Patents by Inventor James E. Hart

James E. Hart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4770472
    Abstract: A freight brake control valve device in which the emergency piston slide valve is arranged to incorporate, in conjunction with the conventional service stability function provided thereby, an accelerated service application function in which a continuous local venting of brake pipe pressure is provided to hasten propagation of service rates of brake pipe reduction. A preliminary flow restrictor in one flow path and a primary flow restrictor in a parallel flow path control the quick-action chamber "breathing" rate such that the emergency piston is stabilized against movement to emergency position, as long as the brake pipe pressure reduction does not exceed a service rate. Following a service application, the preliminary flow restrictor has the further function of maintaining "breathing" until after the local reduction of brake pipe pressure is cut off, thereby assuring positive movement of the emergency piston to its service lap position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Weber, Jr., James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4690463
    Abstract: A freight brake control valve device in which the emergency piston slide valve is arranged to provide continuous, periodic, local reductions in the brake pipe pressure in response to initial actuation of the emergency piston when a service rate of brake pipe pressure reduction is made, in order to quickly propagate a brake pipe pressure reduction wave along the train and accordingly provide an accelerated application of the train brakes. This accelerated application function in response to a service rate of brake pipe pressure reduction is achieved concurrently with the quick action chamber "breathing" function, the latter being presently incorporated in the emergency piston slide valve to stabilize the emergency piston following initial actuation thereof, so as to prevent further actuation of the emergency piston to emergency position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4666166
    Abstract: A diaphragm-clamping arrangement, in which a spring washer having a frusto-conical shape is employed between the outer periphery of the diaphragm and one of the plate members between which the diaphragm is secured. In the free state of the spring washer, the spring washer height is greater than the space between the diaphragm and one plate member so that, when the plate members are joined together, the spring washer is compressed to thereby exert a clamping force on the diaphragm. The diaphragm-clamping point can be provided by either the inner or outer periphery of the spring washer, depending upon whether the frusto-conical shape is concave or convex. By forming an annular recess in the plate member with which the spring is engageable, proper location of the spring washer is facilitated during assembly, and subsequently maintained during clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hart, Michael T. Zoric, Allen W. Kyllonen
  • Patent number: 4635242
    Abstract: A portable, self-contained underwater signalling device adapted to be worn by a diver. A waterproof housing has contained therein an acoustic sound generator, a power source and a three-position switch and circuit board connected in circuit between the power source and sound generator. The three-position switch provides an off or open position, a momentary on position and a full on position. The circuit board may vary the frequency of the signal output of the sound generator when the switch is in the constant on position to generate a pulsed frequency or a constant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4613016
    Abstract: A single-cylinder, truck-mounted brake assembly for a railway car truck in which low-cost, light-weight, truss-type brake beams are employed, with one beam having an expansible brake actuator in the form of an air bag mounted thereon. The brake rigging arrangement employs an equalizing lever that is pivotally-connected to each brake beam at its centrally-located strut bar, and force-transmitting members between the respective ends of the equalizing levers, so that the force of the brake actuator is transferred from the brake beam strut bar to the brake shoes via the beam tension member. Accordingly, the light-weight, low-cost brake beams are not subjected to such bending forces as would otherwise require a stronger beam. The single-cylinder air bag arrangement is made possible by utilizing a slack adjuster device as the one force-transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hart, William K. Mong, Allen W. Kyllonen, Mark S. Krampitz
  • Patent number: 4557181
    Abstract: A combined brake cylinder/air reservoir device in which a relatively small, tubular-shaped piston in a positioning chamber is connected to a larger power piston having an application chamber on one side and a release chamber on the other side in which air is stored in place of separate reservoirs. A replaceable cylinder liner is provided to receive different-sized power pistons. During a brake application, the power piston enters the cylinder liner and is displaced from the liner during brake release to provide free air flow between the application and release chambers and thereby facilitate piston return movement by means of a return spring. A dynamic pressure seal between the application chamber and positioning chamber engages the outer periphery of the tubular-shaped small piston, while a smaller diameter dynamic pressure seal between the release chamber and atmosphere engages the inner periphery of the tubular-shaped small piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hart, Willard P. Spalding, Allen W. Kyllonen
  • Patent number: 4498712
    Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons of unequal size to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected. The larger power piston forms an application chamber and a release chamber on its opposite sides in which air is stored for use in controlling the vehicle brakes. The release chamber air is vented to atmosphere during a brake application by way of an empty/load brake control valve device including a changeover valve and a pressure sensitive check valve. When the vehicle is empty, the release chamber air is vented by way of the check valve, which limits the maximum reduction of release chamber pressure and accordingly establishes the maximum empty vehicle brake force obtained. A load piston biases the check valve with application chamber air, which is charged from the brake pipe so that the check valve bias and consequently the maximum reduction of release chamber pressure reflects the train charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4471614
    Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic actuator for providing a two-stage buildup of the hydraulic output pressure. A primary hydraulic piston, to which a pneumatic input piston actuator is connected, acts in a larger bore of a hydraulic cylinder to transfer fluid via a central passage in a spring-loaded, differential area, secondary hydraulic piston, that is coaxially disposed in the hydraulic cylinder in spaced-apart relationship with, and downstream of, the primary piston. A larger face of the secondary piston is in the larger bore and the smaller face is in a reduced diameter bore of the hydraulic cylinder, so that a pressure buildup in the hydraulic cylinder effects actuation of the secondary piston to close a check valve and thereby inter-fluid communication between the larger and smaller bores of the hydraulic cylinder via the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4418799
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake cylinder device employs a pair of different sized fluid motors, the pressure chambers of which serve as air storage reservoirs. The cylinder of the larger fluid motor is formed by the main casting and contains a larger piston, while the cylinder of the smaller fluid motor is mounted to the main casting in coaxial relationship with the larger cylinder and contains a smaller piston having an elongated hollow body that is connected at its open end to one side of the larger piston to form a pressure chamber therebetween. The smaller piston fits within the smaller cylinder in spaced-apart relationship therewith to form a pressure chamber delimited by a seal fixed on the main casting for engagement with the piston periphery at any point along its longitudinal axis. The larger piston cooperates with the larger cylinder to form pressure chambers on opposite sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hart, Willard P. Spalding, Allen W. Kyllonen
  • Patent number: 4405182
    Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons of unequal size to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected. The larger power piston forms an application chamber and a release chamber on its opposite sides in which air is stored for use in controlling the vehicle brakes. The brake apparatus further includes a control valve device that is operative responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure to conduct flow of air from the release chamber to a positioning chamber formed on the side of the smaller positioning piston corresponding to the side of the power piston having the application chamber, to effect movement of the interconnected pistons to a brake application position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4378950
    Abstract: An inshot valve device for use with railway brake apparatus of the type employing a brake cylinder in which the chambers formed on opposite sides of the brake cylinder piston serve as storage reservoirs. Braking force is obtained by the venting of air from the storage reservoir chamber on one side of the brake cylinder piston following movement of the piston to brake application position, so that the storage reservoir chamber from which air is vented is reduced to a minimum to conserve air. During an emergency brake application, the air from this storage reservoir chamber is vented via the inshot valve device, which controls the emergency buildup of brake forces in accordance with a predetermined brake force profile. The inshot valve device controls the emergency brake force buildup to follow this predetermined profile irrespective of different brake pipe charges or different service brake applications that may exist at the time of the emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hart, Robert J. Zahradnik
  • Patent number: 4339155
    Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons of unequal size to which the vehicle braking rigging is connected, the larger piston having first and second chambers formed on its opposite sides in which air is stored for use in controlling the vehicle brakes, and a control valve device that is operative responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure to transfer air from the first chamber to a third chamber formed on the side of the smaller piston corresponding to the side of the larger piston having the second chamber, to effect movement of the interconnected pistons to a brake application position. As piston displacement occurs, pressure in the second chamber is equalized with the pressure in the third chamber so that no pressure differential is developed across the larger piston, until a predetermined pressure is established in the third chamber consistent with a desired minimum brake application force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4235477
    Abstract: A variable load valve device for modulating brake cylinder pressure on railway freight cars according to the actual vehicle load weight. A load sensing arm detects variations between the sprung and unsprung members of the vehicle to vary the tension of a pair of springs, one of which bias a proportioning valve to a normally closed position and the other of which biases a cut-off valve to a normally open position. The proportioning valve controls fluid pressure communication between the brake cylinder and a volume reservoir, such that when the proportioning valve spring tension is overcome by the brake cylinder pressure, the brake cylinder pressure will be modulated by flowing to the volume reservoir. By reason of the variable spring tension with load, the level of brake pressure at which modulation occurs increases with increased load so that the degree of brake pressure modulation reduces as the load increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4225193
    Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected, the larger piston having a pair of chambers formed on opposite sides in which air is stored, and a control valve device that is operative responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure to connect pressure from the one side of the larger piston to a corresponding side of the smaller piston to effect movement of these pistons to a brake application position and concurrently vents pressure in the chamber on the other side of the larger piston. A transfer valve device is provided to interrupt this exhaust of pressure from the chamber on the other side of the piston until the piston has moved to application position so that the chamber volume is minimal and thus renders a minimum amount of air exhaust sufficient to produce brake applying pressure differentials across this larger piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4188071
