Transit vehicle dynamic brake control apparatus

The present invention relates to an improved dynamic brake effort control apparatus for use with loads such as a transit vehicle, and which provides a better control of and blending of dynamic brake effort and friction brake effort in relation to the vehicle speed for the improved braking control of the transit vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
For the purpose of braking rapid transit vehicles three types of braking 
efforts are generally utilized. The first is mechanical friction braking 
effort, the second is dynamic braking effort, and the third is emergency 
spring braking effort. The first two of these are used to control the 
vehicle speed during normal running of the vehicle and the third is used 
for emergency stops. Dynamic braking effort depends upon the kinetic 
energy stored in the vehicle, and employs the propulsion motors to 
generate electrical energy that is dissipated in provided resistors as a 
function of the current that flows in the resistors. At higher vehicle 
speeds, since the back EMF of the motors is high, more effective dynamic 
braking can be provided than at lower speeds. Therefore, when dynamic 
braking is to be provided, it is usually desirable first to apply more of 
the dynamic braking at higher speed and as the vehicle slows down then to 
apply more of the friction braking. 
In the prior art practice of applying dynamic braking one problem was to 
control the dynamic braking effort as desired since an accurate feedback 
determination of the actual dynamic braking effort was not readily 
obtainable. In addition, it was desired to provide blending between the 
mechanical friction braking and the dynamic braking, such that as the 
dynamic braking effort decreased as a function of the lower vehicle speeds 
the mechanical friction braking effort built up as necessary to provide 
the desired total braking effort for the vehicle. As the dynamic brakes 
fade out, the friction brakes should come in such that the total braking 
effort is controlled as desired by the operator or the automatic train 
operation control apparatus. The friction brakes can have a significant 
time delay as compared to the dynamic brakes, so it is difficult to 
provide smooth blending such that the vehicle passengers would not sense a 
variation in the vehicle movement caused by this blending effort. 
It is known in the prior art to provide a dynamic brake effort 
determination apparatus which responds to vehicle speed and motor armature 
current for providing some indication of the actual dynamic brake effort. 
Such apparatus has been provided in relation to transit vehicles as 
described in a published article entitled "Passenger Transfer System Will 
Take The Long Walk Out Of Air Travel" which appeared in the Westinghouse 
Engineer for January 1969 at pages 9 through 15. 
A general discussion of the control of the power or braking operation of a 
transit vehicle in response to a train line P signal and a power or brake 
selection mode signal, as well as the blending of the mechanical and 
dynamic braking efforts, is provided in an article entitled "Propulsion 
Control For Passenger Trains Provides High Speed Service" that was 
published in the September 1970 Westinghouse Engineer at pages 143 to 149. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved dynamic brake effort control 
apparatus for operation with a transit vehicle, wherein an improved 
control of the provided dynamic brake effort is achieved and a 
predetermined desired blending of the friction brake effort with the 
dynamic brake effort is provided for particularly the lower speeds of the 
vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 1 there is illustrated the desired blending of the dynamic braking 
effort as shown by curve 10 and the mechanical brake effort as shown by 
curve 12 to provide a total brake effort 14 for a transit vehicle. In 
general dynamic brake effort 10 is desired as long as the actual vehicle 
speed is greater than about one-half the maximum vehicle speed. If the 
maximum speed is 30 MPH, such as for the illustration shown in FIG. 1, 
then full dynamic braking is desired to reduce the vehicle from 30 to 
about 15 MPH, and below 15 MPH the dynamic brake effort 10 is reduced or 
tapered down. At 15 MPH and above, the dynamic brake control loop is very 
responsive to and will follow the desired total brake effort control 
signal without significant delay, while below 15 MPH such delays might be 
present to result in a loss of control of the dynamic brake effort and for 
this reason the dynamic brake effort is reduced or tapered down below 
about 15 MPH. 
In FIG. 2 there is shown the dynamic brake effort determination and control 
apparatus that has been previously referenced in the January 1969 
published article and was used to control the dynamic braking effort of 
propulsion motors. The dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 200 is 
providing an output signal 202 attempting to follow the actual dynamic 
brake effort provided for the vehicle 204 which carries the control 
apparatus shown in FIG. 2. The output signal 202 is applied to one input 
of comparator 206 in conjunction with the desired total brake effort 
signal 208 for providing a brake effort error signal 210. 
