Abstract: The present invention is a parking brake for a rail vehicle having a brake cylinder and a piston in the brake cylinder responsive to forces to apply and release the brakes on the vehicle. The parking brake further includes at least one off-center connecting rod extending though an opening in the brake cylinder and connected to the piston through that opening. The parking brake also includes a force multiplier supported by the brake cylinder and connected to the at least one off-center connecting rod. Further included is an actuator connected to the force multiplier for driving the force multiplier to provide the force to move the at least one rod and the piston to move the brakes to an apply position.

Abstract: The present invention is a parking brake for a rail vehicle having a brake cylinder and a piston in the brake cylinder responsive to forces to apply and release the brakes on the vehicle. The parking brake further includes at least one off-center connecting rod extending though an opening in the brake cylinder and connected to the piston through that opening. The parking brake also includes a force multiplier supported by the brake cylinder and connected to the at least one off-center connecting rod. Further included is an actuator connected to the force multiplier for driving the force multiplier to provide the force to move the at least one rod and the piston to move the brakes to an apply position.

Abstract: The method includes moving a piston and a force transmitting element connected to the piston to a locking position. The piston and force transmission elements are locked in the locking position which preferably is displaced from the brake released position. Preferably, the piston is locked to the housing and the force transmission elements to a brake beam. A portion of the cylinder surrounding the piston is removed from the housing which is connected to the brake beam or truck and the packing cup is replaced. The cylinder portion is then replaced on the housing and the piston and the force transmission elements are unlocked and the piston and the force transmission elements are allowed to return to their released position.

Abstract: A slack adjuster for use in combination with a pneumatic brake actuator cylinder wherein the slack adjuster includes a friction clutch which prevents rotation of the screw for first relative position of the piston and screw while allowing rotation of the screw for excess force on the ram pulling the screw to a relative position beyond the first relative position and opposite the relative position for normal slack adjustment in response to air actuation of the piston. A second clutch, which is a standard toothed clutch, prevents rotation of the screw for second relative position of the piston and the screw. The screw rotates between the first and second relative positions when the two clutches are unlocked to produce slack adjustment. The pulling force on the slack adjuster is produced by a hand brake on the output of the slack adjuster and independent of the piston.