Patent Description:
The present invention relates to the technical field of railway vehicle, and in particular, to an anti-freezing method and an anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device.

A braking device is capable to decelerate or halt a train, which ensures travelling safety. The braking device includes an air supply system and an automatic brake valve that are installed on a locomotive, brakes and basic braking devices that are separately installed on the locomotive and carriages, and a brake pipe running through the whole train. The basic braking device is provided with a brake caliper, and reliable operation of the brake caliper is a key factor in ensuring a braking effect of the basic braking device.

The brake caliper is usually in a clamped state when a railway vehicle is parked, so as to ensure stability of the railway vehicle. In a case that the railway vehicle is parked outdoors in a cold environment for a long time, the brake caliper would freeze and cannot be timely released when starting the railway vehicle. Thereby, normal start of the railway vehicle is affected.

In Chinese Patent No. <CIT>, a method for controlling deicing of an electric multiple unit (EMU) is provided. In the method, when the EMU receives the snow-resistant braking command, the current working state of the EMU is detecting. In the case that the current working state of the EMU is a traction condition, whether the braking parameter of the EMU meets a preset braking condition is determined. In the case that the braking parameter of the EMU meets the preset braking condition, a braking force is applied to a brake disc of the plurality of grouped vehicles included in the EMU.

In US Patent Application Publication No. <CIT>, methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are provided. The apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.

In German Patent Application Publication No, <CIT>, a vehicle is provided, which has a device for monitoring the braking effect. The vehicle has a support structure, a chassis and at least one brake unit, which is fastened to the support structure of the vehicle and transmits a braking force to a friction surface of a rotating element of the chassis of the vehicle. In order to improve the monitoring of the braking effect, the invention proposes that at least one load sensor is arranged on the brake unit.

In <CIT>, a method for anti-freezing control of a train is provided. The method includes: receiving anti-freezing indication information, wherein the anti-freezing indication information is used to indicate that the train is anti-freeze controlled to prevent the train from freezing; responding to the anti-freezing indication information to control the train to enter the anti-freeze state; when the train is in the anti-freeze state, controlling the train to perform anti-freeze operation; and after it is determined that the anti-freezing operation is completed, controlling the train to exit the anti-freeze state.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an anti-freezing method and an anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device, which can prevent a brake caliper from freezing and ensure normal start of a railway vehicle in a low-temperature environment. Specific solutions are as follows.

In a first aspect, an anti-freezing method for a braking device is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, including:.

In an optional embodiment, controlling the brake caliper to perform the release-and-clamp operation based on the interval of the first preset period includes:
controlling multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence, based on the interval of the first preset period.

In an optional embodiment, controlling the multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence based on the interval of the first period includes:.

According to the invention, in any anti-freezing method for the braking device according to the first aspect, the preset vehicle condition includes: a power source of the railway vehicle being in a normal state, parking braking not being applied to the railway vehicle, and service braking applied to the railway vehicle being at a maximum level.

In an optional embodiment, in any anti-freezing method for the braking device according to the first aspect, the method further includes: obtaining an instruction for activating an anti-freezing mode.

In an optional embodiment, in any anti-freezing method for the braking device according to the first aspect, the method further includes:.

In another aspect, an anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, including:.

In an optional embodiment, the control unit is further configured to control multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence, based on the interval of the first preset period.

In an optional embodiment, the control unit is further configured to.

In an optional embodiment, in any anti-freezing apparatus for the braking device according to the second aspect, the apparatus further includes:.

Based on the aforementioned technical solutions, the anti-freezing method and the anti-freezing apparatus for the braking device are provided according to embodiments of the present invention. It is determined whether to take anti-freezing measure for the brake caliper of the railway vehicle, according to the ambient temperature and the state of the railway vehicle. In case of determining that the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition, the brake caliper is controlled to be released for the second preset period and then clamped. The release-and-clamp operation in which the brake caliper is released and clamped is repeated in cycles based on the interval of the first preset period. The brake caliper is cyclically opened and closed in cold weather, and thereby is prevented from being fixed for a long time and freezing. It is ensured that the railway vehicle can start normally in cold weather.

For clearer illustration of the technical solutions according to embodiments of the present invention or conventional technology, the drawings involved in description of the embodiments according to the present invention or conventional technology are briefly described hereinafter. Apparently, the drawings in the following descriptions only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention, and other drawings may be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the drawings without any inventive efforts.

To make the object, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely as follows in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which is a flow chart of an anti-freezing method for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method may be applied to a locomotive control system of a railway vehicle, which aims to prevent a braking device of the railway vehicle from freezing due to parking the railway vehicle in cold weather for a long time. It is appreciated that the method provided according to embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a remote control system. The remote control system may realize remote control on the braking device of the railway vehicle according to the anti-freezing method in embodiments of the present invention, thereby achieving the object of the present invention.

