氣軔系統概述

為了能使列車有效地減速，列車中的每個車輛都需要盡量地同步緊軔。藉由氣軔系統，此動作得以實現。各車輛的兩端都配備了軔管。當車輛連結在一起時，軔管也以如同握手的方式相接。如此，位於列車牽引車輛中的駕駛員就能透過操作單個司軔閥，一次操作整組列車的軔機。

系統中的空氣由動力車輛上的風泵進行加壓與供給，透過一連串的閥門、硬管與軟管分送至整組列車。若將系統簡化，此系統可以被視為以三大部分構成：「主風缸」、「軔管」和「軔缸」。

Main Reservoir

「主風缸（Main Reservoir）」是動力車輛上的大容量氣瓶。它透過車輛的風泵來維持本身壓力至一定高壓，其壓力將供給系統中的其他部分。

Brake Pipe

「軔管（Brake Pipe）」透過「主風缸」加壓，是系統中由多個閥門和軟、硬管線連結，延伸至整組列車的部分。於每個連結器旁，軔管的一端都有個用於手動開啟或關閉氣流，稱為「角旋塞」的閥門。列車兩端的「角旋塞」必須保持關閉，以防止壓縮空氣逸出到大氣中。列車正常運轉的情況下，「軔管」壓力會維持在 5 bar。

Auxiliary Reservoirs

Auxiliary reservoirs are medium volume vessels found on each individual vehicle. Pressurized by the brake pipe, they store pressure to be further fed to apply brakes, on demand. While auxiliary reservoirs can take a long time to charge, they are almost impossible to run out during regular operation.

Brake Cylinders

最後，各車輛都有一個或多個自己的「軔缸（Brake Cylinders）」。此為驅動軔塊所用的小型氣動活塞，將軔塊推向車輪使其減速。當「軔管」中的壓力改變，一個控制閥將依據壓力變化，使用車輛中稱為「輔助風缸（Auxiliary Reservoirs）」的另一氣瓶中的空氣推動軔缸內的活塞。

Train Charging

Due to leaks , no brake system components can remain pressurized indefinitely. It usually takes some time to bring the components of unused vehicles to their nominal, high pressure level, before they can be set in motion. The two biggest factors are the main reservoir, which will charge as quickly as the respective compressor can do it, and auxiliary reservoirs, which may take a long time to charge, depending on how many vehicles there are in the train.

Adding additional locomotives to the train to improve charging speeds is a viable option, as is revving the engine .

Train Brake Application

Train brake is applied by a control device found in motorized rail vehicles. Doing so on a fully charged train functions by air getting dumped from the brake pipe to the atmosphere. This forces auxiliary reservoirs to feed their stored pressure to brake cylinders, pressing brake shoes against wheels.

Train Brake Release

司機員透過操作「貫通軔機」司軔閥手柄調整「軔管」中的壓力來間接影響列車「軔缸」中的充氣量。當司機員往緊軔方向推動「貫通軔機」手柄時將對「軔管」進行減壓，釋放當中的空氣至大氣之中。此時各獨立車輛上的控制閥因「軔管」洩氣，會將「輔助風缸」中的壓力供給至「軔缸」，從而進行緊軔。而當司機員往鬆軔方向推動「貫通軔機」手柄時則會使用「主風缸」中的空氣對「軔管」進行加壓。「輔助風缸」此時會透過「軔管」重新充氣，而各獨立車輛上的控制閥因「軔管」充氣，會將「軔缸」中的壓力釋放至大氣中，從而進行鬆軔。

Automatic Stop Safety Mechanism

Crucial safety feature of the compressed air brake system is that, in case of vehicle connection getting severed, such as due to a derailment , brake pipe pressure will be lost, resulting in automatic full brake application on both remaining train parts. This is integral to the compressed air brake system design.