Abstract: A brake cylinder maintaining valve may include spool valves or poppet valves. When the pressure in the brake cylinder drops below its original set pressure, such a maintaining valve may feed brake pipe (BP) pressure through a choke to replenish and maintain brake cylinder (BC) pressure up to a certain point. If the leak is too great, such as when it exceeds the capacity of the choke, the brake cylinder pressure will not be maintained. Such a maintaining valve may be either integrated into the control valve, or it may be mounted remotely to the brake system. If mounted remotely, it may be connected by multiple ways, including through a conventional 4-port access plate.

Abstract: In a rail vehicle hand brake having a release activated by a pneumatic cylinder, the present control system includes a manual valve having an output connected to a source of pressure at an input when manually activated. A volume is to be charged by the source of pressure. A choke connects the volume to exhaust. The volume and the choke prolong the time the source of pressure is connected to the pneumatic cylinder after the manual valve is activated.

Abstract: A brake cylinder maintaining valve may include spool valves or poppet valves. When the pressure in the brake cylinder drops below its original set pressure, such a maintaining valve may feed brake pipe (BP) pressure through a choke to replenish and maintain brake cylinder (BC) pressure up to a certain point. If the leak is too great (to the extent it exceeds the capacity of the choke), the brake cylinder will not be maintained. Such a maintaining valve may be either integrated into the control valve, or it may be mounted remotely to the brake system. If mounted remotely, it may be connected by multiple ways, including through a conventional 4-port access plate.

Abstract: A brake system includes a brake cylinder having a piston rod and a brake lever connecting the piston rod to a brake beam and a slack adjuster. An actuating lever is connected to the brake beam and the brake cylinder. A trigger of the slack adjuster is connected to the actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally and rotationally connected to the brake beam and swivelably connected to the brake cylinder. Also, a piston stoke indictor including an indicia positioned on a support structure of a brake cylinder to be adjacent the end of a portion of a brake piston at its extended position.

Abstract: The dual vent valve includes a housing having brake pipe, emergency input and exhaust ports, and first and second valves. The emergency output port is fluidly connected to the emergency input port. The first valve selectively connects the brake pipe port to the exhaust port by opening the first valve in response to an emergency signal on the brake pipe port. The second valve selectively connects the brake pipe port to the exhaust port by opening the second valve in response to an emergency signal on the emergency input port.

Abstract: In a rail vehicle hand brake having a release activated by a pneumatic cylinder, the present control system includes a manual valve having an output connected to a source of pressure at an input when manually activated. A volume is to be charged by the source of pressure. A choke connects the volume to exhaust. The volume and the choke prolong the time the source of pressure is connected to the pneumatic cylinder after the manual valve is activated.

Abstract: In a rail vehicle hand brake having a release activated by a pneumatic cylinder, the present control system includes a manual valve having an output connected to a source of pressure at an input when manually activated. A volume is to be charged by the source of pressure. A choke connects the volume to exhaust. The volume and the choke prolong the time the source of pressure is connected to the pneumatic cylinder after the manual valve is activated.

Abstract: A brake cylinder maintaining may include spool valves or poppet valves. When the pressure in the brake cylinder drops below its original set pressure, such a maintaining valve may feed brake pipe (BP) pressure through a choke to replenish and maintain brake cylinder (BC) pressure up to a certain point. If the leak is too great (i.e., to the extent it exceeds the capacity of the choke), the brake cylinder will not be maintained. Such a maintaining valve may be either integrated into the control valve, or it may be mounted remotely to the brake system. If mounted remotely, it may be connected by multiple ways, including through a conventional 4-port access plate.

Abstract: A hand brake control system for a rail vehicle hand brake having a release trigger. The system includes a cylinder for activating the release trigger of the hand brake and a source of pressure. A first valve selectively connects either the source of pressure at a first input or a second input to the cylinder at an output. A second valve selectively connects either the source of pressure or exhaust to the second input of the first valve at the output of the second valve. The first valve is a manually operated valve and the second valve is an electro-pneumatic valve. Linkage allows actuation of the first valve from at least two location about the vehicle.

Abstract: A hand brake actuator for a rail car has a rotary input connected to a rotary output by a transmission including a clutch and a ratchet wheel and pawl, a declutching mechanism for disengaging the clutch in a declutched position of the declutching mechanism, and a release handle with a first cam which drives the declutching mechanism to the declutched position when the release handle is moved from an apply position to a release position. A second cam is biased in a first direction to engage and retain the declutching mechanism in a declutched position after the release handle is removed from the release position. A follower is connected to the second cam and is responsive to the rotation of the input in an apply direction to rotate the second cam in a second direction opposite the first direction to release the declutching mechanism and allow the clutch to reengage.

