Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James Ray & Associate
  • Patent number: 6629372
    Abstract: A squaring tool formed of a flat piece of rigid material having a primary “L” configuration, including a first horizontal blade and a first vertical tongue, said first horizontal blade and said first vertical tongue lying in a common plane and intersecting at a perfect 90° right angle. A secondary “L” shaped form is included having a second horizontal blade and a second vertical tongue, with the second horizontal blade and the second vertical tongue also lying in a common plane and also intersecting at a perfect 90° right angle. The second horizontal blade extends from an inside edge of the first vertical tongue such that all blades and tongues lie in a common plane and the second horizontal blade is parallel to and spaced below the first horizontal blade, and the second vertical tongue is parallel to and spaced from the first vertical tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Martin Doyle
  • Patent number: 6628019
    Abstract: A pneumatically driven electric power generator includes a cylinder having one end connected to an air supply passage for receiving pressurized air and a piston having an associated magnetic moment. A portion of the piston is free to move into and out of the open end of the cylinder. An O-ring prevents airflow between the piston and the cylinder when a portion of the piston is located within the cylinder. A spring forces the piston from a position outside of the cylinder to a position inside the cylinder, so that the piston oscillates, moving into and out of the cylinder, driven by air supplied through the air supply passage. One or more electric coils are placed to enclose changing magnetic flux caused by the magnetic moment associated with the oscillating piston whereby an emf is generated in the coil(s) so that an external circuit connected to the coil(s) to complete a circuit through the coil(s) may receive electric power from the coil(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John B. Carroll
  • Patent number: 6619138
    Abstract: A flow adapter for measuring the rate at which air flows into the brake pipe. The adapter includes a housing, a flow valve and a transducer. The primary passage of the housing contains a primary orifice and a secondary passage contains a secondary orifice. The flow valve is disposed within a supplemental passage. When the rate of air flowing from the input passage into the input chamber is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the flow valve closes the supplemental passage. When the flow rate into the input chamber is greater than the predetermined amount, the flow valve opens the passage to an extent determined by the magnitude of the flow rate. This allows air to flow through the supplemental passage, in addition to that flowing through the primary passage. The transducer generates a signal proportional to the difference in pressure between input and output chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Kettle, Jr., Richard S. Klemanski
  • Patent number: 6619452
    Abstract: A hand brake front housing for a railroad car hand brake mechanism. Such hand brake front housing comprising a front casing for enclosing pre-selected portions of a hand brake mechanism. The front casing having a front wall of a predetermined size and shape. A bearing mount integrally formed to the front wall of such front casing. The bearing mount having a predetermined size and shape to retain a predetermined arrangement of a bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Brabb, Wajih Kanjo
  • Patent number: 6619443
    Abstract: An overload protection device for a truck-mounted railcar brake assembly, comprising a body member having a first end, a second end, and at least one cavity of a predetermined size and shape disposed within the body member. A compression member of a predetermined size, shape, material, and load rating is compressed to a predetermined initial load and disposed within the cavity of the body member. A first means is secured to and disposed on the first end of the body member for engagement with a portion of a brake assembly. A second means is disposed on the second end of the body member for attaching to a force-transmitting member. A first portion of the second means is engageable with the compression member for transmitting an excess force generated from such railcar brake assembly to the compression member, whereby the overload protection device will compensate for a potential railcar brake overload condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, Michael J. Moriarity
  • Patent number: 6601966
    Abstract: In a light emitting diode device, providing a light beam with limited dispersion and primarily to be used in a so called red dot sight for a weapon, a light-impermeable mask (14) with a hole (14′) for light is arranged directly on a light emitting surface of the light emitting diode element (13) in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: GS Development AB
    Inventors: Ralf Wiklund, Joachim Sieg
  • Patent number: 6598539
    Abstract: A powered operator assembly for moving an object along a linear axis and particularly for moving doors in a mass transit vehicle utilizing a helical drive member for moving and supporting an attached door panel. The helical drive engages a drive nut that is connected to one of the two door panel hanger assemblies. Each door panel hanger assembly is attached to the door panel and includes at least two rollers which engage the outer surface of a helical drive for motion along the drive axis. One end of such helical drive is connected to an electric prime mover with such prime mover mounted to a stationary bracket mounted to the door opening structure. The second end of the helical drive engages a bearing mounted to a stationary bracket mounted to the door opening structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Oakley
  • Patent number: 6581732
    Abstract: A brake shoe adapted to engage the tread of a railroad car wheel via which such railroad car is guidably supported on a railed track. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate which has a predetermined configuration and a means disposed on each end of the backing plate for securing such backing plate to a brake head. The brake shoe further includes a brake lining that is affixed to the backing plate and has a braking surface engageable with the wheel tread of a railroad car wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce W. Shute, Timothy Rumph, Thomas W. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6572177
    Abstract: A cover system for at least one flexible signal connection in a door system for a transit vehicle having at least one door panel mounted to open and close by rotation about an axis. The cover system includes an outer cover for the flexible signal connection(s), the outer cover being for attachment to either a stationary portion of the transit vehicle door system or one of the door panels. The outer cover encloses a first passage. The cover system also has an inner cover for the flexible signal connection(s), the inner cover being for attachment to the opposite one of the stationary portion of the transit vehicle door system and a door panel. The inner cover is positionable within the first passage while the door panel rotates about the axis between an open position and a closed position of the door panel. The inner cover has a second passage therein, the second passage being for the flexible signal connection(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Griffis
  • Patent number: 6573446
