Westinghouse Air Brake Company

American Standard Inc.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Daniel G Scott

Gregory L Johnston

Robert D Dimsa

William K Mong

Michael J Veltri

Gary M Sich

John B Carroll

Vincent F Troiani

Theodore B Hill

Wei Li

Willard P Spalding

James E Hart

Ralph Santoro, Jr

Mark S Krampitz

Lawrence James Andrews

Robert G Bostedo

John G Cannon

Gene S Ferry

A pneumatic pressure control device for an empty/load changeover valve on a railway car, which enables an empty/load changeover valve to have a lower profile. The pneumatic pressure control device comprises a mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, and further having an actuating push rod. A sensor arm of a predetermined size and shape has a first end and a second end. A first disposed adjacent at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the mounting member pivotally supports the sensor arm in a predetermined position on the mounting member. A second is engageable with the sensor arm and the actuating push rod on the mounting member for moving the push rod in response to a movement of the sensor arm. A load sensing has at least a portion thereof disposed on the second end of the sensor arm for determining a rate of brake cylinder pressure required relative to an actual weight of a railway car. The sensor arm and the load sensing have a predetermined travel limit.

Pneumatic pressure control device for an empty/load changeover valve on a railway car

An empty/load brake control system mountable on a sprung and an unsprung member of a railway car and disposed between the car brake control valve and brake cylinder for adjusting the brake cylinder pressure during a brake application according to the car load condition. Such system includes an empty/load sensor valve device and a sensor arm coupled to a sensor cable whose movement is controlled by a sprung member and a terminal member disposed on an end of sensor cable, in contact with sprung member so that any downward movement of sprung member forces such terminal member in a similar downward direction and similarly pulls on the sensor cable. A piston, under pressure, urges the sensor arm to rotate and retract sensor cable but must overcome resistance of a spring. The system includes a load proportional valve.

Short travel detector for empty/load brake control

A two-piece check valve device comprising a rubber sealing element and a plastic carrier member. A through bore in the plastic carrier member receives the sealing element, which is formed with an annular groove in which the carrier member is removably secured. The through bore and annular groove may be correspondingly tapered to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the check valve device.

Two-piece check valve assembly

A test connector adapter plate for use with a pipe bracket portion of a freight brake control valve of a railway freight vehicle and with a portable automated single car brake tester. The pipe bracket portion having four test ports vertically disposed on a front side of such pipe bracket portion for single car brake testing. These test ports are fluidly connected to passageways within the pipe bracket for communicating fluid pressure with brake pipe, brake cylinder, emergency reservoir and auxiliary reservoir, respectively. A first member of the test connector adapter plate is engagable with the test ports on such front side of the pipe bracket portion for accessing the passageways respectively communicating to brake pipe, brake cylinder, emergency reservoir and auxiliary reservoir and are fluidly connected to respective passageways within the adapter plate. A second member of the test connector adapter plate is a manifold with access ports for providing fluid communication from brake pipe, brake cylinder, emergency reservoir and auxiliary reservoir to test receiver of the portable automated single car brake tester. The manifold of the second member of the adapter plate is directed to provide access on an axis perpendicular to that of the first member of the adapter plate so as to provide at. least one of a top and a bottom access for the portable automated single car brake tester.

Automatic test connector adapter plate for AB pipe bracket

A purge valve for expelling liquid contaminants from a fluid conduit which is normally unpressurized but is at times pressurized with a gas which contains liquid contaminants. It has a housing, a diaphragm mounted within the housing, a control chamber on a first side of the diaphragm, an exhaust passage on a second side of the diaphragm and a valve seat surrounding the exhaust passage. The valve seat is positioned so that the diaphragm can seal against it. A spring on the second side of the diaphragm presses it away from the seat. An annular chamber is on the second side of the diaphragm, surrounding the exhaust passage. The annular chamber is open to the exhaust passage when the diaphragm is unseated from the valve seat. The valve has a low impedance flow path between the control chamber and the fluid conduit. The valve also has a high impedance discharge flow path connected to the annular chamber. The high impedance discharge flow path may be connected to the control chamber, connected to the low impedance flow path, or it may be for connection to the fluid conduit. When the valve is connected to the fluid conduit, it is open due to the spring force whenever the fluid conduit is unpressurized so that the liquid contaminant may drain from the valve. When the fluid conduit is pressurized, the diaphragm is pressed against the valve seat so that the valve is closed.

