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:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 28, 1999
William G Greenaway, N. Huntingdon, PA (US);
James M Zemyan, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Roger V Lewis, N. Huntingdon, PA (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A manual shifting apparatus for an automatic empty/load brake device used in conjunction with a pneumatic braking system provided on a transport vehicle having a truck and a car body mounted thereon through a resilient suspension system. The automatic empty/load brake device has a sensor arm which moves through a range of positions upon the application of a braking force to the transport vehicle by the pneumatic braking system. The range of positions includes a first range of positions indicating the transport vehicle as being in a loaded condition and a second range of positions indicating the transport vehicle as being in an unloaded condition. The automatic empty/load brake device applies a substantially reduced pneumatic braking force to the transport vehicle whenever the sensor arm is in the second range of positions. The manual shifting apparatus is adapted for mounting on the transport vehicle adjacent the automatic empty/load brake device and includes a manual shifting member movable between a first disposition and a second disposition. In the first disposition, the manual shifting member confines the sensor arm of the automatic empty/load device to the first range of positions and excludes the sensor arm from travel into the second range of positions. In the second disposition, the manual shifting member permits the sensor arm of the automatic empty/load device to travel into the second range of positions.