Abstract: A brake system includes a brake cylinder having a piston rod and a brake lever connecting the piston rod to a brake beam and a slack adjuster. An actuating lever is connected to the brake beam and the brake cylinder. A trigger of the slack adjuster is connected to the actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally and rotationally connected to the brake beam and swivelably connected to the brake cylinder. Also, a piston stoke indictor including an indicia positioned on a support structure of a brake cylinder to be adjacent the end of a portion of a brake piston at its extended position.

Abstract: In a rail vehicle hand brake having a release activated by a pneumatic cylinder, the present control system includes a manual valve having an output connected to a source of pressure at an input when manually activated. A volume is to be charged by the source of pressure. A choke connects the volume to exhaust. The volume and the choke prolong the time the source of pressure is connected to the pneumatic cylinder after the manual valve is activated.

Abstract: A hand brake control system for a rail vehicle hand brake having a release trigger. The system includes a cylinder for activating the release trigger of the hand brake and a source of pressure. A first valve selectively connects either the source of pressure at a first input or a second input to the cylinder at an output. A second valve selectively connects either the source of pressure or exhaust to the second input of the first valve at the output of the second valve. The first valve is a manually operated valve and the second valve is an electro-pneumatic valve. Linkage allows actuation of the first valve from at least two location about the vehicle.

Abstract: A hand brake actuator for a rail car has a rotary input connected to a rotary output by a transmission including a clutch and a ratchet wheel and pawl, a declutching mechanism for disengaging the clutch in a declutched position of the declutching mechanism, and a release handle with a first cam which drives the declutching mechanism to the declutched position when the release handle is moved from an apply position to a release position. A second cam is biased in a first direction to engage and retain the declutching mechanism in a declutched position after the release handle is removed from the release position. A follower is connected to the second cam and is responsive to the rotation of the input in an apply direction to rotate the second cam in a second direction opposite the first direction to release the declutching mechanism and allow the clutch to reengage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pump system for parking brakes for a rail vehicle. The pump system includes at least one actuator, at least one pump and a reservoir as a fluid source. Also included is a manifold in fluid communication with the reservoir and the actuator. Further included are a plurality of valves and fluid paths internal to the manifold to allow fluid flow among the at least one pump and the reservoir.

Abstract: The present locomotive brake system includes a brake controller operable by an operator and a brake pipe vent valve. The brake controller includes an emergency output port which provides emergency pneumatic signal on the emergency output port when the brake controller is in an emergency position. The brake pipe vent valve includes a housing having brake pipe, emergency input and exhaust ports, and a first valve. The emergency output port is fluidly connected to the emergency input port. The first valve selectively connects the brake pipe port to the exhaust port when opened in response to an emergency signal on the brake pipe port and in response to an emergency signal on the emergency input port.

Abstract: The present locomotive brake system includes a brake controller operable by an operator and a brake pipe vent valve. The brake controller includes an emergency output port which provides emergency pneumatic signal on the emergency output port when the brake controller is in an emergency position. The brake pipe vent valve includes a housing having brake pipe, emergency input and exhaust ports, and first and second valves. The emergency output port is fluidly connected to the emergency input port. The first valve selectively connects the brake pipe port to the exhaust port when opened in response to an emergency signal on the brake pipe port. The second valve selectively connects the brake pipe port to the exhaust port when opened in response to an emergency signal on the emergency input port.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pump system for parking brakes for a rail vehicle. The pump system includes at least one actuator, at least one pump and a reservoir as a fluid source. Also included is a manifold in fluid communication with the reservoir and the actuator. Further included are a plurality of valves and fluid paths internal to the manifold to allow fluid flow among the at least one pump and the reservoir.

Abstract: An actuator responsive to fluid signals to retract and extend a piston. The actuator includes a cylinder and a pressure piston carried inside the cylinder. Also included is a shaft, and a rod connected to the pressure piston. The actuator further includes a first port for receiving a fluid pressure to move the pressure piston to a first position. The actuator also has a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a first and second surface, and both surfaces are movable in response to the fluid pressure at the first port. The surfaces lock the pressure piston in a first position upon removal of the fluid pressure at the first port.

Abstract: A pressure sensor module for use in conjunction with an electropneumatic brake, comprising a casing and a plurality of pneumatic input ports on a first face of the casing. Transducers are inside the casing and in communication with its own port. A common electrical connector is positioned on a second face of the casing, and each of the transducers is connected, interior the casing, to the common electrical connector.