Abstract: A suppression control device comprises a relay valve together with respective temporary and permanent diaphragm operated circuit breakers for governing suppression of a cab signal penalty brake application that can be used with either of two principal types of locomotive braking systems as well as being adapted to automatically adjust to changes in brake pipe pressure settings of 90 psi and 110 psi.

Abstract: A fluid brake system has a brake pipe, a control valve device, a brake cylinder and a brake rigging, and in addition, a handbrake pipe, a protective device, a fluid pressure releasable spring handbrake cylinder, and a manually operable handbrake device for selectively governing brakes of the brake rigging under varying conditions, as when air supply is disconnected from a train. A moveable fulcrum in the manual handbrake device permits manual release of spring applied handbrakes in combination with a resetable toggle locking connection to a handbrake rod.

Abstract: A slack adjustable operator for a spring applied disc brake has a spring motor operating a disc brake through a tubular pushrod having an over-running clutch permitting axial movement of the pushrod in a brake application direction, but not in a brake releasing direction. The over-running clutch operates in longitudinal load roller slots in the outer periphery of the pushrod and having a ramp load roller retaining ring slidable laterally on the outer periphery of the pushrod, the retainer ring being retained in a stepped bore of a housing to be laterally operable, along with longitudinal operation of the pushrod for brake release only to an extent to provide normal clearance for pads of the brakes, this limitation being effective to initiate threaded slack adjustment of the pushrod to compensate for wear of the brake pads.

Abstract: A modulation valve device for governing pressure in a brake pipe has coaxial accelerating and releasing valves provided wherein accelerated application and release pistons are dovetailed together to reduce the size and the weight of the modulating device.

Abstract: A fluid brake control system for a railway train has control valves of the ABD type that have service valves that are modified to provide continuous quick service, thus eliminating the need for special accelerated application valves as currently used in ABDW control valves.

Abstract: Passenger rail vehicle brake control valve apparatus includes, a control valve device of the type limited to direct release of the brakes, having service, emergency, and continuous quick service portions secured to a pipe bracket, and a graduated release valve portion governed jointly by brake cylinder pressure, brake cylinder exhaust passage pressure from the control valve device, and brake pipe pressure to at times modify output of the control valve device to provide for graduated control of the passenger rail vehicle brakes.

Abstract: A fluid pressure control portion for a fluid brake motor is inserted in a fluid pressure control passage between a triple valve and a brake motor for a particular car truck. This portion comprises a proportioning valve connected to an inshot valve through a pipe bracket to proportionally reduce brake pressure on a particular brake motor, after inshot at the same pressure as other brake motors of the same vehicle to adjust braking in accordance with lighter loading of end trucks for articulated freight cars.

Abstract: A crystal growing furnace has lift and rotation control apparatus for both a growing crystal and a crucible containing a melt. A transducer and a servo motor are disposed above the furnace having respective shafts connected along a common horizontal axis on opposite sides of a longitudinal light tube wherein the light tube and transducer shaft can be axially positioned by the shaft of the servo motor. The light tube has a lens for focusing at times on a spot on a meniscus in the furnace and at times on the melt, a light sense detector is connected to the light tube for at times generating a servo motor control error signal to drive the servo motor incrementally to an angular position corresponding to growth in the diameter of the meniscus by tracking a spot on the meniscus. The transducer generates an output signal indicative of incremental angular movement in response to growing the crystal for governing the lift and rotation control apparatus.

Abstract: A crystal growing furnace has lift and rotation control apparatus for both a growing crystal and a crucible containing a melt. A transducer and a servo motor are disposed above the furnace having respective shafts connected along a common horizontal axis on opposite sides of a longitudinal light tube wherein the light tube and transducer shaft can be axially positioned by the shaft of the servo motor. The light tube has a lens for focusing at times on a spot on a meniscus in the furnace and at times on the melt, a light sense detector is connected to the light tube for at times generating a servo motor control error signal to drive the servo motor incrementally to an angular position corresponding to growth in the diameter of the meniscus by tracking a spot on the meniscus. The transducer generates an output signal indicative of incremental angular movement in response to growing the crystal for governing the lift and rotation control apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for suspending a seed crystal over a fixed crucible containing a melt from a rotary and axially operable vertically disposed drive adaptor comprising the steps of forming a tubular receptacle adapted to be detachably secured at its upper end coaxially to the adapter, and having an internal bore formed therein with an internal step near its lower end for supporting the seed. The seed is formed in the shape of a cylinder of a diameter to pass axially through the stepped bore of the receptacle and having its upper end conically tapered downwardly and inwardly from the upper end thereof. A split sleeve is formed to be receivable downwardly within the internal bore of the tubular receptacle except as limited by the internal steps of the bore of the receptacle. The sleeve has an internal conical taper complimentary to the taper of the upper end of the seed about which it is disposed before insertion of the seed and sleeve within the bore of the receptacle.

