Patents by Inventor Richard J. Rink

Richard J. Rink 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: 9873419
    Abstract: A brake monitoring assembly and method for monitoring a brake system of a train includes a plurality of train bogeys supporting each train car, each bogey having a wheel axle supporting wheels engaging a train track. Each wheel axle includes a tread brake and a disc brake. A tread brake actuator includes an extendable tread brake pushrod for actuating the tread brake. A disc brake actuator includes an extendable disc brake pushrod for actuating the disc brake. A pneumatic system provides pneumatic pressure for actuating the brakes and includes a sensor for monitoring pressure. Each brake actuator includes a sensor for detecting length of extension of a pushrod. A controller identifies a condition of the actuators when the pressure detected by the sensor is inconsistent with a length of extension of any of the pushrods and signals an indicator for indicating a condition of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Mark David Chandler, Richard J. Rink, Andrew Schartner
  • Patent number: 9855940
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Glenn Singletary, Mark David Chandler, Andrew P. Schartner
  • Patent number: 9440631
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: INDIAN HEAD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J Rink, Mark David Chandler, Glenn Singletary, Wayne Oster, Steve Lepard, Christopher Prager
  • Publication number: 20160107631
    Abstract: A brake monitoring assembly and method for monitoring a brake system of a train includes a plurality of train bogeys supporting each train car, each bogey having a wheel axle supporting wheels engaging a train track. Each wheel axle includes a tread brake and a disc brake. A tread brake actuator includes an extendable tread brake pushrod for actuating the tread brake. A disc brake actuator includes an extendable disc brake pushrod for actuating the disc brake. A pneumatic system provides pneumatic pressure for actuating the brakes and includes a sensor for monitoring pressure. Each brake actuator includes a sensor for detecting length of extension of a pushrod. A controller identifies a condition of the actuators when the pressure detected by the sensor is inconsistent with a length of extension of any of the pushrods and signals an indicator for indicating a condition of the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Mark David Chandler, Richard J. Rink, Andrew Schartner
  • Patent number: 8994523
    Abstract: A brake monitoring system and method for a vehicle having multiple axles and a plurality of brake actuators and an engine control module, each brake actuator being associated with one of the axle. The system include sensors for measuring, in real-time, brake pressure and brake lining wear, and generating first and second signals. The first and second signals are received and stored in a chassis communications module. The chassis communications module detects fault condition of the brakes as a function of the first and/or second signals and for recording the fault condition, the fault condition being one of a brake monitor warning and a brake lining warning and provides an indication of status via warning lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Mark David Chandler
  • Publication number: 20140277928
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Glenn Singletary, Mark David Chandler, Andrew P. Schartner
  • Publication number: 20140046537
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J Rink, Mark David Chandler, Glenn Singletary, Wayne Oster, Steve Lepard, Christopher Prager
  • Patent number: 8616342
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Head Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J Rink, Mark David Chandler, Glenn Singletary, Wayne Oster, Steve Lepard, Christopher Prager
  • Patent number: 8319623
    Abstract: A brake monitoring system and method for a vehicle having multiple axles and a plurality of brake actuators and an engine control module, each brake actuator being associated with one of the axle. The system include sensors for measuring, in real-time, brake pressure and brake lining wear, and generating first and second signals. The first and second signals are received and stored in a chassis communications module. The chassis communications module detects fault condition of the brakes as a function of the first and/or second signals and for recording the fault condition, the fault condition being one of a brake monitor warning and a brake lining warning and provides an indication of status via warning lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: MGM Brakes
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Mark David Chandler
  • Publication number: 20110308897
    Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MGM Brakes, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Mark David Chandler, Glenn Singletary, Wayne Oster, Steve Lepard, Christopher Prager
  • Publication number: 20100188203
    Abstract: A brake monitoring system and method for a vehicle having multiple axles and a plurality of brake actuators and an engine control module, each brake actuator being associated with one of the axle. The system include sensors for measuring, in real-time, brake pressure and brake lining wear, and generating first and second signals. The first and second signals are received and stored in a chassis communications module. The chassis communications module detects fault condition of the brakes as a function of the first and/or second signals and for recording the fault condition, the fault condition being one of a brake monitor warning and a brake lining warning and provides an indication of status via warning lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: MGM BRAKES
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Wallace, Richard J. Rink, Mark David Chandler
  • Patent number: D249502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Nartron Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Rink, Gerald K. Miller