Abstract: A drain valve includes an inlet plenum, a first orifice downstream from the inlet plenum, a second orifice downstream from the first orifice, and a fluid passage between the first and second orifices. A piston having a first position and a second position has a first surface area exposed to the fluid passage when the piston is in the first and second positions and a second surface area exposed to the inlet plenum when the piston is in the second position.

Abstract: An air dryer includes first and second flow paths. Each flow path includes a check valve that prevents fluid flow into the flow path and an exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the flow path. A diverter valve has a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path. An interlock operably connected to the diverter valve and the exhaust valves prevents positioning the diverter valve to the first position when the exhaust valve in the first flow path is in the open position and prevents positioning the diverter valve to the second position when the exhaust valve in the second flow path is in the open position.

Abstract: An air dryer includes first and second flow paths. Each flow path includes a check valve that prevents fluid flow into the flow path and an exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the flow path. A diverter valve has a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path. An interlock operably connected to the diverter valve and the exhaust valves prevents positioning the diverter valve to the first position when the exhaust valve in the first flow path is in the open position and prevents positioning the diverter valve to the second position when the exhaust valve in the second flow path is in the open position.

Abstract: A drain valve includes an inlet plenum, a first orifice downstream from the inlet plenum, a second orifice downstream from the first orifice, and a fluid passage between the first and second orifices. A piston having a first position and a second position has a first surface area exposed to the fluid passage when the piston is in the first and second positions and a second surface area exposed to the inlet plenum when the piston is in the second position.

Abstract: In the specification and drawings, an apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism is described and shown. The take-up mechanism includes a gear, a motor configured for engagement with the gear, and a manual input shaft configured for engagement with the gear. In a first mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the motor, and in a second mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the manual input shaft. In an alternate embodiment, the take-up mechanism may include a plate between the manual input shaft and the gear. The plate may be configured to transfer rotation and torque from the manual input shaft to the gear, or inhibit the transfer of rotation and torque from the gear to the manual input shaft. The method for operating the take-up mechanism uses a motor and a manual input shaft connected to a gear to operate the take-up mechanism in the first and second modes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims a torque transfer mechanism. The torque transfer mechanism connects an input shaft to an output shaft to transmit rotation and torque in either direction from the input shaft to the output shaft. The torque transfer mechanism also inhibits the transmission of rotation and torque in at least one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In alternate embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may transmit rotation and torque in one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In still further embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may inhibit the transmission of rotation and torque in either direction from the output shaft to the input shaft.

Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims a torque transfer mechanism. The torque transfer mechanism connects an input shaft to an output shaft to transmit rotation and torque in either direction from the input shaft to the output shaft. The torque transfer mechanism also inhibits the transmission of rotation and torque in at least one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In alternate embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may transmit rotation and torque in one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In still further embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may inhibit the transmission of rotation and torque in either direction from the output shaft to the input shaft.

Abstract: A torque transfer mechanism connects an input shaft to an output shaft to transmit rotation and torque in either direction from the input shaft to the output shaft. The torque transfer mechanism also inhibits the transmission of rotation and torque in at least one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In alternate embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may transmit rotation and torque in one direction from the output shaft to the input shaft. In still further embodiments, the torque transfer mechanism may inhibit the transmission of rotation and torque in either direction from the output shaft to the input shaft.

Abstract: In the specification and drawings, an apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism is described and shown. The take-up mechanism includes a gear, a motor configured for engagement with the gear, and a manual input shaft configured for engagement with the gear. In a first mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the motor, and in a second mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the manual input shaft. In an alternate embodiment, the take-up mechanism may include a plate between the manual input shaft and the gear. The plate may be configured to transfer rotation and torque from the manual input shaft to the gear, or inhibit the transfer of rotation and torque from the gear to the manual input shaft. The method for operating the take-up mechanism uses a motor and a manual input shaft connected to a gear to operate the take-up mechanism in the first and second modes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims an apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism. The system includes electric and manual actuating mechanisms engaged with a combiner mechanism to apply force to the take-up mechanism. In a first mode of operation, the combiner mechanism transmits rotation from the electric actuating mechanism, and in a second mode of operation, the combiner mechanism transmits rotation from the manual actuating mechanism. The method for operating the take-up mechanism uses a motor and a manual input shaft connected to a gear to operate the take-up mechanism in the first and second modes. The motor is engaged with the gear during at least the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A twin tower gas drying system is disclosed for cleaning compressed air lines in locomotives, buses, transit vehicles and the like by removing undesirable contaminants from an air or gas stream. A multistage filtration process employs a first scrubber that is capable of removing particulate material or soot from a stream of unpurified gas. A pre-filtering means is employed to remove impurities from the stream of unpurified gas. Coalescing filters are us to remove remaining moisture from the gas stream. Two towers of dessicant material dry the gas stream. The drying system is capable of controlling the flow of gas by alternately switching between supplying unpurified gas to a first tower and supplying unpurified gas to a second tower, with a purge cycle in between. Thus, a first dessicant tower is being purged of moisture while the second tower accumulates moisture, and likewise the second tower is purged while the first tower accumulates moisture, in alternating sequence.

Abstract: A self-adjusting flow metering device is provided for regulating a secondary flow in volumetric proportion to a main flow from which the secondary flow is taken. The device includes a flow sensitive orifice which automatically adjusts its orifice area in relation to the static pressure within the device. A diaphragm is used to regulate the amount of secondary flow passing out from the self-adjusting flow metering device in relation to the pressure differential across the flow sensitive orifice. The device is particularly useful for separating a purge flow from a compressed gas stream, the purge flow being useable for regenerating an idle desiccant chamber in a pressure swing dehydration system having twin desiccant chambers for removing water vapor from the compressed gas stream.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing sufficient water from H.sub.2 O ethanol at least 160 proof to produce ethanol having a proof of 195 or more comprising the steps of heating the ethanol water mixture until it is a vapor with sufficient superheat to maintain the vapor phase and prevent substantial capillary adsorption as the mixture passes through a dessicant bed of molecular sieves, passing the superheated ethanol water mixture through the bed to remove sufficient water to increase the proof of the ethanol of at least 195, passing a portion of the dehydratedethanol through a second dessicant bed of molecular sieves at less than atmospheric pressure to desorb the water and ethanol on the dessicant from a previous dehydration cycle, and reversing the flow through the two beds after the temperature of the first bed increases no more than about 14.degree. C. (25.degree. F.).