Abstract: Train brake systems, hand brake release systems and related methods are provided. The brake system can include a hand brake release system that can automatically releasing a hand brake on a railway car. A differential value can be used to measuring an air pressure differential between an air pressure in a train line of a train and an air pressure on a brake cylinder of the railway car to determine if air should transfer from the emergency reservoir to assure the hand brake is released. A hand brake position valve can be used to determine whether the hand brake is applied or released. The air from the emergency reservoir can then be directed within a motion detector valve to assure that the hand brake us released.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking system for a rail car is provided. The system includes a hydraulic pump or motor adapted to engage a rail car axle or wheel. When rotating, the axle or wheel drives the hydraulic pump causing a hydraulic fluid to circulate. By restricting the flow of fluid to the pump, a braking force can be applied to the axle for slowing and stopping the rail car. Various programmable electronic controls can be added to the braking system for allowing control at a central location.

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: 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 adapter for interconnecting the air ports of an empty/load valve which are arranged in one pattern with a component of empty/load braking apparatus having its air ports arranged in a different pattern so that an empty/load valve of an initially installed type can be replaced by an empty/load valve of a different type without removing the installed component. The adapter has ports at one face which align with the ports of the different empty/load valve and ports at another face which align with the ports of the component and channels intermediate the adapter faces which interconnect the ports at the faces of the adapter for fluid flow.