Safe brake cutout detection for train

摘要

A system detects cut-out of brakes on a train in a safe manner. Each vehicle in the train has at least one truck. Each truck has brakes which may be cut-out via a cut-out cock. A frequency generator generates a signal at a predesignated frequency. This signal is conveyed from a first vehicle in the train to a last vehicle in the train along a feed line and from the last vehicle to the first vehicle along a return line. Each cut-out cock assumes an open position wherein the brakes of its truck are cut-in or a closed position wherein the brakes of its truck are cut-out. Each cut-out cock features a switch in series with the return line that closes when its cutout cock assumes the open position or opens when its cutout cock assumes the closed position. A frequency divider for each switch connects in parallel therewith. When the switch is closed, the signal passes through the switch wherein division of frequency is avoided. When the switch is open, the signal passes through the frequency divider wherein division of frequency by a preset value occurs. A detector determines the resulting frequency of the signal returned to the first vehicle on the return line because the signal as it conducted along the return line had its frequency divided each time it passed through one of the frequency dividers. This enables the system to determine the number of trucks whose brakes are cut-out on the train.