The vehicle 204 carries a command receiver and decoder 212 operating with a 
speed command receiving antenna 214 to receive the wayside provided speed 
command signal and decodes it to provide a desired speed signal on input 
216 of comparator 218. A tachometer 220 is coupled with the vehicle wheels 
and provides an actual speed signal to input 222 of the comparator 218. A 
speed error signal is provided to the speed controller 224, which then 
provides the well-known P signal to the vehicle load weight interpreter 
226. The load weight sensor 228 operates with the vehicle support 
apparatus to sense the weight of the vehicle and includes variable 
resistance that varies with the load and provides a signal to the 
interpreter 226 to change the P signal up or down to permit developing a 
total tractive effort control signal that is a function of the passenger 
load on the vehicle and the desired level of acceleration or deceleration. 
Thus, the tractive effort control P signal is modified by the vehicle load 
weight interpreter 226 for controlling the armature current of the 
propulsion motors in the motor circuits 230 in the power mode, or for 
controlling the field current of the motors in the brake mode. The motor 
circuits 230 are understood to include a motor armature current sensing 
device 231 and suitable dynamic braking resistors and associated apparatus 
as well known to persons skilled in this art. The vehicle propulsion motor 
control apparatus 232 responds to the total tractive effort request signal 
on the conductor 234 in the power mode. The brake motor control apparatus 
233 responds to the total tractive effort request signal on the conductor 
234 in the brake mode. A mode selection signal 236 is applied selectively 
to one of gates 238 to apply the tractive effort request signal for the 
power mode operation to the vehicle propulsion motor control apparatus 232 
for supplying armature current to the motors in motor circuits 230 or is 
applied after logical inversion to gate 240 to apply the tractive effort 
request signal for the brake mode operation to the comparator 206 for 
establishing the brake effort error signal 210. 
The tachometer 220 supplies the vehicle actual speed signal to an input 242 
and a motor armature current signal is supplied to input 244 of the 
dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 200, which provides an 
estimated dynamic braking effort signal 202 to comparator 206. The brake 
effort error signal 210 is amplified by a gain circuit to develop a brake 
control signal 248 which controls the operation of the mechanical brake 
control 250 and the mechanical brakes of the vehicle 204. The same brake 
control signal 248 is applied to an input of comparator 252. 
A taper control apparatus 254 receives the vehicle speed signal at one 
input of comparator 256, with the other input receiving a motor field 
current control signal 258 from the output of a proportional plus integral 
controller 260. The difference output of the comparator 256 goes through 
an integrator 262 and a gain circuit 264 for providing a dynamic brake 
reduction signal 266 to the second input of the comparator 252. The brake 
control signal 248 is reduced through operation of the comparator 252 and 
the taper control signal 266 and goes to the PI controller 260 for 
providing a motor field current control signal 268 which controls the 
firing angle of the thyristors in the brake motor control apparatus 233 to 
control the dynamic brake effort of the vehicle motors. The respective 
circuits 246 and 264 have predetermined gain characteristics in accordance 
with the known mechanical brake system and dynamic brake systems of the 
particular vehicle 204. 
In FIG. 3 there is shown the dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 
200 of FIG. 2 that has been previously used to control the dynamic braking 
effort of propulsion motors. The determined dynamic braking effort output 
signal 202 is attempting to follow the actual dynamic brake effort 
provided for the vehicle. The apparatus 200 utilizes two multifunction 
modules 300 and 302 and two operational amplifiers 304 and 306 for this 
purpose. The multifunction modules 300 and 302 can comprise apparatus 
presently sold in the open market by Analog Devices and designated as 
module 433J. 
In FIG. 4 there is shown a set of curves to illustrate the brake effort, 
vehicle speed, armature current and field current characteristics of a 
transit vehicle propulsion motor when operating to dynamically brake a 
vehicle. These curves are a function of the motor type, such as a 
well-known type 1460 ST motor, the value of the dynamic brake resistance 
and the gear ratio. From these curves a relationship can be established to 
relate vehicle speed and brake effort for a known armature current 
condition of operation. 
