Module configuration for a pressure control system, base module for such a module configuration, brake system and rail vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a module configuration for at least two different variants of a pressure control system, comprising a relay valve module (2) having at least one relay valve (40); a configuration module (3) having at least one functional unit (50) having a variant-specific function; and a base module (1), wherein the relay valve (2), the configuration module (3) and the base module (1) for a pressure control system are operatively connected to one another, and wherein the base module (1) for the at least two different variants of the pressure control system has functionally identical components. The present invention also relates to a base module (1) for such a module configuration, as well as to a brake system and a rail vehicle having such a module configuration.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Module configuration for pressure control, basic module for such

[0003] Module configuration, braking system and rail vehicle

[0004] The present invention relates to a module configuration for at least two different variants of a pressure control, a base module for such a module configuration, a braking system with such a module configuration and a rail vehicle with such a module configuration and / or a corresponding braking system.

[0005] Various systems can be used for pressure control, each differing in its individual components. For example, pneumatic brake control systems for rail vehicles can have different configurations. This impacts the pneumatic circuit diagrams and configuration effort on the one hand. On the other hand, the variety of variants also results in individual installation space dimensions that must be considered for each installation.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the need for adaptation for different variants of a pressure control, in particular with regard to a variety of configurations and / or installation space dimensions.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, a module configuration for at least two different variants of pressure control comprises a relay valve module with at least one relay valve, a configuration module with at least one functional unit with a variant-specific function, and a base module. The relay valve, the configuration module, and the base module are operatively connected to one another for pressure control. The base module comprises functionally identical components for the at least two different variants of pressure control. Accordingly, functionally identical components can be combined in the base module, while a variant-specific adaptation can be carried out via the relay valve module and / or the configuration module. The term "functionally identical components" can refer to functionally identical, in particular structurally identical, components.However, if individual components are changed during the product life cycle, modified components with the same functionality or at least the same minimum functionality can also be used. In the spirit of a modular principle, the functionally identical components thus refer to identical parts of the module configuration that are comprised of the base module.

[0009] By using a base module for at least two pressure control variants, at least one module, in this case the base module, can be provided with the same installation space dimensions. Installation space dimension variants depending on the pressure control variant then primarily arise only from the variant-specific relay valve modules and / or configuration modules. In a serial arrangement in, for example, a lengthwise direction, the installation space dimensions in the width and height directions can thus be kept essentially the same. Furthermore, the preconfiguration of such a module configuration is simplified by the uniform base module.

[0010] The operative connection between the relay valve module, configuration module, and base module refers to a direct or indirect connection between the modules. In other words, the modules are interconnected in such a way that pressure control results from the connection between the modules.

[0011] In one embodiment, the base module is operatively connected, in particular pneumatically, to the at least one functional unit of the configuration module via at least one configuration module control line, and an output of the functional unit is operatively connected, in particular pneumatically, to a relay valve control input of the relay valve of the relay valve module via a relay control line. In this context, the configuration module control line represents a direct or indirect connection between the base module and the configuration module, wherein an output variable of the base module, for example compressed air, is supplied to the functional unit of the configuration module. The supply can be established via corresponding connecting ports on the base module and the configuration module, to which the output variable of the base module is supplied or from which the input variable of the configuration module is then forwarded.The configuration module control line is used to forward the output variable of the base module to control the functional component or for adaptation by the functional unit.

[0012] For example, the functional unit of the configuration module can be a unit for adjusting a control pressure for the relay valve of the relay valve module, with the control pressure to be adjusted being supplied to the functional unit via the base module. The base module can, for example, have upstream valves or valve groups that control a control pressure to be adjusted. Consequently, the vanant-specific functional unit can only be designed for a smaller adjustment range, allowing the functional unit to be installed in the configuration module to be simplified.

[0013] In one embodiment, the base module is operatively, in particular pneumatically, connected to a relay valve control input of the relay valve of the relay valve module via at least one relay valve control line.

[0014] Thus, the relay valve can also be controlled via the base module as an alternative or in addition to being controlled via the configuration module.

