Abstract: A T-post puller with a channel providing a sliding fit over a T-post. The T-post puller when rotated relative to the T-post causes protrusions in the channel to engage the bottom of a T-post stud while a retractable member holds the T-post puller in stud engaging position. The T-post puller may be integrated with a T-post driver in a fencing tool including a drive tube for use in driving posts into the ground and for use as a slide hammer for extracting them from the ground.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a granular material spreader composed of a granular material holding tank, a blower portion and a granular material output tube. The granular material holding tank is adapted to be carried on the back of a human operator. The granular material holding tank is divided into one or more reservoirs. The blower portion has an air output tube. The blower is adapted to be carried in the hand of the human operator. The granular material output tube is capable of receiving granular material from one or more of the reservoirs and introducing the granular material to an interior portion of the air output tube upstream from the end of the air output tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gasket for use in a service portion of a brake control valve in a railway braking system. The gasket comprises an elastomeric composition with a predetermined shape. There is a series of bead-like projections formed on the first surface of the gasket for sealing such gasket with a body portion of the valve. A first aperture is disposed in the gasket at a predetermined location for engagement with a projection on the filling piece of the service portion. A brass insert is molded into the elastomeric composition and has a second aperture formed therein. The second aperture is in fluid communication with an auxiliary reservoir of such railway braking system. A third aperture is formed in the gasket in a third predetermined location. A brass insert, which has a first predetermined configuration, is molded into the elastomeric composition of the gasket.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gasket for use in a service portion of a brake control valve in a railway braking system. The gasket comprises an elastomeric composition with a predetermined shape. There is a series of bead-like projections formed on the first surface of the gasket for sealing such gasket with a body portion of the valve. A first aperture is disposed in the gasket at a predetermined location for engagement with a projection on the filling piece of the service portion. A brass insert is molded into the elastomeric composition and has a second aperture formed therein. The second aperture is in fluid communication with an auxiliary reservoir of such railway braking system. A third aperture is formed in the gasket in a third predetermined location. A brass insert, which has a first predetermined configuration, is molded into the elastomeric composition of the gasket.

Abstract: A purge valve for expelling liquid contaminants from a fluid conduit which is normally unpressurized but is at times pressurized with a gas which contains liquid contaminants. It has a housing, a diaphragm mounted within the housing, a control chamber on a first side of the diaphragm, an exhaust passage on a second side of the diaphragm and a valve seat surrounding the exhaust passage. The valve seat is positioned so that the diaphragm can seal against it. A spring on the second side of the diaphragm presses it away from the seat. An annular chamber is on the second side of the diaphragm, surrounding the exhaust passage. The annular chamber is open to the exhaust passage when the diaphragm is unseated from the valve seat. The valve has a low impedance flow path between the control chamber and the fluid conduit. The valve also has a high impedance discharge flow path connected to the annular chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a valve for expelling a liquid contaminant from a gas in a conduit. It is used for a conduit with a pressure subject to variations in time. The valve has a housing containing a diaphragm with a control chamber on one side of the diaphragm and an exhaust passage on the other side. A valve seat surrounds the exhaust passage. A spring presses the diaphragm against the valve seat so that the valve is normally closed and an annular chamber surrounds the exhaust passage. A low impedance discharge passage is connected to the annular chamber and to the conduit. A high impedance control passage is connected to the control chamber and is either connected to the discharge passage or to the conduit. When the conduit pressure remains constant in time, the pressure in the control chamber equilibrates with it so that a net pressure force on the diaphragm plus the spring force presses the diaphragm against the valve seat so that the valve is closed.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes first and second valve bodies. The first body defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. In the passage, a first valve atop a valve stem features a poppet head that is seatable against an outer valve seat. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. The second body defines a bore between its upper and lower threaded ends which communicates with the passage. The upper threaded end connects with the threaded end of the first body whereas the lower threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In the bore, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a seal element that is seatable against an inner valve seat.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing. The fitting includes a valve body, a valve retainer, first and second sealing rings and a biasing mechanism. The valve body defines a flow passage within which is situated the valve retainer. The valve body is designed at its protuberant end to mate with a female coupler of a quick connect device and at its threaded end to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. The valve retainer defines around itself first and second annular recesses each of which spaced apart from the other to match the spacing of outer and inner annular valve seats formed in the flow passage. Forming a first valve, the first sealing ring retains in the first annular recess so as to be seatable against the outer valve seat. Forming a second valve, the second sealing ring retains in the second annular recess so as to be seatable against the inner valve seat.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. The threaded end screws into the housing. In an upper section of the passage, a first valve atop a valve stem features a poppet head that is seatable against an outer valve seat. A first biasing mechanism compels the head against the outer seat to keep the first valve normally closed. In a lower section of the passage, a second valve features a seat piece and a valve retainer. On its periphery, the seat piece carries an o-ring which sealingly secures the piece within the passage. The piece defines an inner bore between its ends and has an inner valve seat on its bottom. The top of the retainer is extendable through this inner bore to a point a dead space apart from a bottom of the stem. Around its bottom, the retainer carries an annular check valve.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes a single valve body that defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. The threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In an upper section of the passage, a first valve features a poppet head atop a valve stem. The poppet head is seatable against an outer annular valve seat formed in the protuberant end of the passage. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. In a lower section of the passage, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a check seal element used for seating against an inner annular valve seat formed in the passage. A second biasing mechanism acts upon the retainer so that the check seal element seats against the inner valve seat thereby rendering the second valve normally closed.