In FIG. 5 there is shown the dynamic brake effort determination and control 
apparatus of the present invention. Similar to the showing of FIG. 2, the 
vehicle speed command receiver and decoder 212 operating with a speed 
command receiving antenna 214 receives the wayside provided speed command 
signal and decodes it to provide a desired speed signal on input 216 of 
comparator 218. A tachometer 220 is coupled with the vehicle wheels and 
provides an actual speed signal to input 222 of the comparator 218. A 
speed error signal is provided to the speed controller 224, which then 
provides the well known P signal to the vehicle load weight interpreter 
226. The load weight sensor 228 operates with the vehicle support 
apparatus to sense the weight of the vehicle and includes variable 
resistance that varies with the load and provides a signal to the 
interpreter 226 to change the P signal up or down to permit developing a 
total tractive effort control signal that is a function of the passenger 
load on the vehicle and the desired level of acceleration or deceleration. 
Thus the tractive effort control P signal is modified by the vehicle load 
weight interpreter 226 for controlling the armature current of the 
propulsion motors in the motor circuits 230 in the power mode, or for 
controlling the field current of the motors in the brake mode. The vehicle 
propulsion motor control apparatus 232 responds to the total tractive 
effort request signal on the conductor 234 for this purpose in the power 
mode. The brake motor control apparatus 233 responds to the total tractive 
effort request signal on the conductor 234 for this purpose in the brake 
mode. A mode selection signal 236 is applied selectively to gate 238 to 
apply the tractive effort request signal for the power operation to the 
vehicle propulsion motor control apparatus 232 for supplying armature 
current to the motors in motor circuits 230 and is applied after logical 
inversion to gate 240 to apply the tractive effort request signal for 
brake operation to the brake motor control apparatus 233 to control the 
dynamic brake effort of the motor circuits 230. 
In the brake mode of operation the AND gate 240 passes the tractive effort 
request signal 500 from conductor 234 to one input 501 of the comparator 
502. 
In FIG. 5, in accordance with the present invention, a taper control 
apparatus 504 provides a predetermined dynamic brake effort reduction 
signal 506 to the input of the comparator 502 for a purpose to be 
subsequently explained. The output signal 508 from the comparator 502 is 
the dynamic brake request signal, and it is applied to input 510 of a 
comparator 512. The dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 514 
operates in relation to the curves shown in FIG. 4 and provides a 
determined dynamic brake effort signal 515 to the input 516 of the 
comparator 512, which provides to the PI controller 260 a field current 
controlling signal for determining the dynamic brake effort of the motor 
circuits 230 through the brake motor control apparatus 233. 
The total tractive effort brake request signal 500 is applied to input 518 
of comparator 520. The determined dynamic brake effort signal 515 is 
applied to a second input 522 of the comparator 520. The resulting 
difference signal 523 from the comparator 520 is applied to the mechanical 
brake control 524 for establishing the mechanical friction brake effort 
for the vehicle 204. 
In FIG. 6 there is functionally shown the dynamic brake effort 
determination apparatus 514 of FIG. 5. The motor armature current signal 
244 is applied to comparator 600 for providing a predetermined offset 
which is added to the motor armature current to correct for non-linearity 
in the lower speed and in the lower armature current region of the dynamic 
brake effort curves shown in FIG. 4, the offset operates to correct the 
resulting determined dynamic brake effort signal that is output by the 
dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 514. The output of comparator 
600 is applied to gain block 602 for multiplication by a gain K1, which 
gain is related to the particular system scaling, such as motor current 
scaling and selected gear ratios, of the input signal. The output of gain 
block 602 is a product K which represents a base number and has a linear 
relationship with the motor armature current signal 244. A squarer 604 is 
provided to square the product K, and a divider 606 is provided to divide 
K.sup.2 by the vehicle speed signal 242. The output of divider 606 is the 
determined dynamic brake effort signal 515 shown in FIG. 5. 
