Patents Represented by Attorney R. W. McIntire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4145618
    Abstract: A high voltage power supply system for energizing a static inverter, in which an auxiliary circuit provides a source of reserve energy to sustain inverter operation during periods of power interruption. In the auxiliary circuit, there is provided a capacitance normally charged from the source of power (catenary) via a resistance whose ohmic value assures a slow rate of charge to avoid blowing the input fuse in the event of a short in the auxiliary circuit capacitance and to permit use of the desired capacitance with a reduced voltage rating. A diode arrangement statically connects the higher of the catenary voltage or the stored energy reserve of the auxiliary circuit to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse
    Inventors: Ettore Restori, Giuseppe Careglio
  • Patent number: 4145090
    Abstract: This invention relates to a railway vehicle continual quick service valve device that embodies two abutments normally subject on their respective opposite sides of the pressure in a train brake pipe and in a control chamber. Upon a reduction of brake pipe pressure on one side of these abutments, one abutment operates a valve to release fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the brake pipe side of the other abutment to atmosphere whereupon this other abutment operates a valve that releases fluid under pressure from the control chamber and the control chamber side of both abutments to atmosphere. These abutments then operate their respective valves to cut off venting of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the control chamber to atmosphere. If the reduction of brake pipe pressure on the one side of the one abutment continues, the above-described cycle reoccurs so long as fluid under pressure is released from the brake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4145141
    Abstract: An optical instrument for locating the focal point of a smooth surface concave reflector of a signal lamp unit. The optical instrument includes a cylindrical metallic base member for insertion into the electrical socket of a light bulb. A translucent sighting target member is carried by the base member and includes a reticle for focusing in a distant image whereby the filament of a light bulb will be located at the focal point of the concave reflector for maximizing the illuminative efficiency of the signal lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Peter M. Noble
  • Patent number: 4142829
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound remote control device for controlling the pitch of a variable-pitch propeller on a ship's drive mechanism while at the same time controlling the speed of the ship's engine, and provides a control mechanism for compound control under various control conditions, whereby the conventional equipment being of a complex structure using 2 cams, is simplified by using one cam and a pressure-control valve cooperating therewith. With said control device, control of the speed of the aforesaid engine and the control of the pitch of the variable-pitch propeller are carried out by using air-pressure signals under various control conditions, that is, where the relationship of the various control air pressures in relation to the position of the control lever varies as for example shown in FIG. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: The Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Inoue, Makoto Takagi
  • Patent number: 4142152
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a directional sensing arrangement including a rotatable member having a plurality of permanent magnets which magnetically influence a first and second spaced stationary sensor. The rotation of the member causes the magnets to sequentially operate the first and second sensors so that neither, either or both are actuated. The first and second sensors are coupled to a logic network which deciphers the sequential actuations for determining the direction of rotation of the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Limited
    Inventor: David J. Fincher
  • Patent number: 4136912
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and an arrangement for filtering disturbing signals in the digital measurement of the cycle duration for an antiskid control system for motor vehicles. The detrimental influence of short disturbances on the production of control signals is suppressed by means of the filtering process. The production of the control signals takes place in accordance with the result obtained from a comparison of the respective measured value .tau..sub.n with a reference value .tau..sub.B. The filtering is carried out in a manner so that when a digital measured value .tau..sub.n enters, a new reference value .tau..sub.B', is produced as a function of the difference between the reference value .tau..sub.B and the mean value obtained from the reference value .tau..sub.B and new measured value .tau..sub.n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Hesse, Gerhard Ruhnau, Wolfgang Gudat, Peter Liermann
  • Patent number: 4136315
    Abstract: A low frequency modulating signal and a high frequency carrier signal circuit employing a twin-T oscillator having an integrated circuit operational amplifier for producing the modulating signal and an L-C resonant feedback oscillator having a transistor amplifier for producing the carrier signal, and a monitoring shunt regulator for supplying a reference potential to the twin-T oscillator and biasing and operating potentials to the L-C resonant feedback oscillator and for deactivating the L-C resonant feedback oscillator when an increase in resistance occurs in the shunt regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: John J. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4133561
