Patents by Inventor Joshua Stockton

Joshua Stockton 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).

  • Publication number: 20250002060
    Abstract: A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail. The retarder device is configured to be coupled to an actuator assembly. A lever pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail. A block opposed the lever, the block having an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the block to the actuator assembly. A biasing device is positioned between the lever and the block. The biasing device biases the lever to pivot to move the braking rail towards the running rail, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device for shimming the retarder device and/or for moving the braking rail away from the running rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: Precision Rail and Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Braatz, Don Noll, Ryan Flitsch, Joshua Stockton
  • Publication number: 20230331265
    Abstract: A system for retarding a railcar. The system includes a brake and an actuator that moves the brake between a closed position in which the brake slows the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not slow the railcar. The system further includes a hydraulic circuit through which a hydraulic fluid flows between the actuator, a pump, and a reservoir. A variable speed motor drives the pump to supply the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the actuator. The variable speed motor is operable at a plurality of speeds between fully-on and fully-off states. A control system determines a speed setting within the plurality of speeds for operating the variable speed motor based on a pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit, the speed setting being determined such that the pressure is sufficient for operating the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Precision Rail and Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Braatz, Ryan Flitsch, Joshua Stockton, David Dworschack
  • Publication number: 20230303136
    Abstract: A system for retarding a railcar having wheels. The system includes a brake and an actuator that moves the brake between a closed position in which the brake contacts the wheels of the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not contact the wheels of the railcar. The system further includes a hydraulic circuit through which a hydraulic fluid flows between the actuator and a reservoir. A first pump is operably connected within the hydraulic circuit and configured to provide the hydraulic fluid to the actuator for operating the brake. A heat exchanger is operably connected within the hydraulic circuit and configured to cool the hydraulic fluid flowing therethrough. A second pump is operably connected within the hydraulic circuit and configured to provide the hydraulic fluid to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger prevents the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid from exceeding a target operating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Precision Rail and Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Braatz, Ryan Flitsch, Joshua Stockton, David Dworschack