    Abstract: A installation system for mounting electrical receptacle boxes within a building structure. The electrical receptacle box has at least one of a front contact positioning device for contacting the front wall surface of a wall and a rear contact positioning device for contacting the rear surface of the wall to thereby position the electrical receptacle box with respect to the wall. A bracket for mounting the electrical receptacle box to a structural member includes a clamping bracket which exerts a clamping force on opposing faces of the structural component and is slidable along the length of the structural component before being fixedly secured thereto. Preferably, the clamping bracket includes an adjustable biasing portion which is deflectable to define a variable clamping gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: George H. Umstead, Steven M. Umstead
  • Patent number: 6568711
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive gapping device for socket welded fittings. The positive gapping device comprises a socket fitting having a recessed area on at least one end for receiving a pipe section that is engageable with the recessed area of the socket fitting. It further includes a gapping means disposed on one of a surface of the recessed area of the socket fitting facing an end of such pipe section and an end of such pipe section for engagement with such socket fitting. The gapping means providing a space between the socket fitting and such pipe section for reducing residual stresses that result from a welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
    Inventor: Albert A. McKay
  • Patent number: 6564956
    Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Daugherty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6560815
    Abstract: A mop squeezing device is provided for co-operation with a mop head of a mop (49). The mop (49) has a mop head backing (53) which carries mop material (55). The device has a mop surface engaging face (17) and displaced opposite said face (17) abutment means (19). In use the mop head is placed between the mop surface engaging face (17) and the abutment means (19) and the handle of the mop cranked. This, in turn, compresses the mop material (55) and squeezes liquid from the mop material (55). A mop having a backing for mop material is also provided. A two axis swivel connector is provided between the mop head and a mop handle. This allows the mop head to assume multi-axis of orientation during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Decor Corporation PTY LTD
    Inventors: James William Brennan, Peter Russell Brewer, Arthur Richard Carlson
  • Patent number: 6550343
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the shear strength of rubber bonded to a metal insert in a valve seal comprising an upper fixture and a lower fixture. A mounting device is disposed in the lower fixture of the apparatus for retaining the valve seal. A shearing means is disposed in the upper fixture of the apparatus for shearing the rubber bonded to the metal insert. The shearing means has an arcuate edge for contacting the valve seal. There is a first means engageable with the shearing means for controlling its movement in one of a downward motion for shearing the valve seal and an upward motion for returning the shearing means to its starting position. Further there is a second means for recording the movement of the shearing means and the force that is applied by such first means until a bond between the rubber and the metal insert of the valve seal is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis M. Polega
  • Patent number: 6539669
    Abstract: Drive system for moving a load along a curved path. The drive system includes a base for mounting the drive system, the base having a curved track for guiding the load along the curved path. There is a load engaging mechanism mounted on the base for movement relative to the base, the load engaging mechanism being for moving the load. The load engaging mechanism has a curved track engaging roller for engaging the curved track. A linear drive mechanism including a linearly driven member is mounted on the base. The linearly driven member includes a driving pivot. A drive link is attached to the driving pivot at a drive force receiving end of the drive link, the drive link including a driven pivot at a drive force communicating end of the drive link. The driven pivot is attached to the load engaging mechanism, whereby linear motion of the driving pivot causes motion of the load along the curved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Heidrich, Robert L. Oakley
  • Patent number: 6540049
    Abstract: A gradual release mechanism for use in a hand brake device engageable with a railway car. Such gradual release mechanism comprising an operating shaft for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the shaft. A clutch flange portion disposed intermediate both ends of shaft, the clutch flange having a clutch surface. A sleeve concentrically disposed and threadedly mounted on the shaft for rotational movement therewith, the sleeve having a clutch surface opposed to the clutch surface of the clutch flange portion of the shaft. An externally threaded surface on the operating shaft engageable with an internally threaded surface on the sleeve, the threads having a pitch between about 0.60 inch and about 1.00 inch. A ratchet wheel received about the shaft, such ratchet wheel having oppositely disposed clutch surfaces positioned for engagement by the clutch collar portions respectively. A pinion journaled on the shaft and adjacent the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporations
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, David C. Brabb, Wajih Kanjo, Alfonso Barajas
  • Patent number: 6540596
    Abstract: A mobile surfacing machine includes a frame to which a planetary head is rotatably mounted, at least one satellite head rotatably mounted within the planetary head, the at least one satellite head being adapted for grinding a surface, a first drive mechanism for driving the planetary head and a second drive mechanism for driving the at least one satellite head, wherein the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are independently operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy Roelf Van Der Veen
  • Patent number: 6540817
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane dehumidification device that possess hollow fiber membranes that cause the compressed air supplied from one end to the interior to flow through and at the same time discharge moisture in the compressed air to the outside, and by so doing exhausts the compressed air to the other end as dehumidified air. There is a reflux route that causes a portion of the dehumidified air exhausted from the hollow fiber membranes to flow back to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes as purged air and a variable restrictor that is provided on the reflux route that increases or decreases the opening-closing volume in accordance with the increase or the decrease of the pressure of the compressed air that flows through the interior of the hollow membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nabco, LTD
    Inventor: Takeshi Hachimaki
  • Patent number: 6540818
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane dehumidification device with a housing chamber open to atmosphere via a through hole. Hollow fiber membranes are disposed in the housing chamber and cause compressed air entering from one end to flow through and be discharged at the other end as dehumidified air by discharging moisture to the outside housing chamber. A reflux route is provided to permit a portion of the dehumidified air to flow back to the housing chamber as purged air. First and second orifices are provided on the reflux route wherein the second orifice has an opening diameter larger than that of the first orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nabco, LTD
    Inventor: Takeshi Hachimaki
  • Patent number: D478673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Snavely Forest Products
    Inventor: Eric A. Reppermund