Abstract: An electro-pneumatic brake control system for a railroad freight car comprises application and release solenoid valves controlled by a microprocessor overlayed with the conventional car automatic pneumatic brake control system, including control for bleeding off auxiliary reservoir pressure at least during a power failure mode of operation during which the pneumatic brakes become effective to apply the car brakes in response to an induced brake pipe pressure reduction in the course of indirectly supplying brake pressure on cars having operable electro-pneumatic brakes. The bleed of auxiliary reservoir air pressure allows a subsequent slow recharge of the brake pipe pressure to create a positive release pressure differential across the control valve service piston to assure a brake release of the automatic pneumatic brake application to obviate a "stuck brake" condition on a car experiencing an electro-pneumatic power failure.

Abstract: An improved railway brake shoe member characterized by longitudinally tapered sidewalls of the brake shoe that provide adaptive response to braking under conditions of mis-alignment between the brake shoe member and the tread of a railway car wheel by facilitating wear-in of the mis-aligned brake shoe, thereby assuring brake shoe/wheel tread engagement and accordingly alleviating degradation of braking efficiency and undesirable thermal inputs to the wheel flange that otherwise results from such brake shoe mis-alignment.

Abstract: A brake pipe pressure control system for a railroad train including a regulating valve device under control of a microprocessor wherein the regulating valve device is housed in the existing end-of-train device and effects service and emergency reductions of brake pipe pressure from the rear end of the train in correspondence with service and emergency reductions initiated at the locomotive.

Abstract: An empty/load changeover valve device for a railway car having a proportioning valve via which the car control valve supplies brake cylinder pressure. The proportioning valve comprises a balance piston having equal opposing pressure areas and a combined supply and release check valve, one pressure area of the balance piston being subject to air pressure supplied to the brake cylinder under all conditions of loading. The opposing pressure area of the balance piston is either pressurized or depressurized depending upon the car being in an "empty" or "load" condition, thereby establishing either a nonproportioning or a proportioning mode of brake control. Integrating the release check valve with the supply valve so as to have a smaller effective pressure area, the release check valve can be opened with low force to exhaust brake cylinder pressure during brake release, thereby making possible a reduced size empty/load changeover valve device.

Abstract: A tappet valve arrangement for a railway car coupler having a main valve for supplying air pressure from one railway car to another coupled railway car. A piston and cylinder valve for supplying air pressure to a coupler centering device when the railway is in an uncoupled state and for interrupting the flow of air to the coupler centering device when the railway car is in a coupled state. A negating spool valve for overriding the flow of air to the coupler centering device when the railway car is in an uncoupled state. A shut-off valve for interrupting the supply of air from one railway car to another railway car when it is desired to uncouple the railway cars.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for liquid treating, particularly with coating materials such as paint, of an article, especially an article having a plurality of internal passages. The article is simultaneously rotated on an axis of rotation of the article and about a circular travel path into, back and forth in, and out of the liquid bath. The coated article is moved out of the bath, naturally drained under gravity, and then subjected first to low speed, then high speed rotation to clear the article of excess coating liquid and partially to dry the coating.

Abstract: A microprocessor based, electro-pneumatic brake control system for a locomotive including electro-pneumatic valves operated by a microprocessor for controlling the locomotive brake pressure in parallel with a pneumatic back-up control valve that includes a quick release valve to bail off the locomotive brake. A brake assurance circuit is provided to apply the locomotive brakes through the electro-pneumatic valves in bypass of the microprocessor when a loss of electrical power at the microprocessor occurs.

Abstract: A fabric reinforced molded conical diaphragm and method of making in which the parting line of the diaphragm mold is arranged such that the flashing and reinforcing fabric of the molded diaphragm are on the sidewall of the outer clamping bead at a location displaced from the juncture of the sidewall and the bottom surface thereof, so that upon inverting the diaphragm member, the fabric free bottom surface of the clamping bead is transposed to the sidewall of the diaphragm clamping bead, thereby providing a smooth, accurately sized outer periphery of the diaphragm to facilitate its assembly.

Abstract: A piston valve assembly for a freight brake control valve device in which axial displacement of a piston member is provided relative to its slide valve in response to slide valve friction creating excessive resistance to movement of the piston assembly from lap to release position. This relative movement between the piston member and slide valve causes a graduating valve that is carried fast with the piston member to open a release insuring passage in the slide valve and thereby exhaust auxiliary reservoir pressure from one side of the piston member. Accordingly, a relatively high pressure differential is created across the piston member to quickly overcome the slide valve resistance and assure prompt movement of the piston valve assembly and thereby obtain brake release without delay.

