Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James Ray & Associate
  • Patent number: 6448315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation in a reactor of a UHMWPE material doped with an antioxidant, preferably vitamin E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Bone Support AB
    Inventors: Lars Lidgren, Peter Bengtsson, Peter Sj{overscore (o)}vall, Bengt Wesslén
  • Patent number: 6447267
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft member driven by a motor. The assembly comprises a base member, an upright support member connected to the base member and a bearing member mounted on the upright support member Such bearing member is connectable with the rotatable shaft member for supporting such rotatable shaft member thereby reducing extraneous vertical and horizontal movement of such rotatable shaft member while permitting such rotatable shaft member to rotate freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Wabtec Corporation
    Inventors: James Varney, Brian L. Cunkelman, Walter E. Goettel
  • Patent number: 6445152
    Abstract: Method of controlling a motorized door by offloading the burden to a separate motion control processor. The method includes generating, in a central processor for the door, one or more signals indicative of a predetermined door speed profile for a stroke of the door. The predetermined door speed profile provides an ideal velocity versus an elapsed time since a beginning of the stroke. The signals are communicated to a motion control processor and the motion control processor also receives door position signals from a position encoder. The motion control processor generates signals indicative of the velocity of the door based on the door position signals and it generates error signals based on discrepancies between the velocity of the door and the ideal velocity. It generates motor control signals based on the error signals and the motor control signals are communicated to the motor of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co.
    Inventor: Philip J. Calamatas
  • Patent number: 6439929
    Abstract: A terminating potting backshell for connecting a wire or wire harness to a mating receptacle of an electrical/electronic device which is in the form of a generally tubular electrically conductive body and having threads encircling a first end for attaching the backshell to a mating receptacle on the electrical/electronic device and also having a groove spaced from a second end over which a conductive tubular braided shield can be disposed. The groove adapted to receive a clamp for holding the tubular braided shield onto the second end of the backshell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies
    Inventor: Robert J. Jenets
  • Patent number: 6434808
    Abstract: Hydraulic assembly tool having a tool fixed portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The tool fixed portion includes a hydraulic cylinder having a fluid pressure port at the proximal end of the tool fixed portion. The fluid pressure port is for receiving a fluid having a controllable pressure. The tool fixed portion includes a fixed jaw. The tool also has a moveable portion including a moveable jaw and a piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder, the piston receiving a hydraulic force from the pressurized fluid. There is a compression spring engaging the tool fixed portion and the tool moveable portion, the compression spring urging the tool moveable portion including the moveable jaw in a direction opposite the direction of the hydraulic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Albert A. McKay
  • Patent number: 6435321
    Abstract: A brake cylinder apparatus in which both the service brake and the spring brake, used for such things as a parking brake, can operate, and at the same time can shorten the length of the axial direction. A clutch is provided that couples the second piston with the rod when the pressurized fluid has stopped acting on the second action chamber of the spring brake and the second piston has started to move towards the rod. This clutch means comprises a screw provided on the outer circumference of the rod, a nut element supported on the second piston through the medium of a bearing such that it can rotate freely, and that meshes with the screw, and a stopping means that stops the rotation of the nut element when the second piston starts to move towards the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Nabco, LTD
    Inventor: Yoshio Asano
  • Patent number: 6422531
    Abstract: A valve insert comprises a bushing assembly, a piston assembly and a spring. Its design prevents non-longitudinal movement of the piston assembly as it is moved within the longitudinal bore of the bushing assembly. This virtually eliminates the bell clapper effect commonly suffered by many of the valve inserts currently used in the industry. The design of the valve insert also avoids the pressure imbalances inherent to the prior art valve inserts. The valve insert is designed to fit snugly and sealingly within a suitable borehole, such as the fill and cut-out boreholes of an ECP manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Wabtec Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Sich
  • Patent number: 6419465
    Abstract: A shaft extension for attachment to a crankshaft of an electric motor driven air compressor to axially extend the crankshaft for engagement with an outboard rotational bearing. The electric motor driven air compressor includes a bearing plate, an inboard rotational bearing mounted on the bearing plate, the crankshaft projecting through both of the inboard rotational bearing and the bearing plate and terminating in a distal end disposed exterior of the bearing plate. The air compressor also includes an electric motor, the electric motor having a stator frame, a stator fixedly mounted within the stator frame, and a rotor fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith and disposed interior of the stator. The air compressor further includes the outboard rotational bearing disposed axially outboard of the stator frame, the stator, and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Walter E. Goettel, Roger Drummond, Ronald Shaffer, James Varney, Brian L. Cunkelman
  • Patent number: 6419061
    Abstract: A fabricated gear is provided which is formed from a plurality of plates disposed in series one on top of another. Each of the plates include a plurality of teeth along an outer circumference thereof. An aperture extending through a center portion of each of the plates is provided. This aperture forms an inner circumference within each of the plates and is capable of receiving a shaft member therethrough. The plates are secured together to form the fabricated gear. This fabricated gear may be keyed onto a shaft member. Alternatively, an anti-backlash mechanism may be provided in the fabricated gear to achieve one direction rotation of a shaft member in a manner similar to a pawl and ratchet mechanism. This anti-backlash mechanism is formed by providing at least one indentation within an inner circumference of at least some of the plates which cooperates with a cylindrical member positioned within an opening formed by this indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, Scott L. Natschke
  • Patent number: 6416034
