Abstract: A sealing arrangement, particularly for a rail vehicle slack adjuster, between a generally tubular housing (7) and a rod (1), which is axially and rotatably movable relative thereto, has a cup (10) engaging the rod with a sealing ring (11) so as to be movable with the rod. This cup extends along the rod over the free end of the housing so as to form a type of labyrinth sealing. The cup is preferably provided with a protective and guiding internal ring (12) cooperating with the housing.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical brake unit includes a drive sleeve (8), which may be subjected to a torque, for example from a coil spring (6), and a ball screw (15, 25) for transforming the torque into an axial force for brake application. Between the drive sleeve and the ball screw there is a control arrangement, comprising an outer locking spring (16), a control sleeve (17), and an inner locking spring (18), a control motor (20) being connected to the control sleeve for rotation thereof in either direction. The control sleeve is connected to the locking springs for control of their locking and unlocking functions.

Abstract: A method for charging a sealed, secondary electrochemical power source having with a water based electrolyte (20), a gas space (20) and the possibility of recombination in accordance with the oxygen cycle during pressure stabilization at a low controlled level. Charging takes place at a constant d.c. voltage whilst the pressure inside the gas space of the power source is reduced by evacuation. An arrangement for implementing the method consists essentially of a vacuum pump which is connected to the gas space of the power source via an evacuation line, and of a constant d.c. voltage source. The vacuum pump is so arranged as to come into operation when the power source is being charged.

Abstract: A device for discontinuing and automatically restoring the operational function of a spring brake actuator. The device includes a piston with a piston rod and a spring for actuating the piston and piston rod in a working direction for brake application at falling brake fluid pressure on the piston. A slitted, resilient locking ring is arranged in grooves facing each other in the piston rod and a piston rod sleeve coaxial therewith. The locking ring can either be constrained to rest in both of the grooves, so that the piston rod and piston rod sleeve are locked together, or be free to be forced completely into one of the grooves, which is at least as deep as the thickness of the ring, so that the piston rod and piston rod sleeve are free to move independently of each other.

Abstract: A valve for the addition of water to electrochemical accumulator batteries and for maintaining the flow of liquid at a constant level. A membrane in a valve body is biased by means of a spring against a wall arranged concentrically with an inlet orifice, the wall creating an inner chamber of circular cross-section, and an outer chamber which is of annular cross-section and is connected to an outlet connection via a constricted orifice. A spindle at the center of the membrane passes freely through the inlet orifice and exhibits outside the latter a conically enlarged part, the cross-sectional area of which increases in proportion to the distance to the inlet orifice, serving as a valve seat, and which is intended to provide a seal when the spring yields to the membrane.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator for a rail vehicle brake unit, comprising a cylinder and a rod shaped member. The actuator includes a cylinder-shaped housing, a piston with a piston rod and a spring intended to act in a brake applying direction.In order to obtain a truly modular system the actuator, as an integrated and self-contained unit, is arranged on the rod-shaped member of the brake unit. Its housing is attached to the brake unit cylinder. The actuator piston rod is tubular and slidable on the rod-shaped member.

Abstract: A rail vehicle brake unit having a tubular housing and a slack adjuster movable therein in a brake force applying direction in response to a braking force applied to a push rod has a simple parking brake attachment. Thus, a sleeve abutting the slack adjuster presents a movable shoulder, which in turn is coupled with a pivoted parking brake lever for movement thereby to actuate the brakes.

Abstract: Means for providing an electrical connection between adjacent cells in an electrochemical accumulator battery through an opening in a cell wall made of plastic material. In a joint (10) consisting of a screw (32) passed through concentric openings (16, 28, 30) in the leg (24, 26) of each plate group bus (20, 22) and in the cell wall (18) and a nut (34) holding the joint together, each leg (24, 26) is arranged tightly against the cell wall (18). Around the screw (32) there is arranged in the openings (16) in the cell wall an annular spacer (36) of greater external diameter than the openings in the legs and with a thickness smaller than that of the cell walls and made of a harder material than the cell walls.

Abstract: A rail vehicle slack adjuster in a brake unit has an axially movable piston rod (7), a non-rotatable, brake force delivering spindle (8), an adjuster nut (26) in non-self-locking engagement with the spindle and rotating on a bearing (18), and a barrel spring (29) between the unit piston (3) and the spindle, the adjuster nut being clutchable over a main clutch (27) to the piston rod for transmitting brake force. A non-rotatable locking sleeve (20), which is only axially movable a control distance (A) under the action of a locking spring (21), is clutchable to the adjuster nut over a control clutch (28).

Abstract: A rail vehicle block brake actuator (1) shall be fixedly mounted, but its brake block holder (4) shall brakingly engage an axially movable wheel (25). For this purpose the brake block holder is laterally movably suspended relative to the brake actuator by means of pivotable hangers (5) each consisting of a stack of leaf springs. These leaf springs (5) are preferably prestressed in a direction for compensating for the bias of the taper of the wheel tread, which it is intended to engage, but are held in a straight condition by means of a flat bar (9).

Abstract: This invention relates to a rail vehicle brake system comprising an air brake cylinder (10, 11) with a piston (12) which is spring-biased for brake application on one side thereof, and a control system for selectively supplying pressurized air to said cylinder.On both sides of the piston (12) the air brake cylinder spaces (10, 11) are connected to a common control system (28, 31) for the supply of pressurized air thereto. The control system--by controlling the supply and discharge to and from the respective spaces--accomplishes a pressure differential between the spaces for service braking.

