METHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THE BRAKING EFFICIENCY OF A RAILWAY FREIGHT TRAIN CONSIST

摘要

A method of substantially achieving a minimum stopping distance of a freight train consist without incurring any significant detrimental wheel slide comprising the steps of preprogramming preselected information into a computer disposed on a freight locomotive and determining a speed of such freight train consist. Then communicating a signal that is indicative of said speed determined to such computer disposed on such freight locomotive. Determining in such computer a pressure that can be applied to brake cylinders which will maintain substantially maximum adhesion between wheels being braked and rail surfaces in contact with such wheels and communicating a signal representative of such pressure determined to a pressure control valve in fluid communication with such brake cylinders and, thereafter, maintaining a maximum pressure on such brake cylinders that will stop such train consist in a shortest possible distance while simultaneously substantially preventing wheel slide.