Abstract: The invention is directed to an insert for a backing plate assembly for a composition friction brake shoe. The insert is particularly useful in the formation of a universal brake shoe for use with a trolley car braking system. The insert includes a central member having a first and second set of attachment posts extending from the respective ends thereof. These first and second sets of attachment posts are adapted for securing a first and second backing plate strap, respectively, thereto. A key bridge extends through a back portion of the central member and is configured for attachment to a brake shoe. A flange guide support extends from a side portion of the insert and includes legs defining a channel that runs parallel to the insert. The flange guide support is adapted for contacting a wheel flange to align a brake shoe with the wheel during braking of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end stabilized backing plate for an extended length brake shoe for use in a railway braking system. The backing plate includes an elongated main portion extending along a longitudinal axis. This main portion has a front face, a back face, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. A first and second pair of tab members are provided on each of the first and second end portions. These tab members extend in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the main body and function to stabilize the end portions of the extended length brake shoe which extend beyond the length of a brake head and reduce and/or eliminate cracking of these end portions of the brake shoe. A method of stabilizing end portions of an extended length brake shoe is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an insert for a backing plate assembly for a composition friction brake shoe. The insert is particularly useful in the formation of a universal brake shoe for use with a trolley car braking system. The insert includes a central member having a first and second set of attachment posts extending from the respective ends thereof. These first and second sets of attachment posts are adapted for securing a first and second backing plate strap, respectively, thereto. A key bridge extends through a back portion of the central member and is configured for attachment to a brake shoe. A flange guide support extends from a side portion of the insert and includes legs defining a channel that runs parallel to the insert. The flange guide support is adapted for contacting a wheel flange to align a brake shoe with the wheel during braking of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end stabilized backing plate for an extended length brake shoe for use in a railway braking system. The backing plate includes an elongated main portion extending along a longitudinal axis. This main portion has a front face, a back face, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. A first and second pair of tab members are provided on each of the first and second end portions. These tab members extend in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the main body and function to stabilize the end portions of the extended length brake shoe which extend beyond the length of a brake head and reduce and/or eliminate cracking of these end portions of the brake shoe. A method of stabilizing end portions of an extended length brake shoe is also disclosed.

Abstract: A friction wedge assembly for use in a suspension system of railroad car trucks. The friction wedge assembly comprises a cast metal wedge having a bottom face, a vertical face that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom face and a sloped face for contacting a mating surface on a bolster of such railroad car truck. There is a metal backing plate that has a first side removably engageable with the vertical face of the cast metal wedge, a means for securing the metal backing plate to the cast metal wedge and a composition liner disposed on a second side of the metal backing plate for engaging such metal wear liner on such side frame of such railroad car truck.

Abstract: A friction wedge assembly for use in a suspension system of railroad car trucks. The friction wedge assembly comprises a cast metal wedge having a bottom face, a vertical face that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom face and a sloped face for contacting a mating surface on a bolster of such railroad car truck. There is a metal backing plate that has a first side removably engageable with the vertical face of the cast metal wedge, a means for securing the metal backing plate to the cast metal wedge and a composition liner disposed on a second side of the metal backing plate for engaging such metal wear liner on such side frame of such railroad car truck.

Abstract: A brake shoe is used on a railway vehicle for both applying a braking force and simultaneously reconditioning a wheel tread surface of a wheel disposed on such railway vehicle during a normal braking application on such vehicle. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate having a predetermined configuration and a first friction type material formed into a brake shoe and having a predetermined shape. There is a brake surface for engaging a wheel tread having a predetermined configuration and having a predetermined surface area. A second friction type material is formed as a discrete insert, having a predetermined shape and a predetermined width, and molded into first friction type material. One surface of the discrete insert being disposed coincidently as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe. The second friction type material exhibits greater abrasive properties than does the first friction type material.

Abstract: A brake shoe for use on a railway vehicle for reconditioning a wheel tread surface during a normal braking application including a backing plate and a first friction material extending over the brake surface of such brake shoe. It further contains a second friction material, formed as a discrete insert molded into such first friction material. Such second friction material initially is completely embedded. One surface of the insert is incrementally exposed as the first friction type material is eroded away. Such second friction material exhibits abrasive properties and is bonded to such backing plate. A third friction material is disposed as another discrete insert imbedded in the first friction type material. One surface of the abrasive third friction material being disposed as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe.

