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:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 23, 1998
Gary M Sich, Irwin, PA (US);
Michael McNeil, White Oak, PA (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a valve system for exhausting air from a brakepipe in a remote portion of a train. It has a pressure containment structure having a cylindrical bore and a piston mounted in the bore. A first valve chamber is on one side of the piston and a second valve chamber on a second side. A diaphragm seals between piston and bore, the diaphragm having an annular fold for permitting movement of the piston within the bore. The system has a first brakepipe pressure passageway for conveying air from the brakepipe to the first valve chamber and a control pressure connection for conveying air from a control chamber to the second valve chamber. A biasing means is provided for urging the piston toward the first valve chamber. A brakepipe exhaust valve connected to the piston is closed when the piston is moved toward the first valve chamber and opened when the piston is moved toward the second valve chamber so that when the pressure in the control chamber is reduced the brakepipe exhaust valve is opened and air is vented from the brakepipe. An annular sleeve is attached to the pressure containment structure and protrudes into the fold of the diaphragm to prevent the diaphragm from inverting if the pressure in the brakepipe drops below the pressure in the control chamber when the piston is positioned toward the first valve chamber.