In FIG. 7 there is schematically shown the dynamic brake effort 
determination apparatus 514 of FIG. 5 and in accordance with the present 
invention to provide an output signal 515 in accordance with the actual 
dynamic brake effort operation of the moving transit vehicle 204 and in 
relation with the curves of FIG. 4. It should be noticed in relation to 
FIG. 4 that each of the armature current curves 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 
and 62 is of the form of a rectangular hyperbola that can generally be 
represented by a constant squared, and that these armature current curves 
are placed equidistances apart to indicate a linear relationship between 
the armature current and this constant which represents a given curve. A 
base number can thus be established for each curve and once the base 
number is established for a given armature current curve, and knowing the 
vehicle velocity the dynamic brake effort can then be determined. In FIG. 
7 the operational amplifier 700 responds to the sensed motor armature 
current 244 to establish the base number in accordance with a first 
relationship 
Base number=(I.sub.A /K.sub.1) (8.55)+1.2 (1) 
using a scaling for an illustrative transit system of +10 volts DC equals 
30 miles per hour speed, +10 volts DC equals 4,000 pounds of dynamic 
braking effort, and +13 volts equals 300 amps armature current. For these 
scaling relationships K1 equals 2.17 volts. The factor 1.2 is implemented 
by the resistors 702, 703, and 706 as a ratio of resistor 708. The input 
resistor 704 and feedback resistor 708 give the factor 1/K.sub.1 
(8.55)=K3. The resistor 708 has a value of K3 divided by 7.317 because of 
the operation of pin 6 of module 710 to raise the input to a power of 2 in 
order to achieve correct scaling for miles per hour and braking effort in 
pounds. This scaling of resistor 708 is necessary to avoid saturation of 
the operational amplifier 700 to keep it in the linear mode and also to 
avoid saturation of the module 710. The operational amplifier 712 is a 
unity gain inverter, because the module 710 requires positive inputs and 
the output of operational amplifier 700 is negative so the amplifier 712 
provides an inversion and the module 710 receives a positive input 714. A 
second relationship 
K.sup.2 =K2 (Base number).sup.2 (2) 
is implemented where K2 equals 0.02075 volts.sup.2 and a linear 
relationship has been established between the armature current and K. A 
third relationship 
EQU Braking effort=(K.sup.2 /speed) (3) 
establishes the braking effort since the curve shown in FIG. 4 relates 
velocity times the braking effort equal to this variable K.sup.2, so this 
relationship is solved for the braking effort. 
The module 710 also receives a vehicle speed signal 242. The module 710 is 
programmed by the resistors 716 and 718, and since 716 equals 718, this 
gives a programmable exponent M for module 710 equal to 2 and provides a 
squaring of the ratio of voltages V6 to V9 at inputs 6 and 9 respectively. 
Therefore in effect K is squared and divided by speed to solve the above 
third relationship for the dynamic braking effort. With the scaling of K1 
equal to 2.17 volts, and K2 equal to 0.02075 volts.sup.2, the above 
equations become 
##EQU1## 
The resistors 702, 706, and 703 shown in FIG. 7 and the ratio of 708 to 
equivalent resistance of 702, 706 and 703 provide the offset term in 
equation 4, which is 1.2 volts. The ratio of 708 and resistance of 704 
provides the term K3.times.I.sub.A. The resistor 708 is scaled by a factor 
7.317 which serves two purposes; it prevents saturation of the operational 
amplifier 700 at maximum level of I.sub.A and it provides the correct set 
of numbers so that when the base number is squared by the module 710 the 
output has the multiplier K2. The module 710 has a transfer function which 
is programmed by resistors 716 and 718. In this case since the base number 
needs to be squared, 716 and 718 are equal to give the programmable 
exponent M for module 710 a value of 2. The speed signal is fed into pins 
9 and 10 such that the square of the base number gets divided by the 
speed. The output 515 is the determined actual dynamic braking effort. 