Reference is made to <FIG>. An anti-freezing control method for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include following steps S100 to S <NUM>.

In step S100, an ambient temperature and a state of a railway vehicle are obtained.

As mentioned above, when a railway vehicle is parked, a brake caliper of a braking device is usually in a clamped state for safety considerations, to prevent the railway vehicle from rolling. In a case that the railway vehicle is parked for a long time in cold weather, the brake calipers would freeze and the railway vehicle cannot start normally. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the ambient temperature of the railway vehicle after the railway vehicle is parked, so as to determine accurately whether the railway vehicle has a risk of freezing in the cold weather.

Furthermore, the parked railway vehicle always corresponds to a state of the railway vehicle, for example, the brake caliper being clamped, a vehicle control system standing by, or the like. As mentioned above, besides an environmental condition, the state of the railway vehicle is also a condition which needs to be considered. Therefore, it is also necessary to obtain the state of the railway vehicle.

In step S <NUM>, it is determined whether the ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets a preset vehicle condition. The process goes to step S120 in case of positive determination, and returns to the step S100 in case of negative determination.

It is determined whether the ambient temperature of the railway vehicle is lower than the preset temperature threshold, and further determined whether the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition. In a case that the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition, the process goes to step S120. In a case that either determination condition is not met, the process would return to the step S100, until both determination conditions are met.

In an optional embodiment, the preset temperature threshold may be set according to a region in which the railway vehicle is located. The preset temperature threshold for any region should be a temperature capable to result in freezing. For example, the preset temperature threshold may be set as -<NUM>, -<NUM>, or the like.

According to the invention, the preset vehicle condition includes: the railway vehicle being normally connected to a power supply, parking braking not being applied to the railway vehicle, and a driver controller being set at a "<NUM>th level braking" position, i.e. service braking applied to the railway vehicle being at a maximum level, i.e. <NUM>th level. The preset vehicle condition may further include the railway vehicle raising a pantograph to receive power.

It may be determined that the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition only when all the aforementioned preset vehicle conditions are met by the railway vehicle, and it may be determined that the state of the railway vehicle does not meet the preset vehicle condition when one or more of the aforementioned preset vehicle conditions are not met. Further, the preset vehicle condition should be flexibly selected based on a type of the railway vehicle. The preset vehicle condition is not limited to the aforementioned cases listed in this embodiment.

In step S120, a brake caliper is controlled to perform a release-and-clamp operation based on an interval of a first preset period.

In a case that the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition, the brake caliper is controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation based on the interval of the first preset period. In a specific embodiment, the release-and-clamp operation includes releasing the brake caliper for a second preset period and then clamping the brake caliper.

In each operation cycle, the brake caliper is controlled to be released for the second preset period, and then controlled to be clamped after the second preset period lapses. Further, the cycle may be determined by the interval of the first preset period. That is, after the brake caliper is controlled to be clamped, the first preset period lapses and then the brake caliper is controlled to perform a next release-and-clamp operation. The brake caliper is controlled to be released and clamped periodically, such that the brake caliper is prevented from freezing.

In an optional embodiment, it is necessary to apply a braking pressure to the brake caliper during the release-and-clamp operation, so as to ensure the brake caliper to perform the release-and-clamp operations effectively. A small pressure may be sufficient since the railway vehicle is in a halting state. For example, a pressure of 3bar is applied.

In an optional embodiment, a railway vehicle in practice usually includes multiple carriages that are connected, and each carriage is provided with a brake caliper. Brake calipers arranged on one carriage may be treated as a group of brake calipers. In a case that there are multiple groups of brake calipers, the multiple groups of brake calipers may be controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence. After a group of brake calipers implements the release-and-clamp operation, the first preset period lapses, and then a next group of brake calipers is controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation. That is, the brake calipers are controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence, and the interval between every two adjacent release-and-clamp operations is the first preset period.

In an optional embodiment, groups of brake calipers may be numbered with a preset numbering sequence. All groups of brake calipers are controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation in the preset numbering sequence. The interval between every two adjacent release-and-clamp operations is the first preset period. When the brake caliper corresponding to the last number in the preset numbering sequence has implemented the release-and-clamp operation, it means that all brake calipers have performed the release-and-clamp operation once in a current cycle. Afterwards, the release-and-clamp operations start from the brake caliper corresponding to the first number in the preset numbering sequence, and are repeated according to the preset numbering sequence. Hence, the release-and-clamp operation is cyclically performed accordingly. It is ensured that the brake calipers are repeatedly activated, and thereby are prevented from freezing.

