Common Emergency Release Circuit for Rail Brake Systems
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake systems for vehicles, particularly in rail vehicle combinations, lack a safe and reliable emergency release mechanism that ensures a secure disengagement of frictional connections between braking means, leading to potential safety risks during towing operations.
Innovation Solution
A common emergency release circuit is formed between a vehicle being towed and its towing vehicle, incorporating an emergency release valve device that can be activated by actuating means from either vehicle, ensuring a controlled release of braking means by switching the valve device to a specific position, which allows for safe disengagement of braking elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brake system with emergency release circuit is used for vehicles, then the braking function can be actuated, but the safety of emergency release during towing operations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the emergency release circuits of the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed into a single common emergency release circuit. This integration ensures that the emergency release function operates reliably across both vehicles during towing operations, resolving the safety insufficiency while avoiding the need for completely separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The common emergency release circuit is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be activated by either the towing vehicle or the vehicle being towed, and it controls the emergency release of braking means for both vehicles. This multi-functionality enhances reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Speed
If the emergency release valve device is activated by a single vehicle's actuating means, then the response speed is fast, but unintentional brake releases may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the emergency release valve device requires confirmation from both the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed before actual release occurs. The system monitors the state of both vehicles and only executes release when both confirm emergency conditions, preventing unintentional releases while maintaining fast response through pre-positioned components.
Solution Approach 2:
The common emergency release circuit acts as an intermediary between the actuating means of both vehicles and the emergency release valve device. It coordinates the signals from both vehicles and controls the valve activation, ensuring that neither vehicle can accidentally trigger release alone while still enabling rapid response when both confirm emergency conditions.
3Ease of operation
If separate emergency release circuits are used for towing vehicle and vehicle being towed, then each vehicle has independent control, but the coordination during towing operations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate emergency release circuits into a common circuit that coordinates control between the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed. This merging ensures that both vehicles work together harmoniously during towing operations, with the common circuit managing the coordination while still allowing each vehicle to contribute to the emergency release decision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a brake system (4; 104) in which a brake pressure (B) which is controlled by a brake arrangement (13) acts on a brake actuator (6) via a brake pressure path (VL6, VL7, VL8, VL9; VL6, VL7, VL8, VL10; VL6, VL7, VL11, VL12; VL6, VL7, VL11, VL13). The aim of the invention is to ensure a particularly reliable emergency release of the braking means. This is achieved in that an emergency release valve device (22) is provided which can be switched by means of an emergency release circuit (23; 123) and which is arranged in the brake pressure path. The emergency release circuit (23; 123) can be activated by transferring a first actuation means (SI) of the vehicle (101) into a first ON position (SU) or by transferring another first actuation means (SI) of another vehicle (201) coupled to the one vehicle (101) into a second ON position (S1.2), wherein the emergency release valve device (22) is located in a first switch position (NL-active) in which the emergency release valve device releases the braking means (7, 10).