Safety Patents (Class 188/210)
  • Patent number: 8978821
    Abstract: A fall arrest anchor trolley for arresting the fall of a user. In one embodiment, the invention can be a fall arrest trolley comprising: a body a brake sub-system, and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein bottoms of the plurality of wheels collectively define a rolling plane; the brake sub-system comprising a brake rod, a brake pad connected to the brake rod, a lanyard connector connected to the brake rod, and a resilient element; the brake rod slidably coupled to the body so that the brake sub-system is alterable between: (1) a free state in which the brake pad is spaced a distance above the rolling plane; and (2) an arrest state in which at least a portion of the brake pad is located within the rolling plane; the resilient element biasing the brake sub-system into the free state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Arnold T. Galpin, David A. Pisotti
  • Patent number: 8827057
    Abstract: It is desired to make a shock absorbing structure small in size. The shock absorbing structure includes a beam-like structural member having a concave section; and a shock absorbing member, one end of which is arranged in the concave section to abut to the structural member and the other end of which is arranged outside the structural member. Even in a case of a dead stroke when the shock absorbing member is bottomed out, the concave section overlaps with the structural member supporting the structure, so that there is no wasteful space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsumi Tanaka, Naoki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8622171
    Abstract: A ladder system includes an overhead track system, a ladder, a latch and a carriage. The overhead track system includes a first guide track and a second guide track. The carriage is operatively configured to move longitudinally along the first and second guide tracks and to move laterally between the first and second guide tracks. The ladder is pivotally mounted to the overhead track system. A lateral carriage brake is provided which prevents lateral movement of the ladder, and a longitudinal carriage brake is provided to prevent longitudinal movement of the ladder. The latch is operatively configured to affix the ladder to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Material Control, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Kerr
  • Patent number: 7757813
    Abstract: The ladder system is disposed between two spaced storage shelves of the types found in crowded warehouses. The ladder is mounted on overhead guide tracks and may be moved longitudinally along the shelves and laterally between the shelves. Locating means are provided for immobilizing the ladder against movement laterally and longitudinally. The locating means includes a pair of spring-loaded casters and rubber pads at the lower end of the ladder and a pair of braking mechanisms overlying and engageable with the guide tracks when subjected to the weight of the user to prevent movement of the ladder at the top thereof either intentionally or unintentionally. Finally, a lateral brake is carried by the ladder which prevents the roller carriage from moving laterally. The brake is applied when the ladder is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Material Control, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Kerr
  • Patent number: 5339930
    Abstract: A constant tensioning device in the form of an elastic member interposed in the handbrake chain between a railway car handwheel and a handbrake lever of the railway car brake apparatus for maintaining tension in the handbrake chain in accordance with the applied handbrake force, irrespective of such shifting of the railway car relative to its truck, as would otherwise cause slack to develop in the handbrake chain and thereby cause an undesired loss of handbrake force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Sich, Wajih Kanjo
  • Patent number: 5217094
    Abstract: A parking brake control in which a spiral spring is loaded between a sector and a pedal and unwinds to take up slack in the cable of a vehicle parking brake and tension the cable when a locking pin is removed following installation of the control and connection of the cable to the sector. A pawl coacts with the same sector to hold the sector in its brake-applied position and to enable release of the brake by pushing on the pedal. A cam is carried by the pedal and acts against the cable to produce a mechanical advantage which progressively increases as the brake is progressively applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Walter, LaVern R. McCallips
  • Patent number: 4942946
    Abstract: A bottom rod safety guard in the form of a loop is suspended from a brake beam. The cable ends are looped through holes in the beam, and a latch plate extends beneath the beam to provide a releaseable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: TransDyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl E. Tack, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4896751
    Abstract: A device for maintaining the proper lateral position of brake shoes with respect to the wheels of a locomotive. An adjusting bar is used to adjust the distance between the pull rod of the brakes and a bracket supported by the safety strap. A supporting axle has a locomotive wheel on each end so that there is a wheel on each rail. Each wheel has a brake which is provided with an adjuster bar. There is thus a left and a right adjuster bar. A tie bar extends from the left adjuster member to the right adjuster member to keep the brake shoes aligned with the respective wheels after there is wear in the various linkage connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Touchstone Railway Supply & Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Rhodes, James W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4630715
