Abstract: A four-way ball type valve including a spherical valve element operable to as many as four positions and which can be installed on a railway car in place of the branch pipe tee to eliminate the need for an angle cock at each end of the brake pipe and a brake control valve cut-out cock. The ball valve is functionally analogous to a rotary valve in cutting off the brake pipe at either end of the car without interrupting the brake control valve connection with the brake pipe, or in cutting out the brake control valve while establishing brake pipe continuity through the train.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for regulating the operator-controlled brake pressure of a vehicle wheel to prevent wheel lock-up by sensing a lock-up tendency and independently varying the operator-controlled brake pressure at the skidding wheel during successive cycles of wheel skid control. The sensed wheel behavior is monitored by an evaluation circuit which measures the duration of brake pressure reapplication with constant gradient during an initial cycle, provides a time period during a subsequent cycle that is a predetermined time duration less than the time duration of reapplication pressure in the initial cycle, and following expiration of the reduced time duration, establishes reapplication of pressure with a pressure gradient lower than the gradient during the initial cycle, whereby the reapplication pressure during control cycles subsequent to the initial control cycle is with a stepped gradient.

Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected, the larger piston having a pair of chambers formed on opposite sides in which air is stored, and a control valve device that is operative responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure to connect pressure from the one side of the larger piston to a corresponding side of the smaller piston to effect movement of these pistons to a brake application position and concurrently vents pressure in the chamber on the other side of the larger piston. A transfer valve device is provided to interrupt this exhaust of pressure from the chamber on the other side of the piston until the piston has moved to application position so that the chamber volume is minimal and thus renders a minimum amount of air exhaust sufficient to produce brake applying pressure differentials across this larger piston.

Abstract: A vehicle load responsive brake control device for adjusting the braking force according to the varying load of the vehicle in each braking range; its purpose is also to ensure control of the braking action in such a manner that, independently of the existing vehicle load, the actuating force required is always approximately the same. Another purpose of the brake control device is to adjust the braking forces in accordance with the dynamic shifting of the axle loads.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system in which a static inverter is driven at a predetermined constant frequency during a normal service mode of vehicle operation to effect operation of the vehicle cooling and/or heating unit such as to maintain the interior temperature of the vehicle within a chosen comfort zone. During initial start-up, when the interior temperature reaches extreme proportions due to the vehicle sitting in the sun or cold, an abnormal service mode of operation is called for in which the static converter is driven at an increased frequency and voltage for a predetermined limited time to rapidly bring the interior temperature within the comfort zone. The so-called abnormal service mode of operation may be indicated manually by the train service personnel under extreme temperature conditions after the start-up period of abnormal service mode has expired. Also provided is a passenger load sensing arrangement to increase the ventilation capacity of the cooling unit fans when overcrowding exists.

Abstract: An improved hose coupling for railway vehicle brake pipe hoses, which hose coupling is characterized by a nipple portion disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the coupling head and an angular extension of the lower end of the coupling lip for preventing premature or inadvertent uncoupling due to excessive bouncing motion of the vehicle and, therefore, vertical oscillation of the hoses.

Abstract: A combined fluid pressure operable running and parking vehicle brake device including an application piston responsive to fluid pressure for exerting a brake-applying force on a vehicle wheel through a brake shoe for effecting either a service or emergency application, a locking piston responsive to fluid pressure independently of the application piston, for locking the brake device in an application disposition when the vehicle is parked, and compressible springs placed under compression by actuation of the application piston for storing a compressive force available for providing the brake-applying force in the event of failure of fluid pressure when the vehicle is parked.

Abstract: A railway switch machine including a first fluid operated actuator for switching the movable points of the rails between two extreme positions for establishing respective routes of travel for railway vehicles, valve device coupled to the first fluid operated actuator to selectively open or to close a passageway coupled to opposite sides of a pressure differential responsive movable member of the first fluid operated actuator whereby when the valve device closes passageways wherein a fluid pressure differential may be established across the movable member to operate said first fluid operated actuator to thereby switch the movable points of the rails and when the first valve device opens the passageway, fluid may be directly exchanged between either side of the movable member such as to permit the movable points of the rails to be moved from one extreme position to the other extreme position by the passage of a railway vehicle trailing the movable points of the rails, a locking device and a second fluid operate

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioner device for positioning the piston and piston rod of a double-acting, pneumatic operating cylinder at a preselected position for setting the position of a device connected thereto, such as the lever of a throttle valve, for example, with the positioner device having a locking device connected to the piston rod which can be controlled by a control valve for securing and maintaining the piston and rod in the selected position, without variance, until deliberately changed.

Abstract: A manually operable actuation pin for operatively engaging the solenoid armature of an electromagnetic valve device is provided to permit manual emergency or auxiliary control of the armature. The actuation pin is designed to permit locking in its actuated position by rotation thereof. The operating end of the actuation pin is arranged with an inner segment, an intermediate segment and an outer segment defined by annular grooves therebetween adapted to facilitate separation of the respective segments. One or more of these segments may be removed to obtain a specific operating characteristic in accordance with which the actuating pin is to be operated.

Abstract: A first amplifier measures the instantaneous voltage across a resistor, connected in series with the electromagnet of a solenoid valve, as the current increases following energization of the electromagnet. A second amplifier measures the same voltage and stores the peak value in a capacitor. The two measured voltages are applied to a comparator which detects the difference, and generates an output, when operation of the electromagnet armature causes a transient reduction in the resistor voltage. Initial energization of the electromagnet sets a memory and starts a monostable timing period. The set output of the memory primes one input of an AND gate, the second input being inhibited by the monostable output during timing. If the electromagnet armature operates normally, the comparator output resets the memory and removes the AND gate priming signal prior to completion of the timing period.

