Rail Vehicle Brake Device Independent Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The electrodynamic brake in rail vehicles has lower reliability compared to pneumatic or hydraulic friction brakes, necessitating the use of friction brakes during emergency braking to ensure safety, which increases wear and reduces the economic benefits of regenerative braking.
Innovation Solution
A rail vehicle brake device with a sensor unit and independent brake monitoring device that detects braking effect parameters to initiate targeted fallback measures, providing redundancy and separation of control and monitoring functions to enhance the reliability and safety of the electrodynamic brake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction brakes are used during emergency braking to ensure safety, then braking safety is improved, but wear on brake components increases and economic benefits of regenerative braking are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensor units continuously monitor braking effect parameters and provide this information to independent brake monitoring devices. These monitoring devices compare actual braking effects with expected values and initiate fallback measures when deviations indicate faults, enabling the system to maintain safety through continuous verification and automatic response without requiring constant friction brake engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing redundant sensor units and independent monitoring devices that are prepared in advance to detect faults and initiate fallback measures. The system pre-establishes monitoring capabilities and fallback protocols so that when faults occur, safety measures can be immediately activated without delay, reducing the need for preventive friction brake usage.
2Reliability
If friction brakes are used during emergency braking to ensure safety, then braking safety is improved, but the economic benefits of regenerative braking are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system continuously receives feedback from sensor units about braking effect parameters and uses this information to assess electrodynamic brake performance. When the system confirms proper electrodynamic brake function through feedback verification, it can maintain regenerative braking operation, thereby preserving energy recovery efficiency while ensuring safety through automated monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes monitoring capabilities and fallback protocols that allow it to quickly respond to faults. By having prepared monitoring mechanisms in place, the system can maintain electrodynamic braking operation longer with greater confidence, only switching to friction brakes when truly necessary, thus preserving energy recovery opportunities.
3Reliability
If independent brake monitoring devices with redundant sensor units are implemented, then reliability of electrodynamic brake is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brake monitoring function into distinct independent components: sensor units for detection, monitoring devices for evaluation, and control units for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates modular implementation, where the monitoring function is separated from the primary control function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability through functional distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent brake monitoring devices are designed to perform multiple functions: they monitor braking effect parameters, compare actual vs. expected values, detect faults, and initiate fallback measures. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into unified monitoring devices, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities and high reliability.
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
This solution allows for differentiated fault detection and handling in the brake system, increasing the safety and reliability of the electrodynamic brake, reducing wear on friction brake components, and enabling more efficient use of regenerative braking.
Implementation Method 1
braking force is generated by electric motors. The vehicle's kinetic energy, which is converted into electrical energy by the motors during braking
Implementation Method 2
The vehicle's kinetic energy, which is converted into electrical energy by the motors during braking, is converted into heat, for example, via a braking resistor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rail vehicle brake device comprising at least one first electrodynamic brake (24; 80), which comprises one drive unit (16), which has at least one drive motor (18) and one power supply unit (20) for supplying the drive motor (18) in a traction mode of the drive unit (16), and at least one brake control unit (22; 82), which has the respective power supply unit (20) and at least one brake control unit (28, 30; 84), which controls, in a first brake mode, the respective power supply unit (20) for providing a braking effect. According to the invention, in order to optimise handling, particularly the introduction of a fall-back measure in case of a braking effect loss in respect of the cause thereof, the rail vehicle braking device has at least one sensor unit (58; 86), which is designed to detect at least one braking effect parameter (B1) for the first braking mode of the brake (24; 80), and at least one first brake monitoring device (53; 190) which is assigned to the first brake (24; 80) and which is independent of the brake control unit (22; 82), which is designed to consider, in a first monitoring mode, the braking effect parameter (B1) for the introduction of a fall-back measure concerning the brake (24; 80).