direction in which a friction element connected to the action element is moved in a direction of action towards an element to be braked; wherein, as a first key position, a position of the action element is detected, in which, by an increase in force, a contacting of the friction element on the element to be braked is identified.

A method for detecting a state of a brake, a brake and a brake system having such a brake, wherein an action element of a brake actuator is moved in a direction in which a friction element connected to the action element is moved in a direction of action towards an element to be braked; wherein, as a first key position, a position of the action element is detected, in which, by an increase in force, a contacting of the friction element on the element to be braked is identified.

A tread brake assembly for a rail car includes at least one brake block for pressing against a tread of a corresponding rail car wheel, a piston actuator powered by a fluid for driving the tread brake assembly, a brake rigging for transferring a braking stroke from the actuator piston to the at least one brake block, at least one sensor device for measuring at least one parameter of the tread brake assembly, and the tread brake assembly further includes a stroke detector having an active state in which the stroke detector activates the sensor device, wherein the stroke detector is configured to enter its active state upon detecting a force, stress, strain or motion of the brake block, the brake rigging and/or the actuator.