Abstract: A rail vehicle disc brake arrangement is provided with a brake cylinder (8-10), a slack adjuster (14), and pad holders (3, 4) with brake pads (5, 6) on either side of a disc (7) to be braked. In order to attain a compact and cheap but forceful and reliable arrangement the brake cylinder (8-10), the slack adjuster (14) of pulling type and a first pad holder (3) with brake pad (5) are combined to a unit (1). The unit has a bracket (16), to which a brake lever (2) is pivotally attached. The opposite end of this lever is provided with a pivotal second pad holder (4) with brake pad (6), whereas the slack adjuster is connected to an intermediate point thereof.

Abstract: A rail vehicle disc brake caliper has a base frame (1) with a pivotally attached brake lever (3). Brake pads are provided on these parts in the vicinity of a disc to be braked. A brake cylinder (16) for acting on the brake lever is attached to the base frame. In order to obtain a space saving, simple and sturdy design with a required internal leverage and with a slack adjusting function a slack adjuster (15) of the rotary, lever type is arranged with its rotary part on a shaft (14) pivotally arranged in the base frame and its free arm connected to the piston rod (16') of the brake cylinder (16). This shaft is provided with a cam (17), preferably connected to the brake lever (3) by way of connecting links (18).

Abstract: A process for the disassembling of scrapped, i.e. worn out, damaged or in some other way unserviceable electrical storage batteries (10), in particular alkaline batteries, which consist of a prismatic cell container with sets of positive and negative plates, each secured to the next by means of a connecting strap, from which terminal posts project through a cover on the upper part of the cell container. After any free electrolyte has been emptied from the cell container, the materials making up the battery can be recovered.This is done by removing the upper part of the cell container so as to produce an opening and by withdrawing the sets of plates (31) from the cell container through the opening by means of a mechanical device (20) at the same time as the container is gripped and held fast in a pre-determined position by means of clamping devices (33, 34).

Abstract: A battery casing construction comprises an extruded casing wall member, upper and lower collars which are snugly received on the wall member and bonded thereto adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof and top and bottom plate elements which are received in covering relation on the upper and lower ends of the wall member, respectively, and bonded thereto. The extruded wall member can be constructed with a reduced wall thickness to make the casing light weight and save on material costs whereas the collars and plate elements provide strength at the ends of the casing where it is needed. The method of forming the casing comprises the steps of forming the extruded wall member, forming the plate elements and collars, assembling the plate elements and collars on the wall member and bonding the plate elements and collars to the wall member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of charging an electrical accumulator battery (16) by means of solar panels (11-14) with solar-cells. The battery (16) is charged by means of two or more solar panels (11-14) included in charging branches connected in parallel, at least one charging branch being permitted to charge the accumulator battery to a higher voltage than the other charging branch or branches.Only the charging branch or branches which charge to the highest voltage are permitted to deliver current to the acccumulator battery (16) during maintenance charging, when the accumulator battery is fully charged.A device for carrying out the method consists of charging branches (11-21, 12-22 , 13-23, 14-24) comprising at least one solar-cell panel and connected in parallel, the charging branches being adapted to deliver charging current at different voltages. At least one voltage is permitted to be higher than the other or others.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of recovering nickel from a spent fat hardening catalyst which consists of finely divided nickel metal on a carrier for example of infusorial earth and/or synthetic material and suspended in fat. The fat is saponified by means of an alkali solution to form a dissolved soap composition which is separated from the nickel metal and the carrier. The nickel metal is then leached out from the carrier and recovered in the form of nickel sulphate. Soap can be salted out of the dissolved soap composition and be used for cleaning purposes in industry, and the carrier can be washed and re-used. During the recovery waste solutions from the alkaline accumulator industry may appropriately be used so that only sulphuric acid is needed as a process chemical. The nickel sulphate solution recovered can be used, for example, as a raw material for the production of active nickel hydroxide mass for alkaline accumulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of metals from the scrap from nickel-cadmium electric storage batteries or other products which in addition to cadmium also contain organic substances and metallic components made of iron, nickel or other metals. The process involves opening the batteries and emptying them of any free electrolyte, drying the scrap, removing the organic substances by pyrolysis at an initial temperature followed by condensation. The pyrolysis and distilling-off operations are performed in one and the same furnace by the successive and preprogrammed raising of the temperature inside the furnace, for example in stages, in order to produce a residue inside the furnace in the form of nickel and iron scrap.Pyrolysis takes place in a controlled atmosphere, requiring the introduction of an inert gas such as nitrogen with the addition of between 3 and 12% of oxygen, if necessary in the form of air.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake block holder (11) for a brake unit (1) with brake block hangers (9) pivotally attached to a fixed part (8) of the unit and to the brake block holder.In order primarily to obtain a very compact design the brake block hangers (9) are pivotally attached to the lower part of the brake block holder (11) and to brackets (8) on the unit constituting a lateral guiding for the holder. The two hangers (9) together with two inserts (13) are held together as a strong yoke by a screw (12). Means (14-18, 22, 23) are provided for obtaining a self-adjusting force transmitting connection between the only axially movable brake unit push rod (3) and the brake block holder (11).

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is described, as well as a gas diffusion electrode for the same. The electrode is of the type which is on an exterior surface provided with a catalyst for converting gas to electricity and on an interior surface with a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material comprises a cohesive porous plastics layer, which defines a closed gas space within the electrode, and which the electrolyte cannot enter, although the electrode is immersed therein. On the other hand, gas can be sucked into and can pass out from the space. When the electrode is partially immersed in the electrolyte, gas is automatically sucked from the atmosphere above the electrolyte level in the cell and into the gas space, due to the subpressure in the space occurring during operation.