Emergency Interface System for Railway Vehicle Braking Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency interface systems between railway vehicles with electric braking control and those with pneumatic braking systems lack universal compatibility, making it difficult to ensure effective emergency assistance across different configurations.

Innovation Solution

An emergency interface system that includes a pneumatic control line with a pressure modulation device and a pressure measuring device, allowing for bidirectional conversion between electrical and pneumatic commands, ensuring compatibility regardless of the emergency configuration or assistance needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an emergency interface system is implemented between railway vehicles with different braking systems (electric and pneumatic), then compatibility and emergency assistance capability are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for bidirectional conversion devices

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency interface system is designed with bidirectional conversion capability, allowing the same system to handle both electric-to-pneumatic and pneumatic-to-electric braking commands. The pressure modulation device can receive electrical commands and generate corresponding pneumatic pressure, while also being able to receive pneumatic pressure and convert it back to electrical signals, making the system universally applicable regardless of which braking system the assisting vehicle uses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure modulation device acts as an intermediary element that facilitates communication between vehicles with different braking systems. It serves as a mediator that can translate between electrical braking commands and pneumatic braking pressure, enabling vehicles with electric braking control to assist vehicles with pneumatic braking systems, and vice versa

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If bidirectional conversion capability is added to handle both electric-to-pneumatic and pneumatic-to-electric commands, then adaptability is improved, but the system requires more conversion devices increasing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidnumber of conversion devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure modulation device is designed with multi-functionality to perform both conversion directions (electric-to-pneumatic and pneumatic-to-electric) using the same hardware component, eliminating the need for separate conversion devices for each direction and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of electric-to-pneumatic conversion and pneumatic-to-electric conversion into a single pressure modulation device. This consolidation combines what would otherwise require separate devices into one integrated component, reducing the total number of devices needed in the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables optimal compatibility and effective emergency braking assistance between railway vehicles with electric and pneumatic braking systems, ensuring reliable operation in various emergency situations.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure modulation device, at least one input of which is able to be connected to an emergency electric braking line, and one output of which is able to be connected to said pneumatic control line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectro-pneumatic conversion:

Implementation Method 2

a pressure measuring device, an input of which is capable of being connected to said pneumatic control line and of which an output is capable of being connected to said electric emergency braking line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic-to-electrical conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3795447B1Emergency interface system between two separate railway vehicles, associated railway vehicle and method
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 SPEEDINNOV
  • EP3795447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3795447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3795447B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an emergency interface system (S) between two separate railway vehicles comprising at least one electrically controlled braking railway vehicle (V), the system being suitable for being carried on board a car (10), in particular an end car, of the electrically controlled braking railway vehicle, the system (S) comprising at least: - a pneumatic control line (14) connectable between the two separate railway vehicles, - a pressure modulation device (16) having an input suitable for being connected to an emergency electric braking line (EEB), and having an output suitable for being connected to said pneumatic control line (14), - a pressure measuring device (18) having an input suitable for being connected to said pneumatic control line (14) and having an output suitable for being connected to said emergency electric braking line (EEB).