Abstract: A railway car wheel detection arrangement employing a pair of clamp-on sensor units which are spaced apart a given distance and are positioned on the upper surface of the base flange of the track rail. Each of the sensor units includes an elongated epoxy glass board member having a reduced intermediate portion to which is attached a strain gage element. A pair of C-shaped clamps securely holds each of the sensor units to the base flange of the rail. The strain gage element is placed in tension by the stress in the track rail under the load of a wheel of a railway car to vary its resistance value which results in the unbalancing of a differential bridge circuit to produce a signal signifying the presence of a car wheel.

Abstract: A railway car wheel detection arrangement employing a pair of bolt-like sensor units which are spaced apart a given distance and are fastened to holes formed in the web portion of the track rail. Each of the sensor units includes an oblong aperture having a planar surface to which is secured a strain gage element. The strain gage element is tension stressed under the load of a wheel of a railway car to vary its resistance value which results in the unbalancing of a bridge network to produce a signal signifying the presence of a car wheel.

Abstract: A dynamic/friction brake blending control system in which a brake pipe pressure responsive control valve device provides a friction brake pressure that is connected to the vehicle brake cylinders via a blending relay valve device having a self-lapping piston valve assembly spring biased to a brake application position in which the friction brake pressure from the control valve device is relayed unmodulated to the brake cylinders in the absence of dynamic brake effort on the vehicle. A control piston of the piston valve assembly is subject to the friction brake pressure from the control valve, while a friction brake feedback piston is subject to the friction brake pressure connected from the blending relay valve to the brake cylinders. These pistons act on the piston assembly in opposite directions and have equal effective pressure areas.

Abstract: A brake valve device including a valve-actuating piston for contacting and effecting operation of a valve member, the valve-actuating piston being provided with a stepped bore in which a spring-biased spring seat member is engaged by and axially slidably movable by a push rod for actuating the valve device. The peripheral surface of a guide flange formed on the spring seat member for stabilizing axial movement thereof in the stepped bore, is spherically-shaped for permitting such axial movement without hang-up or jamming in the bore.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake apparatus including a brake control valve device having a service piston valve device operative responsive to a reduction of pressure in the train brake pipe to connect fluid pressure from the auxiliary reservoir to a brake cylinder device to provide a service brake application, and a high pressure spool valve device operative responsive to said reductions of brake pipe pressure exceeding a certain chosen rate to connect fluid pressure from the emergency reservoir to the brake cylinder device in parallel with the auxiliary reservoir pressure connected thereto from said service piston valve device to provide a higher emergency brake application pressure, there being arranged a cut-off valve device between the high pressure spool valve device and brake cylinder device which interrupts the flow of emergency reservoir pressure thereto until the auxiliary reservoir pressure supplied to the brake cylinder device is reduced to a predetermined level and a one-way check valve between the servic

Abstract: A dynamic/friction brake blending valve device having a piston assembly arranged to operate a pressure regulator via which brake cylinder pressure is controlled. Associated with the relay valve device is an electrical circuit comprising a differential amplifier subject in a first mode of operation to a brake command signal and a dynamic brake signal representing the degree of dynamic brake effort being provided in response to the brake command. An error signal resulting from comparison of the brake command and dynamic brake signals is converted by a transducer to a corresponding fluid pressure that is supplied to a chamber formed between first and second differential pistons of the piston assembly to actuate the pressure regulator and thereby produce brake cylinder pressure corresponding to the deficiency of the dynamic brake.

Abstract: A vital circuit network, equivalent to a two element, alternating current track relay used as a synchronous detector, has a first input transformer directly coupled across the local track circuit source and second input transformer coupled across the track rails through a band pass filter tuned to the track circuit frequency. The transformers are designed to normally produce secondary output signals of the same range, which are connected into a series circuit network including a second band pass filter, a varistor, a full-wave rectifier, and a protective fuse, with a biased track relay connected across the rectifier D. C. output. From the two voltage signals in the series network, the varistor produces a product current signal which is rectified to provide an output sufficient to pick up the track relay only when both input signals are present, are of the track circuit frequency, and are within a predetermined phase relationship.

Abstract: Insulated joint failure detectors are placed at each controlled signal location in the railroad interlocking to detect the condition of the insulated joints and also the passage of each truck of a train moving in either direction past that signal. Contacts individually responsive to detector operation serially control the lockout of cab signal transmitters to inhibit the transmission of cab signal commands within the interlocking if an insulated joint fails or an unauthorized train overruns a controlled signal. These detector contacts are individually bypassed by parallel circuit paths, controlled either by the corresponding home signal relay or cab signal control relays properly energized along an established route, in order to prevent lockout when the train is authorized to pass that signal location.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel railway vehicle brake apparatus that comprises a brake cylinder device having two tandem-connected pistons of unequal size, the larger of which is provided with a check valve and cooperates with a hollow cylindrical body in which it is slidably disposed to form on its respective opposite sides two fluid pressure storage reservoirs wherein is stored fluid under pressure for effecting a brake application. This brake apparatus further comprises a novel brake control valve device that is so responsive to a reduction of pressure in a train brake pipe as to first cause simultaneous shifting of both pistons in a brake-applying direction and a transfer of fluid under pressure from one side of the larger piston to the other until a chosen braking force is transmitted through brake rigging to press brake shoes against the wheels of a vehicle.