Abstract: A dual valve apparatus enables quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing. The housing has a main body, a check valve housed in the main body and a cover whose removal renders the check valve accessible. The check valve is normally compressed against a check valve seat to provide a first seal that prevents leakage of the pressure. The dual valve apparatus includes a modified cover, a valve body and a valve stem. The modified cover defines first and second bores axially offset from and in communication with one another. The first bore is at least partially threaded. When the modified cover is secured to the main body, the second bore is aligned with the check valve. The valve body accommodates a valve bore from its protuberant end to its threaded end. The protuberant end is shaped to mate with a female portion of a quick connect coupling. The threaded end screws into the first bore of the modified cover.

Abstract: A dual seal coupling apparatus enables quick measurement of brake cylinder pressure through a receiver assembly of a control valve. The receiver assembly has a receiver body, a check valve housed in the body and a cover whose removal renders the check valve accessible. The check valve is normally compressed against a check valve seat to provide a first seal that prevents leakage of the pressure. When moved away from its seat, the check valve provides access to the pressure. The apparatus includes a boss that protrudes from the cover and a male portion of a quick connect coupling. The boss defines a threaded bore aligned with the check valve when the cover is secured to the receiver body. The male portion includes a valve body and a valve stem. The valve body defines a valve bore and has a threaded end for screwing into the threaded bore of the cover. At its opposite end, the valve body is shaped to mate with a female portion of the quick connect coupling.

Abstract: A dual seal coupling fitting enables quick measurement of pressure. The fitting includes primary and secondary valves and has one end shaped like a male portion of a quick coupler and another end screwable into a threaded bore defined in a pressure bearing housing. The fitting defines first and second cylindrical sections in communication with each other. The primary valve situates in the first section, the secondary valve in the second section. The primary valve includes a valve stem with a poppet head. A first mechanism compresses the poppet head against an outer valve seat to close the primary valve thereby preventing leakage of pressure. The secondary valve features a cylindrical seat piece and a retainer. The piece secures within the second section and defines through itself an inner bore. The piece at one end forms an inner valve seat and at an opposite end situates adjacent the first mechanism. The retainer has at one end a post approximate a terminal end of the valve stem within the inner bore.

Abstract: A pipe bracket for use in a freight brake control valve on a railway freight vehicle is provided. Four access ports are preferably provided on a first side of the pipe bracket. The freight car piping, including a brake pipe, brake cylinder line, emergency reservoir line and an auxiliary reservoir line are connected to a second side of the pipe bracket. The freight brake control valve further includes an service portion coupled with a third side of the pipe bracket and an emergency portion coupled with a fourth side of the pipe bracket. A plurality of passageways are included within the pipe bracket for providing fluid communication from the freight car piping to the service portion and the emergency portion. The access ports are preferably connected to each of the passageways within the pipe bracket to permit testing of the fluid pressures within the passageways.

Abstract: A pipe bracket portion of a freight brake control valve having an improved filter arrangement. The pipe bracket portion has a first side with a service portion and an emergency portion mounted thereto. The pipe bracket portion has a second side with a brake pipe, a brake cylinder, a emergency reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir thereto. The pipe bracket portion is provided with a cavity designed for containing a generally cylindrical filter therein. A retaining nut secures the filter in the cavity and provides a seal between the outer circumference of one end of the cylindrical filter and the pipe bracket portion. A first cavity portion and a second cavity portion are thus formed within the cavity in which the first cavity portion houses the cylindrical filter, and the second cavity portion has at least one radial port for delivering air.

Abstract: A test connector for connecting an air brake test device to access ports provided on an air brake control valve device where such access ports are normally closed by check valves is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of stem operators project into the access ports without opening the check valves therein when the test connector is installed in position on the control valve device. A handle is provided to effect rotation of an eccentric shaft on which the stem operators are connected to unseat the check valves and thereby access air at the respective access ports when it is desired to initiate testing following installation of the test connector. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of test probes pivotally mounted on the test connector body enter the access ports and unseat the check valves in the course of installing the test connector in position on the control valve. In both embodiments, the stem operators/test probes are self-aligning to facilitate installation of the test connector.