    Abstract: In railway brake rigging wherein a bottom actuating rod extends beneath the bolster, a safety guard is provided to prevent a broken or disconnected rod from falling onto the track structure. The safety guard, which does not require any disassembly of the rigging or special tools, comprises a flexible cable having a pair of strands at each end of predetermined length. The end of one strand is secured to a connector, and the end of the other strand is releasably secured to the connector through a slotted opening. The safety guard is easily installed by looping the strands at both ends of the cable around the brake beam and securing the free strands to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Trans-Dyne, Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank P. Adler
  • Patent number: 4519480
    Abstract: A lightweight, brake lever-retaining bracket which includes two arms, each of which is equipped with a stiffener to provide extended bearing surfaces for brake lever mounting pins, and a safety platform to prevent loss of brake levers in the event of brake lever retaining pin failure. A safety bolt adjustably connects both arms to minimize lateral movement of the brake lever and to maintain the brake lever in operative position in the event of retaining pin failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Hadady Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4312428
    Abstract: Truck mounted brake apparatus comprising a saddle which clamps onto the bolster of a railway car truck and which carries a fluid actuable, piston and cylinder assembly at one side of the bolster. A first lever connected at one end to the piston rod and at the opposite end to a standard brake beam is also connected intermediate its ends to one end of an automatic slack adjuster which passes through the bolster. A second lever is connected at one end to the saddle at the side thereof opposite to the side on which the piston and cylinder assembly is mounted, is connected at its opposite end to another standard brake beam and is connected intermediate its ends to the opposite end of the slack adjuster. The first lever has an extension to which a hand brake may be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Ellcon-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Beacon
  • Patent number: 4195715
    Abstract: There is provided an improved safety support for adjustable mounting on brake beams of railway cars for supporting one end of a bottom connecting rod should it become detached from the brake rigging. A flexible cable is supported by a cable retainer mounted on the side of a brake beam. The cable passes under one end of a bottom connecting rod with the ends of the cable extending generally upwardly through passageways on opposite ends of the cable retainer. Sleeve stops or other enlargements are crimped or otherwise secured to the ends of the cable so as to prevent the cable ends from being withdrawn downwardly through the passageways. The cable retainer has a plurality of holes so that it may be mounted in various positions on the brake beam thereby allowing the cable to be adjusted to several different elevations. By providing the cable with additional sleeve stops it can in effect be shortened to different effective lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Illinois Railway Equipment Company
    Inventor: Rudolph E. Nadherny
  • Patent number: 4135608
    Abstract: There is provided an improved safety support for adjustable mounting on brake beams of railway cars for supporting one end of a bottom connecting rod should it become detached from the brake rigging. In one modification attachment, pieces are arranged to be mounted at different elevations on a brake beam for supporting the upper ends of the safety support. In other modifications, attachment pieces are arranged for different angular mounting positions and/or different elevations in conjunction with separate positioning brackets. In still another modification right and left hand L-shaped attachment pieces have a plurality of holes in their vertical legs for mounting at different elevations and the distal ends of their horizontal legs overlap and are interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Illinois Railway Equipment Company
    Inventor: Franklin P. Adler
  • Patent number: 4085831
    Abstract: A rod guard adapted to be attached to a brake beam member to prevent a disconnected or broken brake rod from falling from a railway car. The guard consists of a looped hanger and a clamp having the general configuration of the brake beam member to which the rod guard is to be applied. A lower loop of the hanger encircles the brake rod. An upper loop of the hanger extends through a slot in the clamp exposed forwardly of the front surfaces of the brake beam member and is secured to the clamp by a reversely bent central tab forced over the upper horizontally extending end of the hanger such as by a hammer. The clamp is secured to the brake beam by a pair of horizontally spaced end tabs between which the upper end of the hanger is received and held by the end tabs against spreading. The end tabs are forced over the brake beam member by a hammer or the like in a direction opposite to the center tab to secure the guard to the brake beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Herschell H. Hartzell, Norbert F. Mullaney
  • Patent number: 4081060
    Abstract: A brake adjustment device for locomotives wherein the braking system of a locomotive truck may be converted from a double shoe clasp-type assembly to a single brake shoe assembly, and comprising a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to the locomotive truck between a pair of adjacent or in-line locomotive wheels, an apertured slide rod secured to the outer ends of each bracket and extending in a direction toward the respective in-line wheel, an apertured housing secured to the brake lever of each of the wheels and having one end thereof open for slidably receiving the respective slide rod therein whereby the adjuster may be used in the manner of a turnbuckle for quickly adjusting the brakes for facilitating the replacement or repair of the brakes, a keeper pin cooperating with each respective apertured slide rod and apertured housing for selectively locking the slide rod with the respective housing, and a lever cooperating with each keeper pin for retaining the keeper pins in engagement with the respective
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Inventor: Roy H. Touchstone