Abstract: Rail vehicles have a brake linkage being acted on by a brake cylinder for acting on at least one wheel set of a bogie, truck or running gear of the rail vehicle through brake blocks having brake block shoes and brake block shoe inserts. A block brake for rail vehicles should be economical and be constructed in such a way that higher braking capacities can be achieved, that damage to the tires of the wheels of the wheel set is avoided and that wheel noise of the wheel sets is minimized. The block brake includes at least one rotationally symmetrical brake body being fixedly disposed on a wheel set shaft of the wheel set between the wheel discs of the wheel set. The acted-on brake block rests on an outer surface of the brake body.

Abstract: A dual-circuit master valve for hydraulically actuated power brakes is diosed. An equalizing device in the valve assures a uniform build-up of pressure in both brake circuits. Even if one brake circuit fails, the equalizing device assures dependable operation of the remaining brake circuit without additional parts. The equalizing device includes at least one pressing member which acts on two conical valve slides, each having an opening facing the pressing member. The end of the pressing member facing the valve slides is provided with elastic material, preferably rubber or plastic, which deforms to equalize pressure when the pressing member presses against the openings in the valve slides.

Abstract: The brake beams of a single axle railway car wheel truck are swingingly suspended from a body portion of the car and engage with the axle housings of the wheel and axle assembly to enable the brake beams to move laterally and longitudinally with the wheel and axle assembly when this assembly is forced to move with respect to the body portion of the car. Movement of the brake beams with the wheel and axle assembly enables the brake heads on the brake beams to be properly aligned with braking surfaces on the wheels under substantially all operating conditions of the wheel truck even though substantially all of the weight of the brake beam and actuator assemblies is borne by the body portion of the railway car.

Abstract: A tread brake for braking a wheel (2) of a railway vehicle which is sprung relative to a frame (4) of the vehicle, comprises an actuator (5) suspended from the frame (4) by a swing arm (6), and a rigid link arm (7) fixed to the actuator (5) and connected through a pivot (8) parallel to the wheel axis to a bracket (9) fixedly mounted to a bearing in which the wheel axle is journalled. The link arm (7) adjusts the position of the actuator (5) in response to any movement of the wheel (2) relative to the frame (4) so that the braking element (11) is always applied substantially radially to the wheel, which allows the element to take the form of an elongate rod of friction material. A new handbrake structure is also described.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for rail vehicles has a brake actuating unit to one side of the vehicle wheel. A pair of brake shoes oppositely disposed on both sides of the wheel can be pressed against the contact surface of the wheel. A first vertical braking lever is pivotable under a force from the brake actuating unit with respect to the contact force exerted by the first brake shoe. A second vertical braking lever is similarly connected to the other brake shoe. The lower ends of both braking levers are pivotally connected with two traverse members each interconnecting the ends of two parallel tie rods which extent horizontally across both faces of the vehicle wheel. The play or clearance in the application of the brake shoes to the wheel contact surface is automatically adjusted by a self-actuating device in each tie rod. Each adjusting device comprises a screw coupling consisting of a nut threaded on a spindle shaft.

Abstract: An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. Air springs suspend a rail-wheel set axle unit and highway wheel-set axle units from the vehicle body so that the one wheel-set axle unit is stored in a raised inoperative position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, a valved air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered positions. The air control system also includes, in addition to the mode selection function, the highway braking function, the rail braking function, the parking brake and the emergency brake functions.

Abstract: An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. A main body on the vehicles includes a highway wheel-set axle unit and a rail wheel-set axle unit. The vehicle is designed so that one wheel-set axle unit is stored in an upper position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, an air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered position dependent upon the mode of travel to be used. Rail suspension air springs are connected between the main body of the vehicle and the rail wheel-set axle unit and highway suspension air springs are connected between the body and the highway wheel-set axle units.

Abstract: A convertible semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels and a flanged rail wheel-set and bogie, the body being supported upon said highway running gear and upon said railroad bogie independently by air spring means associated with the rail wheel-set axle unit and with the highway running gear and means to alternately raise and lower the highway running gear and railroad bogie for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers being couplable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel. The highway running gear may be of the single axle or the tandem axle type, in each case each axle carrying dual sets of tires of conventional size allowing loads as high as legally permitted to be carried over the road in the highway mode of travel, the railroad bogie having a single axle wheel set of approximately 60,000 lb. capacity.

Abstract: A clasp brake rigging is provided with an axially acting brake regulator coupled between a pivotable control lever and a rigging pull rod opposite the dead brake lever. The control lever at an intermediate position is coupled by an adjustable length link to the live brake lever at the coupling position with its brake block assembly.