General Signal Corporation

Westinghouse Air Brake Company

Knorr Brake Holding Corporation

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Wabtec Holding Corporation

New York Air Brake Corporation

Other

Csx Corporation

Thomas H. Engle

Thomas H Engle

James E Hart

Ronald O Newton

Lawrence E Vaughn

Thomas M Bogenschutz

Gary M Sich

John B Carroll

Jason Connell

John W Parker

Eugene Douglas McEathron

Walter E Rojecki

Joseph Pollono

Thomas Bogenschutz

Andrew Marko

John J Harris

A manual brake release and status indicator device for a parking brake for a rail vehicle, the manual brake release can include a positioner rod having a handle at one end and a second end connected to a positioner assembly which is associated with a parking brake clamp mechanism. The positioner assembly is movable via the handle to manually release the parking brake clamp from an applied position. The handle is associated with the status indicator, which can include a face plate positioned in proximity to the handle, wherein the position of the handle relative to the face plate indicates whether the parking brake is applied or released.

Automatic parking brake for a rail vehicle

A release graduating valve for freight brake control is provided for a railcar having a pneumatic control valve, emergency and auxiliary reservoirs each normally charged with pressurized fluid from a brake pipe and a fluid pressure activated brake cylinder device for applying the brakes on the railcar. A selectively operable release graduating valve can include a graduated release valve and a changeover valve which selectively interposes the graduated release valve to exhaust brake cylinder pressure in a graduated manner responsive to brake pipe pressure. Alternatively, the changeover valve can isolate the graduated release valve and direct the pneumatic control valve to exhaust brake cylinder pressure in a conventional manner. The changeover valve can be operated responsive to the pressure in an air pipe supplied with pressurized fluid from a remote source. A permanent release graduating valve can be provided wherein the changeover valve is omitted, in which case the brake cylinder exhaust is always controlled by the graduated release valve. Either configuration of the release graduating valve could be also be utilized in an ECP freight brake control system.

Apparatus and method for pneumatically controlled graduated brake pressure release for freight train brake system

An improvement to a collapsible stanchion on a railcar for supporting semi-trailers thereon. The improvement consists of a linkage which is activated by the pulling of a handle away from the stanchion during the operation of raising it from a resting position to an upright position. The linkage exerts a force on a diagonal support member of the stanchion to urge it into a position where the stanchion's locking mechanism may be engaged to lock the stanchion in an upright position.

Apparatus for attaching semi-trailers to railcars

A parking brake for a rail vehicle can automatically lock the rail vehicle brakes in an applied position, such as by clamping the brake cylinder push rod to prevent retraction from an applied position to a release position. An actuator can operate the parking brake, and a manual release can also be provided.

A release graduating proportioning valve for a rail car brake system having a brake pipe, a brake cylinder, and a load sensor valve. The release graduating proportioning valve has a conventional proportioning piston with a control volume communicating on a first side thereof and a second volume communicating on an opposite side thereof. A graduated release valve member, which can be incorporated into the top of the proportioning valve, is interposed between the control volume and atmosphere for providing a graduated release of brake cylinder pressure via the control volume. The graduated release valve member is activated by movement of the proportioning piston.

Graduated release/proportioning valve

An integral intermodal train is provided for carrying standard over-the-highway semi-trailers. The intermodal train can include a standard locomotive pulling one or more train segments. Each segment can have a plurality of platforms and may be loaded or unloaded independently of any other segment using a self contained, roll-on/roll-off system. At least one platform should be equipped with a standard knuckle coupler at standard height to permit the segments to be pulled by any existing locomotive. Each segment can consist of three platform types, articulated together, an adapter platform coupled behind the locomotive, an intermediate platform having a truck at only one end and the other end supported by the end of the adapter platform and a loading ramp platform also having a truck at only one with the other end supported by the truck end of the intermediate platform. The truck end of the ramp platform can have a hinged ramp assembly which can be raised or lowered to load the platforms. Several sub-systems to speed performance and enhance reliability, such as an electronic assisted air brake, health monitoring, trailer tie-down and locomotive interface subsystems, can be provided on each segment.

Rail cars for intermodal train

A ramp car rail vehicle can have a contoured deck portion to reduce the height above the rails of the deck at the ramp end of the car such that a smaller, shorter ramp can be utilized for loading freight, such as semi-trailers, onto the ramp car and any other rail cars which may be connected to the ramp car. The contoured end of the ramp car can further be provided with a movable draft arm and coupler arrangement such that the coupler can be lowered to provide clearance for loading the ramp car, and thereafter returned to a standard height for coupling with conventional couplers.

Ramp car

An integral intermodal train is provided for carrying standard over-the-highway semi-trailers. Each segment can have a plurality of platforms and may be loaded or unloaded independently of any other segment using a self contained, roll-on/roll-off system. Several sub-systems to speed performance and enhance reliability, such as an electronic assisted air brake, health monitoring, trailer tie-down and locomotive interface subsystems, can be provided on each segment. A spring applied parking brake is provided for the segments and operably connected to the train pneumatic brake systems. In a preferred embodiment the brake is automatically applied when brake pipe pressure falls below 40 psi nominal. The pneumatic valving for the parking brake prevents application of the valve in an emergency braking situation, until the pressure has bled off in normal system leakage, preventing wheel damage. A handle is provided for manual application and release of the parking brake when desired.

Spring applied parking brake for rail cars

A continuously variable load responsive brake pressure control valve controls the amount of brake pipe pressure for a railway vehicle. The system also includes an isolator therefor for isolating the load sensor therefor from transient inputs caused by normal vehicle motion. A spring loaded isolator coupled with a matched hydraulic cylinder isolate wheel truck deflections with respect to the car body, preventing erroneous inputs to the load sensor of the variable load braking system so as to provide more accurate brake cylinder pressure according to vehicle load weight. The variable load limiting valve is continuously operable between an empty vehicle condition and a fully loaded vehicle condition and assures a minimum braking pressure, while also helping prevent sticking of the brakes.

Load proportional brake cylinder pressure limiting system

The invention is a brake shoe for application to the rim of a brake disc for retarding a rotary motion of the brake disc. The brake shoe has one or more brakepads having a pair of pad friction surfaces for contact with friction surfaces on the brake disc. The pair of pad friction surfaces are sloped in opposition to each other, and have an open space located between the pad friction surfaces. The brake shoe has a pad support structure to which the brakepad or brakepads are attached, the pad support structure serving to press the brake pad or brakepads against the friction surfaces on the brake disc. The pad support structure has a portion thereof for mounting on a device for positioning the brake shoe and for moving the brakepad or brakepads into engagement with the disc.

Wedge-shaped disc brake shoe

A continuously variable load responsive brake pressure control valve controls the amount of brake pipe pressure for a railway vehicle. The system also includes an isolator for isolating the load sensor from transient inputs caused by normal vehicle motion. A spring loaded isolator coupled with a matched hydraulic cylinder isolate wheel truck deflections with respect to the car body, preventing erroneous inputs to the load sensor of the variable load braking system so as to provide more accurate brake cylinder pressure according to vehicle load weight. The variable load limiting valve is continuously operable between an empty vehicle condition and a fully loaded vehicle condition and assures a minimum braking pressure, while also helping prevent sticking of the brakes.

Connector for joining a fluid pressure communication conduit and an electrical communication line to a second fluid pressure communication conduit and at least a second electrical communication line. The connector has a connector body having an internal space contained within a pressure boundary, the internal space communicating with a fluid pressure connector for attachment to the first fluid pressure communication conduit, a portion of the pressure boundary including a floating member, the floating member having a fluid pressure communication port for mating with a second fluid pressure communication port on a second connector. The floating member also has one or more electrical contacts for mating with one or more electrical contacts on the second connector. The electrical contacts have electrical connection to the one or more electrical communication lines. A force due to air pressure in the internal space presses against the floating member presses the electrical contacts, thereby providing good electrical connection between the connectors.

Hose coupling with electrical contacts

Electropneumatic brake control valve for control of brakes on a railway vehicle. It has a supply valve and release valve moved by a common displaceable actuator. The supply valve connects an air supply passage to a delivery passage and the release valve connects the delivery passage to an exhaust. The delivery passage is for supplying air to a brake shoe application device. The invention has a feedback space having pressure connection to the delivery passage. A portion of the common displaceable actuator is located within the feedback space, as is a positioner for the common displaceable actuator. The positioner has at least three force and displacement communication portions. The first communicates a first force and a first displacement with the common displaceable actuator. The invention has a pressure defining member which defines pressure by its position. It communicates a second force and a second displacement with the second one of the force and displacement communication portions. The invention has a pressure regulator which has a regulating member communicating a third force and a third displacement with the third one of the force and displacement communication portions. The regulator moves in accordance with a comparison between the air pressure in the feedback space and a force exerting device. The force exerted by the force exerting device is dependent on the third displacement. The invention also has apparatus for positioning the pressure defining member, this apparatus controlled by electrical signals from a brake control system of the railway vehicle.

Electro-pneumatic valve control

Connector for joining a fluid conduit and an electrical line to another fluid conduit and electrical line. It has a body including a mating surface with a fluid pressure port and a seal surrounding the port. It has a nipple for a fluid pressure hose and a fluid passage joining the nipple to the port. It has means for joining two connectors having their mating surfaces in contact to compress the seals and prevent loss of fluid. There is at least one electrical contact having a contact surface on the mating surface outside of the seal, so that when two connectors are joined, the contact surface(s) on the first connector touch(es) the contact surface(s) on the second connector. It also has an enclosed pathway communicating pressure from an internal portion of the connector to a portion of the electrical contact opposite the contact surface, and it has a second seal preventing flow of fluid past the contact, the second seal permitting motion of the electrical contact in a direction having a component normal to the electrical contact surface so that fluid pressure carried by the enclosed pathway causes the electrical contact to press against an adjacent electrical contact on the second connector. It has electrical connection means attached to the contact(s). The electrical connection means pass through the pathway and through a pressure boundary of the connector, and are for connection to the electrical line.

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Cape Vincent, NY, United States of America

Thomas H Engle