Pulse Electronics Gmbh

Gregory C Martin

Angel P Bezos

Emilio A Fernandez

Gary W Egerton

Mark K Kane

End of train marker light

An improved railroad coupler mount (18) secures end of train signalling and monitoring equipment (40) to the coupler head (10) of the last car in a train. The coupler mount (18) is secured to the coupler head (10) by a banana shaped arm (20) which extends through relief holes (14a and 14b) in the guard arm side (12) of the coupler. A swivel toggle (22) positioned at the end of the arm (20) is pivoted to a perpendicular orientation relative to the arm (20) after it has been inserted through the relief holes (14a and 14b). A tightening screw (28) turned by knob (26) draws the arm (20) back out of the relief holes (14a and 14b) and causes the swivel toggle (22) to bear against the sidewall of the coupler head (10). A bulge (38) in the arm (20) is braced tightly against an inside wall of the coupler head (10) after tightening the arm (20). The coupler mount (18) includes a locking bar (52) for simultaneously locking a battery compartment door (50) on the equipment box (40) and locking the coupler mount (18) to the coupler head (10). The battery compartment door (50) is kept closed by an upwardly extending portion (58) of a rotating flange (56) positioned on one end of the locking bar (52). The coupler mount (18) is secured to the coupler head (10) by the bent end of the locking bar (52) being pivoted to an interfitting engagement with spokes (52) of the knob (26) after the banana arm (20) has been tightened. A pad (70) and V-jaws (72 and 74) positioned on the side of the mount provide stability.

Railroad coupler mount

End of train marker light equipment (10) has been designed with a battery compartment (13) which can receive either a lead/acid battery (100), a Ni/Cd battery pack (250) or a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352). In a first configuration, the lead/acid battery (100) mates with an electrical connector (30) positioned on the back wall (20) of the battery compartment (13). In a second configuration, an adapter (200) is fitted into the battery compartment (13) to receive a Ni/Cd battery pack (250). The adapter (200) includes an electrical connector (218) which is copmlimentary to the electrical connector (30). In a third configuration, a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352) are fitted in the battery compartment (13) to contact a contact pattern (300) positioned on the back wall (20). One of the batteries (350) is fitted into the battery compartment (13) on its side while the other battery (352) is fitted into the battery compartment (13) at an angle with its edges cooperating with grooves (26 and 28) in the sidewalls (16 and 18).

Battery container and adapter

An automated initial terminal testing system tests the air pressure and leakage of the brake pipes and the operation of brakes of railroad trains (10) in a terminal yard before trains are allowed to go on a railroad. The system includes end of train devices (16) attached to the trailing coupler of the last car of each train, head of train devices (14) connected to a source of yard air (26) and the air hose connection to the brake pipe of the first car of each train, and a central control console (18). The end of train devices, normally used to transit brake pipe pressure data to the engineer in locomotive when a train is on a railroad, monitors the air pressure in the brake pipe during the charging operation and transmits this data to the central control console. The head of train devices control the charging and venting of air pressure at the front of the train. These devices monitor air pressure and transmits this data to the central control console. In addition, the head of train devices respond to commands transmitted from the central console to perform the charging and venting operations. The central control console monitors the data sent by all end of train and head of train devices in the yard, sends commands to the head of the train devices, and provides either a pass of fail output for the trains under test.

Initial terminal tester

An improved railroad coupler mount is provided for securely mounting railroad signalling and monitoring equipment (10) on the coupler of the last railroad car of a train. The railroad coupler mount includes a banana shape member (30) which extends through a pair of relief holes (22) in the knuckle (12) of the railroad car coupler. The railroad coupler mount has a tightening means (28) for partially withdrawing the banana shaped member and tightly pressing a support leg (20) against the side wall of the coupler to provide a secure mount which is free of rotation problems. The railroad coupler mount is secured with a locking device (26) which serves the dual function of resisting the total withdrawal of the banana shaped member when the railroad coupler mount is tightened as well as preventing the unauthorized removal of the signalling and monitoring equipment. The railroad coupler mount is attached in a position which avoids damage to the signalling and monitoring equipment due to accidental coupling.

An improved attaching device is provided for securely mounting railroad signalling and monitoring equipment (10, 12) on the coupler (36) of a railroad car. A package including a supporting frame (22) to which the equipment is fastened by a draw pull (16) rests on the top surface of the coupler. The supporting frame includes a mounting bracket (32) having an integral rod (50) which extends through the flag hole in the coupler knuckle. The end of the rod projects beyond the bottom of the coupler so that it can be secured. In the second embodiment (FIGS. 8 and 9), the rod (111) has bifurcated extensions (116, 118) which serve to strengthen the supporting frame (80). This embodiment also includes shock absorbing elements (108, 110 and 122). In a third embodiment, a post (162) slidably carries a shaft or rod (188) that is retractable into a locking position with the coupler. A crank (176) is used to retract the shaft into a locking position. The crank carries a locking bar (234) which cooperates with locking members (230, 232) on the equipment package to secure the package in place. The three embodiments all feature top of coupler mounting in such manner that the railroad signalling and monitoring equipment is not damaged in the event that another coupler engages the coupler on which the package is mounted.

Growing community of inventors

Rockville, MD, United States of America

Gregory C Martin