MXPA06005294A - System, method, and apparatus for training railroad personnel in rail vehicle safety and maintenance - Google Patents

Abstract

A training module is used to train railroad personnel how to detect and correct potential defects on railroad cars. The training module simulates various devices and systems that are commonly found on railroad cars. The training module contains over 100 intentional defects and training items that can be used to properly educate and test personnel for rail vehicle safety and maintenance.

Description

SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAINING PERSONNEL OF RAILWAYS N SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE RAILWAY VEHICLES Background of the Invention 1. Technical Field The present invention relates in general to railroad safety and, in particular, to an improved system, method and apparatus for training railway personnel on how to detect and correct potential defects in railway vehicles. 2. Description of the Related Art To ensure the safety and maintenance of railway vehicles or vans, railway personnel (eg, drivers) must be properly trained to inspect the equipment for defects or problems in order to properly recommend the repair or replacement of the equipment in the vans. Typically, training of this nature is carried out by an experienced carter carrying a van apprentice in a van in search of different types of equipment or defects that may be encountered. The Federal Railroad Administration (F.R.A.) of the United States requires that all employees who carry out work in any van be trained and certified by qualified individuals. Examples of certification tests include the single-van test, the initial terminal air test, the 1,500-mile (2,413.50 km) railroad air test or long run. When a van is being used as an example for training or training purposes, the van must be taken out of commission, which reduces its value to the owner. Alternatively, an insufficient amount of time to train the apprentice appropriately may be required to put a boxcar back into use. In addition, the rail yards are occupied with locomotives, vans, cranes, top loaders and trucks and can be potentially dangerous environments. As a result, training road workers can be both time consuming and costly and inconvenient. In this way, a solution that improves the training of drivers to ensure the proper maintenance and safety of vans would be desirable. Compendium of the Invention One embodiment of a system, method and apparatus for training or training railway personnel concerns how to detect and correct potential defects in vans. A training or simulation module simulates various devices and systems commonly found in vans. In one version, the training module contains more than 100 intentional defects that can be used to properly educate and test personnel for safety and maintenance of rail vehicles. The defects are located in a single device, which reduces training or training time. The training or training module does not require the removal of vans or equipment commission. The present invention is used to train personnel to identify all defects in the training module in order to prepare it to identify the same types of defects in real vans. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the aspects and advantages of the invention, as well as others that will be evident, are achieved and can be understood in greater detail, a particular description of the invention briefly summarized above can be made by reference to its embodiment , which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which drawings form part of this description. However, it should be noted that the drawings illustrate only one embodiment of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting their scope, as the invention may admit other equally effective embodiments.

Figure 1 is an isometric front view of a training module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is another isometric view of a training module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is another isometric view of a training module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 is another isometric view of a training module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is another isometric view of a training module constructed in accordance with the present invention; Y Figure 6 is a high-level flow diagram of a method constructed in accordance with the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to Figures 1-6, a system, method and apparatus for safety training of railway personnel is disclosed. The present invention can be used to educate personnel about how to analyze, detect and correct defects or potential problems commonly encountered in vans. The training module presents and simulates various devices and systems that are used in vans and, in one embodiment, contains more than 100 intentional defects for such safety training purposes. The equipment, operation and inspections presented and simulated by the present invention are described more fully in The Field Manual of the A.A. R. Interchange Rules, Association of American Railroads (A.A.R.), and Railroad Mechanical Department Regulations, including 49 C.F.R. § 215, 218, 231 and 232, as promulgated by the Federal Railroad Administration (F.R.A.) of the United States, which are incorporated herein by reference. As shown in Figure 1, one embodiment of the training module has a foundation 10 comprising a plurality of concrete beams. A pair of rails 12 are mounted and extend through the tops of the beams. Stringers 14 are mounted on the beams between and outside the rails 12. The following description of the equipment in the training module can be mounted directly on the foundation 10 or placed on the rails 12. A portable derailment device can be located adjacent to the module of training to simulate the protection of a user during an inspection. The training