Wabtec Holding Corporation

Staffan Brandt

Howard R Sommerfeld

Wajih Kanjo

Scott Lee Natschke

The present invention teaches a double-acting compression actuatable slack adjuster to adjust the slack in the brake rigging of a railway vehicle which includes a pair of elongated members movable with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction. A positioning device carrying a pair of opposed abutting surfaces is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the elongated rod. Pair of opposite facing abutment surfaces are positioned within the hollow housing. A first urging device is positioned to urge the positioning device into a disengaged position. A second urging device overcomes the force of the first urging device and urges an abutting surface on the positioning device into engagement with an adjacent abutment surface. A first overtravel control device is provided which is activated by a trigger device. A second overtravel control device is provided to prevent jamming condition of the positioning device with one of the abutment surfaces when the elongated rod is fully extended.

Slack adjuster for railway vehicle brake rigging

The present invention discloses a hand brake mechanism having a gravity based release hold mechanism with a visual indicator to prevent unwanted application of the railcar brakes and indicate such release hold condition. The release hold mechanism comprises a gravity based member pivotally linked to a release shaft preventing reverse rotation of the release shaft causing an unintended take-up of the chain. A detent retaining device disposed within the railcar hand brake housing further provides improve reliability of the operation. The gravity based member incorporates an indicator portion having a reflective coating to indicate such release hold position of the railcar hand brake.

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Wauconda, IL, United States of America

Staffan Brandt