Method and apparatus for controlling electro-pneumatic brakes on trains using an existing locomotive electronic air brake

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling an electro-pneumatic braking system on a railroad train having electronic brake control equipment including an operator display facility (16) and brake handles (12) located in a cab of a locomotive of the train. The method comprises interfacing an electrical brake control system with a locomotive interface unit (22) and a cab control computer (14) using an electro-pneumatic interface module (18). The locomotive interface unit is used to interface the electro-pneumatic interface module with a brake control computer (24) associated with a pneumatic brake operating unit (26). The brake operating unit is connected in fluid communication with a brake pipe (28) of a locomotive and train of railway cars connected to the locomotive. The method includes further the use of the electro-pneumatic interface module and the electronic brake control equipment to operate the brakes of the locomotive and train of cars in a manner that employs the advantageous features of electro-pneumatic braking while providing the operator/engineer with a familiar display screen of the operator display facility (16).