Abstract: A hydraulic hand brake for a fluid pressure actuated brake on a railway vehicle has a cylinder and piston assembly extending coaxially from the brake cylinder. A threaded rod having a non-locking thread extends from the piston and has threaded thereon a traveling nut with a coupling surface on a side away from the brake piston engageable with a second coupling surface on a ring attached to the cylinder. A spring urges the nut in the direction to engage the coupling surfaces and a control piston engages the nut to disengage the coupling surfaces when the control piston is subjected to a hydraulic pressure. Subjecting the piston of the cylinder and piston assembly to a hydraulic pressure will cause the threaded rod to engage the brake piston and to move the brake piston in the braking direction.

Abstract: An electrodynamic tachometer has a rotor connected to the end of an axle and a stator. An annular element having substantially a C-shaped cross section connects the outer surface of the stator to a bearing housing enclosing the end of the axle. The annular member is of a flexible rubber material so as to be relatively stiff with respect to torsion but flexible with respect to axial and radial deflections.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake cylinder has a piston therein one side of which is loaded by a spring and the other side of which is subjected to a pressure medium introduced into the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with an auxiliary release device comprising a screw coupling having a first coupling member which is rotatable but not axially displaceable and a second coupling member threadedly engaged with the first coupling member and acting upon the brake cylinder through an abutment coupling against the force of the load spring. The first coupling member is provided with a reversible thread and a second coupling means is provided to retain the second coupling member against rotation when the pressure acting upon the cylinder falls below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A brake cylinder for vehicles employes a spring plate as a transmission linkage between a piston and a piston rod coaxial with the piston. The spring plate is supported against a portion bearing against the piston rod. The inner end of the spring plate is acted upon by the piston.

Abstract: A railway vehicle having pneumatic actuated devices connected to a pneumatic system including a refillable supply tank connected to the control and actuation elements of the pneumatic devices is provided with a device for coupling the supply tank to a source of pressure medium as the vehicle approaches the source. The apparatus comprises a supply funnel on the vehicle connected to the supply tank and a supply nozzle connected to a source of pressure medium at a station. The supply nozzle is provided with receiver means. On the vehicle there is provided contact means which are engageable with the receiver means as the vehicle enters the station to align coaxially the funnel and nozzle and to impart relative longitudinal movement between the funnel and nozzle to couple these elements in tight coupled position. The funnel and nozzle are each provided with check valves which are opened simultaneously upon coupling of the funnel and nozzle.

Abstract: A rail-brake magnet is suspended from structure on a railway vehicle at a predetermined distance above a rail when in its non-operating state by a spring. Abutment means are provided to limit the movement of the spring in the direction of raising the rail-brake magnet so that the spring is subjected to an initial stress when the rail-brake magnet is raised to its non-operating position. This initial stress on the spring may be adjusted.

Abstract: In order to prevent the assembly of an unspecified brake lining onto a brake lining support for a brake shoe a face of the brake lining support is provided with guide means of a particular section and the mounting face of the brake lining is provided with counter-guide means having an inverted mirror section with respect to the brake lining support guide means. In this manner only a brake lining having a particular counter-guide means can be assembled on a brake lining support having a particular guide means.

