Rail Vehicle Braking Device Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rail vehicle braking systems, particularly during emergency braking, often rely on electrodynamic brakes with insufficient efficiency at low speeds and lack a fully-fledged mechanical braking system, compromising safety and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A braking device with a first emergency braking mode that dynamically controls all available brake systems and a second mode that ensures functional safety by activating specific emergency braking systems, with a monitoring system to switch between modes based on braking effect, reducing wear and ensuring reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrodynamic brakes are used for emergency braking, then braking efficiency is improved at high speeds, but braking effectiveness deteriorates at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system dynamically switches between first and second emergency braking modes based on monitored braking effects. The system transitions from electrodynamic braking to friction braking when the braking effect becomes insufficient, allowing adaptive adjustment of braking effectiveness across different speed ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the braking mechanism parameter based on operating conditions. At high speeds, electrodynamic braking is used; when braking effect deteriorates (monitored via deceleration parameters), the system switches to friction braking, effectively changing the braking parameter to maintain reliability
2Device complexity
If friction brakes are completely removed from drive wheel axles, then device complexity is reduced, but safety and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The friction braking system on non-drive axles serves multiple functions: it provides primary braking during normal operation and acts as a backup safety mechanism during emergency braking when electrodynamic braking is insufficient. This multi-functionality maintains safety without requiring dedicated friction brakes on all axles
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device automatically detects when braking effect becomes insufficient and triggers the switch to the second emergency braking mode, enabling the system to self-correct without manual intervention while maintaining simplified architecture
3Device complexity
If a single emergency braking mode is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically selects between first and second emergency braking modes based on real-time monitoring of braking effects. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to varying operational conditions while maintaining a relatively simple control architecture through automated decision-making
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a braking device for rail vehicles comprising: a first requesting device (20) having at least one trigger (22) for triggering an emergency braking procedure of the rail vehicle (10); at least one brake control system (16) for controlling at least one braking system of the rail vehicle (10); and a train brake manager (14), the train brake manager (14) being designed to control the at least one brake control system (16) according to a first emergency braking mode when the first requesting device (20) is activated. The braking device also has a second requesting device (26) for controlling the at least one brake control system (16) according to a second emergency braking mode. Furthermore, a monitoring device (24) is provided for monitoring a braking action (Aist) of the first emergency braking mode of the rail vehicle (10) triggered by the first requesting device (20), wherein the monitoring device (24) activates the second requesting device (26) in accordance with the monitored braking action (Aist) of the first emergency braking mode.