Abstract: A piston valve assembly in which plastic wear rings are fitted on an aluminum piston member to prevent metal-to-metal engagement between the piston member and the bore of the bushing in which the piston member is operatively disposed in order to eliminate abrasion of the piston member due to vibration in the bushing bore.

Abstract: An access plate mounted between the pipe bracket portion and either the service portion or the emergency portion of a railway freight brake control valve. Passageways are provided through the access plate, each passageway terminating in a respective access port along an end of the access plate. Openings extend through opposed sides of the access plate, intersecting respective access plate passageways. The openings on each side are sized and positioned to sealingly align with openings of the pipe bracket portion and either the emergency portion or the service portion. The openings on the pipe bracket portion, emergency portion and service portion connect to passageways communicating to the brake pipe, the brake cylinder retaining valve, the brake cylinder, the emergency reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir. A housing may be attached to the pipe bracket portion to connect to the access ports, such housing preferably having a valve means for preventing the escape of fluid pressure therefrom.

Abstract: A relay valve device for a relayed type brake system in which the compressed air of the auxiliary reservoir is connected to an equalizing reservoir instead of directly to the brake cylinder, as in a conventional system. Since the equalizing reservoir volume is fixed, as compared to the brake cylinder volume which varies with piston displacement, the equalizing reservoir volume must be greater than the final brake cylinder volume in order to obtain a full equalization pressure that matches the full service application pressure in a conventional brake system. The relay valve device employs a control piston that is subject opposingly to the equalizing reservoir pressure and the effective brake cylinder pressure delivered by the relay valve device.

Abstract: A hanger for a power factor capacitor and method of attachment by brazing reduces metallurgical changes that can lead to cracks in the tank wall from welding. The hanger has a base plate with a circular opening and a raised shoulder that provides a single ring of contact between the tank wall and hanger. A ring of brazing alloy is placed within the opening on the tank wall. Through induction of electric current, the brazing alloy melts and flows resulting in a complete braze between the hanger and the tank wall which is accomplished at a much lower temperature than other welding techniques.

Abstract: A spool type valve arrangement in which a booster spring is employed to overcome static friction of the spool valve O-rings and thereby assure prompt actuation of the spool valve member. The arrangement is such that the booster spring is only active through a limited distance of travel from release position toward application position, this limited distance of spool valve travel being selected so as to occur prior to any transition of the port connections controlled by the spool valve. In this manner, the spool valve return spring force need not be increased in order to reset the spool valve sufficiently to reestablish the original spool valve port connections.

Abstract: A quick service limiting valve device for a freight brake control valve employing a primary valve in a fluid flow path via which brake pipe air is connected to the brake cylinder during a secondary phase of quick service to propagate the brake pipe reduction signal until the brake cylinder pressure acting on the limiting valve control piston effects closure of the primary valve to terminate the quick service flow of brake pipe air to the brake cylinder when a predetermined brake cylinder limit pressure is realized. A secondary valve is arranged to interrupt the brake pipe to brake cylinder flow path downstream of the primary valve in the event leakage at the primary valve causes the pressure acting on the quick service limiting valve control piston to exceed the predetermined limit pressure.

Abstract: An empty/load changeover valve device for a railway car having a proportioning valve via which the car control valve supplies brake cylinder pressure. The proportioning valve comprises a balance piston having equal opposing pressure areas and a combined supply and release check valve, one pressure area of the balance piston being subject to air pressure supplied to the brake cylinder under all conditions of loading. The opposing pressure area of the balance piston is either pressurized or depressurized depending upon the car being in an "empty" or "load" condition, thereby establishing either a nonproportioning or a proportioning mode of brake control. Integrating the release check valve with the supply valve so as to have a smaller effective pressure area, the release check valve can be opened with low force to exhaust brake cylinder pressure during brake release, thereby making possible a reduced size empty/load changeover valve device.

Abstract: A railway car vent valve device having a bleed valve that is selectively operable to disable the vent valve device during a single car test procedure in which the service stability of the car control valve is checked. The bleed valve is automatically reset when the car brake pipe pressure drops below a predetermined value, such as occurs when the single car test apparatus is disconnected from the car brake pipe following completion of the single car test procedure.

Abstract: A versatile swing training machine for developing muscular strength and coordination to perform athletic swings typical of baseball, golf, hockey, or tennis. A drive arm pivotably carried on a frame is engaged and forcibly driven in rotation by a partially guided hand-held swing implement, against a variable resistance developed by a resistance element and imparted through a linkage mechanism. The resistance element may include a fluid damping device and a mechanical spring, which also assists the return swing of the drive arm. The linkage mechanism transmits linearly developed resistance and translates it to torsional resistance on the drive arm, equally for right and left-handed swings. Optimum training resistance is gradually maximized through the acceleration zone of the swing and tapers off during the followthrough, being effective for the full forward swing. The backswing is relatively unresisted. Adjustments accommodate various swing positions as well as individual differences in height and reach.

Abstract: A service valve piston assembly for a freight brake control valve device in which the graduating valve is configured to cooperate with the associated slide valve to close off the application port via which auxiliary reservoir pressure acting on one side of the piston assembly feeds the brake cylinder prior to opening of the stability port via which the brake pipe pressure on the opposite side of the piston assembly is communicated with auxiliary reservoir pressure on the one side of the piston, thereby preventing the piston valve assembly from finding a quasi-lap position in which the brake cylinder continues to be pressurized.