In a specific embodiment, a carriage number may serve as the sequential number of brake calipers, or the groups of brake calipers may be independently numbered. The preset numbering sequence may refer to an ascending order of sequential numbers, a descending order of sequential numbers, or even any random order of sequential numbers, as long as such order defines an executing sequence for all groups of brake calipers clearly and no group is missing in each cycle.

Given safety, it is necessary to control a quantity of brake calipers that are simultaneously released when the railway vehicle is parked, so as to prevent the railway vehicle from rolling. For example, one sequential number may be assigned to brake calipers of one carriage, and only such group of brake calipers is controlled to be simultaneously released. A next group of brake calipers is not released until the first period lapses after the currently released group of brake calipers is clamped. In a case that a large quantity of carriages is connected in the railway vehicle, a same sequential number may be assigned to two or more groups of brake calipers, and each time multiple groups of brake calipers are controlled to perform the release-and-clamp operation simultaneously. Efficiency of a control process may be improved while safety of the railway vehicle is ensured. Thereby, activation of the brake calipers is fully exploited, and the anti-freezing effect is improved. A specific quantity of brake calipers that perform the release-and-clamp operation simultaneously is determined based on a specific condition of the railway vehicle.

The anti-freezing control method for the braking device is provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The release-and-clamp operation in which the brake caliper is released and clamped is repeated in cycles based on the interval of the first preset period. The brake caliper is cyclically opened and closed in cold weather, and thereby is prevented from being fixed for a long time and freezing. It is ensured that the railway vehicle can start normally in cold weather.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which is a flow chart of another anti-freezing method for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. An anti-freezing method for a braking device includes following steps S200 to S260.

In step S200, an instruction for an anti-freezing mode instruction is obtained.

The instruction for the anti-freezing mode instruction may be manually configured. When an operator judges that it is necessary to start a control process as follows, the instruction for the anti-freezing mode is transmitted via a related device. In addition, the railway vehicle should meet the preset vehicle condition when implementing the control method according to an embodiment as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the operator may activate the instruction for the anti-freezing mode after the railway vehicle meets the corresponding vehicle condition. That is, it may be achieved that the operator is able to determine whether to perform anti-freezing control on the railway vehicle, through the instruction for the anti-freezing mode in this embodiment. Thereby, the control process can be performed more flexibly.

In an optional embodiment, the operator may send the instruction for the anti-freezing mode to an automatic control system of the railway vehicle, via a human-machine interface configured by a control system of a locomotive. The automatic control system of the railway vehicle may execute a program corresponding to an anti-freezing method for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, so as to control brake calipers.

In step S210, an ambient temperature and a state of a railway vehicle are obtained.

In an optional embodiment, execution of the step S210 may refer to the description related to the step S100 as shown in <FIG>, and is not repeated herein.

In step S220, it is determined whether the ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets a preset vehicle condition. The process goes to step S230 in case of positive determination, and returns to the step S210 in case of negative determination.

In an optional embodiment, execution of the step S220 may refer to the description related to the step S <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and is not repeated herein.

It is discovered that in cold weather, the railway vehicle would not freeze as long as activation of the braking device of the railway vehicle last for a certain time period, even if afterwards the release-and-clamp operation is terminated and the railway vehicle enters a braking state. Therefore, it is required to time a period in which the railway vehicle keeps performing the release-and-clamp operation, and such period is referred to as the third period. The brake caliper of the railway vehicle keeps performing the release-and-clamp operation for the third period. The railway vehicle enters the braking state in a case that the third period reaches a preset time threshold for termination. In such case, the brake caliper would not freeze.

Timing of the third period may be started when it is determined that the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition.

In step S240, a brake caliper is controlled to perform a release-and-clamp operation based on an interval of a first preset period.

In an optional embodiment, execution of the step S240 may refer to the description related to the step S120 as shown in <FIG>, and is not repeated herein.

The step S230 and the step S240 may be simultaneously performed. That is, after determining that the preset condition is satisfied, the step S230 of timing the third period and the step S240 of controlling the brake caliper starts simultaneously. Further, a result of the timing in the step S230 may serve as a condition for terminating the step S240.

In step S250, it is determined whether the third period reaches a preset time threshold for termination. The process goes to step S260 in case of positive determination, and the method returns to the step S230 to continue timing the third period in case of negative determination.

It is determined whether the third period reaches the preset time threshold for termination. The process goes to step S260 in a case that the third period has reached the preset time threshold for termination, and otherwise the method returns to the step S230 to continue timing the third period.

In step S260, all brake calipers are controlled to be clamped to restore a braking state.

In a case that the third period in which the brake calipers keep performing the release-and-clamp operation reaches the preset time threshold for termination, all brake calipers are controlled to be clamped to restore the braking state of the brake device. The anti-freezing control process terminates.

