Faiveley Transport Italia S.P.A.

A method for verifying the operation of braking means of at least one vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, is described, comprising the steps of: a) imposing a braking force on at least one wheel of the at least one axle of the at least one vehicle; b) towing the at least one vehicle according to a non-zero and constant forward speed; c) measuring on a rail at least one friction force which is a function of a braking force; d) comparing the at least one measured friction force with a predetermined minimum force value; e) determining that the braking means associated with the at least one wheel whose friction force is lower than the predetermined minimum force value are malfunctioning. Also described are a system for measuring a friction force and a system for verifying the operation of braking means of at least one vehicle.

An electromechanical assembly for a braking system of a railway vehicle is described, characterized in that it comprises a flywheel arranged to accumulate kinetic energy; wherein the kinetic energy accumulated in the flywheel is sufficient to operate the electromechanical assembly to cause the braking system to perform at least one emergency or service or parking brake action. Also described are a control system for an electromechanical assembly for a braking system of a railway vehicle and a braking system for a railway vehicle.

An activation system is described which controls the activation of at least one control means installed in a vehicle including a braking system including a main brake pipe containing a fluid. The control means assumes a resting state in which it consumes a first value of electrical energy and an active state in which it consumes a second value of electrical energy, greater than the first value of electrical energy. The activation system measures the pressure value of the fluid within the main brake pipe and generate an activation signal when the pressure value of the fluid within said main brake pipe is equal to or less than a first predetermined threshold value. The control means receives the activation signal and switches from the resting state to the active state when the control means is in the resting state and receives the activation signal.

A method is described for determining a capacitance value of at least a first super-capacitor of an electro-mechanical braking system which also comprises a second super-capacitor. The method comprises: a) measuring a first voltage value at terminals of the second super-capacitor; b) if the first voltage value is greater than a minimum voltage value, charging or discharging the first super-capacitor, in order to make the terminals of the first super-capacitor assume a second voltage value; c) determining a first voltage variation at the terminals of the first super-capacitor; d) determining a first voltage variation rate; e) measuring a first current value flowing in one of the terminals of the first super-capacitor; f) calculating the capacitance value of the first super-capacitor by means of the ratio between the first measured current value and the first voltage variation rate. An electro-mechanical braking system and a vehicle are also described.

A compressed air distribution system for a vehicle (e.g., rail vehicle) includes first and second reservoirs and first and second compressors. The first and second reservoirs are configured to contain respective compressed air to be supplied to first and second braking systems of the vehicle. The first braking system is configured to apply a first braking force to a first wheel set of the vehicle with the compressed air received from the first reservoir, and the second braking system is configured to apply a second braking force to a second wheel set with the compressed air received from the second reservoir. Each wheel set includes a respective axle and a respective one or more wheels coupled to the axle. The first and second compressors are configured to generate compressed air to be stored in the first and second reservoirs, respectively.

A system including a supply valve disposed between a chamber and a pressure source, a discharge valve disposed between the chamber and an external atmosphere, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The first control unit coupled with the supply valve by a first switch and with the discharge valve by a second switch. The first control unit outputting signals to the first and second switches to control the supply and discharge valves. The second control unit coupled with the discharge valve by a third switch and a fourth switch, the second control unit outputting signals to the third and fourth switches to control the supply and discharge valves. The first control unit may include a first microcontroller to control the signals of the first control unit using an artificial intelligence (AI) neural network having artificial neurons arranged in layers and connected with each other by connections.

An anti-skid system for an electromechanical braking system of at least one vehicle including at least one wheel is described, comprising an anti-skid module arranged to execute a predetermined anti-skid function and a supervisor module arranged to monitor the anti-skid module, wherein the supervisor module includes a braking force application request adjustment module, wherein the supervisor module and the anti-skid module are modules that are distinct from each other, and the braking force application request adjustment module is arranged to adjust a braking force application request signal independently of the execution of the anti-skid function by the anti-skid module.

A method for determining a capacitance value of a super-capacitor of an electro-mechanical braking system is described. The method may include measuring a first voltage value at terminals of the super-capacitor; if the first voltage value is greater than a predetermined minimum voltage, performing a charge or discharge action of the super-capacitor for a measurement time period, in order to make the terminals of the super-capacitor assume a second voltage value greater than or equal to said minimum voltage; determining a voltage variation at the terminals of the super-capacitor during the measurement time period; determining a voltage variation rate; measuring a current value flowing in one of the terminals of the super-capacitor, at a measurement instant; and calculating the capacitance value of the super-capacitor. A braking system and a vehicle are also described.

A verification system ( 100 ) for a vehicle's braking system is described. The system includes a brake pipe ( 104 ) for fluid conveyance, a brake cylinder ( 106 ) to hold fluid, and adjustment means ( 108 ) to modify fluid pressure in the brake cylinder ( 106 ) based on the brake pipe ( 104 ) pressure and a set relation pattern. Braking means ( 110 ) apply force depending on the fluid pressure in the brake cylinder ( 106 ). The verification system features a rotary electric generator ( 112 ) linked to an axle (A) and first electronic processing means ( 114 ) to assess fluid pressure in both the brake pipe ( 104 ) and brake cylinder ( 106 ). It identifies damage or malfunction if the pressure relationship deviates from the predetermined pattern. Rotary electric generators ( 112, 202 ) supply power to electronic processing means ( 114, 200 ) when there is no electrical power received by the electronic processing means ( 114, 200 ) from offboard the vehicle.

An electromechanical braking actuator for a vehicle, particularly for a railway vehicle, is described, which comprises a safety unit arranged to receive an electrical position signal, the value of which is indicative of the position of braking force application means along a translation axis; to determine an instantaneous position of braking force application means, based on the value of an electrical position signal; and, through first interruption means, to prevent a braking force control signal emitted by the service braking control unit, or a power supply signal, from reaching the electromechanical module, when: a) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are in a position between a maintenance position and a rest position; b) the safety unit determines that the braking force application means are moving from the rest position to the maintenance position. A braking system is also described.