Abstract: A parking brake for a rail car vehicle including an electric motor driving a hydraulic pump fluidly connected to and controlling a bidirectional hydraulic actuator coupleable to the rail car's wheel brakes. An electric controller is connected to the pump and controls activation/deactivation of the pump with the controller including various switches. Also included is a coupler for coupling the actuator to one of a brake beam or an actuator of the parking brake.

Abstract: A truck mounted brake beam including at least a primary beam having a center section and a pair of end sections with guide feet. The center portion may include two opposed channel elements, each having a horizontal base and two vertical walls, joined by fasteners or weldments. The weldments are hollow and the bases include openings to the hollow of the weldments. The cross-section of the end portions of at least one of the channeled elements is smaller than the cross-section of a center portion of the at least one channeled element. A method of making a beam brake beam, comprising: obtaining two channeled elements each having a base and two vertical walls; separating an end portion of one of the walls from the base; removing a section of the base adjacent the separated wall; attaching the separated end to the end of the base; and, permanently joining the channeled elements.

Abstract: A brake system for a railroad vehicle having first and second brake beams, two levers pivotally mounting an actuator to the first beam and push rods connecting the levers to the second beam. The first and second brake beams each include a pair of vertically spaced beam members. The levers are mounted to the first brake beam in the space between the beam members to pivot in a plane offset from a center plane of the space. Also, the first and second push rods are mounted to the second brake beam in the space between the beam members to pivot in a plane also offset from the center plane of the space.

Abstract: A fluid parking brake for a rail vehicle having a brake cylinder with a first piston responsive to fluid signals to apply and release the brakes on the vehicle. The parking brake includes a housing having a second piston in the housing and which is coupled to the first piston. An apply port in the housing receives a pressure signal to move the second piston to an apply position. A detent is provided for provided for holding the second piston in the applied position.

Abstract: A truck mounted rail brake including at least a primary beam having a center section and a pair of end sections with guide end extensions. A brake head is removably mounted to the end sections by a pin. The pin is dimensioned to allow pivotal movement of the brake head about the pin. The pin is retained in the brake head by either a tab or another pin above and transverse to the first pin.

Abstract: A truck mounted rail brake including at least a primary beam having a center section and a pair of end sections with guide feet. The center portion may include two opposed channel elements, each having a horizontal base and two vertical walls, jointed by the fasteners or first weldments. The vertical walls of the opposed channeled elements may extend either from the base towards each other or away from each other. The first weldments are hollow and the bases include openings to the hollow of the first weldments. The cross-section of the end portions of at least one of the channeled elements are smaller than the cross-section of a center portion of the at least one channeled element.

Abstract: A truck mounted rail brake including at least a primary beam having a hollow center section and a pair of end sections with guide feet to be received in the slots of the truck and a brake shoe thereon. The end sections are slidable within the center section between an extended and a contracted position and removable fasteners lock the end sections in their extended position. The center portion includes at least one channeled element having a horizontal base and two vertical walls.