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:
Jul. 10, 1990
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1989
Angel P Bezos, Montgomery County, MD (US);
Gary W Egerton, Montgomery County, MD (US);
Pulse Electronics, Inc., Rockville, MD (US);
Abstract
A motor driven ball valve may be driven in two modes of operation; those modes are a normal or testing mode and an emergency mode. The ball valve, when in its full open position, has an air passage that allows for the rapid exhaust of air in the air pipe of the air brake system to atmosphere, thereby inducing the emergency application of the brakes. The rotating ball valve assembly is capable of infinite variation between its full closed and its full open positions. Thus, the motor drive, which is remotely controlled, can effectively modulate the reduction in air pressure in the air pipe for a variety of purposes, including normal operation of the brakes and testing the air brake system. The motor drive mechanism may be in a cam, gear, or follower configuration. When an emergency application of the brakes is required, the motor drive mechanism is disengaged to allow a spring or other torsion device to rapidly rotate the ball to full open position, while drawing minimal electrical power. The spring or other torsion mechanism is prestressed by the operation of the motor driven mechanism as it rotates the ball toward its closed position.