Abstract: A self-lapping type valve device having a construction in which the pressure force acting on the valve assembly is substantially the same when the valve assembly is in a lap condition following either a pressure-buildup phase of control or a pressure-release phase of control, thereby reducing hysteresis heretofore affecting such valve devices.

Abstract: A system for automatically overriding operator control of engine power delivered to the drive wheels of a motor vehicle when a wheel slip condition is detected during vehicle acceleration. A pneumatic actuator in the engine fuel control circuit is operated in a controlled manner to cause the engine fuel lever to initially decrease power at a relatively fast rate and then at a relatively slow rate to alleviate the wheel slip. Once the wheel slip condition is corrected, the actuator is reset in a controlled manner, which allows the fuel lever to restore engine power, initially at a relatively fast rate and subsequently at a relatively slow rate, such rate controlled adjustment of engine power during each wheel slip control cycle providing less cyclic control of the wheel slip correction process, and accordingly a smoother acceleration.

Abstract: In a brake signal converter device for a railway car a first signal conversion circuit is operative in response to a brake signal issued from the control stand of a first car in a form suitable for use by the first car and converts this brake signal to a form suitable for use by a second car and transmits it to the second car, while a first detector senses the brake commands issued at the first car and isolates the first car from these brake commands transmitted to the second car by means of a first switching section. In addition, brake signals issued from the second car are converted by a second signal conversion circuit to a form suitable for use by the first car and are transmitted to the first car, while a second detector senses the brake commands issued from the second car and isolates the second car from these brake commands transmitted to the first car by a second switching section.

Abstract: A freight brake control valve device in which the emergency piston slide valve is arranged to provide continuous, periodic, local reductions in the brake pipe pressure in response to initial actuation of the emergency piston when a service rate of brake pipe pressure reduction is made, in order to quickly propagate a brake pipe pressure reduction wave along the train and accordingly provide an accelerated application of the train brakes. This accelerated application function in response to a service rate of brake pipe pressure reduction is achieved concurrently with the quick action chamber "breathing" function, the latter being presently incorporated in the emergency piston slide valve to stabilize the emergency piston following initial actuation thereof, so as to prevent further actuation of the emergency piston to emergency position.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake control system in which a fluid pressure brake continuously supplements the electric brake as the electric brake effectiveness fades during vehicle slowdown. An amplifier circuit output signal corresponding to the electric brake effectiveness is modified by adjusting the amplifier gain in response to a detector sensing the initial drop in the electric brake effectiveness. This modified amplifier output signal is subtracted from a brake command signal to obtain a difference signal, the value of which establishes the amount of fluid pressure braking necessary to supplement the electric brake deficiency. The arrangement compensates for hysteresis and response delay in the pneumatic valving required in the fluid pressure brake system, such that the total brake obtained corresponds substantially to the brake command both during and following transition from the electric brake to the fluid pressure brake.

Abstract: A read-convert device for use on an electric brake command car of a railway train having pneumatic brake command cars. A control wire provides the electric emergency brake control on the electric brake command cars, while a brake pipe provides the pneumatic emergency brake control on the pneumatic brake command cars. A cut-off portion of the read-convert device connects a regulated source of pneumatic pressure to the brake pipe when an electric emergency release signal is provided by the control wire, provided a switch valve in the cut-off portion is set for electric brake command operation. Accordingly, an electrically-initiated, emergency brake application on the pneumatic brake command cars can be released through the control wire on the electric brake command cars.

Abstract: A fastener arrangement for clamping a sensor element to a member whose deformation is to be monitored so as to elimiate signal distortions due to the clamping process and to settling phenomena. The sensor element is formed at its contact point with the member to be monitored by pressing between a die and counter-die as the clamping screws are tightened to provide a form-fit closure of the sensor element with the member to be monitored. The die and counter-die are formed on the adjacent surfaces of the member to be monitored and a torsion member; between which surfaces, the sensor element lies. The screw support member can be arranged to isolate the screw turning moments from the sensor element jointly with the form-fit closure feature.