Abstract: A method of forming a rubber seal containing a metal insert where a transfer mold having a cavity is provided with a post and a plurality of upwardly extending arcuated bosses on the base of the cavity. A metallic insert is disposed on the bosses and a flowable rubber material forced into the mold cavity and envelopes the metallic insert to form the rubber ring seal. The rubber seal produced has a plurality of spaced, aligned arcuate grooves in a flat planar surface of the base extending inwardly towards the embedded metallic insert.

Abstract: A railway car vent valve device having a bleed valve that is selectively operable to disable the vent valve device during a single car test procedure in which the service stability of the car control valve is checked. The bleed valve is automatically reset when the car brake pipe pressure drops below a predetermined value, such as occurs when the single car test apparatus is disconnected from the car brake pipe following completion of the single car test procedure.

Abstract: A variable load valve device for a railway car having an arrangement for changing the axial position of a variable area piston in order to adjust the output pressure of piston valve assembly in accordance with different load weights of the railway car. The axial position of a supply valve seat is set in accordance with a load weight signal to in turn set the axial position at which the piston assembly, including the variable area piston, assumes a lap condition.

Abstract: An isolation valve device for a hydraulic brake system of a railway vehicle including passageways via which hydraulic pressure communication is established between a pressure controller and the brake units of each truck of a railway vehicle, and a bore to receive a pair of piston valves adapted to interrupt hydraulic pressure communication in a respective one of the passageways leading to the different truck brake units, when a pressure differential occurs therebetween, due to a ruptured brake line at one of the trucks, for example, causing a hydraulic fluid leak thereat.

Abstract: An improved hose coupling gasket in which the standard gasket retaining flange is modified to include an additional sealing bead strategically formed on the upper surface of the flange such as to engage the adjacent surface of the gasket retaining groove in the coupling head. The diameter of this additional sealing bead is such that the point of engagement between the sealing bead and retaining groove corresponds to a gage point where the dimensional accuracy of the retaining groove width is checked in accordance with A.A.R. requirements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a strengthening mechanism for a female connection member used in a articulated coupling arrangement. Such female connection members include a first end portion configured for connection to one end of a railway car center sill member and a second end portion formed integrally with such first end portion. A cavity is formed in such second end portion and is defined by a bottom wall portion, a rear wall portion and a pair of side wall portions. Such cavity being open adjacent the front and top surface thereof. An opening is formed through a portion of each of such side wall portions. Each such opening includes a slot-like portion and a generally arcuate portion spaced below such slot-like portion.

Abstract: A conversion kit for modifying a single car test device regulator valve, such as to provide an adjustable maximum test operating pressure in one position of the regulator valve handle, and a reduced operating test pressure in another handle position of the regulator valve that is less than the maximum test operating pressure by a predetermined amount, in order to satisfy the requirements of a new test procedure mandated by the Association of American Railroads for more accurately utilizing the results of a leakage test as an indication of the operating condition of the car control valve during the single car test.

Abstract: An empty/load changeover valve for a railway freight car having a proportioning valve via which the car control valve supplies and releases brake cylinder pressure. The proportioning valve comprises a balance piston having equal opposing pressure areas and a check valve integral therewith, one pressure area of the balance piston being subject to air supplied to the brake cylinder under all conditions of car loading. The opposing pressure area is of the balance piston either pressurized or depressurized depending upon the car load condition to accordingly establish a proportional mode of brake control only under empty conditions of vehicle loading. A release control valve is provided to assure release of the brake cylinder pressure in bypass of the proportioning valve check valve, and a lock-out feature prevents car rock and roll from affecting operation of the proportioning valve under empty conditions of car loading.

Abstract: Provided is an articulable spherical connection for a railway coupling arrangement. The connection includes a male connection member having a spherical connection portion secured to one end of a body portion and a female connection member having a split body portion. Each body portion of such femal connection member having a spherical cavity formed therein to receive a portion of the spherical connection portion of the male connection member therein. A securing device is provided to secure such split body portion together around the spherical connection portion of the male member.

Abstract: A magnet valve safety check and fault indication integrator including a first comparator for selecting the highest axle speed of a vehicle, a second comparator for determining whether the highest axle speed is less than a preset speed, an indicator for indicating if the vehicle is stopped, a timer for determining if the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined time, a first sensor for sensing a transition from a braking mode to a power mode, an inhibit device for inhibiting all magnet valve feedback faults when the vehicle is stopped and in a brake mode for a period longer than the predetermined time, a timer circuit for ascertaining if a wheel slip is not in progress for a certain time period, a check circuit for monitoring the magnet valve feedback to determine if the magnet valve is not in an application state, a magnet valve cutout device for holding a cutout request until it is reset by a station stop signal, an event recorder for indicating that the vehicle speed is not less than the preset speed, a

Abstract: A binary weighted digital fluid flow regulating arrangement including a microprocessor responsive to a brake command controller for initiating the energization and deenergization of select ones of a plurality of parallel connected electromagnetic flow control valves which have orifice diameters that are successively proportioned by a power of two.