Electro-pneumatic coupler control system for ensuring the safe uncoupling of railway vehicles

摘要

An automatic car coupler control system for a railway train consisting of at least one powered car and at least two nonpowered cars. An electrical switch and a timer carried by the nonpowered car following the powered car is connected to a voltage source located on the powered car. An electrical switch and a timer carried by a subsequent nonpowered car is connected through the electrical switch of the nonpowered car following the powered car. The timers of each of the nonpowered cars is connected to a plurality of electromagnetic valves which pneumatically actuate the head pistons of the couplers when the nonpowered cars meet and which initially pneumatically actuate the head pistons and the head unlocks of the coupler and which subsequently pneumatically activate a latch cylinder on the coupler on the nonpowered car following the powered car when the nonpower cars are uncoupled by actuating the electrical switch on the nonpowered car following the powered car.