Brake Pressure Timestamping for Rail Leak Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake monitoring systems in rail vehicle systems face challenges in accurately locating leaks in air brake systems, leading to unintended brake applications, due to limitations in precision and the difficulty in detecting the source of pressure reductions, which can propagate along the brake pipe.
Innovation Solution
A brake monitoring system with sensor assemblies at different locations equipped with pressure sensors and clock devices to measure and timestamp pressure drops, allowing a system controller to compare timestamps and determine the location of a leak by identifying the earliest pressure drop, accounting for clock drift, and triggering responsive actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional UDE application time box devices are used to identify leak locations, then the system can detect emergency brake applications, but the precision of leak location identification is limited to a 300-400 foot range
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the rail vehicle system into multiple segments by placing sensor assemblies at different locations (front, middle, and rear vehicles). Each sensor assembly independently monitors pressure drops in its local segment, allowing the system to identify which specific segment experienced the pressure drop first. This segmentation transforms the single 300-400 foot precision limitation into multiple smaller measurement zones, effectively improving overall leak location precision throughout the entire train length.
2Measurement precision
If a person walks the length of the vehicle system to find the leak location, then the leak can be visually inspected, but it takes a significant amount of time to locate the leak
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical inspection method (person walking the length of the vehicle system) with an automated electronic monitoring system. Sensor assemblies equipped with pressure sensors and clock devices automatically detect and timestamp pressure drops, and the system controller processes this data to identify leak locations. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual inspection process while providing more precise and objective leak location identification through electronic measurement and automated analysis.
3Reliability
If the air pressure reduction propagates through the brake pipe, then the leak can be detected system-wide, but unintended brake applications occur along the length of the vehicle system
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of leaks before they can cause widespread unintended brake applications. By continuously monitoring pressure at multiple locations with timestamping capability, the system detects pressure drops at their source location first. This early detection allows the system to identify and respond to leaks before the pressure reduction propagates through the entire brake pipe and triggers unintended brake engagements in multiple vehicles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and accurate identification of the location of unintended brake applications, allowing for timely inspection and repair, thereby preventing further unintended brake engagements and ensuring safer operation.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring pressures in a brake system of a vehicle system at different locations in the vehicle system
Implementation Method 2
determining times at which the decreases in the pressures occurred
Data Source
AI summary
A brake monitoring system monitors pressures in a brake system of a vehicle system at different locations in the vehicle system. Decreases in the pressures are determined at two or more of the different locations. The times at which the decreases in the pressures occurred are determined. A location of interest of a leak in the brake system is determined by comparing the times at which the decreases in the pressures occurred.