    Abstract: A railway vehicle brake apparatus including a brake control valve device having a service piston valve device operative responsive to a reduction of pressure in the train brake pipe to connect fluid pressure from the auxiliary reservoir to a brake cylinder device to provide a service brake application, and a high pressure spool valve device operative responsive to said reductions of brake pipe pressure exceeding a certain chosen rate to connect fluid pressure from the emergency reservoir to the brake cylinder device in parallel with the auxiliary reservoir pressure connected thereto from said service piston valve device to provide a higher emergency brake application pressure, there being arranged a cut-off valve device between the high pressure spool valve device and brake cylinder device which interrupts the flow of emergency reservoir pressure thereto until the auxiliary reservoir pressure supplied to the brake cylinder device is reduced to a predetermined level and a one-way check valve between the servic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4175792
    Abstract: This invention relates to a railway vehicle continual quick service valve device that embodies two abutments normally subject on their respective opposite sides of the pressure in a train brake pipe and in a control chamber. Upon a reduction of brake pipe pressure on one side of these abutments, one abutment operates a valve to release fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the brake pipe side of the other abutment to atmosphere whereupon this other abutment operates a valve that releases fluid under pressure from the control chamber and the control chamber side of both abutments to atmosphere. These abutments then operate their respective valves to cut off venting of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the control chamber to atmosphere. If the reduction of brake pipe pressure on the one side of the one abutment continues, the abovedescribed cycle reoccurs so long as fluid under pressure is released from the brake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4161340
    Abstract: A brake control valve device for a railway vehicle having a service valve piston assembly subject to a pressure differential between the brake pipe and a single reservoir acting on a first piston and to brake cylinder delivery pressure acting on a second piston of the assembly. A brake pipe reduction actuates the service valve assembly, toward service application position, in which position, the single reservoir pressure is connected to a pilot chamber of a brake cylinder exhaust control valve for actuating a brake cylinder exhaust valve to its closed position, while concurrently, connecting the single reservoir pressure to the car brake cylinders. Pressure limiting means is provided to assure that sufficient pressure remains in the single reservoir following a full service or overreduction application for the purpose of providing additional braking pressure during an emergency brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4145090
    Abstract: This invention relates to a railway vehicle continual quick service valve device that embodies two abutments normally subject on their respective opposite sides of the pressure in a train brake pipe and in a control chamber. Upon a reduction of brake pipe pressure on one side of these abutments, one abutment operates a valve to release fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the brake pipe side of the other abutment to atmosphere whereupon this other abutment operates a valve that releases fluid under pressure from the control chamber and the control chamber side of both abutments to atmosphere. These abutments then operate their respective valves to cut off venting of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe and the control chamber to atmosphere. If the reduction of brake pipe pressure on the one side of the one abutment continues, the above-described cycle reoccurs so long as fluid under pressure is released from the brake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: RE30408
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel railway vehicle brake apparatus that comprises a brake cylinder device having two tandem-connected pistons of unequal size, the larger of which is provided with a check valve and cooperates with a hollow cylindrical body in which it is slidably disposed to form on its respective opposite sides two fluid pressure storage reservoirs wherein is stored fluid under pressure for effecting a brake application. This brake apparatus further comprises a novel brake control valve device that is so responsive to a reduction of pressure in a train brake pipe as to first cause simultaneous shifting of both pistons in a brake-applying direction and a transfer of fluid under pressure from one side of the larger piston to the other until a chosen braking force is transmitted through brake rigging to press brake shoes against the wheels of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart
  • Patent number: RE31059
    Abstract: An inexpensve emergency valve device embodies a cycling-type continual quick service valve operative by an abutment, subject on its respective opposite sides to the pressure in a train brake pipe and in a quick action chamber, in response to a service rate of reduction of the pressure of the fluid in a train brake pipe to repeatedly vent and supply fluid under pressure from and to a quick service volume disposed on one side of a diaphragm-type valve that is operatively responsive to the venting of fluid under pressure from this volume to effect the release of fluid under pressure from the quick action chamber to atmosphere at a rate faster than a service rate to cause joint cyclic operation of the continual quick service valve and the diaphragm valve to successively supply fluid under pressure from the brake pipe to and thereafter release fluid under pressure from the quick service volume at a certain rate and from the quick action chamber at a faster rate so long as fluid under pressure is released from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Hart