Abstract: A deceleration control system in which an operator's brake valve device provides corresponding pneumatic and electric brake demand signals in accordance with a selected handle position, the pneumatic brake demand signal controlling a blending valve device to establish the maximum level of friction braking, while the electric brake demand signal is compared to an actual rate of retardation signal to provide a rate error signal that acts via a transducer of the blending valve to reduce the effective friction braking to the extent that the rate of retardation exceeds the brake demand. The electric brake demand signal is limited in accordance with a speed/adhesion characteristic, while a further circuit slip modulates the brake demand signal.

Abstract: A diaphragm-clamping arrangement, in which a spring washer having a frusto-conical shape is employed between the outer periphery of the diaphragm and one of the plate members between which the diaphragm is secured. In the free state of the spring washer, the spring washer height is greater than the space between the diaphragm and one plate member so that, when the plate members are joined together, the spring washer is compressed to thereby exert a clamping force on the diaphragm. The diaphragm-clamping point can be provided by either the inner or outer periphery of the spring washer, depending upon whether the frusto-conical shape is concave or convex. By forming an annular recess in the plate member with which the spring is engageable, proper location of the spring washer is facilitated during assembly, and subsequently maintained during clamping.

Abstract: A cross blending brake system for a multi-car train having power cars that provide regenerative braking through the electro-dynamic action of the car's traction motors, as well as friction braking through an electric/friction brake blending valve, and non-power cars that provide friction braking only through an electric/friction brake blending valve. Since the regenerative brake effort on the power cars is limited only by the available wheel to rail adhesion on these cars, the regenerative action of the electro-dynamic brake provides brake effort in excess of the power car brake requirement, thus reducing the friction brake requirement of the non-power cars, which is limited by the lower threshold energy absorption ability of the wheels. The cross blending control utilizes the excess power car regenerative braking to avoid overheated wheels, while at the same time realizing a net energy savings and reduced brake shoe wear, particularly at maximum levels of regeneration.

Abstract: In a self-lapping type control valve device, a check valve is provided by means of a seal at the interface of the control piston diaphragm and a recess in which the diaphragm is connected to the valve body, the seal being effective to isolate a control chamber on one side of the control piston from a constant pressure chamber on the opposite side when the control piston is actuated in response to a reduction in the control chamber fluid pressure to initiate a brake application. This seal is displaced from a ridge at the opening of the recess with which the diaphragm is also engageable when actuation of the control piston occurs in response to a relatively large reduction of the control chamber pressure.

Abstract: A brake control system for a railway car having a primary electric brake and a secondary friction brake that supplements the electric brake as the electric brake effectiveness fades. The secondary friction brake is normally applied in accordance with a first supplementary control signal provided by an electrical component, such as an operational amplifier, the output of which is the difference between a brake command signal and the actual braking produced by the electric brake. A second supplementary control signal corresponding to the brake command signal is effective to control the secondary friction brake, in response to either anomalies in the power supply or failure of the operational amplifier. A switch connects the brake command signal to an electric-pneumatic converter to provide pneumatic pressure to the friction brake corresponding to the brake command, and to concurrently terminate operation of the electric brake, when either one or both of the foregoing abnormalities are detected.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake control system in which a fluid pressure brake continuously supplements the electric brake as the electric brake effectiveness fades during vehicle slowdown. An amplifier circuit output signal corresponding to the electric brake effectiveness is modified by adjusting the amplifier gain in response to a detector sensing the initial drop in the electric brake effectiveness. This modified amplifer output signal is subtracted from a brake command signal to obtain a difference signal, the value of which establishes the amount of fluid pressure braking necessary to supplement the electric brake deficiency. The arrangement compensates for hysteresis and response delay in the pneumatic valving required in the fluid pressure brake system, such that the total brake obtained corresponds substantially to the brake command both during and following transition from the electric brake to the fluid pressure brake.

