CONTROL APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION AND RELEASE OF A HAND BRAKE

摘要

A control apparatus is provided which is engageable with a hand brake assembly on a railway vehicle for operation of an application cylinder for applying the hand brake assembly. This apparatus includes a source of fluid pressure which is engageable with the railway vehicle. A pneumatic actuation valve which is connected to the source of fluid pressure for initiating communication of fluid pressure from the source of fluid pressure. A force regulating valve which is connected to the pneumatic actuation valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the actuation valve and a mechanically driven valve is connected to the force regulating valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the force regulating valve and for communicating the fluid pressure to the application cylinder to apply the hand brake assembly. An electrically controlled valve may be positioned intermediate the source of fluid pressure and the force regulating valve to enable electrical actuation of fluid communication from the source of fluid pressure to the force regulating valve. Additionally, a pneumatic actuation valve and/or an electrically controlled actuation valve may be provided to communicate fluid pressure from a source of fluid pressure to a release cylinder in order to release the brakes of the hand brake assembly.