Patent ID: 8297716

Claim:
A hand brake control system for a rail vehicle with a hand brake having a release trigger, wherein the vehicle includes a pair of opposite sides, the system comprising: a cylinder that activates the release trigger of the hand brake; a source of pressure; a first valve having a first port which is a valve input, a second port which is a valve input, and a third port which is a valve output, the first valve selectively connecting the cylinder to the source of pressure through the first and third ports of the first valve or connecting the cylinder to exhaust through the second and third ports of the first valve; and a second valve having a first port which is a valve input, a second port which is a valve input, and a third port which is a valve input, the second valve selectively connecting either the source of pressure or exhaust to the second port of the first valve, wherein the third port of the second valve is connected to the second port of the first valve thereby selectively connecting the cylinder to exhaust through the second and third ports of the first valve and selectively connecting the cylinder to the source of pressure through the second and third ports of the first valve.