A system for identifying whether the braking system of a train is functioning properly such as during a train terminal test. A monitor on a rail car is used to detect abnormalities in the braking system and can report problems to a handheld terminal or a central controller in the locomotive. The monitor has a pressure sensor for measuring brake pipe pressure, auxiliary reservoir pressure, emergency reservoir pressure, and brake cylinder pressure at the rail car. The monitor also has a controller that can calculate whether brake pipe reduction resulted in the appropriate amount of brake cylinder pressure. The monitor can then provide the results locally via a visual indicator or remotely to a handheld terminal used by a train inspector or the controller in the locomotive. Testing data over time may be stored for future reference or transmitted remotely to assist with maintenance and service scheduling.

A supervising device for monitoring the operation of an anti-slip device is described; the supervising device is arranged to: acquire estimated instantaneous linear speeds associated with axles controlled by the anti-slip device; compare the estimated instantaneous linear speeds with a linear reference speed; monitor the state of the pressures to the brake cylinders; determine whether the anti-slip device is working correctly, depending on predetermined trends of each of the estimated instantaneous linear speeds associated with the axles in the slipping phase, with respect to the reference linear speed, in association with each of the pressures to the brake cylinders associated with the axles adjust the preloaded time value in at least one of the timing devices when the supervising device determines that the anti-slip device is not working correctly.

The invention relates to a brake system of a rail vehicle having at least one pneumatic brake actuator, a pneumatic braking device for generating a brake pressure, an electro-pneumatic braking device for generating a brake pressure, and a controller. In the event of rapid, forcible, or emergency braking, the pneumatic braking device or the electro-pneumatic braking device provides a basic brake pressure, and the brake pressure is changed by the electro-pneumatic braking device, starting from the basic brake pressure provided, depending in particular on a load and/or a speed.

A brake system, brake regulating method and device for a rail vehicle use an input for a target deceleration value (ä.sub.set), an input for an actual deceleration value (a.sub.train), and an output for a deceleration control variable value. The deceleration control variable value (a.sub.OUt) is set by a regulating unit to minimize a deviation between the actual deceleration value (a.sub.train) and the target deceleration value (a.sub.set). The brake regulating device uses a limiting device, which limits the deceleration control variable value (a.sub.out) independently of the regulating unit such that the deceleration control variable value (a.sub.out) deviates from the target deceleration value (a.sub.set) maximally by a maximum negative control stroke to lower values or maximally by a maximum positive control stroke to higher values. The invention additionally relates to a braking method and a brake system for a rail vehicle.

A system includes one or more processors, a communication device, and a positive train control (PTC) system. The one or more processors and communication device are onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system that includes the lead vehicle and a first remote vehicle. The PTC system is configured to restrict movement of the vehicle system based on a location of the vehicle system. The PTC system communicates a list of vehicle identifiers to the one or more processors. The communication device communicates a wireless linking message, which includes a vehicle identifier associated with the first remote vehicle, to the first remote vehicle. The communication device establishes a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The one or more processors remotely control movement of the first remote vehicle via the communication link.

A system for measuring motion of a locomotive vehicle includes a speed sensor, a decelerometer and an onboard processing unit. The speed sensor is configured to measure wheel speed of the locomotive vehicle. The decelerometer includes a level-sensitive device configured to measure acceleration or deceleration of the locomotive vehicle as a function of a tilt from a level position. The onboard processing unit computes a current grade traversed by the locomotive vehicle prior to detection of a slip or slide condition based on a first measurement signal from the decelerometer. Upon detection of the slip or slide condition, the onboard processing unit obtains a second measurement signal from the decelerometer and filters out the current grade from the second measurement signal. The onboard processing unit determines an actual acceleration or deceleration of the locomotive vehicle during the slip or slide condition from the filtered second measurement signal from the decelerometer.

A method and system include a vehicle control system including a multi-vehicle system. The system includes a controller. The controller determines a slack condition of a multi-vehicle system while the multi-vehicle system is parked. The controller determines the slack condition based on one or more sensor signals received from at least one sensor, the controller configured to control movement of the multi-vehicle system based on the slack condition that is determined while transitioning from being parked to forward motion.

A system that includes a first control unit having one or more processors. The one or more processors may operate a first traction control unit and a first braking device of a first vehicle of a vehicle system based on an operator input command signal. The system also includes a second control unit in communication with the first control unit and having one or more processors configured to operate a second traction device and a second braking device of a second vehicle of the vehicle system based on at least one operational objective of the vehicle system.

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.

A method for assessing contamination of a rail, in particular for a railway vehicle, comprises the steps of imposing a first sliding value lower than a first threshold between the wheels of a first controlled axle and the rail, the first controlled axle being the head axle of the railway vehicle, imposing a second sliding value greater than a second threshold between the wheels of a second controlled axle and the rail, the second axle following the first axle and the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, and determining the trend of an adhesion curve between the wheels belonging to a plurality of controlled axles and the rail, based on a first adhesion value between the wheels of the first axle and the rail, and a second adhesion value between the wheels of the second axle and the rail.