Hi engineers, i am student working on air brake system of trains.I wanted to know everything related to air brake you know.If possible please suggest a good website where i can find material related to air brake system.Thanks in advance...
The air brake system is the same on hi way truck/ trains. It is a spring in an air pot, separated with a diagramThe brakes are spring applied, and air released. There are all sorts of valves in the system, to achieve different functions, relay valves, quick release valves, etc.
I haven't got time to tell you all i know about train air brakes lol.Basically a train has a brake pipe connected between each car.On a freight train they are set at 90psi.The engines maintain the pressure in the brake pipe.Each car has an air tank also which has the same pressure as the brake pipe.When an engineer sets the brakes it removes air from the brake pipe.That causes a control valve on each car to open and let air from the tank flow to a brake cylinder on the car applying the brakes.The smallest reduction you can make is 6 pounds.When the brake pipe and the tank on the car reach the same pressure the valve closes(known as equalization).If more brakes are applied the process starts again.On standard freight train air brakes once a set is made it can't be lessened.If you set too much you have to release the brakes and start over.When you release the brakes the locomotives start pumping the brake pipe back up to 90 psi.That opens the cars control valve again releasing the brake cylinder pressure and starts recharging the air tank back to 90 psi.Til the tank is fully charged again the brakes will not be as effective if another set is made.It's possible to actually deplete your air to the point where you have no brakes.We call that pissing away your air(a serious problem).There's a lot more to how they operate but that's the basics.You might try googling Westinghouse air brakes.George Westinghouse invented the system we use today.If that doesn't get you anything try Wabtec. Edit I came back to your question to see if you had got any more info.With all respect to Ken D train air brakes and truck brakes are in no way related.Train brakes are not spring operated like trucks.They function just by air pressures.You will surely get more info if your re-post your question in the rail section.There are a number of very knowledgeable people that frequent that section.But after 35 years on the railroad trust me i know what i'm talking about.