Abstract: A jerk controlled brake system having a malfunction detecting arrangement for suppressing a malfunction signal due to a normal difference between the jerk control circuit input brake command and the output jerk modified command signal for a time period at least sufficient to allow the delayed jerk modified command signal to match the input brake command signal. The timer circuit controlling this time period is resettable prior to expiration of the preset time period to provide an extended time period, when the brake command signal is repeatedly changed at time intervals less than the preset time period.

Abstract: A penalty brake control system for a railway vehicle equipped with a straight air-type brake valve device is arranged so that failure of the vehicle operator to indicate his alertness and/or well-being by maintaining a foot valve pedal depressed results in an automatic penalty brake application. Pressure in a volume reservoir exhausts through a whistle to evoke a warning of an impending penalty brake application any time the foot valve pedal is released. When the volume reservoir pressure drops below a first predetermined value, an interlock pilot valve is operated to connect the volume reservoir pressure to exhaust at the brake valve device. A penalty pilot valve subject to volume reservoir pressure initiates a penalty brake application when the volume reservoir pressure drops below a second predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A combined hydropneumatic brake cylinder/air reservoir device having a hydraulic piston formed on the end of a push rod through which interconnected, different sized, pneumatic pistons operate to transmit the desired brake force. The hydraulic piston operates in a hydraulic cylinder having a slack adjuster piston arranged to supply or reduce the hydraulic fluid in the braking circuit in order to compensate for overtravel and undertravel of the pneumatic piston assembly due to brake shoe wear and brake shoe replacement respectively. The double-acting slack adjuster action results in the stroke of the pneumatic piston assembly being maintained constant to assure continued optimum operating efficiency.

Abstract: A single-cylinder, truck-mounted brake assembly for a railway car truck in which low-cost, light-weight, truss-type brake beams are employed, with one beam having an expansible brake actuator in the form of an air bag mounted thereon. The brake rigging arrangement employs an equalizing lever that is pivotally-connected to each brake beam at its centrally-located strut bar, and force-transmitting members between the respective ends of the equalizing levers, so that the force of the brake actuator is transferred from the brake beam strut bar to the brake shoes via the beam tension member. Accordingly, the light-weight, low-cost brake beams are not subjected to such bending forces as would otherwise require a stronger beam. The single-cylinder air bag arrangement is made possible by utilizing a slack adjuster device as the one force-transmitting member.

Abstract: A manually-operable pressure-regulating valve device, including a special handle mechanism and a self-lapping valve assembly having a feedback piston on which delivery pressure acts to urge the valve assembly actuating stem in a direction opposite handle pressure, thereby transmitting to the operator a "feel" of the effective delivery pressure. The handle mechanism includes an elongated lever for operating the self-lapping unit with mechanical advantage to reduce operator fatigue. The elongated lever is made flexible, so that movement of the self-lapping valve assembly toward lap position, following actuation thereof, is absorbed by flexure of the elongated lever in order to, in effect, isolate the handle from the self-lapping unit in terms of movement without losing handle "feel" of the delivery pressure acting on the self-lapping valve assembly.

Abstract: An electropneumatic brake system for a railway vehicle having an electronic control unit that outputs a friction brake demand signal according to the difference between a brake command signal and a feedback signal representative of the effective dynamic brake, whereby the total dynamic and friction brake effort corresponds to the brake command signal. The brake system also includes a pneumatic operating unit having a pair of high-capacity, electropneumatic valves operated by the friction brake demand signal to regulate the pneumatic pressure at the brake unit directly, that is, without an intermediary relay valve. Such an arrangement provides better response and more accurate pressure feedback of the friction brake level to the electronic control unit. A service rate control choke is located ahead of the electropneumatic valves, which allows these valves to perform the emergency and wheel-slip control functions without requiring independent valves for this purpose, by virtue of their high-capacity capability.

Abstract: A gear positioning cylinder having forward, reverse, and neutral gear selection provided by a positioning rod attached to a main piston in which an auxiliary piston is telescopically arranged for compactness.