Description

BKB20.21en

Weighing Valve
WM

Ret.2977

KNORRBREMSE

Systems for Rail Vehicles

BKB20.21en
Rev. 00

KNORRBREMSE SfS
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BKB20.21en
Rev. 00
Contents

Page

General

Construction

Operation

3.1

Charging an unladen vehicle

3.2

Charging when loading the vehicle

3.3

Venting when unloading the vehicle

3.4

Throttling the charging and venting

processes

3.5

Recharging in response to leakage

3.6

Emergency operation

Installation

Placing in service

Notes on routine maintenance

Main inspection

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BKB20.21en
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2

General

The model WM weighing valve is used in rail vehicles

having automatic loadcontrolled braking. It is
designed to generate a control pressure T in propor
tion to the proportionate vehicle load Q. The propor
tionate vehicle load at one of the wheels acts directly
on the weighing valve without using any intermediate
reduction linkage. This gives a precise action, does
away with maintenance and makes for easy installa
tion. The weighing valve is characterized additionally
by low air consumption. It can be used for wheel sus
pension systems with either coil springs or leaf
springs.

Fig. 1

Construction

The model WM weighing valve consists of a pneu

matic controller and a mechanical brake force reduc
tion unit. The heart of this reduction or stepdown unit
is the spring washer (3) plus the lock washers (4)
and (5), which serve as supporting surfaces. When
the piston (2) is loaded by the proportionate vehicle
load Q, the arching spring washer (3) steps down the
force on the pin (6) and hence acts against the pneu
matically controlled diaphragm piston (7). The pneu
matic controller consists essentially of the inlet
valve v1 and the outlet valve v2.
The lock washer (5) can be varied in diameter for dif
ferent reduction ratios. Weighing valves with different
characteristics are produced in this way, e.g. WM 10
and WM 40.

Lap position

d2

11

d1

O
T

9
v1
v2
d3
12

8
10
1

7
6
4

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
d1
d2
d3
f
v1
v2
Q
R
T
O

Body
Piston
Spring washer
Lock washer
Lock washer
Pin
Diaphragm piston
Tappet
Valve head
Compression spring
Compression spring
Check valve
Choke
Choke
Choke
Stop
Inlet valve
Outlet valve
Proportionate vehicle
load
Auxil. reservoir pressure
Control pressure
Atmosphere
C 16921/1

Operation

3.1

Charging an unladen vehicle

The proportionate vehicle load Q acts on the spring

washer (3) through the piston (2) and lock washer (5).
As a result, the spring washer arches outwards and
moves pin (6), diaphragm piston (7), tappet (8) and
valve head (9) upwards. The inlet valve v1 is opened
and the outlet valve v2 is closed simultaneously. Com
pressed air R from the auxiliary reservoir now flows
through the inlet valve v1, charges the diaphragm pis
ton (7), passes through the check valve (12) and
enters the control line T. Charging continues until a
pneumatic pressure is built up that acts on the dia

phragm piston (7) with the same force as the propor

tionate vehicle load Q. The spring washer (3) returns
to the centre position. The inlet valve v1 closes without
the outlet valve v2 being opened.
The weighing valve is at the lap position; a control
pressure T representing the vehicle weight is gener
ated.

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BKB20.21en
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3.2 Charging when loading the vehicle
opened. Compressed air R from the auxiliary reser
voir now flows into the chamber above the diaphragm
When the vehicle is loaded, the proportionate vehicle
piston (7) and into the control line T through the check
load Q increases, and the forces are no longer in equi
valve (12). Consequently, the balance of forces
librium. The elevated force on the diaphragm pis
between the pneumatic and mechanical sides of the
ton (7) overcomes the control pressure T that is
weighing valve is restored. The weighing valve is at
formed as long as the vehicle is unladen. The tap
the lap position. A control pressure representing the
pet (8) is pushed upwards, the inlet valve v1 is
vehicle load is generated.

