The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand brake (1) of at least one rail wagon, preferably unpowered rail wagon, comprising a chassis by means of a monitoring system (33, 34); said hand brake comprising a hand-operated mechanical device, a brake linkage system and at least one brake pad; said hand-operated mechanical device, said brake linkage system and said at least one brake pad mechanically connected; said monitoring system comprising a detection module and a monitoring module; said detection module comprising at least one detector element (33, 34); said monitoring module comprising a processor, tangible non-volatile memory, instructions on said memory for instructing said processor; said method comprising a plurality of steps.

The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand brake (1) of at least one rail wagon, preferably unpowered rail wagon, comprising a chassis by means of a monitoring system (33, 34); said hand brake comprising a hand-operated mechanical device, a brake linkage system and at least one brake pad; said hand-operated mechanical device, said brake linkage system and said at least one brake pad mechanically connected; said monitoring system comprising a detection module and a monitoring module; said detection module comprising at least one detector element (33, 34); said monitoring module comprising a processor, tangible non-volatile memory, instructions on said memory for instructing said processor; said method comprising a plurality of steps.

A hanging trolley system includes a body, a plurality of first support wheels, and a brake system. The body includes upper and lower portions. The first support wheels are coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other. The first support wheels are configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail. The brake system includes a traction wheel, a first component, and a second component. The traction wheel is coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis and is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail. The first component is coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith. The second component is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the first component.

A hanging trolley system includes a body, a plurality of first support wheels, and a brake system. The body includes upper and lower portions. The first support wheels are coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other. The first support wheels are configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail. The brake system includes a traction wheel, a first component, and a second component. The traction wheel is coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis and is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail. The first component is coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith. The second component is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the first component.

Provided is a hand brake limiting device, comprising a bearing I (10), a spring, a spring holder (12), a guide plate (9), and a guide plate holder (23); the bearing I (10) is disposed on the spring holder (12); the spring is sleeved on the outside of the bearing I (10); the guide plate (9) and the guide plate holder (23) are sequentially disposed at one side of the spring away from the spring holder (12); a stopper post III (7) is secured to one side of the spring holder (12) facing the spring; a stopper post In (8) is secured to one side of the guide plate (9) facing the spring; a stopper post II (26) is secured to one side of the guide plate holder (23) facing the guide plate (9).

Provided is a hand brake limiting device, comprising a bearing I (10), a spring, a spring holder (12), a guide plate (9), and a guide plate holder (23); the bearing I (10) is disposed on the spring holder (12); the spring is sleeved on the outside of the bearing I (10); the guide plate (9) and the guide plate holder (23) are sequentially disposed at one side of the spring away from the spring holder (12); a stopper post III (7) is secured to one side of the spring holder (12) facing the spring; a stopper post In (8) is secured to one side of the guide plate (9) facing the spring; a stopper post II (26) is secured to one side of the guide plate holder (23) facing the guide plate (9).

A train consist for freight transportation includes a first or lead locomotive and at least one second or trail, adjacent locomotive directly connected with one another, followed by a plurality of cars or wagons. Each of the locomotives has an Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System (ECPBS), a brake handle installed in the driver's cab providing electric signals to control the ECPBSs upon train operator's commands, and a communication layer used to transmit various signals between the two or more adjacent locomotives of the consist. The electrical signals generated by the brake handle in the lead locomotive are extended to at least the first trail locomotive through the communication layer in order to control the ECPBS in the trail locomotive, providing full train brake redundancy, allowing non-degraded train operation even in case of an unrecoverable failure of the brake control system in the lead locomotive.

A train consist for freight transportation includes a first or lead locomotive and at least one second or trail, adjacent locomotive directly connected with one another, followed by a plurality of cars or wagons. Each of the locomotives has an Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System (ECPBS), a brake handle installed in the driver's cab providing electric signals to control the ECPBSs upon train operator's commands, and a communication layer used to transmit various signals between the two or more adjacent locomotives of the consist. The electrical signals generated by the brake handle in the lead locomotive are extended to at least the first trail locomotive through the communication layer in order to control the ECPBS in the trail locomotive, providing full train brake redundancy, allowing non-degraded train operation even in case of an unrecoverable failure of the brake control system in the lead locomotive.

A brake controller includes: a necessary braking force calculator to calculate a necessary braking force that is a braking force generated by a mechanical brake apparatus in order to obtain a deceleration indicated by a brake command; an initial speed acquirer to acquires an initial speed; a target pressing force calculator to calculate a target pressing force that is a force for pressing a brake shoe against a wheel in order to obtain the necessary braking force; and a target pressure calculator to calculate a target pressure indicating a pressure of a fluid inside the brake cylinder that is necessary for obtaining the target pressing force and perform feedback control to adjust the target pressure based on a feedback signal acquired from a pressure sensor.

A brake controller includes: a necessary braking force calculator to calculate a necessary braking force that is a braking force generated by a mechanical brake apparatus in order to obtain a deceleration indicated by a brake command; an initial speed acquirer to acquires an initial speed; a target pressing force calculator to calculate a target pressing force that is a force for pressing a brake shoe against a wheel in order to obtain the necessary braking force; and a target pressure calculator to calculate a target pressure indicating a pressure of a fluid inside the brake cylinder that is necessary for obtaining the target pressing force and perform feedback control to adjust the target pressure based on a feedback signal acquired from a pressure sensor.