Normally open purge valve

The invention is a valve for expelling a liquid contaminant from a gas in a conduit. It is used for a conduit with a pressure subject to variations in time. The valve has a housing containing a diaphragm with a control chamber on one side of the diaphragm and an exhaust passage on the other side. A valve seat surrounds the exhaust passage. A spring presses the diaphragm against the valve seat so that the valve is normally closed and an annular chamber surrounds the exhaust passage. A low impedance discharge passage is connected to the annular chamber and to the conduit. A high impedance control passage is connected to the control chamber and is either connected to the discharge passage or to the conduit. When the conduit pressure remains constant in time, the pressure in the control chamber equilibrates with it so that a net pressure force on the diaphragm plus the spring force presses the diaphragm against the valve seat so that the valve is closed. When the conduit pressure is zero, the spring keeps the valve closed. When the pressure in the conduit increases rapidly, the pressure in the annular chamber rises faster than the pressure in the control chamber so that the net pressure force on the diaphragm becomes directed away from the valve seat and overcomes the spring force so that the diaphragm unseats and gas containing the contaminant liquid is purged from the valve.

Purge valve

A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes first and second valve bodies. The first body defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. In the passage, a first valve atop a valve stem features a poppet head that is seatable against an outer valve seat. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. The second body defines a bore between its upper and lower threaded ends which communicates with the passage. The upper threaded end connects with the threaded end of the first body whereas the lower threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In the bore, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a seal element that is seatable against an inner valve seat. A second biasing mechanism acts upon the retainer so that the seal element therein seats against the inner valve seat thereby rendering the second valve normally closed. A stem extension is disposed between a bottom of the valve stem and the top of the seal element. When a female coupler of a quick connect device is mated to the protuberant end, the female coupler causes translation of the valve stem, the stem extension and the retainer thereby opening both the first and second valves. This allows air to flow from the housing through the fitting and into the female coupler.

Dual valve fitting for enabling quick measurement of pressure

A dual valve fitting enables quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing. The fitting includes a valve body, a valve retainer, first and second sealing rings and a biasing mechanism. The valve body defines a flow passage within which is situated the valve retainer. The valve body is designed at its protuberant end to mate with a female coupler of a quick connect device and at its threaded end to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. The valve retainer defines around itself first and second annular recesses each of which spaced apart from the other to match the spacing of outer and inner annular valve seats formed in the flow passage. Forming a first valve, the first sealing ring retains in the first annular recess so as to be seatable against the outer valve seat. Forming a second valve, the second sealing ring retains in the second annular recess so as to be seatable against the inner valve seat. The valve retainer is biased within the flow passage so that the first and second sealing rings seat against the outer and inner valve seats, respectively, thereby rendering the first and second valves normally closed. Mating the female coupler to the protuberant end of the fitting causes the valve retainer to move inwardly against the biasing mechanism so as to open the first valve first then the second valve thereby allowing flow from the housing through the flow passage and into the female coupler.

A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. The threaded end screws into the housing. In an upper section of the passage, a first valve atop a valve stem features a poppet head that is seatable against an outer valve seat. A first biasing mechanism compels the head against the outer seat to keep the first valve normally closed. In a lower section of the passage, a second valve features a seat piece and a valve retainer. On its periphery, the seat piece carries an o-ring which sealingly secures the piece within the passage. The piece defines an inner bore between its ends and has an inner valve seat on its bottom. The top of the retainer is extendable through this inner bore to a point a dead space apart from a bottom of the stem. Around its bottom, the retainer carries an annular check valve. A second biasing mechanism acts upon the retainer so that the check valve seats against the inner seat thereby rendering the second valve normally closed. When a female coupler of a quick connect device is mated to the protuberant end, it causes the stem to move inwardly so that its head unseats from the outer seat and its bottom moves through the dead space and pushes the retainer to unseat the check valve. This enables air to flow the housing through the fitting into the female coupler.

