METHOD OF CONTROLLING EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLICATIONS BY TWO-WAY END OF TRAIN DEVICES USING EXISTING ELECTRONIC AIR BRAKE EQUIPMENT

摘要

The function of a two-way end-of-train (EOT) system iscoordinated with the operation of the brake equipment on alocomotive of a train according to the steps of a novelmethod. This method enables the brakes to be applied duringan emergency in a way which minimizes the buff and draftforces produced within the train. The method includes thesteps of: (1) monitoring the train for signs of an emergencyby using the brake equipment of the locomotives (2)determining, if an emergency has occurred, whether theemergency is due to disjoining of the train; (3) waiting apreset time period, if the emergency was caused by disjoiningof the train, before causing the brake equipment of thelocomotive, to command the two-way EOT system to initiate anemergency application of the brakes from a rear part of thetrain; and (4) waiting an alternative time period, if theemergency was caused other than by disjoining of the train,before causing the brake equipment of the locomotive tocommand the two-way EOT system to initiate the emergencyapplication of the brakes from the rear part of the train.