Brake Tests

50 DESCRIPTION OF AIR BRAKE APPARATUS DESIGNED TO MEET THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMITTED FOR TEST 110. The Westinghouse Air Brake Co.’s type UC equipment used during the tests referred to in this report is designed to meet the requirements outlined above. The valve mechanism which is the distin- guishing feature of this equipment is of the “built-up” type which makes it possible to install and operate this equipment if desired in stages by adding to the simplest arrangement of apparatus, including only those features required to give an operation equivalent to that of the PM brake, up to the complete form of the device. III. Three arrangements of this apparatus were used in these tests. Partial—equivalent to PM brake equipment. Complete pneumatic equipment. Complete electro-pneumatic equipment. 112. The partial form of the UC equipment (Par. 139) was tried out chiefly to demonstrate the similarity of its action to that o e PM brake equipment. Aside from the fact that this was t oroug } demonstrated the tests with the partial equipment were o no special importance. Moreover, the trials with the complete pneuma ic equip .„ 1 • 1 PM equipments in the same train, ment, especially when mixed with F M equip ....1 did not disclose any reasons why the UC equipmen in is compe e pneumatic form could not be operated with the PM equipment during the transition period. Consequently, the arrangement of apparatus and the operation of the complete pneumatic and complete elec pneumatic equipments will be treated in detal Complete Equipment. 113. The UC equipment, Figs. 26 and 27, in its complete form 1 : called the universal valve with its perma- comprises a valve mechanism called the 4.1, cota and nent pipe bracket and three reservoirs, the auxiliary, the servi emergency reservoirs. . . 1 14. ' The universal valve (Figs. 28 to 30), consists of an equalising portion. Fig. 31, which primarily controls the charging and recharging of the reservoirs of the equipment, the service application of the brakes and the releasing of the brakes. 99 controls ri quick action portion with high pressure cap, Fig. 32, which controls the transmission of serial quick action and obtaining of high eme ?? pressure in the brake cylinders when an emergency application rincline portion. Fig. 33, which comprises the magnets,^ etc., controlling the electric service application, electric emergency applications of the brakes.