    Abstract: An improved hose coupling for railway vehicle brake pipe hoses, which coupling is characterized by a straight nipple portion and an angular extension of the lower end of the coupling lip for preventing inadvertent uncoupling due to excessive bouncing motion of the vehicle and, therefore, vertical oscillation of the hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: John G. Cannon, Daniel G. Scott, William K. Mong
  • Patent number: 4130764
    Abstract: A fail-safe "OR" logic gate circuit which includes at least a first and a second level detector each of which has a voltage breakdown device and an oscillating circuit, a resonant tank circuit connected in common with each of the oscillating circuits, an amplifying circuit coupled to each oscillating circuit, and a regulating-rectifying circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and producing a d.c. output signal when a d.c. input signal causes either or both of the voltage breakdown devices to breakdown and to exhibit a low impedance for causing the oscillating circuits to oscillate and supply a.c. signals to the amplifying circuit for rectification by the regulating-rectifying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: John O. G. Darrow
  • Patent number: 4130860
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp support assemblage comprising a printed circuit board on which is pre-mounted the electrical components comprising a converter or the like for supplying proper power to operate the vehicle lights and a sheet metal member cut and bent into a channel-shaped form. The printed board and a pair of fluorescent lamp holders are secured in place on the respective side walls and base of the channel-shaped member by snap inserting a plurality of tabs on the printed circuit board panel into conforming slots in the side walls in the case of the circuit board and by snap inserting the opposite edges of an opening in the base of the channel-shaped member into a notch formed in each side of the lamp holders in the latter case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse
    Inventors: Giuseppe Careglio, Giovanni Proietti
  • Patent number: 4129323
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hose coupling having mounted thereon a leaf spring locking member of such a configuration that the free end is so disposed that it constitutes a stop which is shiftable by the guard arm of the other one of a pair of hose couplings out of the pathway of this guard arm on the other one of the hose couplings as the one hose coupling and the arm thereon are rotated toward the fully coupled position of the pair of hose couplings. The configuration of the stop is such that the resiliency of the leaf spring locking member, upon the pair of couplings reaching their fully coupled position in which the arm passes out of contact with the stop, shifts this stop to a position in the pathway of the arm thereby preventing unwanted uncoupling of the pair of fully coupled hose couplings until the leaf spring is manually deflected to shift the stop out of the pathway of the guard arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4125177
    Abstract: Railway braking apparatus for frictionally engaging and retarding the wheels of railroad cars which includes a series of pneumatic cylindrical operators located between two adjacent crossties along the trackway. The piston of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is coupled to a frictional braking bar through a mechanical advantage pivotal lever. Each lever is pivotally connected to a rigid welded frame assembly including apertured lugs and pivot pins. The rigid force absorbing frame assembly is carried by the two adjacent crossties and includes a crosspiece member to which the cylinder of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is pivotally connected. The pivotal lever is constructed of a plurality of plates, two bolt accommodating tubes and a series of filler plates or slotted shims which allow for the lateral adjustment of the frictional braking bars and permits quick and easy assembly and dismantling of the actuators, levers and braking bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse
    Inventor: Jean F. Durraffourt
  • Patent number: 4125059
    Abstract: A fluid pressure operable servo positioner including a pair of operating piston units diametrally opposingly arranged relative to and abuttingly engageable with opposite sides of a mechanical operating member or lever for positioning the operating member in a preselected position determined by the degree of actuating pressure acting on the piston or pistons which are retractable by return springs, when relieved of actuating pressure acting thereon, completely out of contact with the operating member to an extent at which the operating member may be manually positioned, within a full range of positions, free of any resistance such as piston friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: The Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tuji
  • Patent number: 4125128
