Braking System Availability Verification Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
The availability of braking system activation levels in powered systems, such as trains and off-highway vehicles, is not verifiable until needed, leading to potential malfunctions during critical operations like steep grade descents, where timely remedial action is impossible if the required activation level is not available.
Innovation Solution
A verification system that includes a controller coupled to the engine and braking system, which predetermines and activates lower activation levels at incremental locations along a route to verify the availability of higher activation levels, using sensors to measure parameters like speed, acceleration, and tractive effort, and determines the effectiveness of the braking function based on predetermined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the braking system activation level is only verified when actually needed, then the system operation is simple and straightforward, but the reliability of braking system availability cannot be ensured until the moment of need
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of braking system activation levels by activating lower levels at incremental locations along the route before reaching critical sections. This advance verification ensures that higher activation levels will be available when needed, allowing remedial action to be taken before a malfunction occurs during critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process is segmented into multiple incremental locations along the route, where lower activation levels are verified at different points. This segmentation allows the system to progressively build confidence in braking system availability without requiring full activation levels throughout the entire route, balancing verification thoroughness with operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If the controller activates lower activation levels at incremental locations to verify higher levels, then the reliability of braking system availability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing controller is enhanced to perform both normal braking operations and verification functions using the same hardware infrastructure. The controller utilizes existing sensors (speed, acceleration, tractive effort) and actuators, making the verification system multi-functional rather than requiring separate dedicated verification hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking system verifies its own activation levels using its existing components and control logic. The controller independently performs verification by activating lower levels and monitoring system response, eliminating the need for external verification equipment or additional complex subsystems.
3Reliability
If proactive verification is implemented at incremental locations, then timely remedial action is enabled, but the loss of time for system operation increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system verifies only lower activation levels at incremental locations rather than fully activating and verifying all braking levels continuously. This partial verification approach provides sufficient confidence in system availability while minimizing the time penalty, as lower activation levels require less energy and produce fewer operational disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
Verification of braking activation levels is performed periodically at predetermined incremental locations along the route rather than continuously. This periodic approach ensures reliability at critical points while allowing normal operations to proceed uninterrupted between verification points, maintaining system productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A verification system is provided for verifying the availability of a first level of a braking system in a powered system. The powered system travels along a route. The verification system includes a controller coupled to an engine and a braking system of the powered system. The controller is configured to predetermine one of an activation level of the engine and/or an activation level of the braking system at a plurality of incremental locations along the route. The controller is further configured to activate the first level of the braking system at an incremental location having a predetermined activation level of the braking system which is lower than the first level of the braking system. A method is also provided for verifying the availability of the first level of a braking system in a powered system.