module includes a coupler 11 that can be used to demonstrate to the personnel, such as a reel-ro, how to inspect a van in relation to defective or broken hinges. The training module has two or more angle 13 hammers, worn hand brakes 15, bolt applications 16, safety devices 17, and a hitch 19, which require lubrication, cleaning and routine preparation at regular intervals (v. gr., every 18 months). A stencil or other indicator (e.g., visual) can be applied to the equipment or signaled in another way after a defect or set of defects has been identified. For example, a new coupling lubrication stencil is applied each time the service is performed to identify the location of the company carrying out the work, the service date to verify the 18-month requirement, and yellow paint. on the nipple or pin to indicate the locked or unlocked position, etc. Another handbrake 21 in the training module simulates the operation of a handbrake and where the driver would stop to properly inspect and manipulate the handbrake. The "tension" and release pressure required for the hand brake are simulated, as well as its full release application. After the parking brake is held, it must have a four-inch clearance and nothing of the equipment must fail or be lashed. The driver can also verify that the chain links and guardrails in the training module have the required appearance (eg, painted white) . A hose holder 23 (Figure 2) in the training module holds an air hose 25 and requires a clearance of five or six inches (12.70 or 15.24 cm) which must be inspected by the personnel being trained. The training module is also used for instruction regarding the placement of a blue flag 27 inside the hinge to increase the protection of the vans' movers. A complete ladder type safety device 29 is also provided in the training module. The carter can inspect the ladder 29 trying to move it to see if something is loose, such as the nuts and bolts that attach it to the training module. The driver can also inspect and make sure that all the wheels 31 in the training module are of the appropriate dimensions for the vehicle, within the indicated requirements, and that they do not have defects. For example, a carter can apply a meter to a cracked or broken wheel to determine if it should be discarded and needs replacement. The bearings 33 and the backup rings 35 can also be identified and inspected for proper size and to ensure that they do not leak or are broken. Cover screws 37 can be inspected to see if they are missing or broken, and that they are attached. In addition, a driver can inspect the adapter and roof liners 39 to make sure that the adapted one is appropriate, has no damage and is the correct size for the application. The training module has a side frame or truck 41 that can be inspected to make sure it has not been broken, bent or involved in a derailment of some kind. The truck 41 should be inspected for the springs to make sure nothing is missing or broken. The bolts can be inspected to make sure they are secure and not loose. Referring now to Figure 3, the side bearings 43, the shims 45, and the body, housing or housing 47 of the side bearings can be inspected for proper clearance. Threaded bolts are used by the training module to simulate the application of up and down of the side bearing shims 45. A meter can be applied to ensure that it is the same on the other side, or at least as long as the stencil of the van is required. Some vans owners specify that their own adjustments be in stencil on the side of the van. A go / no go gauge can be used to verify appropriate measurements before any adjustments are made. If an adjustment is required, a shim 45 may be removed or removed. Once the van is repaired, another measure may be taken to verify proper clearance or other measures. The training module also has a piston displacement indicator 51. This equipment allows a driver to obtain an accurate reading of the piston displacement adjustment that is required for initial terminal inspections. A driver can also inspect the nuts and bolts to make sure they are properly applied to the truck. The training module also has at least one braking system 61. In one embodiment, four different types of independent braking systems that are commonly used in the industry are installed in the training module. Examples include the Ellcon National braking system 63, and the 65-ton Brake Thrall-Davis braking system. Parts of the braking system, including the valves, are painted in different colors to indicate the different service and emergency systems. For example, a portion is painted red to indicate emergency application system or emergency braking system. Another portion of the braking system is painted green to indicate the service application. A clamp or block of pipe 67 and the brake lines can be inspected by the roadman in relation to leaks. The training module also has a train line. A stencil in the upper part of the tank 71 indicates, for example, "brake pipe length, 81 feet" (24.7 m), the type of service valve, e.g., "DIO", the emergency valve, v.gr., "ABD". The driver can identify and inspect the equipment for leaks or broken parts, such as broken casings in the tank, loose nuts, safety checks, and braking system applications, to ensure that they are all configured correctly. The training module can be equipped with a cylinder 73 mounted on the TMX brake beam and a truck actuator or "bellows bag" 75. The carter can also look and inspect bowl liners 77 for breakage and wear., which may be grounds for withdrawal. The training module also has a brake tap or outlet 79 (figure 4) for single-van test applications. The training module can operate at any desired performance level from single-van to initial terminal tests to simply test train braking systems and different applications. Staff can also be trained to adjust the pistons, slack adjusters, brake beams to ensure that the pins are