Abstract: A composition is provided which includes a balanced combination of an edrophonium component and an atropine component. A preferred embodiment has 0.5 mg of edrophonium chloride and 8 micrograms of atropine sulfate, with respect to patient weight. The inventive composition is useful to antagonize nondepolarizing blockade during medical treatment when muscle relaxation is no longer necessary, provides extremely rapid onset of action and results in minimal heart rate changes.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic brake actuator having a friction element positionable by the power piston during the brake application stroke through a lost-motion connection therewith to establish a stop to limit movement of the power piston during a brake release and thereby provide a predetermined brake shoe clearance. In an alternate embodiment, a leaf spring is carried by the friction element to provide a cushioned stop for the power piston to prevent inadvertent displacement of the friction element, by reason of wheel out-of-roundness imparting a "kick-back" force on the power piston.

Abstract: A spring-applied, air-released parking brake, having a manual release mechanism with an automatic reset feature. To release a spring-applied parking brake, in the absence of air, a torsion bolt having a cam member formed on it is manually rotated to a position aligning the cam with an elongated slot in the piston push rod of the parking brake cylinder. This allows the piston to be extended in a direction to extend the spring, thus relieving the spring force. Reapplication of air pressure moves the piston push rod out of the elongated slot to permit angular rotation of the bolt by its torsion spring, so as to prevent its entry in the elongated slot until the bolt is again rotated manually.

Abstract: A mounting hub for a brake disc which is concentrically mountable on the hub by a plurality of equi-angularly spaced bolts adjacent the periphery of the hub. Subsequently to mounting of the disc on the hub, the hub is mountable, usually by a pressing process, on one end of an axle. Bolt holes are formed on equi-angularly spaced peripheral arcuate flexible portions of the mounting hub to permit absorption of expansion and distortion of the brake disc mounted thereon.

Abstract: This invention relates to an annular braking disc in which a pair of spaced-apart braking members are connected by a first set of radial fins, each adjacent spaced-apart pair of which is integral with the opposite sides of one of a second set of radial fins, the radial length of which is less than the radial length of the first set of fins. The inner ends of a certain chosen number of fins of both sets of fins are integral one with the other and so arranged and disposed as to provide one of several arcuate segments on each of which is formed an inwardly-extending circumferentially spaced-apart securing lug. The lug that is thus formed integral with each with one of these segments is so disposed inward from each of a pair of braking faces formed on the respective opposite sides of the braking disc as to be out of contact with braking elements that may have braking engagement with these braking faces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a braking apparatus wherein the heat absorbing mass of a rotating braked element, such as a vehicle wheel, is increased by securing to such as each wheel of a vehicle, a brake drum, the peripheries of the wheels and drums constituting braking surfaces against which a plurality of brake shoes are pressed during a brake application by a movable member between which and each pair of the plurality of brake shoes there is interposed an equalizer lever that is pivoted intermediate its ends on the movable member, each equalizer lever being thereby rockable relative to the movable member to enable each one of the corresponding pair of brake shoes to transmit substantially the same braking force to the braking surface braked thereby notwithstanding the rate of wear of either one of any pair of brake shoes exceeding that of the other brake shoes.

Abstract: A braking apparatus wherein the heat absorbing mass of a rotating braked element, such as a vehicle wheel, is increased by securing to such as each wheel of a vehicle, a brake drum, the peripheries of the wheels and drums constituting braking surfaces against which a plurality of brake shoes are pressed during a brake application by a movable member between which and the brake shoes there is interposed a mechanism that provides for shifting of the brake shoes relative to the movable member in such a manner as to enable each brake shoe to transmit substantially the same braking force to the corresponding braking surface notwithstanding the rate of wear of one shoe exceeding that of another.

Abstract: Apparatus on each vehicle in a train, for effecting a release of an emergency brake application upon a complete stop of the train, comprises a fluid pressure operated brake pipe vent valve device that is supplied with fluid under pressure from a quick action chamber when the emergency brake application is effected, a release valve device operable upon the release of fluid under pressure therefrom to vent fluid under pressure from the brake pipe vent valve device to atmosphere to cause closing of the brake pipe vent valve thereby enabling recharging of the brake pipe to effect a release of the prior emergency brake application, and a speed responsive device for supplying fluid to the release valve device at a pressure proportional to the speed of the train.