Patents by Inventor Howard Sommerfeld

Howard Sommerfeld has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8469464
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Patent number: 8256584
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Patent number: 8230985
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Patent number: 8070002
    Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: David Meyer, Howard Sommerfeld, Michael E. Ring
  • Patent number: 8070001
    Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: David Meyer, Howard Sommerfeld, Michael E. Ring
  • Publication number: 20110266101
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: HOWARD SOMMERFELD, JONATHON MARLOW, MICHAEL J. MORIARITY, WAJIH KANJO, DAVID MEYER, BRADLEY ANDERSON, MICHAEL RING
  • Publication number: 20110259681
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: HOWARD SOMMERFELD, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Publication number: 20110259680
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: HOWARD SOMMERFELD, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Patent number: 8006815
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Jonathon Marlow, Michael J. Moriarity, Wajih Kanjo, David Meyer, Bradley Anderson, Michael Ring
  • Patent number: 7900785
    Abstract: Draft gear assembly includes an angled or tapered bottom surface on a tapered plate intermediate of the inner and outer friction surfaces thereof and further includes a complimentary mating angled or tapered surface provided on a built-up portion on a third horizontal rib of a housing and positioned in abutting engagement with the angled or tapered bottom surface on the tapered plate. Providing the mating angled or tapered surfaces increases the side force on movable plates during application of a buffing shock to the draft gear assembly, thus increasing the capacity and resistance of the draft gear assembly to closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis W. King, Howard Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 7802662
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a double-acting compression actuatable slack adjuster to adjust the slack in the brake rigging of a railway vehicle which includes a pair of elongated members movable with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction. A positioning device carrying a pair of opposed abutting surfaces is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the elongated rod. Pair of opposite facing abutment surfaces are positioned within the hollow housing. A first urging device is positioned to urge the positioning device into a disengaged position. A second urging device overcomes the force of the first urging device and urges an abutting surface on the positioning device into engagement with an adjacent abutment surface. A first overtravel control device is provided which is activated by a trigger device. A second overtravel control device is provided to prevent jamming condition of the positioning device with one of the abutment surfaces when the elongated rod is fully extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Staffan Brandt
  • Publication number: 20100000956
    Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: WABTEC HOLDING CORP
    Inventors: David Meyer, Howard Sommerfeld, Michael E. Ring
  • Publication number: 20090321376
    Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: TWO PIECE DRAFT GEGAR HOUOSING HAVING A INTEGRAL YOKE
    Inventors: DAVID MEYER, Howard Sommerfeld, Michael E. Ring
  • Patent number: 7588154
    Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: David Meyer, Howard Sommerfeld, Michael E. Ring
  • Patent number: 7540387
    Abstract: A friction clutch mechanism for a draft gear assembly includes a pair of outer stationary plate members, a pair of movable plate members, a pair of inner stationary plate members having an inner surface which is tapered at an angle of approximately 4.5°, a pair of wedge shoe members having an upper surface which is tapered from a point disposed inwardly from the tapered outer surface inwardly toward and at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the friction clutch mechanism, and a center wedge member which includes a pair of correspondingly tapered surfaces frictionally engageable with the upper tapered surface of a respective one of the pair of wedge shoe members. The tapered upper surface of the pair of wedge shoe members is tapered at an angle of approximately 49.0°-50.0°. The pair of tapered surfaces of the center wedge is tapered at an angle of about 49.5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Howard Sommerfeld
  • Publication number: 20090065312
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a double-acting compression actuatable slack adjuster to adjust the slack in the brake rigging of a railway vehicle which includes a pair of elongated members movable with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction. A positioning device carrying a pair of opposed abutting surfaces is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the elongated rod. Pair of opposite facing abutment surfaces are positioned within the hollow housing. A first urging device is positioned to urge the positioning device into a disengaged position. A second urging device overcomes the force of the first urging device and urges an abutting surface on the positioning device into engagement with an adjacent abutment surface. A first overtravel control device is provided which is activated by a trigger device. A second overtravel control device is provided to prevent jamming condition of the positioning device with one of the abutment surfaces when the elongated rod is fully extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Staffan Brandt
  • Patent number: 7487695
    Abstract: A hand brake having mechanism for retaining the hand brake in a substantially released and hold position to prevent unwanted application of the railway car brakes due to vibration or other energy sources during railway car motion. Such mechanism includes at least one spring mounted to the hand brake housing substantially engaging a release lever disposed within a quick release mechanism so as to prevent reverse rotation of the release lever causing an unintended take-up of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Howard Sommerfeld, Scott Natschke
  • Publication number: 20090008352
    Abstract: A friction clutch mechanism for a draft gear assembly includes a pair of outer stationary plate members, a pair of movable plate members, a pair of inner stationary plate members having an inner surface which is tapered at an angle of approximately 4.5°, a pair of wedge shoe members having an upper surface which is tapered from a point disposed inwardly from the tapered outer surface inwardly toward and at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the friction clutch mechanism, and a center wedge member which includes a pair of correspondingly tapered surfaces frictionally engageable with the upper tapered surface of a respective one of the pair of wedge shoe members. The tapered upper surface of the pair of wedge shoe members is tapered at an angle of approximately 49.0°-50.0°. The pair of tapered surfaces of the center wedge is tapered at an angle of about 49.5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Howard Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 7467812
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a brake hose including a glad hand secured to one end thereof. The brake hose to be lifted into an elevated position is attached to an end of a railway car. Such apparatus further maintains the brake hose in such elevated position during in track service. Such apparatus includes a first member engageable with a predetermined portion of such railway car and a second member engageable with one of such glad hand and such brake hose. There is at least one fluid pressure actuated expansion member disposed between and engageable with such first and second member. Additionally, a supply line having a choke is disposed in fluid communication with such at least one fluid pressure actuated expansion member and a source of fluid pressure for expanding the expansion member in a longitudinal direction and thereby raise such brake hoses to a predetermined elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, Howard Sommerfeld, Scott Natschke
  • Patent number: 7467724
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for securing a bearing assembly to a male connection member of an articulated coupling apparatus includes an aperture having an outwardly extending beveled portion formed at each end thereof. A race assembly of the bearing assembly has a beveled portion abuttingly engaging a first beveled portion of the aperture and has an inwardly extending recessed portion and a ledge portion disposed adjacent the second beveled portion. The ledge portion at least partially closes the recessed portion and has an inner surface extending from the recessed portion towards the aperture at a predetermined angle. A locking member is disposed in a groove formed by such second beveled portion, the recessed portion and the inner surface of the ledge portion for securing the race assembly within the aperture in combination with the opposed beveled portion formed in the race assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Voong, Scott Natschke, Howard Sommerfeld