The method is provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The anti-freezing control process may be manually controlled by the operator. The braking state of the brake device is restored after activation of the brake calipers is controlled for a period of time. Not only the railway vehicle is prevented from freezing, but also time of the anti-freezing control process is controlled, which reduces energy consumption of the railway vehicle effectively.

Hereinafter described is an invention scenario of an anti-freezing method for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A railway vehicle includes <NUM> carriages that are connected, that is, the railway vehicle is provided with eight groups of brake calipers. The groups of brake calipers are sequentially numbered by using corresponding carriage numbers, <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. The brake calipers are controlled in a sequence from No. <NUM> to No. <NUM>. The second preset period for which the brake caliper is released each time is <NUM>. The interval of the first preset period is <NUM>. The preset time threshold for termination is set as <NUM> hours. The preset threshold for low temperature is selected as -<NUM>.

After the railway vehicle halts, a pantograph of the railway vehicle is raised by an operator to receive power, parking braking is cancelled, and the driver controller is set at a <NUM>th level braking position. In such case, the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition. The operator sends the instruction for the anti-freezing mode via a human-machine interface. After receiving the instruction for the anti-freezing mode, a train automatic control system of the railway vehicle starts to obtain the ambient temperature and the state of the railway vehicle. In a case that the ambient temperature is lower than -<NUM>, an anti-freezing control process is started, and simultaneously the third period is timed.

Specifically, a group of brake calipers of the No. <NUM> carriage is controlled to be released for <NUM> and then clamped. After an interval of <NUM>, a group of brake calipers of the No. <NUM> carriage is controlled to be released for <NUM> and then clamped. Analogy can be made to other carriages. After a group of brake calipers of the No. <NUM> carriage is clamped, an interval of <NUM> lapses, and then a next cycle of the control process starts from the group of brake calipers of the No. <NUM> carriage. In a case that the third period reaches <NUM> hours, all brake calipers are controlled to be clamped to restore the braking state.

Hereinafter described is an anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device described hereinafter may be a functional module structure provided in central equipment, which is configured to realize an anti-freezing method for a braking device according to embodiments of the present invention. Following description and the forgoing embodiments may refer to each other.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <FIG>, the anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device may include an obtaining unit <NUM> and a control unit <NUM>. The obtaining unit <NUM> is configured to obtain an ambient temperature and a state of a railway vehicle. The control unit <NUM> is configured to control a brake caliper to perform a release-and-clamp operation based on an interval of a first preset period, in a case that the ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets a preset vehicle condition, where the release-and-clamp operation includes releasing the brake caliper for a second preset period and then clamping the brake caliper.

In an optional embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is further configured to control multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation in sequence, based on the interval of the first preset period.

In an optional embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is further configured to: control the multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation according to a preset numbering sequence; and repeat controlling the multiple brake calipers to perform the release-and-clamp operation according to the preset numbering sequence, after the last brake caliper according to the preset numbering sequence performs the release-and-clamp operation.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which is a block diagram of another anti-freezing apparatus for a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an optional embodiment, the anti-freezing apparatus further includes a timing unit <NUM> and a centralized control unit <NUM> on a basis of <FIG>.

The timing unit <NUM> is configured to time a third period, in response to it being determined that the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets the preset vehicle condition.

The centralized control unit <NUM> is configured to control all brake calipers to be clamped to restore a braking state, in response to the third period reaching a preset time threshold for termination.

As further be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the units and algorithmic steps in the examples described according to the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in forms of electronic hardware, computer software or the combination of the both. To illustrate the interchangeability of the hardware and the software clearly, the components and the steps in the examples are described generally according to functions in the above description. Whether hardware or software is used to implement the functions depends on a specific invention and design constraints for the technical solution. For each specific invention, different methods may be used by those skilled in the art to implement the described function, and such implementation should not be considered to depart from the scope of the present invention.

The steps of the method or algorithm described according to the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in forms of hardware, a software module executed by a processor or the combination of the both. The software module may be stored in a Random Access Memory (RAM), a memory, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), an electrically programmable ROM, an electrically erasable programmable ROM, a register, a hardware disk, a movable magnetic disk, CD-ROM or any other forms of storage medium well known in the art.

Claim 1:
An anti-freezing method for a braking device, comprising:
obtaining (S100) an ambient temperature and a state of a railway vehicle; and
controlling (S120) a brake caliper to perform a release-and-clamp operation based on an interval of a first preset period, in a case that the ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature threshold and the state of the railway vehicle meets a preset vehicle condition;
wherein the release-and-clamp operation comprises: releasing the brake caliper for a second preset period and then clamping the brake caliper, and
the method being characterized in that
the preset vehicle condition comprises:
a power source of the railway vehicle being in a normal state,
parking braking not being applied to the railway vehicle, and
service braking applied to the railway vehicle being at a maximum level.