[0015] In one embodiment, at least one output of the relay valve module, in particular an output of the relay valve of the relay valve module, is operatively connected, in particular pneumatically, to the base module via a base module line. For example, the base module can have a sensor that is connected to the base module line and determines the pressure adjusted by the relay valve. In other words, a monitoring function of a relay valve output variable is transferred from the relay valve module to the base module via the base module line or is thereby essentially implemented in the base module.

[0016] In particular, the at least one base module line is operatively connected, in particular pneumatically, to another base module line via a functional component.

[0017] For example, the other base module line, which is operatively connected to the at least one base module line via the functional component, is a line that leads from a relay valve output into the base module and transmits a relay valve output pressure to the brake fluid via this line. The functional component can be configured such that pressure in the other base module line can be vented or reduced via the functional component. For this purpose, the functional component is designed, for example, as a check valve.

[0018] In one embodiment, the functional unit of the configuration module has at least one pressure relief valve or at least one pressure reduction valve.

[0019] Accordingly, a general output pressure, such as that transmitted from the base module to the configuration module as described above, can be further adjusted for each vanant by the pressure relief valve or the pressure reduction valve.

[0020] In particular, the functional unit has at least one pressure limiting valve in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation and at least one pressure reducing valve in at least one other of the at least two variants for pressure regulation.

[0021] Thus, the variant-specific adaptation via the configuration module in one variant consists at least in a variant-specific pressure limitation via the pressure relief valve and in the other variant at least in a variant-specific pressure reduction via the pressure reduction valve.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, the functional unit has at least one pressure relief valve of a first type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure control and at least one pressure relief valve of a second type in at least one other of the at least two variants for pressure control.

[0023] The variant-specific adaptation via the configuration module therefore refers at least to the use of two different variant-specific pressure relief valves.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the functional unit has at least one pressure reducing valve of a first type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation and at least one pressure reducing valve of a second type in at least one other of the at least two variants for pressure regulation.

[0025] The variant-specific adaptation via the configuration module therefore refers at least to the use of two different variant-specific pressure reducing valves.

[0026] In one embodiment, the relay valve module, in particular the relay valve, in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure control differs from that in the at least one other.

[0027] Thus, as an alternative or in addition to a variant-specific adaptation of the module configuration via the configuration module, a variant-specific adaptation of the module configuration can be carried out via the relay valve module.

[0028] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a base module for a module configuration described above, wherein the base module has at least one valve unit for adjusting a pressure and / or at least one sensor unit for determining a pressure. An input pressure can be adjusted to an output pressure of the base module via the at least one valve unit.

[0029] The at least one sensor unit can, for example, be a pressure sensor or another sensor that detects a signal corresponding to a pressure. The determination of the pressure thus refers to a direct or indirect measurement. This can be used to determine the pressure of an output variable of the configuration module and / or the relay valve module, which is routed via the base module, as well as to monitor a pressure that is adjusted by the base module itself.

[0030] In one embodiment, the base module has at least one reservoir for providing pneumatic pressure.

[0031] For example, the reservoir can be configured to compensate for pressure fluctuations in order to provide a stable pressure level for control. The reservoir can also be referred to as the pilot volume or is part of the pilot volume.

[0032] In one embodiment, the base module has at least one output and / or input for connection to the configuration module and / or at least one output and / or input for connection to the relay valve module.

[0033] The base module can be connected to the respective inputs of the configuration module or relay valve module via respective outputs. As described above, for example, a control pressure for the relay valve can be forwarded as an output variable of the base module via the input of the configuration module to the functional unit in order to further adjust the control pressure for the relay valve for specific variants.

[0034] Likewise, the base module can receive output variables from the configuration module and / or relay valve module via various inputs in order to determine and / or adjust them. In particular, the base module has at least one valve, in particular a solenoid valve, for adjusting a pressure at the output for connection to the configuration module.

[0035] This concerns the concrete design of the base module as a pre-control module of the configuration module.

[0036] In one embodiment, the base module has at least one sensor for determining a pressure at the output for connection to the relay valve module.