Abstract: A microprocessor having input fluid brake control apparatus and output fluid brake application apparatus is provided wherein the output fluid brake application apparatus comprises a digital signal characteristic of a desired fluid braking pressure. The brake application apparatus comprises an improved fluid pressure regulator having a fluid pressure chamber for developing and maintaining a regulated braking fluid pressure. The improved regulator has valves selectively operable to brake application, release, and lap positions for selectively governing regulated fluid pressure in a braking device and in the fluid pressure chamber. A digital linear actuator having an axially operable shaft responsive to the digital signal is provided to actuate the valves alternately to application and release positions, the actuator being secured to a piston subject to pressure in the fluid pressure chamber on one side thereof and subject to pressure of a metering spring on the other side thereof.

Abstract: An actuator for a disc brake caliper comprises a spring operable piston for applying pressure to the disc brake caliper when rendered effective through a self adjusting lead screw, one end of which is friction coupled to the piston to prevent rotation of the lead screw when the brakes are applied. A manual release screw is threaded through the piston to bear against the head of the lead screw through an anti-friction bearing when manual release is desired to at least partially release pressure of the piston on the head of the lead screw through the friction coupling to permit slippage in the friction coupling connection between the piston and the head of the lead screw and cause the piston to rotate the lead screw in a direction to permit release of the brakes.

Abstract: Electro-hydraulic brake control apparatus is provided for respective vehicles of a train in an electric train line brake control system having load sense circuits for generating analog signals when enabled by an emergency braking designation for limiting the extent of emergency brake applications for respective vehicles of the train in accordance with the load of the vehicle. Generating of the analog signals, when enabled, is continuously variable in accordance with the load of the vehicles; but is at other times normally inactive.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a plurality of pairs of cantilever arms that extend in opposite axial directions and support a brake ring on a hub. The arms expand and contract under thermal and inertial loads.

Abstract: The method of contemporaneously sealing interfaces of bearing surfaces for valve faces and cylinder linings in a steel rotary cylindrical barrel having a plurality of longitudinal bores extending through the barrel longitudinally from one end to the other, each of the bores having a restricted diameter intermediate portion connecting a valve surface area at one end of the barrel with a cylinder area extending to the other end. An insert of bearing material is placed in both ends of the bore and a cap secured over a lower end adjoining the cylinder bore. A removable carbon hot top is placed over the other end of the barrel. The barrel and its assembly is heated in a metallurgical furnace for 90 minutes at 1925.degree. F.

Abstract: Implement and steering actuators are selectively actuated through steering and implement control valves respectively by fluid power output of respective steering and implement pumps. A pressure compensator is provided for at times diverting excess fluid from the steering pump to the implement control valve, and the implement pump applies fluid pressure to the implement valve through an unloading valve that gives the charging of an accumulator by the implement pump preference over operation of the implement actuator. The sensing of loss of fluid power in the steering pump activates an emergency control valve to connect the accumulator to the steering valve and to disconnect the pressure compensator from the implement control valve.

Abstract: The high efficiency mixing method uses an impeller with a central axial hub adapted for attachment to a rotatable driven shaft of a mixer motor. Under certain operating conditions, the method has a higher mass transfer efficiency, in both directions of rotation when compared to other methods using other impellers.

Abstract: A brake cylinder comprises a brake actuator device having a fluid operable piston and a coaxial adjoining hand brake operable device for axial actuation of a coaxial tubular push rod, there being a slack adjuster for selectively adjusting the retraction of the push rod. An actuating rod is connected to the piston and the actuating rod is selectively connected and disconnected from the internal periphery of the push rod by locking rollers selectively cooperating with a wedge shaped annulus disposed between the actuator rod and the inner periphery of the push rod. Slack adjustment is permitted by axial travel of the push rod beyond free travel limits as permitted by a friction sleeve connection between the outer periphery of the push rod and the brake cylinder housing. In a modification, the locking device is provided for a fluid spread brake cylinder that is adapted by levers to be connected to a conventional freight brake rigging to be used, for example, for hand brake applications.

Abstract: An agitator has a shaft carrying a wear sleeve detachable secured thereon and extending through a fixed flange. A detachable stuffing box is secured to a first side of the flange, and an axially operable element of a valve is secured to the shaft on the opposite side of the flange. The sleeve is threaded into the valve element so that it can be replaced from the first side of the flange, and the valve is axially operable by longitudinal movement of the shaft to seal a shaft opening in the flange during replacement of the sleeve.

Abstract: A brake hanger comprises upper and lower U-shaped lugs of substantially rigid material spaced from each other by a pair of laterally spaced leaf springs which are rigidly secured to the lugs respectively at their opposite ends. The upper lug is adapted to be journaled on a fixed pivot pin secured to the frame of a railway truck, and the lower lug is adapted for journaling connections to a plurality of elements, including a connection to a brake head and a connection to a brake cylinder. The lugs provide rigidity for alignment of their pivots, while the spring rated connection between the plugs provides for substantial lateral movement of the lower lug relative to the upper lug without deforming the parts of the hanger beyond their elastic limits, and without substantially altering braking performance by maintaining side thrust of a wheel flange against a brake shoe carried by the hanger at a minimum.