Abstract: A system for installing a seal on a work piece includes a stretcher tool having a tapered end, an outer diameter opposite the tapered end, and an axial bore. A collar has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter, and the collar is adapted to slide over the outer diameter to push the seal over the outer diameter. A method for installing a seal on a work piece includes placing the seal on a stretcher tool, wherein the stretcher tool has a tapered end, an outer diameter opposite the tapered end, and a stretcher axial bore. The method further includes sliding a collar over the tapered end and the outer diameter, engaging the collar against the seal, and sliding the collar over the outer diameter to push the seal into a first groove in the work piece.

Abstract: A valve includes a valve body and a handle operably connected to the valve body. The handle has a shut position that prevents fluid flow through the valve body and an open position that permits fluid flow through the valve body. A shut detent is configured to engage with the handle in the shut position, and the valve further includes structure for biasing the handle toward the open position.

Abstract: A railway car control valve comprises a brake pipe port, an auxiliary reservoir port, a main piston configured to compare air pressures at the brake pipe port and the auxiliary reservoir port, and a one-way check valve positioned intermediate the brake pipe port and the auxiliary reservoir port. The one way check valve comprises a body having a bore extending from its first end to its second end, an elongated insert configured to reduce the rate of air flow through the body, and a sleeve received on the insert's outer surface. The insert is received in the body bore. One of the insert and the sleeve is configured to move between a first position and a second position that either allows air to flow or prevents air from flowing, respectively.

Abstract: A quick release brake mechanism has a housing, a first shaft mounted in the housing and at least one gear rotatably received thereon. A second gear is rotatably mounted in the housing in operative engagement with the first shaft. A clutch is operatively disposed between the first shaft and the second gear, and a locking mechanism is mounted in the housing in operative engagement with the first shaft at least one gear and the clutch. The clutch is moveable between a first position in which the first shaft is rotationally coupled to the first and the second gears, and a second position in which the second gear rotates with respect to the first shaft. A remotely operated quick release mechanism operatively coupled to the housing has a first end operatively coupled to a power source and an opposite second end operatively coupled to the clutch so as to move the clutch from the clutch first position into the clutch second position.

Abstract: A load indicator for use with a railway car hand brake that is connected to a railway car brake rigging comprising a housing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the housing, each of the plurality of levers having a first end and an opposite second end, a plate coupled to each of the plurality of lever second ends, wherein the plate is moveable with respect to the housing, and a plurality of springs each operatively coupled between a respective one of the plurality of lever first ends and the housing. At least one of the plurality of lever first ends is moveable between a first position in which tension exerted on the plate from the railway car hand brake is within a predetermined range, and a second position in which tension exerted on the load indicator from the railway car brake rigging is outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: A brake mechanism comprises a housing, a first handle, a first shaft mounted in the housing having at least one gear rotationally fixed thereon, a second gear rotatably mounted in the housing in operative engagement with the first shaft, a locking mechanism, and a clutch operatively disposed between the first handle and the second gear. The locking mechanism comprises a second shaft mounted in the housing, a second handle rotationally fixed to the second shaft, a first pawl rotatably received on the second shaft and in operative engagement with the first shaft at least one gear, and a second pawl having a first portion in operative engagement with the first pawl and a second portion. The clutch is in engagement with the second pawl second portion and is moveable between a first position in which the first shaft is rotationally coupled to the second gear and a second position in which the second gear rotates with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A brake mechanism comprises a housing, a first handle, a first shaft mounted in the housing having at least one gear rotatably received thereon, a second gear rotatably mounted in the housing in operative engagement with the first shaft, a locking mechanism, and a clutch operatively disposed between the first handle and the second gear, where the clutch defined a recess therein. The locking mechanism comprises a second shaft mounted in the housing, a second handle rotationally fixed to the second shaft, a pawl rotatably received on the second shaft and in operative engagement with the first gear, and said pawl having a first portion in operative engagement with the first gear and a second portion operatively engaged with the clutch. The clutch is moveable between a first position in which the first shaft is rotationally coupled to the second gear and a second position in which the second gear rotates with respect to the first shaft and the pawl second portion is received in the clutch recess.

Abstract: A brake mechanism for activating the brake rigging of a railway car, the brake mechanism comprising a shaft having axial splines formed on one end thereof, a handle rotatably coupled to the shaft so that the handle is rotationally fixed to the shaft in a first direction and rotates relative to the shaft in an opposite second direction. A first gear is connected to the railway car brake rigging, a second gear is in operative engagement with the shaft splines, and a clutch is operatively disposed between the first gear and the second gear, the clutch having a coupler for rotationally coupling the first gear and the second gear and at least one spring operatively disposed intermediate the first gear and the second gear for biasing the coupler into engagement with the second gear. The coupler is moveable between a first position in which the first gear is rotationally coupled to the second gear, and a second position in which the first gear rotates with respect to the second gear.

Abstract: An electrically or manually operable brake drive for the brakes of a vehicle which has a gear train optionally driven by a reversible electric motor or a manual member. The brakes can be set or released by the electric motor without manual changing of the drive components permitting setting and releasing of the brakes at a location remote from the drive. For maintaining the brakes in a “set” mode, the drive includes a gradual release detent mechanism which permits rotation of the gears in the brake setting direction but opposes such rotation in the opposite direction unless a drive shaft rotatable by the motor or the manual member is rotated in the brake release direction.

Abstract: In a vehicle braking system having a slack adjuster with an actuator and an electrically operable car control unit, an electrical switch is responsive the position of the actuator and is coupled to the car control unit to provide an indication of the condition of the vehicle brake shoes, i.e. whether or not the brake shoes are disengaged from the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle axle driven electrical generator assembly for supplying electrical power to electrically operable vehicle brakes, the generator having a magnetic field producing rotor and a stator with conductors in the magnetic field. The rotor has its axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the axle and is rotated by a drive shaft which is either secured to the end of the axle or is loosely coupled to the end of the axle. The rotor and the stator are encircled by a housing to which the stator is secured and the housing is restrained with respect to rotation by either a link acting between the housing and a fixed portion of the vehicle or by securing the housing to the fixed portion.