Fig. 2

Charging position

9
v1
8

v2
12

6
3

1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
12
v1
v2
Q
R
T
O

Body
Piston
Spring washer
Lock washer
Pin
Diaphragm piston
Tappet
Valve head
Check valve
Inlet valve
Outlet valve
Proportionate vehicle
load
Auxil. reservoir pressure
Control pressure
Atmosphere

C 16921/2

3.3

3.4

Venting when unloading the vehicle

The proportionate vehicle load Q on the weighing

valve falls as the vehicle is unloaded. The forces are
no longer in equilibrium. The pneumatic force on the
diaphragm piston (7) is greater than the opposing
mechanical force and pushes the pin (6) and pis
ton (2) downwards in the body (1). The tappet (8) fol
lows the movement of the diaphragm piston (7) under
the action of the compression spring (10). The outlet
valve v2 is opened. The chamber above the dia
phragm piston (7) and the control line T, which is
throttled by the choke d3, are vented through the out
let valve v2, the bore in valve head (9), and the
choke d2. The piston (2), the pin (6) and the tappet (8)
travel upwards again in proportion to the amount by
which the pressure is discharged. The outlet valve v2
closes when the balance of forces is restored.
The weighing valve is at the lap position; the control
pressure T corresponds once more to the vehicle
load.

Throttling the charging and venting processes

The brief charging and venting reactions caused by

rail joints and running vibrations are throttled by the
chokes d1 and d2 and by the choke d3 in the check
valve (12). Any change to the loaddependent control
pressure T is suppressed in this way.
3.5

Recharging in response to leakage

Pressure losses in the control line T cause the weigh

ing valve to act as it would for filling. Compressed air
is recharged quickly through the check valve (12),
which is opened in this case.
3.6

Emergency operation

If the supply of compressed air fails, the proportionate

vehicle load Q must be taken up in the body. This
action is assisted by the stop f which restricts the
stroke of the spring washer (3) and hence protects the
pneumatic controller from damage.

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BKB20.21en
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Fig. 3

Venting position

d2

d1

T
R
9
v2
d3
12

8
10
1

7
6
3
2

1
2
3
6
7
8
9
10
12
d1
d2
d3
f
v2
Q
R
T
O

f
Q

Body
Piston
Spring washer
Pin
Diaphragm piston
Tappet
Valve head
Compression spring
Check valve
Choke
Choke
Choke
Stop
Outlet valve
Proportionate vehicle
load
Auxil. reservoir pressure
Control pressure
Atmosphere

C16921/3

Installation

Fig. 4

Normally, each car has two WM weighing valves. The

proportionate vehicle load Q can be transmitted to
each of them in the following way:
-

In vehicles that have coil spring suspension,

the weighing valve is positioned between the
coil spring and bogie frame. The supporting
coil spring is centred by a spring retainer (13)
which rests against a spherical surface in the
weighing valve.

In vehicles that have leaf spring suspension,

the proportionate vehicle load Q is transmitted
from the link to the weighing valve through a
lever and tappet. Since tolerances in the trans
mission members may cause the control pres
sure to fluctuate, some means of correction
must be provided. This consists in varying the
length of the tappet in situ.

C 16921/4

Fig. 5

On request, we will be pleased to submit suitable

installation proposals.

C16921/5

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BKB20.21en
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Fig. 6

C16921/6

Placing in service

After the compressed air piping has been connected,

the control pressure T must be checked before the
vehicle is loaded.
6

Main inspection

Main inspections must be timed individually by the

authorities in charge of working.

Notes on routine maintenance

The model WM weighing valve requires no mainte

nance. All it needs is checking at the time of the regu
lar main inspection.

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BKB20.21en
Rev. 00

KNORRBREMSE
Systeme fr Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
Moosacher Strae 80
D80809 Mnchen
Tel.:
+49 89 35470
Fax:
+49 89 35472767

USA

KNORR BRAKE CORPORATION

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Tel.:
+61 2 4765266
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KNORRBREMSE

Systeme fr SchienenfahrzeugeKNORRBREMSE
GmbH
SfS
Moosacher Str. 80 D80809 Mnchen Tel.: (089) 35470 Fax (089) 35472767

8 of 8

FREIOS KNORR SISTEMAS

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Subject to modifications.
For application studies and use of our products please
contact us, requesting specific documentation.
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