INTEGRATED I.D. MODULE AND TERMINAL BLOCK FOR ECP BRAKE APPLICATION (NY-1084)

摘要

An ID module and terminal block for use in a train that includes at lea st one locomotive and a plurality of cars; each car being serially connected in to a network by a power and communication trainline to an adjacent car. Each car is equipped with a local communication node connected to a car control devic e and to the network. A common housing, preferably made of a non-conductive material, encloses a circuit module and includes a second communication node and a current sensor. A terminal block is formed on the housing, and a plurality of stud terminals extend through apertures in the terminal block to electrically contact a circuit board, which is part of the circuit module. The novel arrangement of electronics and terminals and a connector cap allows one to perform tests of the power and communication trainline without having to mechanically disconnect the car communication device or the circuit module; rather, the connector caps electrically are configured to allow electrical isolation of the circuit board from the power and communication trainline. Additionall y, the system includes a mating plug enabling disconnection of the car control device from the power and communication trainline without disturbing the lea ds connected to the terminal block.