Patents Assigned to AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150007743
    Abstract: Devices, a system and a method for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails are provided, the railcar having wheel treads that ride on the rails. A railcar stop is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the rails, and a second position wherein the railcar stop is configured to engage the tread of the at least one of the wheels to thereby stop and prevent travel of the railcar in at least a first direction along the rails. The railcar stop is further configured to he selectively movable in the first direction along the rails from the second position to a third position to thereby disengage the railcar stop from the tread of the least one of the wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurtis James Opelt, Neal W. Becker, Gene Z. Gokhman
  • Patent number: 8499900
    Abstract: A retarder for controlling the speed of a railcar is provided. The retarder includes a brake and a brake actuator that includes a hydraulic piston-cylinder and a spring. One of the piston and the cylinder acts on the brake and the other of the piston and the cylinder acts on one end of the spring. The other end of the spring acts on the brake. In this arrangement, supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston-cylinder causes both the piston-cylinder and the spring to move the brake towards a closed position in which the brake will apply braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar. The spring resiliently biases the brake into the closed position to maintain a substantially constant braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar as it moves through the retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, Kurt J. Penney
  • Patent number: 8485105
    Abstract: Devices and systems for stopping travel of a railcar along rails is provided, the railcar having wheel treads that ride on the rails. A railcar stop is configured to engage at least one wheel tread of the railcar to stop travel of the railcar along the rails. The railcar stop extends above the rails at a first height prior to engagement with a wheel tread and extends above the rails at a second, greater height after engagement with the wheel tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz
  • Patent number: 8485107
    Abstract: A device and system for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails is provided. In one example, a railcar stop is coupled to the set of rails and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the set of rails and a second position wherein the railcar stop engages the treads of the wheels to thereby prevent travel of the railcar in at least one direction along the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, John A. Hooper, Lowell B. Ziese, Jim Thomas
  • Patent number: 8413770
    Abstract: Systems and methods for retarding the speed of a railcar are provided. A supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid is provided to a piston cylinder to actuate the cylinder and thereby move a brake into a closed position in which the brake will apply a predetermined braking pressure to a wheel of the railcar. An accumulator accumulates fluid from the circuit when the wheel forces the brake out of the closed position and supplies accumulated fluid back to the circuit as the brake moves back into the closed position to thereby maintain a substantially constant braking pressure on the wheel as it moves through the retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, Kurt J. Penney
  • Patent number: 8365876
    Abstract: An air bladder actuator for a railroad car retarder utilizes a simplified stroke limiting arrangement that can be used in new actuator construction or applied as a retrofit assembly to an existing air cylinder actuated retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Mazur, Robert B. Zimmer, Thomas J. Heyden
  • Publication number: 20120055368
    Abstract: A device and system for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails is provided. In one example, a railcar stop is coupled to the set of rails and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the set of rails and a second position wherein the railcar stop engages the treads of the wheels to thereby prevent travel of the railcar in at least one direction along the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, John A. Hooper, Lowell B. Ziese, Jim Thomas
  • Patent number: 8079309
    Abstract: A device and system for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails is provided. In one example, a railcar stop is coupled to the set of rails and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the set of rails and a second position wherein the railcar stop engages the treads of the wheels to thereby prevent travel of the railcar in at least one direction along the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, John A. Hooper, Lowell B. Ziese, Jim Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110232521
    Abstract: Devices and systems for stopping travel of a railcar along rails is provided, the railcar having wheel treads that ride on the rails. A railcar stop is configured to engage at least one wheel tread of the railcar to stop travel of the railcar along the rails. The railcar stop extends above the rails at a first height prior to engagement with a wheel tread and extends above the rails at a second, greater height after engagement with the wheel tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering , Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz
  • Publication number: 20100258389
    Abstract: An air bladder actuator for a railroad car retarder utilizes a simplified stroke limiting arrangement that can be used in new actuator construction or applied as a retrofit assembly to an existing air cylinder actuated retarder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Mazur, Robert B. Zimmer, Thomas J. Heyden
  • Publication number: 20100252372
    Abstract: Several embodiments of a system for connecting brake shoes to brake beams in a railroad car retarder all provide enhanced connecting joint tightness that reduces premature connecting joint loosening, reduces maintenance, and reduces failure of connecting bolts or equivalent connecting pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Heyden
  • Publication number: 20100083865
    Abstract: A device and system for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails is provided. In one example, a railcar stop is coupled to the set of rails and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the set of rails and a second position wherein the railcar stop engages the treads of the wheels to thereby prevent travel of the railcar in at least one direction along the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, John A. Hooper, Lowell B. Ziese, Jim Thomas
  • Patent number: 7649350
