An emergency braking control circuit based on coupler coupling detection includes a coupler status detection circuit and a coupler status relay that are connected in series with a train power loop. A normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected to an emergency braking train line in a cross-parallel manner. When a coupler is coupled normally, inductive proximity sensors located at a knuckle and a central pivot are closed to drive the coupler status relay, and the normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected in a cross-parallel manner to ensure that a corresponding node of the emergency braking loop is closed. In case of abnormal coupling or accidental uncoupling of couplers, the inductive proximity sensors of the couplers of two adjacent cars are disconnected simultaneously, the coupler status relays of the two cars are powered off, and emergency braking is applied.

A method includes applying a brake system of a multi-vehicle system using an onboard controller device and receiving grade input at the onboard controller device from a remote controller device. The grade input indicates a grade of a surface on which the multi-vehicle system is disposed. The method further includes starting movement responsive to receiving a speed command signal at the onboard controller device from the remote controller device. The movement started by initiating release of the brake system and/or generating tractive effort from a propulsion system of the multi-vehicle system stretches the multi-vehicle system. The method further includes, responsive to the movement reaching a designated speed, switching to a closed loop control process of controlling the movement based on one or more of the speed command signal or a brake command signal received at the onboard controller device from the remote controller device.

An emergency braking control circuit based on coupler coupling detection includes a coupler status detection circuit and a coupler status relay that are connected in series with a train power loop. A normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected to an emergency braking train line in a cross-parallel manner. When a coupler is coupled normally, inductive proximity sensors located at a knuckle and a central pivot are closed to drive the coupler status relay, and the normally open contact of the coupler status relay is connected in a cross-parallel manner to ensure that a corresponding node of the emergency braking loop is closed. In case of abnormal coupling or accidental uncoupling of couplers, the inductive proximity sensors of the couplers of two adjacent cars are disconnected simultaneously, the coupler status relays of the two cars are powered off, and emergency braking is applied.

An automatic parking brake for a truck mounted brake cylinder. The automatic parking brake includes rod that is interconnected to a piston of the brake cylinder and can prevent the piston from returning to the brakes releases position. The rod is controlled by locking nut that will rotate if the rod moves axially through the locking nut and a locking sleeve that is moveable between a locked position, where the locking sleeve engages the locking nut and prevents from the nut from rotating, and a released position, where the locking sleeve is disengages from the locking nut and the locking nut is free to rotate. A spring provides a force biasing the locking nut into the locked position, and brake pipe pressure biases the locking sleeve into the released position.

A locomotive air brake control system that responds to penalty braking requests from external systems by applying a varying amount of train brake level based on monitored and calculated parameters in order to enforce a defined train condition. The system may include a minimum acceptable train braking, a condition to be achieved to prevent further application of train brakes, and a maximum train brake level to be applied in response to the request. Alternatively, the system may apply braking in stepped levels according defined thresholds for a train behavior variable of interest such as speed or deceleration. The system may be configured to incrementally apply and release train brakes during the adaptive penalty, and may also adjust the level of braking according to calculated braking capacity of the train.

A power control system for a vehicle system identifies coupler nodes in the vehicle system for travel of the vehicle system along a route. The coupler nodes represent slack states of couplers between vehicles in the vehicle system. The system also determines combined driving parameters at locations along the route where a state of the coupler nodes in the vehicle system will change within the vehicle system during the upcoming movement of the vehicle system. The system determines a restriction on operations of the vehicle system to control the coupler nodes during the upcoming movement of the vehicle system and to distribute the combined driving parameters among two or more of the vehicles.

A computer controlled locomotive brake (CCB) configured for setting and releasing the retainer valves of the railcars of a train. The CCB may initially recharge the brake pipe to a pressure slightly less than the retainer valve release pressure. The CCB may then continue charging to this level until the brake pipe flow, measured at the CCB on the controlling locomotive and the brake pipe pressure on the last car, as measured by an end of train device, indicate that the pressure in the braking system reservoirs are substantively equal to the brake pipe pressure. Once the reservoirs are substantively charged, the CCB may complete the brake release and recharge by recharging the brake pipe pressure to its final charge so that all retainer valves are released and the train has sufficient braking system recharge to safely control movement of the train.

A control system identifies vehicle systems for combining into a larger convoy. Each the vehicle systems is formed from at least one propulsion-generating vehicle and at least one non-propulsion-generating vehicle. The control system directs the identified vehicle systems to couple with each other for travel as the convoy from a first location toward a different, second location. The control system directs a first vehicle system in the convoy to separate from the convoy and/or a second vehicle system to join the convoy by coupling with at least one of the vehicle systems in the convoy in an intermediate location between the first and second locations. The vehicles in each of the vehicle systems in the convoy remain connected during separation of the first vehicle system from the convoy and/or during joining of the second vehicle system to the convoy.

An emergency brake valve system for a pneumatic brake system of a vehicle, in particular of a rail vehicle, includes a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve is configured to conduct an auxiliary pressure to, or isolate this from, the second valve, whereas the second valve is configured to provide either a static or a regulated pressure in a manner which is dependent on the auxiliary pressure. The first valve is configured in such a way that it isolates the prevailing auxiliary pressure from the second valve in regular operation, with the result that the second valve provides a regulated pressure, and that it conducts the prevailing auxiliary pressure to the second valve in emergency operation, with the result that the second valve provides a static pressure.

A power control system for a vehicle system identifies coupler nodes in the vehicle system for travel of the vehicle system along a route. The coupler nodes represent slack states of couplers between vehicles in the vehicle system. The system also determines combined driving parameters at locations along the route where a state of the coupler nodes in the vehicle system will change within the vehicle system during the upcoming movement of the vehicle system. The system determines a restriction on operations of the vehicle system to control the coupler nodes during the upcoming movement of the vehicle system and to distribute the combined driving parameters among two or more of the vehicles.