Abstract: The pressure in an air line in an air braking system for a railway vehicle is controlled by an operator's brake valve which is also constructed to maintain the pressure therein. A pressure monitor is responsive to the pressure drop across a restrictor in the air line or in a supply line leading from a source of compressed air. A control line is connected to an energy source through a shut-off device operable by the pressure monitor and through a two-position switch to be connected to a monitor device for brake release operation or to a second monitor device for the flow of air in the air line caused by defects or application of the emergency brake. The shut-off switch will move to the energy passing position only when a certain pressure difference in the restrictor is excceded. The two-position switch is actuated by the operator's brake valve and connects the brake release monitor device to the control line only when the operator's brake valve is in its brake release position.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake cylinder has a piston therein one side of which is loaded by a spring and the other side of which is subjected to compressed air introduced into the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with an auxiliary release device comprising a screw coupling having a first coupling member which is rotatable and supported axially on a portion of the cylinder and a second coupling member threadedly engaged with the first coupling member and acting upon the brake cylinder through an abutment coupling against the force of the load spring. A coupling comprising mutually engaged toothed radial surfaces is provided between a collar attached to the first coupling member and a selectively rotatable worm wheel mounted adjacent the first coupling member. This coupling is engaged only when the pressure acting against the piston is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: An air brake system for a railway vehicle has a brake control valve connected to a main air line which is maintained at a certain pressure when the brakes are released. Connected to the brake control valve is an air reservoir and a brake cylinder which is connected through suitable linkage to operate a friction brake. A valve device is provided which is actuated in response to the operating state of the friction brake and pressure in the main air line and includes a venting valve connected to the main air line so that the venting valve is opened during a simultaneous occurrence of the brake being in the braking state and the regular pressure level is maintained in the air line. Under other conditions the venting valve is closed.

Abstract: A switching member positioned approximately in the plane of the brake disk has an actuating element therein which is displaceable radially with respect to the brake disk. The element is resiliently held in a rest position and is engageable by adjustable screws mounted on the ends of arms extending from the brake shoe suspension hangers pivotally mounted on each side of the brake disk. The extending arms are spaced with respect to each other in the peripheral direction of the brake disk. The switching member is connected to a fluid pressure source so that when a push button valve in the fluid pressure line is opened, the fluid pressure will be connected through the switching member to the atmosphere when the wear of the brake lining reaches a predetermined low level. The communication to the atmosphere is achieved by displacing the actuating member a sufficient distance so that a radial bore therein provides communication within the switching element between the source of fluid pressure and the atmosphere.

Abstract: A valve device for controlling pressure medium actuated brakes, particularly for railway vehicles, comprises a multi-stage valve to set one of a plurality of pressure stages. The valve has an axially displaceable stepped piston having a plurality of annular radial surfaces with a predetermined surface area ratio to each other. The surfaces are subjected to the action of pressure medium through control valves separately or in combination in accordance with a selected pressure stage. The piston controls a double valve connected between a source of pressure medium and the brake which is supplied with pressure medium or vented in response to position of the double valve. The radial surfaces of the piston are subjected to a selected stage pressure against a constant force that is independent of the control pressure such that this axially applied force is in balance with the force exerted by the pressure of the pressure medium against the radial surfaces at every braking stage.

Abstract: In a load-responsive air braking system for a railway vehicle an electrical signal is transmitted from a brake controller actuated by an operator when he intends to apply a braking force. The signal is transmitted to a signal converter consisting of an electromagnet having a movable armature therein which contacts an end of a balance beam with a force corresponding to the electrical signal. The balance beam actuates a double valve which has a vent to the atmosphere and is connected between the braking cylinder and an air reservoir.

Abstract: A device for centering a rail brake magnet comprises a centering element on the vehicle structure and having a centering bore with a conical surface around the bore. The magnet is provided with a rotatably adjustable eccentric sleeve within which is rotatably positioned a centering pin having a conical surface engageable with the conical surface around the centering bore. A portion of the pin has an eccentric peripheral portion disposed within the eccentric sleeve to provide for adjustment of the centering pin with respect to the magnet so that the adjusted position is secured by means of a screw coupling.

Abstract: A fluid pressure relay valve particularly for the electro-pneumatic control of vehicle brakes has a piston displaceable within a valve housing to define a control chamber on one side of the piston and on the other side of the piston there is a second chamber which is connected to the braking device. The pressure within the control chamber is controlled by inlet and outlet solenoid valves. The piston actuates valve means for controlling the pressure in the second chamber by venting the chamber or by connecting the chamber to a source of fluid pressure. An additional volume of pressure medium is connected to the control chamber for the purpose of increasing the pressure in the control chamber subsequently to the release of the signal "hold the pressure." The increase in pressure is to a predetermined level which is a function of a controlled lowering of pressure in the additional volume.