Abstract: A dual capacity empty/load changeover valve for a railway freight car in which a piston-operated check valve controls the supply of compressed air delivered from the auxilary reservoir to the brake cylinder via the car control valve. The check valve is connected to a balance piston having equal opposing pressure areas, one of which is subject to the air supplied to the brake cylinder under all conditions of car loading. The opposing pressure area of the balance piston is pressurized in a load condition and depressurized in an empty condition, thereby establishing a proportional mode of brake control during empty car braking. A proportioning spring acts on the balance piston to establish the brake cylinder pressure at which the check valve becomes operative to proportion the air supplied to the brake cylinder.

Abstract: A vent valve device having a pair of diaphragm-type piston members forming a pilot chamber therebetween. The one piston controls a vent valve via which brake pipe pressure is vented locally, while the other piston controls a pilot valve a control venting of the pilot chamber. A breather choke between the pilot chamber on one side of the other piston and a control chamber on the opposite side establishes a predetermined pressure differential thereacross only when brake pipe pressure supplied to the pilot chamber is reduced at an emergency rate to thereby actuate the other piston to a position opening the pilot valve. In addition, this other piston operates a cut-off valve to isolate the pilot chamber from brake pipe pressure so that the pilot valve quickly exhausts pilot chamber pressure.

Abstract: A freight brake control valve device for a railway vehicle having a service piston slide valve arranged with a detent to latch the service piston in preliminary quick service position until such time as the application pressure differential acting on the piston exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A continual type quick service valve adapted to be independently mounted on a railway car to provide local, supplemental venting of the car brake pipe pressure, as long as the brake pipe pressure continues to be reduced externally. This quick service venting of the brake pipe pressure is achieved utilizing a single piston actuated exhaust valve that is either cyclically-operated between open and closed states or is held open continuously depending upon the degree of brake application in effect. By selective tuning, the open duration of the exhaust valve can be made to exceed the duration the exhaust valve is closed during each cycle of operation or to remain open for the duration of the external brake pipe pressure reduction to achieve high operating efficiency.

Abstract: An improved freight brake emergency valve device providing improved stability against undesired emergency brake applications without degradation of emergency sensitivity. This is achieved, in one aspect of the invention, by introducing a spring force on the emergency piston as the piston approaches emergency position to thereby retard the piston momentum suffiently to allow a random brake pipe pressure fluctuation to dissipate. In another aspect of the invention, a choke and check valve are arranged to create a dashpot effect to retard piston momentum resulting from a random brake pipe pressure fluctuation.

Abstract: A truss-type brake beam having a bent configuration in which the compression and tension members are bent on opposite sides of a strut member, so that the compression and tension member segments lie in separate planes that intersect to form an angle therebetween, the line of intersection being rectilinear. The bent configuration of the brake beam accommodates housing of a brake-cylinder in the pocket between the compression and tension members adjacent the strut member, facilitates passage of force-transmitting rods between the companion brake beams of a given truck, and permits application of brake beam actuating forces without imparting torque moments to the beam.

Abstract: An improved freight brake emergency valve providing improved stability against undesired emergency brake applications without degradation of emergency sensitiveity by increasing the "breathing" range of travel of the emergency piston to allow a momentary random brake pipe pressure fluctuation to dissipate, and by providing a volumetric chamber between the quick action chamber "breather" port connection at the slide valve/seat interface and the "breather" choke in order to obtain a momentary fast reduction of quick action chamber pressure to counteract a brake pipe pressure fluctuation during pressure equalization between the quick action chamber and the added volumetric chamber.

Abstract: A single-cylinder, truck-mounted brake assembly for a railway vehicle truck in which low-cost, lightweight, truss-type brake beams are employed, with one beam having the single brake cylinder mounted thereon. Force-transfer levers pivotally-mounted to the respective brake beams at the beam-midpoint are interconnected by force-transmitting members that pass through openings in the bolster to move the brake beams into brake shoe/wheel engagement when a brake application is made. The brake rigging is set up so that the transfer lever bail imparted to the force-transmitting members is split. With respect to the force-transfer lever connected to the one force-transmitting member (brake cylinder), this has the effect of the brake cylinder piston skewing equally on opposite sides of the cylinder centerline to prevent piston seal leakage.

Abstract: A variable load brake control equipment for a road/rail type vehicle comprising variable load brake apparatus located between the auxiliary reservoir and a supplemental volume reservoir in the supply line upstream of the vehicle control valve device. During braking, the auxiliary reservoir pressure and the supplemental volume reservoir pressure combine to provide an unmodulated buildup of brake pressure until the brake pressure reaches a value that varies as a function of the vehicle load. At this point, the variable load valve device operates to isolate the auxiliary reservoir, so that a continued buildup of brake pressure is modulated by reason of the fact that the supplemental volume reservoir alone supplies braking pressure.

Abstract: A freight brake control valve device having an improved quick service function achieved by utilizing a common quick service volume during secondary quick service as well as preliminary quick service, in order to achieve an intensified secondary quick service reduction of brake pipe pressure. Further, a continuing local reduction of break pipe pressure is obtained without any time lag during transition from preliminary to secondary stage quick service. In a first embodiment of the invention, an exhaust passage separate from the brake cylinder exhaust passage is provided to assure venting of the preliminary quick service volume in the event the brake cylinder retainer valve is set up. In a second embodiment, the additional volume is vented via the brake cylinder exhaust passage.