[0037] This concerns the specific design of the base module as a monitoring and / or control module for the relay valve module.

[0038] The features of the base module described in the above description of the module configuration are equally applicable to the base module itself. Likewise, features of the module configuration described for the base module are transferable to this module, unless they have already been described for this module.

[0039] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a braking system having at least one module configuration as described above and a pneumatic braking unit, wherein the relay valve is configured to adjust a braking pressure for the pneumatic braking unit.

[0040] The relay valve can be controlled based on the connection with the base module and / or with the configuration module.

[0041] The features described in the above description of the module configuration and / or the base module are equally applicable to the braking system. Likewise, features described for the braking system are transferable to the module configuration and / or the base module, unless they have already been described for this purpose. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a rail vehicle with a module configuration and / or a braking system described above.

[0042] The use of the module configuration for a rail vehicle is not limited to pressure control for a braking system and can also be used for other pressure control purposes.

[0043] The features described in the above description of the module configuration, the base module, and / or the braking system are equally applicable to the rail vehicle. Likewise, features described for the module configuration, the base module, and / or the braking system for the rail vehicle are transferable to these, unless they have already been described for this purpose.

[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

[0045] In detail,

[0046] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a module configuration; and

[0047] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a base module applicable to the module configuration of Figure 1.

[0048] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a module configuration. The module configuration comprises a base module 1, a relay valve module 2, and a configuration module 3. The relay valve module 2 has a relay valve 40 with two relay valve control inputs 41, 42. The configuration module 3 has a functional unit 50, here a pressure relief valve. In the present embodiment, the relay valve 40 and the functional unit 50 are variant-specific components with regard to the variants of a pressure control, whereas the configuration of the base module 1, described later with reference to Fig. 2, is variant-independent. In other embodiments, however, only the configuration module 3 or the relay valve module 2 can have variant-specific components, in particular a variant-specific functional unit 50 or a variant-specific relay valve 40.

[0049] The base module 1 is connected to one relay valve control input 42 via a relay valve control line R1. In the present embodiment, the connection is made via a base module output and a relay valve module input. The relay valve control line R1 can also pass through the configuration module 3 before being connected to the relay valve control input, for example if another variant-specific function is to be implemented by the configuration module 3. For example, the compressed air can then be adjusted in the configuration module using solenoid valves, or additional sensors for detecting a measured variable can be arranged along the relay valve control line R1. The relay valve control line R1 can pass through the configuration module upstream and / or downstream of the base module 1. In addition, the base module 1 is connected to a relay valve output via a base module line R4.The relay valve output refers to an output pressure to be controlled by relay valve 40. For this purpose, relay valve module 2 has the corresponding relay valve outputs, and base module 1 has a corresponding one.

[0050] Base module input. The base module 1 also has a base module output, which is connected to a relay valve input of the relay valve 40 via the base module line R2. Another base module output is connected to a relay valve input of the relay valve 40 via a further base module line R3. Furthermore, the base module 1 is also connected to the functional unit 50 via a configuration control line C1, so that compressed air can be supplied to the functional unit 50, which is further adjusted via the functional unit 50. The compressed air that can be adjusted in this way is then supplied to the other relay control input 41 via a relay valve control line C2. In the present embodiment, the relay valve 40 is controlled via the relay valve control input 41 as long as the pressure introduced into the relay valve control input 41 is greater than the pressure present at the relay valve control input 42.In other embodiments, however, the relevant control pressure for the relay valve 40 can also be influenced in parallel by both relay control valve inputs 41, 42 and / or a change in the relevant relay valve control input can be carried out by a control device depending on a braking type, an operating state, or other influencing variables. In yet other embodiments, the relay valve 40 can also be controlled only via the relay valve line R1 and the associated relay valve control input 42. Control via the relay valve control line C2 can therefore be omitted, and the relay valve 40 only has the relay valve control input 42. In the present embodiment, the relay valve control line C2 is routed through the base module 1 in order to enable a compact design of the module configuration.In other embodiments, a pressure sensor or a sensor for detecting a quantity representing a pressure may also be provided in the base module 1, which is connected to the relay valve control line C2.