A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes a single valve body that defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. The threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In an upper section of the passage, a first valve features a poppet head atop a valve stem. The poppet head is seatable against an outer annular valve seat formed in the protuberant end of the passage. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. In a lower section of the passage, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a check seal element used for seating against an inner annular valve seat formed in the passage. A second biasing mechanism acts upon the retainer so that the check seal element seats against the inner valve seat thereby rendering the second valve normally closed. The bottom of the valve stem is separated a dead space apart from the top of the check element. When a female coupler of a quick connect device is mated to the protuberant end, the female coupler causes the valve stem to move inwardly so that its poppet head unseats from the outer valve seat and its bottom end moves through the dead space to unseat the check element. This enables air to flow from the housing through the fitting into the female coupler.

A dual valve apparatus enables quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing. The housing has a main body, a check valve housed in the main body and a cover whose removal renders the check valve accessible. The check valve is normally compressed against a check valve seat to provide a first seal that prevents leakage of the pressure. The dual valve apparatus includes a modified cover, a valve body and a valve stem. The modified cover defines first and second bores axially offset from and in communication with one another. The first bore is at least partially threaded. When the modified cover is secured to the main body, the second bore is aligned with the check valve. The valve body accommodates a valve bore from its protuberant end to its threaded end. The protuberant end is shaped to mate with a female portion of a quick connect coupling. The threaded end screws into the first bore of the modified cover. Movable within the bores, the valve stem at its head end is normally compressed against a valve seat formed within the protuberant end of the valve bore to provide a second seal that further prevents leakage of the pressure. Mating the female portion to the protuberant end of the dual valve apparatus causes the valve stem to move away from its seat. The valve stem in turn unseats the check valve thereby providing access to and enabling measurement of the pressure.

Dual valve apparatus for enabling quick measurement of pressure

A dual seal coupling apparatus enables quick measurement of brake cylinder pressure through a receiver assembly of a control valve. The receiver assembly has a receiver body, a check valve housed in the body and a cover whose removal renders the check valve accessible. The check valve is normally compressed against a check valve seat to provide a first seal that prevents leakage of the pressure. When moved away from its seat, the check valve provides access to the pressure. The apparatus includes a boss that protrudes from the cover and a male portion of a quick connect coupling. The boss defines a threaded bore aligned with the check valve when the cover is secured to the receiver body. The male portion includes a valve body and a valve stem. The valve body defines a valve bore and has a threaded end for screwing into the threaded bore of the cover. At its opposite end, the valve body is shaped to mate with a female portion of the quick connect coupling. The valve stem moves within the bores and its head is normally compressed against a valve stem seat. The head of the valve stem against the valve stem seat provides a second seal that further prevents leakage of the pressure. When the male and female portions are mated, the valve stem is moved away from its seat thereby moving the check valve away from its seat and providing access to and enabling measurement of the brake cylinder pressure.

Dual seal coupling apparatus for enabling quick measurement of brake

A dual seal coupling fitting enables quick measurement of pressure. The fitting includes primary and secondary valves and has one end shaped like a male portion of a quick coupler and another end screwable into a threaded bore defined in a pressure bearing housing. The fitting defines first and second cylindrical sections in communication with each other. The primary valve situates in the first section, the secondary valve in the second section. The primary valve includes a valve stem with a poppet head. A first mechanism compresses the poppet head against an outer valve seat to close the primary valve thereby preventing leakage of pressure. The secondary valve features a cylindrical seat piece and a retainer. The piece secures within the second section and defines through itself an inner bore. The piece at one end forms an inner valve seat and at an opposite end situates adjacent the first mechanism. The retainer has at one end a post approximate a terminal end of the valve stem within the inner bore. The retainer also has a check valve retained within an annular recess defined about a base of the post. A second mechanism compresses the check valve against the inner valve seat to close the secondary valve thereby further preventing leakage of pressure. Mating a female portion of a quick coupler to the male portion opens the primary and secondary valves and enables quick measurement of the pressure via a gage attached to the other end of the female portion.

Dual seal fitting for enabling quick measurement of brake cylinder

A pneumatic receptacle adapted to receive a pneumatic connector head of a test device is mounted in a universal location remote from the brake control valve of a railroad freight car. The remotely mounted receptacle may be located on the railroad car body, for example, and is communicated with access ports associated with the control valve via hoses or conduits. In locating the receptacle on the car body, hook-up of the test device can be accomplished conveniently and in a safe manner by railroad personnel in the course of conducting a single car test to check the condition of the car brakes, regardless of the control valve location.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Daniel G Scott