Abstract: An empty/load mechanism for controlling the brake pressure on a railroad car is mounted inboard on the web of the car body side sill having a lower flange. A pivotable sensing arm reaches around the side sill flange and has a horizontal contact shaft at its free end for contact with the upper surface of a truck side frame for operating the mechanism in response to the distance between the car body and the truck.

Abstract: Braking apparatus for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels and brake shoes engageable with the wheels which apparatus includes a cylinder and piston assembly including at least two pistons movable in opposite directions by fluid under pressure supplied intermediate the pistons and at least one fixed partition between the pistons. The pistons are connected to the brake shoes at opposite ends of the cylinder and piston assembly by piston rods and levers. When the vehicle has a bolster and two pairs of wheels, the cylinder and piston assembly, which is movable with respect to the bolster, and one pair of wheels are at one side of the bolster and the other pair of wheels is at the other side of the bolster, the brake shoes for the latter wheels being connected to the levers by slack adjusters.

Abstract: Truck mounted brake apparatus includes a bracket assembly which clamps onto the bolster of a railway car truck and which includes a multiplying lever, which is connected to both a pull rod assembly and a hand brake. A truck live lever connected at one end to the pull rod assembly and at the opposite end to a standard brake beam is also connected intermediate its ends to one end of an automatic slack adjuster which passes through the bolster. A truck dead lever is connected at one end to the bracket assembly, at the opposite end to another standard brake beam, and is connected intermediate its ends to the opposite end of the slack adjuster. One end of the multiplying lever is connected to a hand brake. A fluid actuable piston and cylinder assembly is attached to the bolster and connected to the truck live lever, where movement of the piston and movement of the hand brake actuates the brakes.

Abstract: A braking force control valve responsive to the load on a vehicle has a three-part body with a central bore with a spring-biased proportioning spool disposed within the central bore and with a pair of side control chambers for receiving air when the spool is displaced. The spring bias on the spool is controlled by a plunger, the position of which is controlled by the load on the car via a load-sensing arm. The valve may be mounted either so that the position of the plunger is determined by lading itself or variably by the load weight. The body has an inlet port which is connected to the braking air source and an outlet port connected to the brake cylinder. The passage of air from the inlet port to the outlet port is controlled by the proportioning spool, which is urged from a closed position in which it prevents passage of air from the inlet port to the outlet port by the spring pressure applied thereto and is urged into such closed position by the pressure of the air in the control chambers.

Abstract: Hopper apparatus for controlling the discharge of lading from a hopper of a railway car through an opening in which a door opens and closes the opening and is moved from the closed position to the opening position by rotatable gears and by racks attached to the door. The door is curved and rides on tracks disposed to urge the door to its closed position by gravity. The gears are rotated by a drive shaft having end portions for receiving a rotating tool,and the door is locked in its closed position by locking means including a ratchet wheel on the drive shaft and a pawl controlled by a handle assembly which, in the locked position of the door, covers the end portions of the drive shaft so that it is necessary to move the handle assembly to expose the end portions and to release the pawl from the ratchet wheel before the drive shaft can be rotated to open the door.

Abstract: An empty/load valve with a housing from which a reciprocable rod which actuates a changeover spool extends, and a pivotable load measuring arm mounted in offset relation to the axis of the rod and carried by a pivotable shaft. The shaft is mounted on and extends from a rigid cover secured to the housing, and the shaft is interconnected with the rod by a linkage. Most of the shaft, the rod and the linkage are covered by the cover in a dust free manner so as to protect them from dust, etc., of the ambient. Preferably, stops extend from the housing to limit the movement of the arm.

Abstract: Empty/load braking apparatus for individually controlling the braking of the trucks of railway cars and an empty/load valve unit for such use and adapted to be mounted on each truck. The valve unit has a body with a canister as a part thereof or secured thereto with a changeover spool in the body and operable by a load sensing arm, with an air passageway extending between an inlet for receiving pressurized air from the conventional air line and an outlet for connection to a brake cylinder, with a proportional spool for controlling the air passing through the passageway, with a release spool for quick release of air from the brake cylinder upon brake release and with a check valve for preventing the entrance of air into the canister from the braking apparatus during brake release.

Abstract: A gate for attachment to the hopper of a railway car or other vehicle which carries particulate material. The gate has a pair of sloping walls with facing surfaces, and the lower ends of the walls are spaced apart to permit the particulate material to be discharged into a trough below the spaced ends from which the particulate material is removed by a vacuum hose. A pair of separately operable, rotatable valves of arcuate cross-section are disposed at the space between the ends of the walls to block or permit particulate material flow into the trough. Pneumatically operable agitators are mounted on the walls to prevent bridging of the space between the wall ends of the material during removal thereof.

Abstract: In a hand brake mechanism for railway cars in which a chain drum is rotatable by a manually rotatable shaft connected to the chain drum by a gear train, a centrifugal governor or brake connected to an intermediate gear of the gear train reduces the speed of rotation of the gears only after the force applied to the brakes has been substantially reduced, and hence even though the initial speed of rotation of the drum and the let-out speed of the chain when the brake is first released is substantially unaffected, the governor or brake is effective as the forces are reduced to substantially the forces of inertia of the brake mechanisms, the hand brake parts and the chain, so as to reduce the speeds of rotation of the hand brake parts to a small value and thereby prevent damage to and wear of the parts and increase the life of the hand brake mechanism.