Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Sharma & Associates, Inc.

Other

Trinity Rail Group, LLC

David C Brabb

Anand R Vithani

Michael E Ring

Anand Prabhakaran

Wajih Kanjo

Howard R Sommerfeld

Michael J Moriarity

Robert S Trent

Harish K Kandoth-Kannoth

Scott Lee Natschke

David W Daugherty, Jr

Kenneth L Martin

Graydon Booth

Som P Singh

Alfonso Barajas

A torque box includes a front plate and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is coupled to the front plate such that the bottom surface is orthogonal to front plate and such that front plate extends along the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a first raised portion configured to fit over a wheel of a railcar.

Torque box

An apparatus for a hand brake includes a gear assembly, an electric motor coupled to the gear assembly, one or more sensors configured to sense at least one of the released and set states, a controller coupled to the electric motor and to the one or more sensors, the controller is configured to operate the electric motor in accordance with a predetermined logic algorithm so as to move the chain between the released and set states, and a device being movable between a first position wherein the device engages only the hand wheel and wherein the hand wheel is used to move the chain between the released and set states and a second position wherein the device engages both the hand wheel and a gear in the gear assembly and wherein the electric motor is operable to move the chain between the released and set states.

Electrically driven set and release hand brake for rail cars

In combination with a railway car hand brake, there is an apparatus for sensing the hand brake release comprising a housing and a mounting mechanism for attaching the housing to a cover of such hand brake. An actuating mechanism is disposed in the housing. A sleeve member is disposed on the actuating mechanism and includes a flange. A flexible connecting mechanism engages the sleeve member and a winding gear portion of the hand brake. A sensing mechanism is disposed in the housing and aligned with the actuating mechanism. A securement mechanism is disposed on the sensing mechanism and mounted on the cover of the hand brake. A compression member is disposed in the housing and engages the flange of the sleeve member, whereby an electrical or magnetic signal will be received from the actuating mechanism by the sensing mechanism.

Railway freight car hand brake sensor

A truck apparatus for a railway car includes a pair of wheel sets each having a pair of wheels joined by an axle. A frame is provided for carrying one end of a railway car body and a system positions the frame in a pendulum fashion from each axle end in order to independently decouple, from each other, vertical, lateral and longitudinal forces applied to the frame by the wheel sets during operation of the railway car.

Truck apparatus for railway cars

A cut lever apparatus that automatically actuates a lock lift assembly to either lock or unlock a coupler knuckle of a freight car coupler. The apparatus includes a cylinder member having a piston disposed therein. A bracket member is attachable to the freight car coupler to support the cylinder. A linkage member is connected to the piston of the cylinder and the lock lift assembly to convert a lateral motion of the piston to a curvilinear motion of the lock lift assembly to either lock or unlock the coupler knuckle. A valve member is connected to the cylinder for communicating a pressurized fluid to the cylinder when a predetermined signal is sent to the valve and preventing pressurized fluid from entering the cylinder in an absence of the predetermined signal. Pressurized fluid in the cylinder is vented to atmosphere when the valve shuts off supply of pressurized fluid thereto.

Automatic cut lever apparatus

In combination with a railway freight car coupler. A coupler has a knuckle side, and includes a knuckle, knuckle pin, and an apparatus for automatically pivoting and maintaining the knuckle full open position. The improvement comprises a coiled torsion spring which is capable of continuously exerting a predetermined force. A sleeve in combination with a flange is secured to the bottom end of the knuckle pin for attaching the torsion spring onto the coupler head. A support member is attached to the knuckle and cages one arm of the torsion spring which exerts a continuous force on the knuckle to rotate and maintain the knuckle full open position. A compression spring may be employed in place of the torsion spring in combination with a locking mechanism which, rigidly secures the knuckle and knuckle pin therebetween to prevent independent movement.

Apparatus for railway freight car coupler knuckle

The present invention provides an improved TMX.RTM truck mounted brake assembly for applying a brake shoe force to a railway car wheels by interfacing with an axle motion III bogie. The improvement comprises a rack and pinion type hand brake mechanism integrally mounted on at least one truck bogie per railway car. The hand brake mechanism utilizes a plurality of gear/pinion arrangements to transmit the force applied at the drive wheel to the transfer lever disposed within the TMX.RTM truck mounted brake assembly to effect the brake application. The hand brake mechanism is disposed within the spatial confines of the TMX.RTM truck mounted brake assembly and axle motion III bogie. The brake beams of the brake assembly are of the open box construction to accommodate such hand brake mechanism. A visual indicator is provided to identify the hand brake in both fully applied and fully released positions.

Hand brake assembly for an ankle motion III truck bogie

A hand brake front housing for a railroad car hand brake mechanism. Such hand brake front housing comprising a front casing for enclosing pre-selected portions of a hand brake mechanism. The front casing having a front wall of a predetermined size and shape. A bearing mount integrally formed to the front wall of such front casing. The bearing mount having a predetermined size and shape to retain a predetermined arrangement of a bearing unit.

Housing for a hand brake mechanism

A gradual release mechanism for use in a hand brake device engageable with a railway car. Such gradual release mechanism comprising an operating shaft for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the shaft. A clutch flange portion disposed intermediate both ends of shaft, the clutch flange having a clutch surface. A sleeve concentrically disposed and threadedly mounted on the shaft for rotational movement therewith, the sleeve having a clutch surface opposed to the clutch surface of the clutch flange portion of the shaft. An externally threaded surface on the operating shaft engageable with an internally threaded surface on the sleeve, the threads having a pitch between about 0.60 inch and about 1.00 inch. A ratchet wheel received about the shaft, such ratchet wheel having oppositely disposed clutch surfaces positioned for engagement by the clutch collar portions respectively. A pinion journaled on the shaft and adjacent the sleeve.

Gradual release mechanism for a railway car hand brake

A mechanical sensor for a hand brake quick release mechanism having a housing, flexible clamp, and release shaft having a member with first and second elements. A housing member has open and closed ends. The open end is engageable with a housing outside wall at a point radially opposed to the flexible clamp. A first aperture formed through the closed end is in axial alignment with a second aperture through the housing wall and a third aperture through the flexible clamp. A first portion of the slidable member is disposed within the housing member. A second portion extends through the first aperture, and a portion of the first portion extends through the second and third apertures, engaging with the first element when the release shaft is rotated to achieve and maintain full brake release. A device is provided for urging the slidable member inwardly when the hand brake is applied.

Mechanical sensor for a quick release hand brake

A suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement is provided. The suspension system comprises suspension members, each of the suspension members being pivotally connected at a first end with a predetermined portion of the railway vehicle truck arrangement and pivotally connected at a second end with a predetermined portion of the truck mounted brake assembly for suspending a pair of brake beams in the railway vehicle truck arrangement. At least one maintaining member is provided having at least a portion thereof connected with the truck mounted brake assembly for maintaining each of the brake beams in a predetermined plane during application and release of the railway vehicle brake assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

David C Brabb