Abstract: A brake control system for a railway vehicle having separately operated independent and automatic brake controls for controlling brake pressure via a double check valve and a multi-piston relay valve, wherein an adjustable regulating valve is set to exhaust the independent brake control pressure acting on one piston of the multi-piston relay valve when the relay valve delivery pressure (brake cylinder pressure) exceeds a predetermined value, to thereby limit the maximum brake cylinder pressure attainable from the combined independent and automatic brake controls unless the automatic brake pressure exceeds that predetermined value.

Abstract: A load responsive valve for the braking of vehicles having load supporting air springs. The air spring pressure is employed to regulate the brake pressure through conventional proportioning-type valving. A pilot valve senses the application and release of the vehicle brakes in order to nullify operation of the air spring operated control piston so long as the brake is released, in order to reduce component wear and air consumption due to valve oscillation resulting from air spring pressure variation as the car jounces in service. This is accomplished by pilot pressure supplied via the pilot valve to counteract the air spring pressure acting on the control piston. During a brake application, the pilot valve exhausts this pilot pressure to permit the air spring pressure to operate the control valve in a normal manner.

Abstract: An empty/load brake control system for a railway freight car comprising a pair of load sensors and a proportional valve to proportion the brake cylinder delivery pressure when an "empty" load condition of the car is sensed. The load sensor valves are piped in series to control the proportioning valve so that both load sensors must detect an "empty" load condition to pilot the proportional valve. In this sense, a false load reading toward an "empty" load condition due to car rocking is prevented from occurring, by mounting the respective load sensors directly opposite each other on different sides of the railway car.

Abstract: A quick release valve for releasing the locomotive automatic brake independently of the train brakes when an AB/D type freight brake control valve is used on the locomotive. A release valve normally establishes a fluid control passage between the control valve and a relay valve that controls the locomotive brake pressure. When a quick release is made, the release valve is actuated to interrupt this fluid control passage and exhaust the relay valve portion of the passage to release the brakes. At the same time, a dissipation valve is effective to exhaust auxiliary reservoir pressure. If the quick release is made of a service application, the exhaust of auxiliary reservoir pressure will cause the control valve to exhaust the control valve portion of the control line and thereby prevent an automatic reapplication of the automatic brake following termination of the quick release function.

Abstract: A transmission gearshifting arrangement in which the gearshift lever is provided with a normal shift position and a fast shift position, the latter resulting in relative motion between the gearshift lever and a cam plate. This relative motion produces closure of a fast shift switch to signal the electronic evaluation circuit of the desired fast shift. In the absence of a signal, a normal shift speed is indicated. A pressure control valve capable of producing a bilevel rate or pressure is controlled by the evaluation circuit to cause a power cylinder to effect the gearshifting at either a normal or a fast speed.

Abstract: In a brake control valve device for railway vehicles in which a bias spring acts on the piston stack assembly of the valve device, an additional air reservoir and a differential check valve are arranged to assure proper full service brake pressure, when the control valve device is operated in a direct release mode, thereby overcoming the effect of the bias spring in producing a force balance to cause the piston stack assembly to assume a lap condition before full service brake pressure is achieved. The arrangement has no adverse effect when the control valve device is operated in a graduated release mode.

Abstract: A combined brake cylinder/air reservoir device in which a relatively small, tubular-shaped piston in a positioning chamber is connected to a larger power piston having an application chamber on one side and a release chamber on the other side in which air is stored in place of separate reservoirs. A replaceable cylinder liner is provided to receive different-sized power pistons. During a brake application, the power piston enters the cylinder liner and is displaced from the liner during brake release to provide free air flow between the application and release chambers and thereby facilitate piston return movement by means of a return spring. A dynamic pressure seal between the application chamber and positioning chamber engages the outer periphery of the tubular-shaped small piston, while a smaller diameter dynamic pressure seal between the release chamber and atmosphere engages the inner periphery of the tubular-shaped small piston.