    Abstract: A vent valve insert comprises a bushing assembly, a piston assembly and a spring. It is designed to fit snugly and sealingly within a suitable borehole, such as the vent borehole of an ECP manifold assembly. The bushing assembly defines a longitudinal bore within which the piston assembly is situated. When pilot pressure is applied to its top surface, the piston assembly is forced to an open position wherein fluid is allowed to flow through the vent valve insert. Absent pilot pressure acting against the top surface, the spring acts to force the piston assembly upward within the longitudinal bore. Secured to the bottom portion of the piston assembly, an annular sealing member is carried upward so that its flat surface seats against a raised inner portion of an annular valve seat. The vent valve insert is thus normally biased to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Wabtec Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Sich
  • Patent number: 6416059
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gasket for use in a service portion of a brake control valve in a railway braking system. The gasket comprises an elastomeric composition with a predetermined shape. There is a series of bead-like projections formed on the first surface of the gasket for sealing such gasket with a body portion of the valve. A first aperture is disposed in the gasket at a predetermined location for engagement with a projection on the filling piece of the service portion. A brass insert is molded into the elastomeric composition and has a second aperture formed therein. The second aperture is in fluid communication with an auxiliary reservoir of such railway braking system. A third aperture is formed in the gasket in a third predetermined location. A brass insert, which has a first predetermined configuration, is molded into the elastomeric composition of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Skweres, Vincent F. Troiani, Gregory L. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6413416
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a water treatment vessel providing a water treatment zone which, in use, will contain a volume of water to be treated. A water inlet leads into the vessel, with a water outlet leading from the vessel. A cartridge holder for holding a water treatment cartridge containing a water treatment substance for treating water in the vessel, and a controller for controlling the level of water in the vessel, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: P.P.A. Water Industries
    Inventor: Leon Buchan
  • Patent number: 6410818
    Abstract: A device for promoting the healing of a topical stress crack in a predetermined skin portion of the body. The device comprising a first means engageable with a skin portion of the body for drawing such stress crack together. A screen member disposed intermediate with the skin crack and first means for maintaining closure of such skin crack. A medical adhesive engageable with a screen member as a means for sealing the stress crack together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Michael F. Oyaski
  • Patent number: 6408713
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brake valve handle assembly for use in a brake valve of a railway braking system. The handle assembly comprises a handle for manually adjusting such brake valve to various positions and having a cavity with a predetermined shape and a predetermined width formed in the handle at least adjacent a top surface thereof that is disposed adjacent a slot formed in a housing of such brake valve. The handle assembly further includes a wear pad mounted in the cavity of the handle and a means for securing the wear pad to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew D. Mitsch
  • Patent number: 6405391
    Abstract: A bunk for a bunk arrangement in a truck cab has at a free edge vertical safety belts preferably attached to the ceiling of the cab, and a safety net. At its free edge the bunk has a longitudinal cartridge for the safety net. A net rod at the upper edge of the net has a locking device at each belt, the locking device guiding the rod along the belt and locking it thereto unless manually released against spring bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Klippan Safety AB
    Inventor: Anders Hakansson
  • Patent number: 6397986
    Abstract: A brake actuator for use in railway transit and similar vehicles to adjust for wear of braking components located on such vehicles. The brake actuator includes an externally threaded or serrated rod having a longitudinal axis. Such brake actuator further includes power and slack adjusting collets disposed on the rod and located in respective housings disposed about the collets and rod. A yoke member is disposed about and in engagement with the power collet housing and a first axially translatable bearing is disposed on the yoke member. A second fixed bearing is spaced from the axially translatable bearing and a piston is disposed for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The piston has an integral fork-shaped wedge disposed astraddle the threaded or serrated rod for movement to a location between the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Roland S. Moore
  • Patent number: 6394559
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided which is engageable with a hand brake assembly on a railway vehicle for operation of an application cylinder for applying the hand brake assembly. This apparatus includes a source of fluid pressure which is engageable with the railway vehicle. A pneumatic actuation valve which is connected to the source of fluid pressure for initiating communication of fluid pressure from the source of fluid pressure. A force regulating valve which is connected to the pneumatic actuation valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the actuation valve and a mechanically driven valve is connected to the force regulating valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the force regulating valve and for communicating the fluid pressure to the application cylinder to apply the hand brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, Ronald Henry, James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 6394233
    Abstract: An apparatus for operation a railway car vertical wheel hand brake. A hand brake wheel has a hub fixed on an operating shaft. The operating shaft is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The hand brake wheel further has a reaction member. A brake release mechanism is fixed on a brake release shaft that is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The reaction member is engageable with the brake release mechanism when the hand brake wheel is rotated, whereby the position of the brake release mechanism will provide a visual indicator of the brake status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wajih Kanjo, Michael E. Ring, Scott Natschke
  • Patent number: 6390313
    Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, David W. Daugherty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6390779
    Abstract: Apparatus for and method of monitoring the condition of an air compressor. The apparatus includes a plurality of appropriately located sensors for sensing operating parameters of the air compressor and for outputting signals indicative of the condition of each of the operating parameters. An information processor is connected to receive the output signals from the sensors and to communicate output control signals in response thereto. The control signals contain information that allows appropriate control and maintenance of the air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Cunkelman