Rail Electropneumatic Brake Electronic Control Device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electropneumatic braking systems for rail vehicles cannot prevent wheel locking during emergency braking, as they rely on purely electrical, pneumatic, or electro-pneumatic components that lack the necessary control to regulate brake pressure effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an electronic control device with a fail-safe power supply configuration, such as redundant central power, independent non-redundant power, or both, to regulate brake pressure and prevent wheel locking, along with a software-implemented brake pressure control that adjusts based on actual and target pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If purely electric, pneumatic, or electro-pneumatic components are used for emergency braking, then the system maintains fail-safety through non-electronic components, but the system cannot regulate brake pressure to prevent wheel locking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel locking preventionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces purely mechanical or pneumatic valve actuation with an electronic control device that uses electronic signals to regulate the brake pressure. The electronic control device receives wheel slip detection signals and actively controls the valve assembly to modulate brake pressure, substituting passive pneumatic systems with active electronic control while maintaining the pneumatic brake actuation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electronic control device as an intermediary between the wheel slip detection system and the pneumatic valve assembly. This intermediary processes detection signals and generates appropriate control signals to regulate brake pressure, enabling coordinated control between detection and actuation systems without direct mechanical coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If an electronic control device is added to regulate brake pressure, then wheel locking prevention is achieved, but the power supply reliability must be maintained against the backdrop of conventional fail-safe systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake pressure regulationVSAvoidpower supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the power supply configuration from a single power source to a dual power source system with automatic switching capability. The system can switch between first and second power sources based on their availability, and the electronic control device monitors power supply status to maintain continuous operation during power transitions, ensuring uninterrupted brake pressure regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares for power supply failures by providing redundant power sources and automatic switching mechanisms before failures occur. The system is designed with a second power source that can immediately take over if the first power source fails, cushioning against the harmful effect of power interruption and ensuring continuous electronic control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If redundant power supply systems are implemented, then power supply reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidpower supply system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power supply functions by integrating a second power source into the existing power supply architecture of the train. The control device is designed to accept power from either source and automatically manages the switching between them, combining the functionality of multiple power sources into a unified control system that appears as a single integrated unit rather than separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3630564B1Electropneumatic brake device having a secure power supply for implementing an emergency braking function
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 KNORR BREMSE SYST FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3630564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3630564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3630564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electropneumatic brake device for a rail vehicle, having a pneumatic brake cylinder (1), an intermediate tank (2) in which compressed air is stored, and a compressed-air line (5) which is configured to feed compressed air from the intermediate tank (2) to the brake cylinder (1) via a valve device (7). The brake device is configured to carry out an emergency braking function in that the valve device (7) receives an emergency braking signal from an emergency braking loop to feed the compressed air from the intermediate tank (2) to the brake cylinder (1). The valve device (7) has an electronic control device (9) which controls the braking pressure which is fed to the brake cylinder (1) from the intermediate tank (2).