Abstract: A brake pipe charging cut-off arrangement for a locomotive air brake in which a rate sensing valve responds to an emergency rate of reduction of brake pipe pressure to vent the control chamber of an actuating valve. This causes the actuating valve to be positioned to connect pressure to the brake pipe cut-off valve of the locomotive brake valve device to interrupt charging of the brake pipe. Following a predetermined time delay of such duration as to assure a complete halt of the train by the resulting emergency brake application, the rate sensing valve automatically resets to terminate venting of the actuating valve control chamber. The actuating valve is then conditioned to be reset on the lead unit by movement of the brake valve handle to emergency position. On a trail unit, a unique arrangement of double check valves sense the proper operating condition of a trail unit brake valve device to automatically reset the actuating valve.

Abstract: An automatic reset arrangement for a manual release mechanism in a spring-applied, air-released brake comprising a sleeve member having axially projecting fingers that slide axially within the bore of the spring piston push rod. The ends of the projecting fingers are formed with outturned lugs having a conically-shaped surface adapted to engage a correspondingly-shaped shoulder in the bore of the piston push rod to provide a drive connection through which the spring brake force is transmitted to the sleeve member. A cylindrical plug member is normally arranged within the sleeve member at the flange end thereof to prevent inward deflection of the fingers and to thus maintain the integrity of the drive connection. A spring-returned, manually operable release lever is arranged to withdraw the plug member when it is desired to release the spring brake in the absence of air.

Abstract: In a brake actuator device, wear of brake lining, which results in the increase of stroke of the brake actuator device consisting of piston and cylinder, is compensated by an adjuster which functions automatically when the brake is operated. The adjusting process takes place continuously and preferably at the onset of the actuation of the brake. A slip clutch turns the adjuster member which is connected by screw threads to the brake actuator piston to take up slack in the piston stroke. The slip clutch is driven by a rotary member that is in turn operated in response to actuation of the brake actuator.

Abstract: A remotely controlled automotive transmission shifting mechanism for effecting engagement of the respective gears with a force that varies in accordance with the gear selected. Pneumatic pressure from a compressed air storage tank is connected via a choke to a pneumatic actuating cylinder that effects gear engagement. A signal corresponding to the instantaneous pressure effective at the actuating cylinder is compared in an evaluating circuit with a reference value assigned to the gear selected. When the compared signals match, a solenoid valve is actuated to cut off further pressurization of the actuating cylinder and thereby modulate the gear actuating force in accordance with the gear selected. Following gear engagement, the gear actuating pressure is released.

Abstract: A gear shift position sensing arrangement for a gear selector unit that selects the transmission gears indirectly. Magnetic sensors are arranged in the gear selector unit housing so as to be activated when a permanent magnet associated with the gear shift lever is brought into magnetic proximity therewith.

Abstract: An accelerator pedal control mechanism provides a positionable stop to resist pedal depression beyond a point at which optimum fuel economy is realized during vehicle acceleration. The position of the stop relative to the accelerator pedal is controlled by an electronic circuit that is programmed to select the desired point of accelerator depression for a given condition of engine operating parameters. A caged limit spring is carried on the underside of the accelerator pedal for engagement with the stop, thus allowing the operator to sense the additional resistance of the spring through the accelerator pedal when the appropriate amount of accelerator depression is reached. The spring allows the operator to override the programmed control by pressing on the accelerator pedal with sufficient force to overcome the limit spring.

Abstract: A gear shift control system for a motor vehicle in which a micro-computer is fed signals representative of the output speed of the transmission and the selected gear position. This information allows the computer to recognize when the engine speed is within an optimum range. A latching mechanism associated with the gear shift lever is controlled by the computer to lock the gear shift lever. Such an arrangement avoids accidental improper shifting on the part of the operator to prevent engine damage due to over or under speeding of the engine, particularly in arrangements where the respective gear positions of the gear shift lever are arranged in line, as opposed to the conventional H configuration. The computer may be stored with several programs that can be selectively activated to vary the locking point of the gear shift lever within the optimum speed range, depending on the intent to operate the vehicle in a "speedy" or "economical" mode, for example.

Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons of unequal size to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected. The larger power piston forms an application chamber and a release chamber on its opposite sides in which air is stored for use in controlling the vehicle brakes. The release chamber air is vented to atmosphere during a brake application by way of an empty/load brake control valve device including a changeover valve and a pressure sensitive check valve. When the vehicle is empty, the release chamber air is vented by way of the check valve, which limits the maximum reduction of release chamber pressure and accordingly establishes the maximum empty vehicle brake force obtained. A load piston biases the check valve with application chamber air, which is charged from the brake pipe so that the check valve bias and consequently the maximum reduction of release chamber pressure reflects the train charge.

Abstract: A spring-applied, air-released parking/emergency brake is combined with an air-actuated service brake through a friction clutch between the parking/emergency brake piston and a first nut member that is threaded onto a screw rod of the service piston. The screw rod and service piston are connected through another friction clutch. The screw rod is provided with a second nut member that is integral with a thrust rod to which the brake rigging is connected. A friction lock slack adjuster arrangement limits retraction of the thrust rod during brake release in accordance with the desired brake shoe clearance to be maintained. When the thrust rod movement is inhibited by the slack adjuster, the service piston clutch becomes disengaged to permit rotation of the screw rod during the release stroke of the service piston corresponding to overtravel due to shoe wear. Brake shoe clearance is thus maintained constant.

Abstract: A penalty brake application nullification-prevention system for a railroad train in which a bypass circuit is arranged in one embodiment to vent control pressure from the brake pipe cut-off valve of the locomotive brake valve, in order to prevent the engineman form improperly cutting out the brake valve to nullify a penalty brake application, by operating the brake valve cut-out selector valve. In this arrangement, the bypass circuit operates in response to operation of the penalty application valve when an unsafe operating condition of the train arises. In another embodiment, the bypass circuit is arranged to vent brake pipe pressure in parallel with the brake valve, so that, in the event the brake valve cut-out selector valve is improperly operated to nullify a penalty brake application, the penalty application will be initiated by a brake pipe reduction via the bypass circuit.

Abstract: A brake actuator device having a pneumatic service brake piston and a spring parking or emergency brake piston operation of either one of which effects displacement of a brake actuator rod which includes a screw-threaded spindle that operates in a non-rotatable nut member in order to adjust the length of the actuator rod. The nut member is provided with an external projection to which the vehicle brakes are mounted. A cogwheel is rotatably fixed to the actuator rod and is normally locked against rotation by a locking pin that engages the cogwheel teeth. The actuator rod is formed in two portions that are connected together through a clutch arrangement, the actuator rod portion having the threaded spindle being free to rotate during brake release to increase the actuator rod length and thereby take up the brake slack.

Abstract: A disc brake having a brake shoe wear compensating mechanism in which the sealing gaskets for the operating chamber formed between a pair of spreading members are arranged to be elastically deformable during a brake application, so as to exert a return force during a brake release. A joining element is provided between the spreading members, which utilizes a spring and the friction connection between the joining element and one of the spreading members to exert a return force independently of the return force exerted by the sealing gaskets, to thereby assure a sufficient brake release stroke.

Abstract: A multiway valve device in which a handle-operated ball member is operatively disposed in a spherical cavity to which a plurality of passages is connected. The ball member is arranged with a single seal ring that encloses a recessed area at one end of the ball that is sized to establish fluid pressure communication between a supply passage and one or the other of a pair of delivery passages depending upon the handle being located in an extreme right- or left-hand position. A vent passage opens into the spherical cavity in the area of the ball opposite the recessed area enclosed by the seal ring to exhaust pressure from whichever delivery passage is cut off from the supply passage. The spherical cavity lies partly in the body of the valve device and partly in a cover portion, which when secured to the body, rotatably supports the ball member.