DISTRIBUTOR

VALVES
APPLICATIONS
Freight Cars | Locomotives | Passenger Coaches | Multiple Units
 KE DISTRIBUTOR VALVE

New generation distributor Again, a new standard has been set: solid sand-cast
valve KE for UIC market designs have been replaced by state-of-the-art
hot-pressed aluminum parts, resulting in significantly
When the first KE Classic valve entered service in
reduced installation space and weight.
1953, its engineers had written a new chapter in
railroad history. The KE Classic was the first distributor
The standard version now fits vehicles with limited
valve capable of always filling the brake cylinder
installation space – such as low-floor cars – without
within the prescribed time, regardless of size and
any special modifications. And the ready-for-future tag
piston stroke. It replaced high-maintenance
is no advertising gimmick – the valves have been
mechanical slide valves by reliable rubber membranes
designed to be ready for the digitalization of freight cars.
and seat valves. Furthermore, the entire design was
based on a modular principle.
Universal common parts strategy lies at the heart of
this approach. The requirements of a wide range of
After over six decades in operation, the KE distributor
vehicle types can be met flexibly with just one dis-
valve kit was re-engineered from the ground up. The
tributor valve and a handful of relay valve variants.
new generation offers a high level of standardization
which enables a lean spare part and stock manage-
Furthermore extensive endurance testing was
ment. It is complemented by newly developed relay
conducted to preserve at least the same or even
valves featuring single stage, two-stage and load-
higher mission reliability and long overhaul intervals
dependent types.
of the existing generation. All wear parts of the new
KEf have been designed for best-in-class durability.
When a valve needs to be overhauled, the bracket
simply remains on the car. The lightweight valves
are easily detachable from the bracket.
 Customer Benefits:
n O verall weight reduction up to 30%, n P
 ilot volumes of distributor and relay
reduced installation space up to 50% valve now integrated in bracket
(complete unit of bracket, distributor n N
 o valve modification required for low
and relay valve) floor cars anymore
n V
 alve portions lighter by up to 75% n M
 aintenance free, easy overhaul in long
and more compact by up to 55% intervals
n L ong overhaul intervals, best-in-class
durability of all wear parts, even better
mission reliability compared to existing
generation

Designed to be ready for Digitalization

Life-Cycle Assessment – focus Product Carbon Footprint

Distributor valve, Type: KE saves 52% CO2-emissions during its lifetime
compared to the KE Classic distributor valve, Type: KE0dvKSL
Distributor valve, Type: KE Classic
Distributor valve, Type: KE
100.0
100

80

63.6
60
Result [%]

48.1

40
36.4 35.5

20

11.3

0.9 0.4
0
Total Manufacturing and Use Phase Recycling and
Component Production End of Life
 RAIL
VEHICLE
DISTRIBUTOR VALVES SYSTEMS

Main features: DB60 – for AAR freight market

KE – for UIC market n S tandard valve for AAR freight trains
n D istributor valve KE in conjunction n G raduated application and direct
with related relay valve family covers as release
valve kit all UIC market requirements n D esigned for accelerated service brake
n Graduated application and release signal transmission
n C ertified according to UIC and TSI n I mproved control of long and heavy
regulations and based on the proven trains
design principles n S eparation of service and emergency
n S eamless integration into various car brake portions KE valve
types due to kit design n Interchangeable with all AAR approved
n Interchangeable with all UIC approved distributor valves
distributor valves n Working temperature -40 °C to +66 °C
n I ndirect EP brake possible
n C overs all existing KE Classic distributor EP60 – for AAR freight market
valve variants n E lectronically controlled pneumatic
n I mproved spare parts & stock manage- (ECP) brake system
KE for MU
ment by high level of standardization n Graduated application and release
n R educed installation space and weight n M eets AAR performance and inter-
n S tandardized car interface operability specifications per S-4200
n W orking temperature -40 °C to +70 °C n S imultaneous signal transmission
(low- temperature version for -50 °C through the train
available) n L oad-compensated braking at each
wagon
KE – for Multiple Units n Online diagnostics at each wagon
DB60 valve
 edicated variant for integration in
n D n I mproved handling of long, heavy
EMU/DMU brake systems trains, providing shorter stopping
 raduated application and release
n G distances and saving energy
 istributor valve with full EN15355
n D n W
 orking temperature -40 °C to +66 °C
functionality
 ertified according TSI
n C WF5 – for ARA freight market
 ptimized for EP systems
n O n G
 raduated application and direct
 ver 90% common parts with standard
n O release EP60 valve

KE distributor valve, but smaller dimen- n D

 esigned for operation on longer
sions for easier integration freight trains
 orking temperature -40 °C to +70 °C
n W n H
 igh brake signal propagation rates
resulting in reduced stopping distances
KE Classic – for UIC and in-train forces
n F ormer standard valve generation KEdv n W
 orking temperature -10 °C to +70 °C
n Proven in service around the world
n s uperseded by new valve kit KE for UIC WF5 valve

market (as above)

n K E Classic stays available, in particular
for spare part service as well as for
specific variants
n W orking temperature -40 °C to +70 °C
(low- temperature version for -50 °C
available)
 RAIL
VEHICLE
DISTRIBUTOR VALVES SYSTEMS

Distributor valves
for global applications

 UIC

 AAR

 China

 ARA

 GOST

  Other / no significant freight

Valve technology that can address the needs of the world’s trains. Being able to serve a
global market means delivering products to meet very specific and often demanding
requirements – for example a valve with the ability to operate in extreme environmental
and climatic conditions such as temperatures down to -50°C!

At the heart of pneumatic brakes is the distributor The Knorr-Bremse KE distributor valve for example is
valve, reacting precisely to changes in brake pipe extremely popular in the core European and Asian UIC
pressure. Modern valves are sophisticated pieces of market and having proved itself in operation, the valve
technology, providing load-dependent braking for has now become synonymous with absolute reliability.
various specific brake types. Millions of these valves In American and African markets, the DB60 distributor
are in daily use all over the world, but they are not a valve is the standard valve which uses AAR technology,
“universal” product: various regions have different and the Australian railways system ARA operates with
standards that have been established over the years Knorr-Bremse W-series valves, employed for trains
and are not compatible with one another. All distributor carrying heavy ore.
valves have in common long overhaul intervals and low
life-cycle costs and are characterized by their robust
and reliable design.
 P-1247-EN 02.2022
Knorr-Bremse Systeme für
Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
Moosacher Straße 80
80809 Munich
Germany
Phone: +49 89 3547-0
rail.knorr-bremse.com