Patent ID: 8439454

Claim:
Braking unit for a train with a locomotive (L) and a plurality of wagons (W) for goods transportation, comprising a pneumatic brake pipe (BP) that extends along the train, and in which the pressure is controlled by a brake control apparatus (BCA) in the locomotive (L), an electric power supply and communications line (EL), which equally extends along the train set, and which is linked to an electronic control unit (ECU) in the locomotive; the braking unit also comprising, in each wagon (W): a pneumatic brake valve (ELV) coupled with the brake pipe (BP) and suitable for applying to brake cylinders (BC) of the wagon (W) a brake pressure that is a function of a control pressure applied to a control input (CI) thereof; and an electro-pneumatic control assembly (EPC) including: solenoid valve control means (EVF, EVS), coupled with the brake pipe (BP) and with which a first pressure accumulator (DVE) is associated; said solenoid valve means (EVF, EVS) being able to be selectively activated through signals sent through said line (EL) for applying a predetermined control pressure to the pneumatic brake valve (ELV); a pneumatic pressure modulator valve assembly (JMR) with a preloaded spring, with which a second pressure accumulator (DVP) is associated, and that is coupled with the brake pipe (BP) and is able to be connected to said control input (CI) of the pneumatic brake valve (ELV); and selector means (SV; SEV; SPV) associated with the pneumatic brake valve (ELV) to couple its control input (CI) normally with the aforementioned solenoid valve means (EVF, EVS), and to couple said control input (CI) with the pressure modulator assembly (JMR) when the pressure in the brake pipe (BP) falls below a predetermined value.