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vented ball-type cock such as is used at each end of the brake pipe on a railway vehicle in which the brake pipe hose connected to the cock outlet is vented to atmosphere in the cock closed position via a passageway extending through the cock body, the cover therefor and a spiral groove of some suitable configuration formed on a cylindrical stem extending through the cover for rotating a ball-type valve within the cock body between an open and a closed position. A resilient seal obliquely mounted on the stem for rotation therewith is shifted thereby, relative to the cover, from the cock closed position in which a communication between the inlet and outlet of the cock is closed and the hose-venting passageway is open, to the open position in which the communication between the inlet and outlet of the cock is open and the hose-venting passageway is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Elward, William K. Mong
  • Patent number: 4124980
    Abstract: An electronic control module comprising an operational amplifier used as a comparator senses the difference between the throttle settings of a master and slave engine as detected by a potentiometer associated with each engine's throttle control apparatus in order to accordingly adjust the control signal of a fluid pressure actuator of the slave engine, which actuator in turn adjusts the slave engine throttle setting until it corresponds to that of the master engine, at which point the slave engine throttle actuator control signal is maintained constant by reason of the operational amplifier sensing such correspondence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Olson, Michael D. Lyons
  • Patent number: 4125292
    Abstract: A brake control valve device, for railway vehicles, embodies an adjustable service brake cylinder limiting valve that may provide any chosen brake cylinder pressure and also an adjustable emergency brake cylinder limiting valve that may provide any selected higher brake cylinder pressure when the control valve device is conditioned for effecting either a direct release of the brakes or a graduated release of the brakes accordingly as a removable selector valve cover member is secured to a ported face formed on the exterior surface of the control valve device in either a direct release or a graduated release position with respect to this ported face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Worbois, Richard F. Balukin
  • Patent number: 4125279
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hose coupling on the body of which is rockably mounted intermediate its ends a locking member, one end of which constitutes an operating handle. The other end of this locking member is of such a configuration as to constitute a stop which is manually rockable by the operating handle out of the pathway of the guard arm of the other one of a pair of hose couplings to be manually coupled prior to rotating the two hose couplings to the fully coupled position. The configuration of the stop is such that, upon the pair of hose couplings reaching their fully coupled position, this stop will be disposed in such a position in the pathway of the guard arm of the other one of the pair of fully coupled hose couplings as to prevent unwanted uncoupling of the two coupled hose couplings. Upon manual rocking of the locking member in one direction by the operating handle, the stop will be lifted out of the pathway of the guard arm of the other one of the pair of coupled hose couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Daniel G. Scott
  • Patent number: 4125295
    Abstract: A digital speed detecting circuit of the type in which pulses of a clock frequency are counted during a time interval of a cycle of the sinusoidal signal obtained from a sensor of the rotating member whose speed is being measured. The pulse count throughout the speed range of the rotating member is adjusted to be within a range best suited for accurate evaluation, since the pulse count exceeds this range at high and low speeds. This is accomplished in a first embodiment by shifting to a different counting frequency in different speed ranges and correcting the speed signal obtained by a factor corresponding to the degree of frequency change. In a second embodiment, the counting frequency is monitored and adjusted each cycle of the sinusoidal signal by comparing in a shift register the stage of advancement of a binary counter that produces the pulse count with a reference stage establishing the upper limit of the evaluation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Ruhnau, Wolfgang Gudat
  • Patent number: 4125290
    Abstract: A vehicle load-controlled brake pressure regulating valve device which combines in one housing a unitary valve device performing dual functions of a vehicle load responsive control valve and of a relay valve, whereby the relay valve function is effected by pressure regulated by the vehicle load function. The dual purpose valve device functions as a unit in a single housing to thereby reduce manufacturing costs and installation space required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Reinecke, Helmut Ulrich
  • Patent number: 4125293
    Abstract: An upgraded railway freight car brake control valve device comprises a novel emergency valve portion that embodies therein a minimum number of simple and inexpensive poppet valves, one of which is a double seated valve, that replaces yet performs the same functions heretofore performed by more expensive slide type valves which slide valves, and the flat seats upon which they slide as they are shifted from one position to another, in their manufacture require a considerable amount of accurate machining thus increasing the cost of the valve device of which they are an important part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart