The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 1989
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1986
James G Rees, Chicago, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
An empty and load air brake control apparatus is disclosed, which is especially adapted for use on a unitized railroad train. Such a train includes a plurality of railroad car body segments articulated together in end-to-end array, and each car body segment can be loaded with coal or other material independently of the other car body segments. A plurality of railroad car trucks are provided to support the car body segments, and are arranged so that a single truck supports two adjacent car body ends. The air brake control apparatus includes a control valve, and a plurality of brake modulator valves are each connected to the control valve by compressed air piping. Each brake actuator is associated with a single truck and a single corresponding modulator valve. The modulator valves each have a sensor for sensing whether an associated truck is supporting loaded car body segments or empty car body segments. The sensor includes a mallet having an elastomeric or resilient member disposed within a well formed in the mallet head.