present, all levers to ensure they are all present, and the pins to ensure they have key wedges and that the pins Key wedges are bent properly. The training module also has different types of defective run boards 81 for a driver to identify and inspect for cracks and breaks and recommend what needs to be repaired or replaced. When the carter applies the brake, you can install a "test meter" on the angle 13 hammer or train line. The test meter assures you that there is a continuous flow of air and that there is enough load to fix the brakes. Appropriate instructions may also be given to open angle hammers, from safe application to unsafe application including the speed at which this operation is carried out. The operation of different types of clearance adjustments (eg, four) can be demonstrated, such as in the universal "C-1000" slack adjuster 83. The cover can be removed so that the driver can identify how the go inside and how it operates. In one embodiment, an adjuster 85 model "7100" may be used to show the carter where the trigger is located and where not to apply his fingers to avoid injury. The need to inspect the nuts and bolts in the cover housings and safety attachments for safe fit and correct application can also be shown. A small release rod 91 is located in the training module so that the driver understands how the air operates from the check valve during emergencies. The training module may be equipped with an incorrectly sized adapter 93 to be identified by the driver. For example, in a 7 x 12 bearing, a 7 x 12 adapter is required, rather than a 6% x 12 adapter. Load sensors and unit systems can be tested in both loaded and empty applications with the training module. In one embodiment, the training module includes the following list of approximately 102 or more points and / or security and maintenance defects (hereinafter, "points"). For example, the training module may comprise ten points of side frame, three points of adapters (including one broken and one of the wrong size), four points of crossmembers, four points of springs of truck / friction shoe, four points of beam brakes, five brake shoe spots, two TMB system points, four TMB pin / dowel pins, four stencil points, 14 wheel bearing points, eight bolt deployment points, five side bearing points , five points of brake pipe, one point of check valve, one point of release rod, one point of hammer trimming, three points of deposit, four points of control valve, one point of auxiliary deposit, three points of Angle hammer, a vent point # 8, a hand brake point (eg, demonstration), four points of support irons, six platform points, two points of upper engan plate che, etc. Referring now to Figure 6, an embodiment of a method of training railway personnel is disclosed. The method begins as indicated in step 601, and comprises providing a training module (step 603); install equipment in the training module, including wheels, trucks, an air brake system, safety devices, angle hammers and a side bearing (step 605); install redundant van equipment systems in the training module (step 607); intentionally setting at least some components of the equipment with a defect (step 609); and training a user on how to inspect the equipment regarding defects to simulate the safety and maintenance inspection of a rail vehicle; and training personnel in different types of van equipment systems (step 611), before finishing as indicated in step 613. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise providing a foundation having a pair of rails; place the training module on the pair of rails; and install a portable derail device to simulate user protection during an inspection. In addition, the method may comprise installing a plurality of independent braking systems, a plurality of independent side bearings, and the safety equipment comprises ladders, rails, hand holders, and a plurality of different types of run boards. Further, the method may comprise installing the brake system with an air reservoir, at least 75 feet (22.87 m) of pipe, pistons, stroke adjusting mechanisms, valves, and a plurality of brake beams. Alternatively, the method may further comprise installing a coupler, hand brakes, a hitch, a hose holder including a hose, bearings, backup rings, cap screws, adapters, roof linings, a bellows bag, linings of bowl, and slack adjustments; and / or carry out single-van tests, initial terminal air tests, long-range air tests, slack adjuster tests, emergency application tests, ltests, and fixed and released brake applications. The present invention has various advantages, including the ability to train the appropriate railroad personnel on how to analyze and inspect vans and railway equipment for detection of safety defects. The training module is relatively small and portable, and is not limited to use in crowded rail yards, where personnel would be required to contend with locomotives, vans, cranes, loaders and trucks. Moreover, with almost all potential defects conveniently located in a single device, much less training time is required for both trainers and trainees. The training module does not require the removal of real trucks or equipment from commission. In this way, the time required to properly educate and train staff can be invested without causing delays in the use of real equipment. The trained personnel to identify all the defects in the training module is well prepared to identify these types of defects in real vans. Although the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for training railway personnel with respect to safety and maintenance of railway vehicles, the apparatus comprising: a training module that has a foundation without a van body, and equipment that includes wheels, trains, a system of air brakes, safety attachments, angle hammers, and a side bearing, each of which has a theme to train a user on how to inspect such equipment in a rail vehicle.
2. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the trucks is in proper working condition and another of the trucks has a defect.
3. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the braking system comprises a plurality of independent brake systems.
4. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side bearing comprises a plurality of independent side bearings. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the braking system comprises an air reservoir, at least 75 feet (22.87 m) of pipe, pistons, piston stroke adjusting mechanisms, valves, and a plurality of beams of brakes. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the safety equipment comprises ladders, rails, hand supports, and a plurality of different types of run boards. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coupler, hand brakes, a hitch, a hose holder including a hose, bearings, backup rings, cover screws, adapters, roof linings, a bag bellows, bowl liners, and slack adjustments. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the training module conducts tests in a single van, initial terminal air tests, long-range air tests, slack adjuster tests, emergency application tests, leak tests, and fixed and released brake applications. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foundation comprises a plurality of concrete beams in which a pair of rails, run boards mounted on the concrete beams both between and outside the pair of rails, are mounted, and where portions of the training module are mounted directly to the foundation, and other portions of the training module are located on the pair of rails. 10. A system to train railway personnel, the system comprising: a foundation that has a pair of rails mounted on it; a training module located on the foundation, the module having a chassis without a van body, and equipment that includes wheels, trucks, an air brake system, safety attachments, angle hammers, and a side bearing, at least some of which have a defect, to train personnel on how to inspect such equipment in a rail vehicle; and a plurality of redundant vans equipment systems for training personnel in different types of vans equipment systems. 11. A system according to claim 10, wherein one of the trucks is in proper working condition and another of the trucks has a defect. 12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the braking system comprises a plurality of independent brake systems. A system according to claim 10, wherein the side bearing comprises a plurality of independent side bearings. A system according to claim 10, wherein the braking system comprises an air reservoir, at least 75 feet (22.87 m) of pipe, pistons, stroke adjusting mechanisms, valves, and a plurality of brake beams . 15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the safety equipment comprises ladders, rails, hand supports, and a plurality of different types of run boards. 16. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a coupler, hand brakes, a hitch, a hose holder that includes a hose, bearings, backup rings, cap screws, adapters, roof linings, a bellows bag, bowl liners, and adjustments of slackness A system according to claim 10, wherein the training module performs simple van tests, initial terminal air tests, long-range air tests, slack adjuster tests, emergency application tests, tests of leaks, and applications of fixed and released brakes. 18. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a portable derailment device to simulate protection of a user during an inspection. A system according to claim 10, wherein the foundation comprises a plurality of concrete beams in which a pair of rails, running boards mounted on the concrete beams both between and outside the pair of rails, are mounted, and where portions of the training module are mounted directly to the foundation, and other portions of the training module are located on the pair of rails. 20. A method of training railroad personnel, the method comprising: (a) providing a training module; (b) install equipment in the training module, including wheels, trucks, an air brake system, safety attachments, angle hammers, and a side bearing; (c) install redundant van equipment systems in the training module; (d) intentionally configure at least some components of the equipment with a defect; and then (e) train a user on how to inspect equipment for defects to simulate safety inspection and maintenance of a rail vehicle, and train personnel on different types of van equipment systems. 21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising: providing a foundation having a pair of rails; place the training module on the pair of rails; and install a portable derail device to simulate user protection during an inspection. 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein step (b) comprises installing a plurality of independent brake systems, a plurality of independent side bearings, and the safety equipment comprises ladders, rails, hand brackets, and a plurality of different types of run boards. 23. A method according to claim 20, wherein step (b) comprises installing the brake system with an air reservoir, at least 75 feet (22.87 m) of pipe, pistons, piston stroke adjusting mechanisms, valves, and a plurality of brake beams. 24. A method according to claim 20, wherein step (b) further comprises a coupler, hand brakes, a hook, a hose holder that includes a hose, bearings, backup rings, cap screws, adapters, roof linings, a bellows bag, bowl liners, and slack adjustments. 25. A method according to claim 20, further comprising carrying out tests in a single van, initial terminal air tests, long gait air tests, slack adjuster tests, emergency application tests, tests of leaks, and applications of fixed and released brakes. Resu en A training module is used to train personnel on how to detect and correct potential defects in vans. The training module simulates various devices and systems that are commonly found in vans. The training module contains more than 100 intentional defects and training points that can be used to properly educate and test personnel regarding safety and maintenance of rail vehicles.