Abstract: A brake shoe adapted to engage the tread of a railroad car wheel via which such railroad car is guidably supported on a railed track. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate which has a predetermined configuration and a means disposed on each end of the backing plate for securing such backing plate to a brake head. The brake shoe further includes a brake lining that is affixed to the backing plate and has a braking surface engageable with the wheel tread of a railroad car wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a friction management brake shoe adapted to engage the tread and the flange of a railroad car wheel via which the railroad car is guidably supported on a railed track. The friction management brake shoe comprises a backing plate having a flange member. There is a brake lining affixed to the backing plate and having a braking surface engageable with the wheel tread of a railroad car wheel. The brake lining includes a first friction composition material formed with at least one of a solid high positive friction modifier and a solid very high positive friction modifier which establishes a required friction level between the wheel tread and the railed track for stopping a train. The brake shoe also has a flange part affixed to the flange member of the backing plate, such flange part having a friction surface engageable with the wheel flange of a railroad car wheel.

Abstract: A brake shoe is adapted to engage the tread of a railroad car wheel via which the railroad car is guidably supported on a railed track for conditioning such car wheel thereby affecting adhesion between such wheel tread and railed track. Such brake shoe comprises a backing plate and a brake lining affixed to such backing plate. Such brake lining has a braking surface engageable with a wheel tread and further comprises a first and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of a midpoint of a key bridge of the hacking plate. There is a first material in the form of a friction composition suitable for braking such railroad car wheel. The first material is formed on each of the first and second segments and there is a second material dissimilar from the first material. The second material is disposed as an at least one discrete insert in the first material, such second material conditions the railroad car wheel tread so as to affect adhesion between said wheel tread and the railed track.

Abstract: The present invention provides a friction management brake shoe adapted to engage the tread and the flange of a wheel of a railway vehicle via which the railway vehicle is guidably supported on a railed track. The friction management brake shoe comprises a brake lining affixed which has a braking surface engageable with the wheel tread of a wheel of a railway vehicle. The brake lining includes a first friction composition material formed with at least one of a solid high positive friction modifier and a solid very high positive friction modifier which establish a required friction level between the wheel tread and the railed track.

Abstract: A composition brake shoe for use on a railway vehicle for reconditioning a wheel tread surface during a normal braking application on such railway vehicle is provided. The composition brake shoe includes a backing plate having a stirrup and a brake surface having a predetermined configuration and a predetermined surface area. It further includes a first friction type composition material extending over the surface area of such brake surface of such composition brake shoe. The composition brake shoe further contains a second friction type material, formed as at least one discrete insert, having a predetermined shape and molded into such first friction type composition material. Such second friction type material initially being completely embedded within such first friction type composition material.

Abstract: A composition brake shoe is used in a railway freight vehicle for reconditioning a wheel surface of a railway freight vehicle. Such brake shoe includes a brake surface having a predetermined configuration and a predetermined surface area. The composition brake shoe consists of a first friction composition material extending over the surface area of such composition brake shoe. A second friction type composition material is formed as a discrete insert, having a predetermined shape, and is molded into the first friction composition material. Such second friction composition material initially is completely embedded within the first friction composition material. One surface of the insert is disposed facing the predetermined surface area of the brake surface of the composition brake shoe. Such one surface of the insert being incrementally exposed as the first friction composition material is eroded away due to frictional engagement with the wheel tread surface during normal braking operations.

Abstract: A brake shoe locking key is provided with a retention tab that is saw-tooth shaped and extends across the entire width of the key shank. The retention tab is upraised from the shank more than the correspondingly-shaped serrations typically formed on the bottom of the key and is thus more effective in engaging the brake head as an initial detent to prevent the key from backing out of the keyhole in the brake head when a loose fitting key fails to retain its locking position. In addition, the retention tab is adapted to engage the keybridge at the orifice through which the key passes in order to provide a further detent to prevent a loose key from backing completely out of its locking connection between the brake head and brake shoe, in the event the first detent fails to engage.

Abstract: A computerized brake control system which calculates desired brake pressure from commanded brake signal, vehicle weight, vehicle speed and dynamic braking, compares the desired brake pressure with the actual brake, and controls the fluid brake system to cause the actual brake pressure to be substantially equal to the desired brake pressure. For snow brake mode the computer sets a fixed value of desired brake pressure which is used for controlling the fluid brake system. After a fixed number of stops, the brake mode is temporarily disabled.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled wheel slip system for a train of railway cars receives wheel speed data, calibrates that data in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions, and indicates when a pair of wheels on an axle of a given car is slipping or spinning relative to the other wheels on the other cars of the train.