Rail Car Brake Control Device Multiplexing via Distributed Force Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake control systems for railroad cars are complex and prone to failure due to the need for duplexing or multiplexing, which complicates the system and may not ensure sufficient backup in case of a primary system breakdown.
Innovation Solution
A brake system where each brake control device can output information to other devices to calculate a total necessary braking force value, allowing for independent operation even if the transmission device fails, with each device calculating its required braking force and communicating with others to ensure proper braking across the unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If duplexing or multiplexing is implemented in brake control systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control system is divided into multiple independent brake control devices, each capable of autonomously calculating and controlling braking force for its associated brake device. This segmentation allows each unit to operate independently while contributing to the overall system reliability without requiring complex centralized control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Each brake control device is designed with multi-functionality, capable of both controlling its own brake device and communicating braking force information to other brake control devices. This universal capability eliminates the need for separate dedicated backup systems, achieving reliability improvement without proportional increase in system complexity.
2Reliability
If extensive backup systems are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each brake control device serves itself by autonomously calculating the necessary braking force and controlling its associated brake device. Simultaneously, each device contributes to the overall system by communicating its braking force information to others, creating a self-organizing redundant system that achieves reliability without requiring external backup infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control functions for multiple brake devices are merged into a distributed architecture where each brake control device performs both local control and system-wide coordination. This merging eliminates the need for separate backup control systems, achieving reliability through functional integration rather than redundant hardware.
3Ease of operation
If centralized brake control is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each brake control device receives feedback information from other brake control devices regarding their braking force applications. This feedback mechanism allows each decentralized controller to adjust its control strategy autonomously, maintaining ease of operation through automatic coordination without requiring complex centralized control logic.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a brake system, a brake device, and a method of controlling brakes for railroad cars in which control can be multiplexed with a simple configuration. In a brake system 1 for railroad cars includes brake control devices 11,12,13 provided in railroad cars 101, 102 103 respectively that form a unit 104. Each brake control device 10 (11, 12, 13) is capable of outputting information of the corresponding car (101, 102, 103) to the other brake control devices 10 through a transmission device 20. The brake control device 10 can calculate a total necessary braking force value BRA required for braking all of the cars 101, 102 103 using the information output from the other brake control devices 10 to the transmission device 20.