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:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1998
David W. Daugherty, Jr., Plainfield, IL (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A power source activated handbrake release mechanism for automatically releasing a parking brake assembly for a railroad vehicle braking system is provided. The power source activated handbrake release mechanism includes a hydraulically or pneumatically activated piston assembly including a piston rod mounted for movement upon activation of a piston within the piston assembly. An elongated member is associated at one end with this piston rod such that it moves laterally with respect to a bottom surface of the piston rod upon vertical movement of this piston rod. Another end of the elongated member is secured with the release shaft of the handbrake such that the lateral movement of the elongated member results in a rotational force being applied to the release shaft causing the automatic release of the handbrake. A system is also provided which allows the quick release handle of the handbrake to remain stationary during application of a rotational force to the release shaft via the power source activated handbrake release mechanism of the invention while maintaining the ability for an operator to manually release the handbrake with this handle should a power source be unavailable.