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:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
May. 19, 2005
Thomas J. Heyden, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Mark Zawlocki, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Thomas J. Heyden, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Mark Zawlocki, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
AAA Sales + Engineering, Inc., Oak Creek, WI (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fail-safe skate retarder that applies a braking force proportional to the weight of a rail car entering the retarder. Each segment of the retarder includes a lever mechanism with a pair of levers rotatably joined under the running rail. Each lever holds a braking rail for engaging a wheel of the car. The retarder is normally in a lower, fail-safe position with the brake rails closer together than the width of the wheel. When the car enters the retarder, the wheel forces the brake rails apart into a braking position, and the middle of the lever mechanism rises to lift the running rail and car. A hydraulic power unit and cylinder is activated to raise the middle of the lever mechanism even further to a release position so that the brake rails are spread apart more than the width of the wheel.