[0051] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a base module that can be applied to the module configuration of Figure 1. The base module 1 has two solenoid valves 12, 13 that control compressed air in the event of service braking. A further solenoid valve 11, which is arranged downstream of the solenoid valves 12, 13 in the direction of compressed air flow, can also directly forward compressed air in the event of emergency braking without influence from the solenoid valves 12, 13. The output of the solenoid valve 11 is connected to the functional unit 50 of the configuration module 3 via the configuration module control line C1, as described above. The configuration module control line C1 is connected to a reservoir 30 of the base module 1, via which compressed air can be supplied or absorbed.The reservoir 30 serves to compensate for pressure fluctuations in the configuration module line C1, thus enabling a stable pressure level for control. A pressure sensor 21 is arranged between the connection point of the reservoir 30 to the configuration module control line C1 and the associated base module output. The pressure sensor 21 can be used to monitor the pressure delivered via the configuration module control line C1 at the base module output and feed it to a corresponding control system. The base module 1 thus provides a control pressure for the relay valve 40 via the configuration module control line C1, which is adjusted for each variant via the functional unit 50. In other words, the base module 1 can be used for pilot control, while the configuration module performs variant-specific follow-up control.

[0052] The base module line R4 originating from the relay valve output of the relay valve 40 passes through the base module 1, which has a pressure sensor 24 connected to the base module line R4 in order to monitor the output pressure of the relay valve 40 in the direction of a braking medium to be acted upon by the output pressure and to supply it to a corresponding control.

[0053] In addition, the base module 1 has a pressure sensor 22, which is connected to one relay valve input via the base module line R2 in order to monitor an input pressure to be adjusted by the relay valve 40. Another pressure sensor 23 of the base module 1 is connected to the other base module line R3, which is connected to the other relay output. The other base module line R3 is also connected to the base module line R4 via a check valve 14 as a functional component. The check valve 14 enables venting or pressure reduction in the base module line R4 via the relay valve control line R3. The pressure sensor 23 is arranged upstream of the connection between the base module line R3 and the base module line R4.Thus, the pressure sensor 22 detects the direct input pressure with respect to the corresponding relay valve input, while the pressure sensor 23 detects the input pressure with respect to the other relay valve input without the influence of the connection of the base module line R3 and the base module line R4 via the check valve 14.

[0054] The invention is not limited to the described embodiment. In particular, features described for the embodiment, other refinements, and developments of the invention can be combined with one another, provided they do not reasonably exclude one another. Furthermore, the valves, sensors, and / or functional units can also be designed redundantly. In particular, the sensors, in particular all sensors, of the base module are provided redundantly. Accordingly, for example, the respective sensors are provided at least twice with respect to a measured variable and are connected to the respective line. For example, the base module 1 has two pressure sensors 21 along the configuration module control line C1.Preferably, the connections of the two pressure sensors 21 to the configuration module control line C1 are provided such that no intermediate component that could influence the measured variable is arranged in connection to the configuration module control line C1 between the connection points of the pressure sensors 21. Furthermore, the base module can have a special structure with regard to a connection of the solenoid valve 11 for emergency braking. The solenoid valve 11 can be provided directly for the passage of compressed air and can be operated accordingly. Alternatively, instead of the solenoid valve 11 for the passage of compressed air, a piston valve can be provided that is controlled by the solenoid valve 11. If the solenoid valve 11 itself, i.e. without the piston valve, in particular a piston valve with a comparatively large cross-section, is provided for the passage of compressed air, a more compact design of the base module 1 can be enabled.The solenoid valve 11 can comprise a conventional switching magnet, on which all three inputs are used. In particular, the solenoid valve 11 has an armature that is mounted via a corresponding connection. Furthermore, the reservoir 30 can also be arranged between the solenoid valves 12, 13 for service braking. This allows a higher speed to be achieved during venting after an emergency braking, particularly with regard to the passage of compressed air through the solenoid valve 11 itself. Depending on the arrangement of the reservoir 30, i.e., as described in Fig. 2 or between the solenoid valves 12, 13, a needs-based or application-specific adaptation can be achieved.