    Abstract: A railcar presence detector including magnetic field sensors spaced along the length of a rail track for detecting magnetic field disturbances caused by ferromagnetic objects, such as railcars, passing along the rail track. Each of the magnetic field sensors generates an output signal that is received by a control unit. The control unit compares the output signal from each of the magnetic field sensors to a detection threshold and controls the position of a contact member dependent upon the comparison between the output signal and the detection threshold. Each of the magnetic field sensors includes a test device that is selectively operable to modify the magnetic field near the magnetic field sensor to test the operation of the magnetic field sensor. During operation of the system including the magnetic field sensor, the control unit can automatically activate the test device to assure that each of the magnetic field sensors are operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Lowell Ziese
  • Patent number: 7530432
    Abstract: An air bladder actuated railroad car retarder is designed to simplify installation, operate in a manner imposing minimal stress on the bladder, improve preventive maintenance, and simplify access to the main fulcrum bearings. The air bladder actuator is made with lightweight aluminum end plates and utilizes a unique stud assembly for attaching the actuator to the retarder pivot arms. Rigid mounting of the air bladder with a unique pivot geometry exposes the bladder to minimal lateral deflection which is balanced in both directions. A simple stroke limiter assembly, external to the air bladder, is also used to measure and monitor wear of the main fulcrum bearings. The stroke limiter assembly is easily demountable and removable to enhance access to the main fulcrum pivot for replacement of the fulcrum bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: AAA Sales + Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J Heyden
  • Publication number: 20080237511
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electro-pneumatic retarder control (EPRC) valve for a pneumatic retarder that controls the speed of railroad cars in a marshaling yard. The EPRC valve has a housing that generally encloses and protects its various components. The housing has a lid that can be opened to gain access to a control panel mounted on an interior door. The control panel includes a display, keyboard and programmable logic controller or PLC module that can be adjusted to set the desired pressure levels of the retarder. The EPRC valve has a modular pressure control assembly that includes an intake and exhaust manifold, a retarder supply and return manifold and several interchangeable control lines formed by like-shaped control valves and components. A pilot air control assembly enables the PLC module to selectively open and close the control valves and lines to deliver or release pressurized air to the retarder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: AAA Sales & Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Lowell B. Ziese, James D. Braatz
  • Patent number: 7392887
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a low-maintenance bladder actuator for a low-profile railroad retarder. The actuator has an internal guide mechanism and internal limit stops. The guide mechanism has a concentric, telescoping guide rod and guide sleeve that are removably bolted to upper and lower plates. An integral cast head forms the upper plate and a stop sleeve that absorbs the cyclical 20,000 pound loads of the actuator. This enables the guide rod to remain concentricly aligned. The guide mechanism has sufficient stroke length (SL) and includes a long internal bushing with a low wear rate. The stop sleeve engages the lower plate to form the lower limit stop. The stop sleeve includes an inwardly extending flange that engages an outwardly extending flange of the guide sleeve to form an upper limit stop. The stop sleeve and guide sleeve form a cam lock connection for easy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: AAA Sales + Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Richard Bohme, Mark Zawlocki
  • Patent number: 7325567
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electro-pneumatic retarder control (EPRC) valve for a pneumatic retarder that controls the speed of railroad cars in a marshaling yard. The EPRC valve has a housing that generally encloses and protects its various components. The housing has a lid that can be opened to gain access to a control panel mounted on an interior door. The control panel includes a display, keyboard and programmable logic controller or PLC module that can be adjusted to set the desired pressure levels of the retarder. The EPRC valve has a modular pressure control assembly that includes an intake and exhaust manifold, a retarder supply and return manifold and several interchangeable control lines formed by like-shaped control valves and components. A pilot air control assembly enables the PLC module to selectively open and close the control valves and lines to deliver or release pressurized air to the retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Lowell B. Ziese, James D. Braatz
  • Patent number: 7306077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fail-safe skate retarder that applies a braking force proportional to the weight of a rail car entering the retarder. Each segment of the retarder includes a lever mechanism with a pair of levers rotatably joined under the running rail. Each lever holds a braking rail for engaging a wheel of the car. The retarder is normally in a lower, fail-safe position with the brake rails closer together than the width of the wheel. When the car enters the retarder, the wheel forces the brake rails apart into a braking position, and the middle of the lever mechanism rises to lift the running rail and car. A hydraulic power unit and cylinder is activated to raise the middle of the lever mechanism even further to a release position so that the brake rails are spread apart more than the width of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: AAA Sales + Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Mark Zawlocki
  • Patent number: 7140698
    Abstract: A hydraulic control and operating system is provided for a railroad car retarder to control the movement of railroad cars in railroad classification yard. The system utilizes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder to operate the retarder mechanism and includes a hydraulic control circuit that provides protection against pressure spikes and high pressure excursions, high and low temperature excursions, low oil levels and oil filter fouling. The above system not only shuts itself down to prevent damage, but provides a warning to maintenance staff that service should be performed long before a need for system shut-down is required. The system includes a central operating panel in the rail yard control center, remote control panel located at the position of the retarder and the system can be connected for operation from a completely remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Braatz, Lowell B. Ziese, Richard Bohme
  • Patent number: 6422519
    Abstract: An improved cylinder head for a railroad track switch operator includes totally self-contained electronics and pneumatics for easy and direct replacement of a cylinder head on a prior art switch operator. The improved cylinder head has enhanced porting to improve air flow and speed of operation, a voltage control module permitting the unit to operate with either 24 volt or 12 volt line power, and recessed portions for covering or enclosing delicate and/or sensitive components for maximized protection in harsh outdoor installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Braatz