Railway applications - Braking - Empty-loaded changeover devices

This document is applicable to empty-loaded changeover devices. The purpose of such devices is the generation of a load-related signal which causes the brake performance to be adjusted to the current vehicle mass. The manually operated empty-loaded changeover devices change their output signal according to the position of the handles which together with the associated changeover plates serve as interfaces. The changeover plates read the required information for the operation of the empty-loaded changeover devices, i.e. brake weights for each position and the relevant changeover mass of the vehicle. Automatic empty-loaded changeover devices sense a certain load threshold of the vehicle to automatically adjust the output signal when the mass of a vehicle reaches a defined value. This threshold is the changeover mass. Below this mass the vehicle’s brake system provides a reduced brake force. For the changeover mass or more the high brake force applies. This document specifies the requirements for the design, testing and quality assurance of empty-loaded changeover devices