In FIG. 8 there is diagrammatically shown the taper control apparatus 504 
of FIG. 5. A bistable Schmitt trigger circuit 800 responds to the vehicle 
speed signal 242 such that the relay 802 is not energized until the 
vehicle velocity falls to a selected value, such as 15 MPH. When the 
velocity reduces during braking to 15 MPH, then the relay 802 is energized 
and the vehicle speed signal 242 is applied to the gain circuit 804. It is 
desired that the output 506 be continuously variable after the 15 MPH 
threshold is reached, and this begins the desired taper reduction of the 
dynamic brake request signal through the comparator 502. The gain 
characteristic of the gain circuit 804 was chosen to be two for a 
particular application of the present apparatus, and this can be adjusted 
depending upon the desired taper in a given system or modification 
reduction in the dynamic brake request and the known brake characteristics 
of the particular vehicle motor being controlled. 
In FIG. 9 there is illustrated the operation of the dynamic brake effort 
determination and control apparatus of the present invention. The prior 
art apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 applies the mechanical brakes in 
accordance with the curve 900, since the same brake control signal 248 is 
applied to the mechanical brake control 250 and to the comparator 252 and 
PI controller 260 for establishing the dynamic brake effort, such that the 
mechanical brake operation will start immediately upon the brake mode of 
operation for the vehicle. The control apparatus of the present invention 
as shown in FIG. 5, will apply the mechanical brakes as shown by curve 902 
of FIG. 9 and curve 12 of FIG. 1, since the dynamic brake request 508 
shown in FIG. 5 is independent of the brake difference or error signal 523 
applied to the mechanical brake control 524. In addition, the dynamic 
brake request 508 complements the mechanical brake request 523 in that 
when the actual dynamic brake effort is high, the output 515 of the 
dynamic brake effort determination apparatus 514 will be high and the 
resulting output 523 of comparator 520 will be low to yield the desired 
total brake effort 500. 
With the control apparatus of FIG. 2, when the actual dynamic brake effort 
is high, the output of comparator 206 will be low and this operates to 
reduce both the mechanical brake operation and the dynamic brake 
operation. 
In FIG. 9 there is shown a curve 904 which shows a possible initial 
mechanical brake operation when the vehicle brake mode is initiated 
depending upon the delay response time of the dynamic brake operation, but 
the dynamic brake would be the primary effort until the taper reduction 
begins at about 15 MPH as shown by curve 902 in FIG. 9. 
The brake control apparatus 233 shown in FIG. 5 responds to the dynamic 
brake effort error PI controller 260 and puts out a voltage to control the 
firing angle of thyristor devices which control the field current in the 
field winding of each motor in the motor circuits 230. This field winding 
current in turn controls the amount of armature current that will flow 
through the dynamic braking resistors and thereby controls the vehicle 
dynamic braking effort. As the vehicle speed decreases it is desired to 
force the brake request signal on conductor 508 to decrease, such as shown 
by curve 10 in FIG. 1. For example, it might be desired that the braking 
effort be comprised of predominantly a dynamic brake effort to be applied 
until the vehicle speed is less than one-half the maximum vehicle speed. 
And if the maximum vehicle speed is in the order of 30 MPH, then below 15 
MPH the dynamic brake request signal on conductor 508 is forcibly reduced 
or tapered down to zero at a vehicle speed where the dynamic brake effort 
has substantially lost effective control of the vehicle braking and where 
the mechanical friction brake effort has had an opportunity to assume the 
total desired braking effort. For vehicle speeds above 15 MPH, the dynamic 
brake control loop responds fast and will follow the brake request signal 
without appreciable delay. At lower vehicle speeds the response is slower 
and loss of control can result, so the dynamic brake request signal 508 is 
tapered down to zero in this manner as controlled by vehicle speed. The 
desired blending of the dynamic brake and mechanical brake efforts occurs 
around and below 15 MPH. The friction brake operation includes delays like 
those encountered in an open loop control system. Any delay in vehicle 
speed reduction that results from lack of response by the mechanical 
brakes will cause the taper control apparatus 504 to change less and this 
continues the dynamic brake effort, since the reduction taper provided by 
the taper control apparatus 504 is a function of vehicle speed, such that 
the dynamic brake effort will continue to brake the vehicle as desired 
until the mechanical friction brakes take over the desired braking effort.