[0055] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0056] 1 basic module

[0057] 2 relay valve module

[0058] 3 Configuration module

[0059] 11 Solenoid valve

[0060] 12 Solenoid valve

[0061] 13 Solenoid valve

[0062] 14 Check valve (functional component)

[0063] 21 Pressure sensor (C1)

[0064] 22 Pressure sensor (R2)

[0065] 23 Pressure sensor (R3)

[0066] 24 Pressure sensor (R4)

[0067] 25 Pressure sensor (R1)

[0068] 30 Reservoir

[0069] 40 Relay valve

[0070] 41 Relay valve control input (configuration module)

[0071] 42 Relay valve control input (basic module)

[0072] 50 functional units

[0073] C1 Configuration module control line (base module)

[0074] C2 Relay valve control line (configuration module)

[0075] R1 Relay valve control line (basic module)

[0076] R2 base module line (relay valve module)

[0077] R3 base module line (relay valve module)

[0078] R4 base module cable (relay valve)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Module configuration for at least two different variants of a pressure control, comprising a relay valve module (2) with at least one relay valve (40), a configuration module (3) with at least one functional unit (50) with a variant-specific function and a base module (1), wherein the relay valve (2), the configuration module (3) and the base module (1) are operatively connected to one another for pressure control, and wherein the base module (1) has functionally identical components for the at least two different variants of the pressure control.

2. The module configuration according to claim 1, wherein the base module (1) is operatively, in particular pneumatically, connected to the at least one functional unit (50) of the configuration module (3) via at least one configuration module control line (C1) and an output of the functional unit (50) is operatively, in particular pneumatically, connected to a relay valve control input (41) of the relay valve (40) of the relay valve module (2) via a relay control line (C2).

3. The module configuration according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base module (1) is operatively, in particular pneumatically, connected to a relay valve control input (42) of the relay valve (40) of the relay valve module (2) via at least one relay valve control line (R1).

4. The module configuration according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one output of the relay valve module (2), in particular an output of the relay valve (40) of the relay valve module (2), is operatively, in particular pneumatically, connected to the base module (1) via a base module line (R2, R3).

5. The module configuration according to claim 4, wherein the at least one base module line (R3) is operatively connected, in particular pneumatically, to another base module line (R4) via a functional component (14).

6. The module configuration according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional unit (50) of the configuration module (3) has at least one pressure relief valve or at least one pressure reduction valve.

7. The module configuration according to claim 6, wherein the functional unit (50) has the at least one pressure relief valve in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation and the at least one pressure reducing valve in the at least one other of the at least two variants for pressure regulation, has at least one pressure relief valve of a first type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation and at least one pressure relief valve of a second type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation, and / or has at least one pressure reducing valve of a first type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation and at least one pressure reducing valve of a second type in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure regulation.

8. The module configuration according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relay valve module (2), in particular the relay valve (40), in at least one of the at least two variants for pressure control differs from that in the at least one other variant.

9. Base module (1) for a module configuration according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base module (1) has at least one valve unit (11, 12, 13) for adjusting a pressure and / or at least one sensor unit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) for determining a pressure.

10. The base module (1) according to claim 9, wherein the base module (1) has at least one reservoir for providing a pneumatic pressure.

11. The base module (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the base module (1) has at least one output and / or input for connection to the configuration module (3) and / or at least one output and / or input for connection to the relay valve module (2).

12. The base module (1) according to claim 11, wherein the base module (1) has at least one valve (11, 12, 13), in particular a solenoid valve (11, 12, 13), for adjusting a pressure at the output for connection to the configuration module (3).

13. The base module (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the base module (1) has at least one sensor (25) for determining a pressure at the output for connection to the relay valve module (2).

14. A braking system comprising at least one module configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a pneumatic braking unit, wherein the relay valve (40) is configured to adjust a braking pressure for the pneumatic braking unit.

15. A rail vehicle having a module configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a braking system according to claim 14.

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