Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Engle

Thomas L. Engle 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: 6705478
    Abstract: An integrated electrical and pneumatic train line connector is provided. In a typically glad hand connector for connecting the pneumatic lines on either end of a train car, each glad hand also includes an integrated electrical connector for the train electrical line which runs along the length of the train. Each glad hand comprises an inner and outer face to which are connected respective male and female connectors for the electrical train line. The male contact is preferably provided on the lower portion of the glad hand and a correspondingly figured female connector is provided on the upper portion of the glad hand. When a glad hand from one railcar is attached to the glad hand of a second railcar the cooperating male and female connectors of each of glad hands are automatically connected as the pneumatic line is connected. One step electrical and pneumatic coupling is therefore provided for railroad cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Engle